Napa Valley Cabernet Battle Royal And The BOOK Is Now OUT!

Napa Valley Cabernet Battle Royal And The BOOK Is Now OUT! – Episode #464

May 13, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk goes BLIND on this HUGE day for him and his Family and the Vayniacs. Napa Valley Cabernet is the epic and most sought after wines of America and this tasting will be a battle Royal!

Note: the wine listing is in tasting order.

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Comments on this episode(380) Leave a comment ›

“Hi, first time lurker here, QOTD: The first napa cab I fell in love wi…” by Sam
“Absolutly love your show and the way in which you describe wine. Your…” by Susan
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Neyers Ame Propreitary RedNapa Cabernet
2005 Tor Kenward Cimarossa Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2005 Paul Hobbs Napa Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2004 Rocca Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2004 Bennett Lane Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2004 Altamura Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet

Links mentioned in todays episode.

380 Responses

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May 14, 2008

Jeff
my favorite is the 1997 or 99 DAVIS FAMILY VINEYARDS.
great wine; great people; small production.
of course the 1997 Ridge Montebello was good also!!!
enjoy Gary!
May 14, 2008

Adam J
Nick G:
I really hate to use the comment space to respond to another Vayniac, but I take issue with your comment. My fondness of Opus One has nothing to do with it’s pedigree or price, and I did mention that it is not 100% Cabernet. I happened to earn the opportunity to drink the wine and dine with the winemaker while working my a** off in culinary school, not at some expensive restaurant in Napa. I am not trying to show my “shoe size”. Isnt WLTV all about the love??
May 14, 2008

Adrienne
QOTD: I guess I’m a ‘lurker.’ I thought I’d respond for once…Groth is one of my faves and the only one to come to mind right now. Everyday great choice: Arnold Palmer Cab (believe it or not…made by Luna, I think.

I was sad to see Hobbs fair poorly. I remember loving it. Pretty sure I like wood more than GV.
May 14, 2008

Tyler
Although it may have some petit verdot, malbec, cab franc, merlot, it is still a cabernet sauvignon. The 04 rocca has 91% cab sav.

Also in regards to the person below that says he cant believe how many are saying silver oak, caymus, cake breead. I agree, the only reason I said caymus ss was because it was an 85, i would never drink their new releases for that price!!
May 14, 2008

thkorent
QOTD: Tough one…I havenÂ´t had the money to compare all these producers in the same vintage, but here are my cross vintage favorites in order of preference:
1. D.R. Stephens Moose Valley Cab 2000 (canÂ´t even dream of what a “better” vintage could taste like)
2. Caymus 1992 Special selection
3. Mondavi Reserve, 2003 (I think Gary did it on an early show, have to check)
4. Flora Springs 1995 Cab (canÂ´t remember vineyard)
May 14, 2008

Richard T
qotd: my current fav right now is the 2003 Corrison Kronos cab
May 14, 2008

KWC
Nick G made the point of some of the big names not really being cabs, so I guess we should call them cabernet based blends, but most of the wines on this show were probably blends, I know Rocca has some merlot and petit verdot. Cali just calls some cabernet and some “prop blend” they are still generally cabs aren’t they.

I will take back my original answer and say ZD Abacus since (I think) it’s all cabernet.
May 14, 2008

sobojosh
hmm that’s a tough one. QOTD: I guess I drink a lot more blends when I go cab. The last big name pure cab I’ve had was grgich hills.
May 14, 2008

alfredhayes
QOTD: Groth (only had the 04).

Big ups the blind tasting.
May 14, 2008

Mark Neustadt
MOST excellent episode! Blind tastings are the most fun of all!
May 14, 2008

Nick G
Congratulations on the book Release.

WOW!
I am amazed at how many Vayniacs are saying the big stereotyped cabs.
â€¢Silver Oak
â€¢Caymus
â€¢Cake Bread

What I really don’t get is how many people are mentioning Insignia and Opus one. These are cab based, but are not considered cabs. It seems like any time expensive wines are mentioned people have to bring up Insignia and Opus one, even if they have nothing to do with the topic. It feels like a “shoe size” competition.
May 14, 2008

Winehacker1
Terrific show #464

In Winter Park, FL do a blind tasting once a week with a theme/no theme every other, lotsa fun (sometimes on Friday afternoon for lunch as well!)

