Saturday, April 5, 2008

Thoughts on the 1992 Vintage in Napa


I recently read someone describe the 1992 vintage was a great vintage in Napa. To the extent that it was, I don't think the wines are holding up well now and I generally try to stay away from them. The wines seem to have some nice aromatics, but they really don't deliver consistently through the wine. I described the 1992 Joseph Phelps Insignia as the little engine that couldn't. I felt the same way about this wine from dinner the other night. Better to stick with the 1991 vintage, which has held up quite well.

1992 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley
While this wine certainly had some highlights, it showed fairly incomplete. The nose was intoxicating mature Cab with earth and truffles accenting the briary red fruit that speaks Mayacamas. The transition to the mouth started well enough with savory black cherry on a nice acidic structure. However, the wine seemed to give up about halfway through as it becomes muddled and then clips off hard. Nice entry...it becomes confused...then disappears. It was if it didn't have the strength to carry the burden of being a great wine. It didn't fall off really as the evening wore on, but it never got better either. In some respects this what I expect from the '92 vintage at this stage unfortunately.

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