Cabernet Sauvignon – the Classic Red Wine

by Frank Mangio
In Napa Valley , the reviews are in for the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon harvest.  The judgment  is this is the 5th consecutive year of  exceptional wine grapes for this iconic varietal. The only regret is they didn’t get enough fruit due to 5 years of drought conditions. Well, as a Calilfornian, I can assure all that in 2017, all of our wineries will be producing more than enough wine grapes this year. The drought is over!

 For the last 12 years of writing on wine, I have marveled at how Cabernet  Sauvignon has dominated the world of wine.  With the exception of the terrible years of the” Great Recession,” Cab producers have cranked up prices and its adoring public has bought more and more.  California and Washington are America ’s Cab capitals, emulating the French Bordeaux style cabs that are the reverential  kings of the castle.  If I asked my readers for a show of hands as to whether

The 2012 vintage Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley
has been just released to rave reviews.

Cabernet is their favorite red wine, it would be Cabernet overwhelmingly.  Cabernet buyers base their purchases on the optimistic notion  that there is a greater Cabernet just over the horizon, and that perfection is just ahead with the next brand discovery, unlike most other wine varietals.  What other varietal would be so coddled and prized in a cooler for several years, maybe a decade, before being carefully opened at a birthday, anniversary or other special event.

Cabernet is one of the most tannic of red wines. The skins need aging for a certain power and elegance in the “royal” wineries that  know how to get the most out of these complex wines.  The   Napa  “country club” lineup would include:  Silver Oak, Lewis, Far Niente, Opus One, Caymus, Harlan, Hall, Joseph Carr, Chappellet, Joseph Phelps, Screaming Eagle, Shrader and Grgich in Napa Valley .  In Washington, turn to Leonetti, Pepper Bridge and Columbia Crest premiums.

The greatest vineyard producing California Cab would be To Kalon vineyard in Napa ’s Oakville , where grapes go for upwards of $60,000. a ton.  It is where Opus One is harvested, along with other very high- end Cabs.

New Cabernet releases are celebrated in Napa Valley about this time of year.  One of my contributing writers just returned from events at Far Niente and Silver Oak.  Both are estate bottled Cabernets. The 2014 Far Niente ($160.) and the 2012 Silver Oak ($125.) were both critically acclaimed.

Far Niente of Napa Valley celebrated its new release 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon at the luxurious Meritage Resort in Napa .  From left:  Executive Chef Dana Hicks, guest chef Miller McRae,
and Far Niente winemaker Nicole Marchesi.

The 2015 Far Niente was offered directly from the barrel and showed complexity and elegance. Winemaker Nicole Marchesi has crafted her talents at Far Niente since 2005 and has been chief winemaker since 2009, working with the vineyard sites and blocks to capture place and vintage excellence.

The Silver Oak release party was, as always, an original event at their Oakville winery.  It was a celebratory day of new release Cabernet, food pairings and bottle signings with the proprietors, the Duncan family. Oakville is considered central to Napa Valley world-class Cabs. Over 80 wineries dot the district with over 5 thousand acres under vine including Silver Oak and Far Niente.  Others include Heitz Cellars, Paradigm, Plumpjack, Girard, Nickel and Nickel, Turnbull, Ramey, Screaming Eagle, Cakebread, Bay, Opus One and Robert Mondavi.

You can almost always get a Cabernet  Sauvignon in a blend as most Napa Valley blends are Bordeaux style, which mandates a Cab as lead varietal.  If an authentic single vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is your style, be prepared to pay up for the real deal. Visit farniente.com and silveroak.com.

Post Earthquake: Napa Valley is All for One, One for All

by Frank Mangio
As of day five after the 6.0 earthquake that struck the southern district of Napa Valley, damage estimates may top four billion dollars, with 120 injuries, 3 critical, with over  103 dwellings “redtagged” as non-inhabitable. Over 100 smaller earthquakes have been recorded since the big one early Sunday morning, August 24th.

In a sign of gritty resilience, the world famous "Napa Valley Welcome" sign stood its ground and didn’t crack or crumble. Six wineries out of the more than 500 in the valley, reported major damage with Trefethen Winery’s main building, a classic historical site built in 1886, near collapse.

Napa Valley wineries, for the most part, have cleaned up and are ready for the harvest season, after the 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck August 24th.

 Located in the Oak Knoll district, just north of the city of Napa which took the brunt of the damage, Loren Trefethen is quoted as saying, “we are one family, one estate and one passion. This is who we are. Nature has dealt us a blow, but we will come back.” You may want to see a remarkable helicopter video at www.trefethen.com. Silver Oak Winery lost hundreds of bottles of a rare collection of single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that were “literally priceless,” according to CEO David Duncan.

Over 3 million visitors a year sojourn to Napa Valley , one of the great visitor attractions in the country. It is not big. Just 4% of the wine produced in California comes from Napa Valley. Most wineries are family owned.  This is an American “Camelot”…a paradise, shared by the chosen few, who provide visitors with the finest wine on the planet.

Before me are dozens of e mails from many wineries who escaped major damage, like Lewis, Frank Family, Spring Mountain, Joseph Phelps, Michael Keenan, Tamber Bay, and the list goes on.  Here’s the “one for all” part:

One by one, they express gratitude that they have been spared major damage.  All are focusing on the less fortunate and helping in any way they can, especially to those wineries that sustained injury and property damage.  The Napa Vintners Association has announced that it will be the lead donation of $10 million dollars to create a Napa Valley Community Relief Fund “to meet the immediate needs of local residents and local businesses impacted by the disaster.”  Individuals may also donate to the fund to serve earthquake victims.  Visit www.napavintners.com.
 

Moon Over Mangio

Joel Reese of Leonesse Winery toasts CRUSH with columnist Frank Mangio.

Wine Event of the Year Coming to Temecula
It’s CRUSH time in Temecula Wine Country, Sat. Sept. 13 from 7 to 10pm!  This is the one and only event showcasing the 30+ members of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, all in one location, at Wiens Family Cellars.  Enjoy a walk-around tasting of all-Temecula wines and culinary bites from area wineries and restaurants. General admission $85. Or VIP admission at 6 pm for a private premium tasting for $110. Meet the owners, chat with the winemakers. Visit www.temeculawines.org for ticket information, or call 800-801-9463.

Wine Bytes in Temecula
September is California Wine Month; Celebrate with an event in Temecula.

The blessing of the wine, grape stomp and harvest festival are all happening at South Coast Winery Sun. Sept. 21st at 4pm.  Dine on a chef’s special feast, live music and dancing and grape stomping.  $55. ea. Details at 951-587-9463.

Keyways Winery kicks off a jazz concert series Sat. Sept. 20th with guitarist Paul Brown and saxman Michael Lington.  Tickets are $45., and $75. for VIP perks. Call 951-302-7888.

At Thornton Winery, Summer Horns Jazz concert returns Sat. Sept. 27 and Sun. Sept. 28 at 7pm. Enjoy Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Gerald Albright and Richard Elliot. Ticket information: thorntonwine.com/champagne-jazz-series.

Monte De Oro Winery has its 2nd annual Grape Stomp Sat. Sept. 27.  Live entertainment, BBQ dinner, games and more.  Adults $34.95, children $14.95.  Details at 951-491-6551.