QOTD: BV Georges De LaTour 2003 Cab Sauv Res

Recently had a Tintara Shiraz 2006, WOW, you guys gotta try that
May 14, 2008

Achilleas in Cyprus
Can’t see Mad Money or Conan as not in the USA and won’t display
May 14, 2008

Achilleas in Cyprus
Nice show.

QOTD: To be honest, I have had so few Napa Cabs, and have yet to find one that I really like.
May 14, 2008

Will
I only drink kosher wine, but the 2003 Covenant was superb.
May 14, 2008

JeffC
QOTD: Had a 94 Shafer Hillside Select quite a while ago, that was superb. Does that count? Have had Cabs from Caymus, Groth too. In general though, outside my swilling budget. I can pick up decent cabs, that are enjoyable for about a 3rd the cost of wines you tasted. Hey remember Cab from Argentia, by Hobbs, Crocadillo (excuse the spelling). Was very good, for under $15.

Question for you. A few weeks back you tasted the 2004 Turnbull Cab and gave it a 95. I seem to recall WL pricing was less than $40. So we should seek Turbull out instead of these you tasted today. Another question, I am seeing some local marketing and praise for a high priced cab getting rave reviews
Hartwell “Divine” Cabernet, going for about $150. Have you tried? Would be interested in your thoughts.

Hey going with the head to head theme, how about a Zin taste off. Match Turley up against, Ridge, etc. You fill in the rest.
Thanks, another great show.
May 14, 2008

Jerry Bob
Joseph Phelps, Yet there are so many and my taste seems to change with mood and so does my choice of wine.
May 14, 2008

Charlie Berg
Massive congrats on the book, Gary!!
and yes, you should definitely do blind tastings more often, that was pretty riveting. QOTD: 2002 Silver Oak, Napa a super well made, powerful elegant cab with solid dark fruit, sweet spice complexity, present but not out of wack oak; like a dark, thorough-bred stallion.
May 14, 2008

joe trdinich
QOTD–used to be Silverado but recently Cakebread and Chimney Rock have surpassed it.
May 14, 2008

ChezJim
I, too, love the blind format of this show. As we all know, we eat with our eyes and I believe with taste with our eyes, also. The paper bags keep it fair. Great show.

QOTD – Not a huge CA Cab fan because of the quality price point.
May 14, 2008

Mike QZ
Great episode. The Rocca Cab is by far my favorite wine at the moment. Celia Masyczek is the winemaker who also makes DR Stevens, Scarecrow, Keever, and Hollywood and Vine. All wines to seek out. Thanks for doing what you do!
May 14, 2008

Eric
Great show. This is the first blind tasting show I’ve seen and I found it a nice way to mix up the usual presentation.

QOTD: Haven’t tasted many Napa cabernets – a bit outside my price range. I did have one at a recent thirsty thursday meeting, but I don’t remember the name now.
May 14, 2008

Callan
Long time lurker, first time comment. Great show and congrats on officially becoming an author, Gary! qotd – I’m an Australian living in Singapore and until I moved up here, finding anything from Napa Valley was all but impossible. Have tried numerous Napa Pinot Noirs (Curse you, Sideways) and some other varietals but no Cab Savs yet. They’re now on the shopping list! You made the Rocca sound phenomenal on first taste. Thanks for the great daily shows.
May 14, 2008

The Adam Bomb
Not big into California Cabs, more of a Frenchman myself, but I did really enjoy the 04 Mt. Veeder.
May 14, 2008

Kevin Vandever
Favorite Napa Valley Cab: Hmm. Probably Waterstone Cabernet as well as the ‘97 Caymus, but I have moved away from Napa Valley Cabs for many years because the price points are too high and there is are as many or more kick-ass reds in Sonoma Valley, particulary in Dry Creek, Russian River, and Alexander Valley…and down closer to my Orange County California home are the red wines of Paso Robles, which are AWESOME! Thanks for the great web site. I am new to the experience.