Napa Flashcards
2020
HOT and FIRES
2019
Wines are really fresh and elegant with ripeness and well defined.
Wet spring, moderate August and September
WS: 97
2018
Benchmark vintage. A wet winter provided sufficient water through the dry, warm, even-keeled season.
Dense, rich, complex yet still have some restraint. Age worthy.
WS: 99
2017
Challenging season. Became very hot during summer then fires.
Lack the detail of 2016 and 2018
WS: 92
2016
The final drought-influenced vintage of the run since 2012, this time without serious heat spikes.
A great balance of elegance and structure
WS: 98
Best vintage 2016-2020
2018
Worst vintage 2016-2020
2017
2015
Fourth drought year in a row. Rain at flowering. Low yields.
High quality but not as consistent across the board like 2016 or 2013.
WS: 94
2014
Wines show power and depth, and are aromatic.
Another drought vintage, rains in winter/spring but not enough to break the drought.
WS: 95
Worst vintage 2016-2020
2017
2013
Benchmark vintage
Wines have beautiful fruit and structure. Age worthy, need time in bottle.
Practically a flawless growing season, with moderate temperatures throughout and no heat spikes or rain
WS: 97
2012
First drought vintage. Huge yields.
Structured. Aging beautifully.
WS: 96
2011
Very rainy harvest. If you got your grapes in before the rain, then the wines have good aging potential.
Don’t have the structure and depth of 2012, 2013.
Overshadowed by 2012 and 2013
WS: 86
Best vintage 2011-2015
2013
Worst vintage 2011-2015
2011
Best vintage 2011-2020
2018
Worst vintage 2011-2020
2011
2010
Cool, steady year; A very cool start to the season, then sudden heat in August followed by torrential rain.
wines show exceptional quality, tight, dense and layered
good quality wines in a more restrained, higher acidity and lower alcohol style than the Californian norm.
WS: 96
2009
Late, cool year yielding a surprise bounty of pure, opulent wines
WS: 96
2008
Frost lowered yields
Depth and concentration
WS: 96
2007
WS says textbook year. Plush and concentrated.
JR says elegant and balanced.
WS: 97
2006
A late, cool harvest produced dense, concentrated and ageworthy wines. Jancis says cool growing season.
WS: 95
Best vintage 2006-2010
2007 according to WS
But all vintages 2006-2010 great
2005
First of 2 cool vintages.
Good acidity, aging well. Elegant and balanced.
WS: 92
2004
Cool spring into hot summer.
Ripe, elegant, concentrated and harmonious.
WS: 95
2003
Rushed vintage as everything ripened at the same time after heat spikes followed rain and a cool May. Reduced crop.
More austere and tannic in style.
WS: 85
2002
WS says Superb in Napa; dense and rich, rivaling 2001 for depth and complexity
JR says cool and dry season leading to lack or ripenes??
WS: 93
2001
JR says Red wines from the 2001 vintage are among the longest-lived of the decade in both Napa Valley and Sonoma County.
2001: 93
Best vintages 2001-2005
2004
Worst vintage 2001-2005
2003
2000
Mixed and a bit green overall, but some stellar wines that may be overlooked and undervalued
WS: 85
Best vintages 2000-2020
2007, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019
Worst vintages 2000-2020
2003, 2011
Best vintages of the 1990s
1994-1997, 1999
1997: 99 - rich and opulent
Worst vintages 1990-1999
1993, 1998
Worst vintage 2016-2020
2017
