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17 replies

Make a case of mixed Cali Cabs to age...

BRRBRRMember
I was having an interesting discussion in another thread with Board-O and kumazam about how beautiful an properly aged wine can be. Tasting a 30-year old (or more), perfectly stored wine be sublime, tasting and smelling the secondary nuances, added texture, etc. We all know that Bordeaux, Burgundy, some Rhones (and others) all can age and improve for decades, but a TN posted by PetiteSyrahFan on a '58 BV GdL got me thinking about California Cabernets and Blends and how remarkable they sometimes can be with considerable age.

So, if you were planning to put together a mixed case of California Cabs and blends to age 20-30+ years, what would you put in your case? Let's throw out vintage for the time being and go with your thoughts, year in and year out.

Mine
2 x Ridge Monte Bello
2 x Chateau Montelena Estate
2 x Phelps Insignia

What else????

That's where I lack experience...
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T thecabernetofdoctorcaligariMember
Great list, so far.

I agree with every example.

I'll add Silver Oak Bonny's - worth finding on the secondary market. As it ages, it undergoes an astounding metamorphosis.

This may sound crazy, but Prager's cabs perform a similar presto-change-o act. They are hard (impossible) to like early, but I've had the 1981 in the last year and it was amazing. (Don't judge me based on how they taste at release.)

La Jota's cabs have been age worthy.

I can't believe how time flies...

Cain Five holds up well.

I'll add Spottswoode, Far Niente, Nickel and Nickel, Forman, and Duckhorn to the list.
J jimmaynardMember
Some that were made 20-30 years ago to age are not made to the same quality now. BV GDL and Sterling Reserve come to mind (along with the departed Inglenook Cask). Diamond Creek may have fallen there. I'd take Montelena, Monte Bello, Dunn Howell Mtn and Insignia as they have a track record. Seavey seems to have the backbone but only time will tell if the fruit holds. I'd bet on it. Maybe the Hewitt that Tom Rinaldi makes will do it too.
greendrazigreendraziMember
quote:
Originally posted by BRR:
So, if you were planning to put together a mixed case of California Cabs and blends to age 20-30+ years, what would you put in your case? Let's throw out vintage for the time being and go with your thoughts, year in and year out.
Along the same lines as what Jim Maynard said, you can’t throw out vintages and since you want to put together a case to age 20-30+ years, you can’t ignore the fact that many of the old horses no longer make great wines and even much less, great ageing wines.

The only wines I see listed in this thread that "can age and improve for decades" and that have been produced in the last 1-7 years are the Ridge MB, Dunn HM & Togni. Shafer HSS may also age for decades, but not sure if it will improve after 10 yrs or so.
J jnastyneMember
Cant think of a single Napa cab I would hold for 30+ years. One must keep in mind that the 58 BV Latour was made in a very different style than most CA cabs are made today. With critics only giving good ratings to the super ripe, drink me now cabs, many wineries have changed up to the new trend. Only time will tell, but I doubt we will see many 04s that will still be gaining complexity after 10-15 years in the bottle.
H hunterMember
quote:
Cant think of a single Napa cab I would hold for 30+ years.


Agree.

Some of the great estate wines of the 70's, 80's (although before my time) and some early 90's were just made differently, prior to the "ripe era"

We are in the "get a great score", approachable and early drinking era when it comes to most of the California producers now. I can't think of any that I could hold with confidence for 20 years, much less 30 years now. Select Bordeaux, Burgundy, Barolo, Sauternes and Vintage Port are about the only group from a great vintage that could hold up for 20-30 years nowadays IMO.
D differentdaveMember
Could not come up with a list of wines I could safely say would drink well 30 years from now, Icould however go back in time in pick up at auctiom some vintages that should prove well over time, but by doing so the prices would be insane.
That being said just about any 1st growth from 00,01, 03 and 05 should do the job 10 times better than gambling on a cali. Now talk about insane prices...

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