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EP 983 Head to Head Tasting of 2007 Napa Cabernets

Gary Vaynerchuk mixes it up and tastes 2 Napa Cabs head to head from the acclaimed 2007 vintage.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 Fuse Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet
2007 Louis Martini Napa Cabernet SauvignonNapa Cabernet


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luca bercelli

88/100

Line of the day – ‘There is some serious tree being cut in here’

Solid show – bit too short though

Tags: cabernet, california, napa, red, review, wine, wines

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  • no fair…turnip.

  • Psst I turn 40 this year. 😉

  • QOTD: I cannot in all honesty say because it’s been a long time since I’ve had any California or Napa wine… (I know I sound like a broken record every time Cabernet or Napa is mentioned in a show, I will make an effort to buy some wine from the region to not feel “out of the loop” ).

  • s

    Does Cab Sav give you a headache? I mean like right away. Half way thorough a glass and bam head is hurting. It does me and I wonder why? That said I like Duckhorn Napa Cab Sav. 2007, 2005 and 2004 good stuff. -Robert San Jose CA

  • Anonymous

    The oak monster is vacationing in Napa with a side trip in Chile, so he couldn’t make the show today.

  • Anonymous

    Gary!
    I just had the 2007 Louis Martini Napa Valley about a week ago and it was delicious. Not very complex but good drinking juice. It actually is one of my favorite under $30 Cali cabs, but I tried the 2007 Ramey Claret and that is a stunner and for $30 is going to be very hard to beat. I believe WS gave it a 93. Like the head to head episode!

  • Anonymous

    Haven’t had much Napa Cab. In fact, I can’t think of any at the moment. Clearly something I’ll have to correct!

  • Anonymous

    It’s possible they just weren’t very memorable…

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Sean Minor 4 Bears and Pitch with a P. Both 2007.

  • Anonymous

    Hess is some good juice.

  • Gary, this is the second time I’ve had the wine you’re tasting available to drink while you’re reviewing it. You want to play with the format of the show? Do what you talked about a year ago and and give us some heads up about what you’ll drink before you do the episode (maybe once a week). You’ll have to spend more than 4 mins on the wine to make it work a special trip to the store though… an alternative would be to list the wines in the podcast description so I can save an episode until I have the wine. I do love the show.

  • As always, great show. And a nice choice of QOTD since now there’s a user-generated list of budget cabs at your fingertips!

    QOTD – I’d have to go with the Honig Cab. Although usually RIGHT at $30 or just over, to me most vintages drink like a $50 cab, and the 07 is absolutely amazing.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Don’t laugh. Louis Martini a few years back when the ’07s first came out ($13 at the time). Not a category I drink much of because it is rediculously overpriced. If I want a west-coast cab fix, I shop Washington State.

    Like this back to back format MUCH better, but you could definitely extend it at 8 or 9 minutes. Would likely seem less rushed.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Anything from Washington, as it kills anything at a similar price from Napa.
    Would prefer >5 minutes. This didn’t do much for me.

  • Anonymous

    Cool.

    QOTD: I tend to migrate toward Raymond for my *cheap* Napa fixes.

  • Anonymous

    Love the Head to Head tasting format, please do more. I also like the short 5 1/2 minute episode.
    QOTD: The 2007 Louis Martini Napa Cab is a very nice wine and it sell for less than $2o.
    Someone mentioned the 2007 Frank Family Cab and this a great wine, but it sells for about $35.

  • Anonymous

    I agree with all the Washington State comments Amavi, Hedges, Columbia Crest Reserve, Janiuk, and Novelty Hill all kill for under 30. In Napa I’m a huge Honig fan since 1997 wines are great and Michael Honig is nice guy. Mondavi might make a million bottles but if you like rich grippy cabs the regular napa bottling is a winner.

  • John__J

    qotd: I barely buy Napa cab’s but the one that comes to mind for me that’s under 30 is Stratton Lummis.

  • John__J

    Burgess is doing some really good things, and they’re great people too. I remember also thinking their grenache was really good for the price

  • I third it.. good stuff.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Honig, Terra Valentine, ’07 Mt. Veeder, Trefethen Double T

  • John__J

    I always dig the sidebysides, works well when only doing 2 wines

  • Hi NorCalKing: The Big Vine 2006 Napa Cab was delicious and complex for a $20 Napa cab. It was the best deal of 2010.. I just wish I had more. Educated Guess was very good, too, and can’t go wrong with Mount Veeder fruit!

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: BV Napa ’07, Earthquake but also like the Louis Martini

    Gary – the back to back format is good but the time you save in pushing through the show in 5 minutes cannot be worth the frustration of the following hordes.

    Also, although I like the idea (below) of getting a “heads-up” in advance for wines to be sampled on one or more shows per week so that we can drink along we can always check the wines and then review the show later with the wine in hand.

    So – if we can be patient and wait to watch the show after we have bought the wine – perhaps you can relax and allow yourself to breath during the show and not worry about rushing through.

  • You’re a good egg, Cellarrat5, for looking out for us West Coast Vayniacs!

