5 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines – BLIND!

5 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines – BLIND! – Episode #581

November 19, 2008

Gary Vaynerchuk tries 5 wines blind and sees which tickle his palate, as we continue the Napa Cabernet theme this week!

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Comments on this episode(575) Leave a comment ›

“Gary, You should do as many blind tastings as often as you can. This w…” by DClarkTandem
“epic show bro – natural entertainer – just too much fun watching wltv!…” by Chris
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2004 Beringer Napa Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2005 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring MountainNapa Cabernet
2004 Steltzner Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Barrel SelectNapa Cabernet
2005 Newton Unfiltered Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2005 Cliff Lede Stag’s Leap District Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet

575 Responses

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November 21, 2008

Sharon
A lurker coming out…

Yes, I love the idea of lots of blind tastings…but please also keep sharing information on regions, grapes, etc. Perhaps you can do focused wine tastings, but share information about the region/grape beforehand.

Thanks so much!! Love the show!
November 21, 2008

Rob R
I vote every 3rd show is a blind tasting. Maybe every Wednesday.
November 21, 2008

AMM3RD
One blind episode per week in ‘09! There is a lot of value from non-blind shows where there is more information shared…AMM
November 21, 2008

gabriel palley
once a week for sure, but i, like so many others, think a whole year would be a bit much.
November 21, 2008

D
QOTD: Yes, blind all the time.
November 21, 2008

Todd
QOTD: YES!!!
November 21, 2008

ponuppy
Nice show Gary!
I do love the blind format but the entire year is quite a commitment.
November 21, 2008

djs
QOTD:yes
November 21, 2008

tigerkite
QOTD: Once a week.
November 21, 2008

Andrew D
Hi Gary

I liked the show thanks??? All those big, expensive Napa Cabs has me wandering about Napa Cab. Are these the reserve or premium labels for these wineries? Do they have normal realise wines at normal prices?? In Australia not may wineries would release a standard estate wine at $40-$60 and expect to sell it, maybe Pinot’s a bit different…

QOTD: Like blind, but also like it when wines are selected for a more ‘educational’ focus. Certainly more blind is cool, but keep the mix up.

Cheers
Andrew
November 21, 2008

Warren Peace
Just a quick note. The 2005 Cliff Lede (pronounced “laydee”) was rated 92-94 by Wine Spectator.
November 21, 2008

Kimberly
Love the blind format, but like others, think maybe once a week would be good. Every day would be too much for you and us!
November 21, 2008

apj_bobswineguy
I am so out-voted here. Do LESS BLIND.
Actually, looks like I’m the only one who does NOT like this format.
Oh well. I’ll stay tuned.
November 21, 2008

Murso
Steltzner does a great job on their Cabs in particular – Stags Leap estate fruit always delivers for anyone fortunate enough to get fruit from the area (Pine Ridge, Clos du Val, et al). SLD Cabs actually ran under $20 ten years ago, and it was an incredible amount of fruit in that bottle. Unfortunately, with Reserve bottlings, many wineries tend to definately oak the Hell out of the stuff, but I’m hoping that this is a trend that can be moderated.(My personal caveat is to generally avoid Reserve bottlings of blue chip wineries) Steltzner Claret, though not quite as remarkable, usually delivers good wine/ decent value at a much lower price point.

My earlier point about conglomerate-owned operations is illustrated (inveresly) by Peter Newton’s and his wife’s dedication, and genius. You might have told the Vayniacs that Newton was the founder of Sterling Vineyards, waaay back in 1964. And he made a gorgeous winery, and built a great brand, and made very good wine – and sold it to Coca-Cola in 1977, who made money off of it, and turned around and sold it to Seagram, who then sold it to Diageo… and these days, this nonsense goes on by the week. And while they have skilled hands at the helm, and billions at their disposal, ultimately, it’s just shuffling a bunch of checkers around a board to them, and where they’ll make more money this week as opposed to last.

All of Newton’s wines, and vineyard and cellar practices are about reaching the pinnacle of quality. It shows in every one of their wines. I actually had one wine from them, which we’d purchased the entire state allotment of – and I was hesitant on this move, cause I wasn’t mad for the balance of that particular wine, but at our special offered price, the public bought the entire pallate in like, a week or something – much of it bottle by bottle, but a healthy amount going for 6-pack cases. It was after THAT that we got first dibs on that ‘02 unfiltered Chard- and we started racking up the REAL exclusive on awesome stuff. Every person who tasted that wine was blown clean away! I felt really proud to have products like that.

I haven’t had Cliff Lede wines as of yet, but am def. on the lookout.

Thanks for another great ep!
November 21, 2008

Carly L
This was a fantastic episode, but…

QOTD: NO!!! I love variety, and if you had to do every 2009 show this way, you would severely limit yourself. I think once or twice a week at MOST.
November 21, 2008

Fost
I vote for blind weekends.

Love the show.
November 21, 2008

Keith
I like the education episodes too, but YES, “Blind in ‘09″…at least once per week.
November 20, 2008

Tristen
All blind all the time!
November 20, 2008

Christo
Gary I fear that your beard is going to grow long like Motts but then I guess you can paint the beard white and Play Secret Santa at Wine Library! Now that would be a fun episode!

Blind taste test rocked! It was fun to see you try these wines! I really wish you would try a Cabernet called Vine Cliff from Napa Valley… want to see how you would rate that!

QOTD: YES!!! Blind Taste Tests all of ‘09 that would be pretty cool! How about just the first quarter at least! Cause I really enjoy when you have your guests!
November 20, 2008

sara l.
gary, LOVE the blind. maybe you could do blind fridays? Going all blind might turn off newbies who want to learn about wine…
November 20, 2008

yowens
QOTD: I like the blind episodes but i think they work best for wines the viewers are familiar with like Napa Cab. It would be tough and less interesting with wines from lesser known areas.
November 20, 2008

Murso
GV -I’m totally with you on the first two…. and then some. Generally (read: when it’s my money) I pass on all wineries that belong to major international concerns. I know that their priority is to the stock holders, etc., blah blah blah. I know there’s far too much wine out there being made by people with real passion for quality, taste, and a commitment to deliver to their true fans.

Barnett, also bummed me out, but only because the Rattlesnake Hill was way overpriced, and just didn’t wow me.

to be contnued…
November 20, 2008

Eric Holm
As a lurker,with my shirt on,blind all the time would be tooooooooo much but the episode and past blind episodes were very informative and a great. Keep them coming!
November 20, 2008

Chris
Another lurker checking in. Blind shows are fun but doing them all the time would be too much.
November 20, 2008

Eli2Tyree
LOVE THE BLIND!!!! go blind peaassse unless its an educational episode… I like learning new things about wine