Tasting Report: The Balance of 2008 California Cabernet
Just about everybody into top-end California Cabernet Sauvignon believes the 2007 vintage is clearly superior to the state's most recent on the market: 2008. But I argue otherwise. The 2008 vintage produced some glorious Cabs with bright and evocative perfumes, and beautiful fruity and balanced palates that show a lovely interplay of polished tannins with fresh acidity.
Some winemakers say that 2008 produced more terroir-driven Cabs that show their provenance better than 2007. In other words, the slightly longer and cooler grape growing season in 2008 produced less fruit-dominated character in the wines. I have to agree, particularly in my favorite areas such as Oakville, Pritchard Hill and Knights Valley.
This said, I was still surprised with the number of supercharged, alcoholic Cabs I tasted. I couldn't give 90 points or more to wines that burned my palate, especially on the finish. I will post brief tasting notes on them next week.
For now, below are my top scorers from tastings a few weeks ago in California. The 2008 is not overall at the same quality level as 2007, but it's an excellent vintage with some exceptional wines.
Wines are scored on a 100-point scale. These listed without scores or notes, I rated less than 90 points:
2008 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Alpha Omega Era 2008 Alpha Omega Proprietary Red2008 Anomaly Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Baldacci Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District2008 Blackbird Vineyards Arise2008 Charnu Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena2008 Coho Headwaters2008 Dalla Valle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Dancing Hares Vineyard2008 David Arthur Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena2008 Del Dotto The David2008 Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon Mutti's Pride2008 Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon Sacrashe Vineyard Rutherford2008 Delectus Cuvée Julia2008 Edge Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Erna Schein Cabernet Sauvignon Crowley Vineyard Spring Mountain District2008 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena2008 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve2008 Honig Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Janzen Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Janzen Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard2008 Janzen Cloudy’s Vineyard2008 Lail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvée2008 Lamborn Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Proprietor Grown2008 Mad Hatter Napa Valley2008 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch2008 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Clone 62008 Veedercrest Estates Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Viader Cabernet Sauvignon2008 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Le Petit Vice2008 Vineyard Seven and Eight Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 7
