Recommendation for 04/05 Cabs?

I bought 04 Lewelling. I'll probably be buying 05 too.
I passed on 04 Monte Bello, but bought 05

Cliff Lede Claret Napa Valley 04, as well as the Cliff Lede Stags Leap District Cab 04.

IMHO, these are outstanding qpr's.

Personally, I think the '04 Turnbull and the '04 Chapallett Signature series are excellent QPRs. Both will age well for the next 5-7 years, but are already drinking well. For about $40 each, I would put a few of these into my cellar.

don't think you can go wrong with all of the wine you listed above.
i had 05' switchback ridge and gemstone recently and i would buy as much as you can on those.
i would also add 05' karl lawrence to your list...it is really good!

I think the 04' is one of the better Cakebread cabs that I have tasted. Not a 10 year hold, but should drink nicely over the next 5-6 years. I got it for right around $50.

There are some really good recommendations on this thread, some of which I'll be taking advantage of myself

I really like both the '04 and '05 Caymus Cabernet... great wine at a fairly reasonable price. The Special Selection is a fantastic wine, no doubt about it, but the regular Caymus Cab is about half the price (or even better) and damn good.

I'm also in agreement with cuff in regards to the '04 Cliff Lede and with Don P's recommendation of the '04 Turnbull... both are delicious (especially the Lede)!

i was just offered the opportunity to pick up a case of 04 gemstone, but for @ $150 a bottle i'm not so sure. anyone try it?

quote:

Given the poor performance of 03 Cabs

What's this about the poor performance of '03 Cabs? Parker rated the vintage 92 points, versus 91 for '04, and 90 for '05. I am not a defender or believer of RP, but I am just asking what is wrong with the '03?

Now that I have just bought a bunch of 03 Dominus, Rubicon, BV GDLT, SLWC Fay and Artemis, and Grgich -- should I make sangria out of it?

I'm not a huge drinker of Cali Cabs. However, I WILL say I was severly disappointed with the '03 Caymus SS I had the other week. Nice, but certainly nothing special. I would think you'd not feel you will benefit greatly from cellaring the 03's a long time. Instead, enjoy them. I'd tend to think they'll drink fairly well younger and not improve greatly over time. Just my opinion, of course.

I AM focusing on the '04 Caymus SS and recently picked up some '04 Shafer. Never had the pleasure of trying the Lewelling Wight, but would certainly take the opportunity to purchase if I came across it.

The 2004 lineup of Single Vineyard Cabs and Trilogy from Flora Springs are fantastic.

Javachip - I am a big cab drinker and I had very very few 03's that were good so I stayed away from that vintage, as did most people I know. The wines were austere and a bit bitter for my palete, a huge dropoff from '01 and '02. I've tasted many '04s and am starting to taste some '05s, and from what I can tell, these vintages are also way better than '03. It's not just me who feels this way - FWIW, WS gave the '03 vintage for Napa cab an 85 ('04 was given a 90-94). BTW - the vintage rating you cite for all of california cabs and he noted it as "Irregular:.

2003? Maybe a poor year overall, but a hit and miss for some winemakers. R. Foley's 2003's were outstanding (Pride, Switchback and his own label). To stay on point, I'd add the 2004 Larkmead to your list.

If you have the patience to wait for a while, '04 Philip Togni, Dunn Howell Mountain and Montelena Estate.

Right now I am having a good Franciscan '04 Cab. that is not a knock your socks off wine, but for $18, it is a real good one. Drinkable now, or you it could last up to 10 years.

Other 2004s I would look at would be Larkmead, and Ladera. If you can get it, Reverie also puts out some real good juice.

I had the chance to order some 2004 Harlan Estate, but when I saw it was $450 a bottle, I threw it in the trash and decided that money for 1 bottle of Harlan would buy my 6 bottles of '04 Dunn Howell Mountain.

2004 Anderson Conn Eloge (75% Cab and 25% Cab Franc)
2004 Silverado (Nice QPR)
Phelps