It was just about a year ago that I took umbrage in this space with the negative assessment by a major wine publication, The Wine Spectator, of the 2003 vintage for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
A few recent experiences have bolstered my conviction that “WS” got it wrong on 2003. On a November visit to the valley, I stopped in at Spring Mountain Vineyards and Kuleto Estate, tasting their ’03 Cabs and scratching my head over the negativity aimed at what turned out to be a glorious vintage for many.
Both of these producers performed very well in this maligned vintage, as did the likes of Spottswoode, Joseph Phelps and many others.
I also recently had the occasion to sample the 2003 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon (97 points), and the entire Stags Leap District Appelllation Collection, a whopping 15 entries ($1200 retail). All of the Cabs in the collection were drawn from the ’03 vintage.
Other than the Steltzner, which I was not fond of on stylistic grounds (it’s a bit overripe for my taste sensibilities), all of the wines were rock solid, and a few were sensational. Or, about the same as it would be in a more highly rated vintage.
For me, 2003 is a stellar vintage for Napa Valley Cabs and warrants a strong “buy” recommendation, particularly from the top estates.
So, don’t you wonder, what were they thinking when they crafted the bum rap on Napa ’03?
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