  • Randall

    Well, this is what comes from managing such an extensive wine list, eh? Yet another good recommendation. I have added this producer on my wish list, along with this little number…

    http://www.fanucchivineyards.com/trousseau_gris.html

  • John__J

    U.S. wine laws leave a lot to be desired. At least in Oregon if the varietal is listed it has to be at least 90% the listed varietal. Up until sometime in the late 70’s a California wine only had to contain 50 or 51% of the varietal listed on the bottle!

  • Anonymous

    Have’t been drinking a lot of Napa Cab lately, but had a bottle of ’07 Mt Veeder Winery Cab that was pretty good at New Years.

  • It’s OK, MelbaLI. 40 is the new 30.. 🙂

  • John__J

    Oh wow, Trousseau gris. That is gonna eat at me now until I get my hands on one. I’m a total sucker for seeking out rare or oddball grapes/regions/wine styles. I’ve had Trousseau rouge outta Jura, France, real terroir driven earthy wines. Thanks for putting that link up Randall.
    How’d you know a I manage a wine list?

  • Randall, You should try “Educated Guess” and “Mount Veeder Winery Napa Cab 06 or 07.”. (Mount Veeder $25). Educated guess ranges from $16-19. Of course the Big Vine 2006 was best deal of last year but it’s nowhere to be found.. It came and went.

  • Randall

    You just posted it here the other day. Now That’s my kinda place… when I have the $$ to splurge. And I am already in the process of getting my greedy little hands around that TG. It sounds fantastic! And they, like Stratton Lummis, focus on only a select few bottlings, so here’s hoping it will tilt my world…

  • Anonymous

    The ’08 Villa San-Juliette is awful.

  • John__J

    oh ok, cuz I deleted that part of the post later on.
    Anyway I just checked out their site and it looks like the only places that carry it are in California. Being in MD, that doesn’t look too good for me, until shipping laws change. Definitely let me know how it is, you got me curious.
    I sent them an email just in case they have a distributor in MD. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, cuz I’m going to be on the lookout for one now until I find one.

  • I didn’t know that in my Golden State it is legal to blend in 25% Syrah with Cab and call it a Cab? Yikes…I better pay attention to the labels as I don’t like cab-syrah blends.
    Good show for a quickie! Will look for Louis Martini 07.
    QOTD:
    1. Big Vine 2006
    2. Mount Veeder Winery 2006
    3. Provenance 06, 07
    4 Educated Guess 07
    I hear that Oberon is good, too, and a Mondavi wine. I have a bottle and not tried it yet.. Interested in hearing from anyone who has tried it..

  • Randall

    Someone else from this forum and myself are going to get this in about a week or so. Depending on your situation, we should be able to handle grabbing another bottle in that order for you…

    randallnorcal@hotmail.com

  • Louis Martini has been brining some thunder and is my go to Napa cab under $30 though I admit that I have been shying away from cab as of late.

  • Oh, it isn’t quite Napa but I’ve been impressed by the values coming from Souverain in this case their Alexander Valley Cab.

  • Amen on the Girard.

  • Might have to run down there…

  • Pretty good show…I too, love the double pour, but I wasn’t as pumped for Cab.

    QOTD: A lot of good stuff already mentioned. Will second the Mt. Veeder, though I usually enjoy the stuff from Girard as well.

  • yes

  • Yes and some labels won’t even tell you. Interestingly enough the same is also true for the appellation I believe. In other words a Napa cab need only be 75% from Napa.

  • Aaack! What is this world coming to? Yeah, I think you’re right about appellation. Sigh.

  • Anonymous

    Never had a Napa Cab, Could never find one in NZ

  • Randall

    That’s why I like to know the producer or at least know the vino is coming from a reputable source. Just another perk that comes from living in Beautiful NorCal!

    p.s. Lisa, I already copied/pasted your recommendations on the cabs so I wouldn’t forget. Thanks!

  • Anonymous

    I like the taste with two glasses head to head shows, i always enjoy comparison tasting myself.

    QOTD – Haven’t had too many lately but the Robert Mondavi 07 was pretty good for 20 bones.

  • This is a great format…concentrated and short!

    QOTD: Lately Oberon Napa Valley Cab -Cabernet Sauvignon 87%, Merlot 8%, Syrah 3%, Cabernet Franc 1%, Petite Verdot 1%- love this wine for $15.99

    2nd fav: Louis Martini

  • Love the head to head tastings! But you have been doing a lot of quick shows, which I enjoy, but I enjoy you mixing it up and having some short some long and some in between shows! I still enjoy them all!

    QOTD: Franciscan Cab has been my go to Cab from Napa lately.

  • Anonymous

    I was wondering if a bit of lumber was in store. Interesting. This is my palate’s basic frustration w/ Napa. I’ve had an assortment of 2005 Cru Bourgeois from the Medoc at this price point & the lumber is under control; there’s balance.

    That being said, I did enjoy a Peju Napa Cabernet a few years ago at this price point (on sale). If anyone has any suggestions of Napa Cabs that are light on the oak, I’m all ears.

    Take it easy G.

    – John D.

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