WTN: Havens Carneros Syrah '94...(short/boring)

Tried this last night w/ dinner of stuffed Manicotti:
1. Havens Syrah Carneros (13.8%) V&B by HavensWineCellars/Napa 1994: Very dark color w/ no bricking; slight bretty/Rhonish strong peppery/blackberry/Syrah quite spicy light pungent/roasted/coffee slight smokey/oak complex beautiful nose; tart slight bretty/funky tad lean/dried out strong peppery/blackberry/Syrah/spicy light Rhonish/coffee/pungent/celery seed rather smooth/polished/velvety slight raspberry/spicy/Zin-like complex flavor; med.long smooth/velvety very slightly lean/dried out lovely peppery/blackberry/Syrah somewhat Rhonish/coffee/roasted finish w/ light tannins; brett is noticible but not strong enough to be off-putting; a fully-mature spectacular Calif Syrah. $20.00
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This was probably about MichaelHaven's first Syrah and undoubtedly one of the first crops off LeeHudson's (now) reknowned vnyd. The brett was a little off-putting at first but as the wine sat in the glass/decanter, it crept into the background and all sorts of wonderful things came forth. Quite Rhonish in character but still speaks of Calif Syrah. On the palate, it had a bit of that C-R leaness, but a smoothness that you get mostly in BobLindquist's mature Syrahs. A Syrah that has come together very well both in the nose and on the palate. One more btl left.
Tom

Thanks, Tom, for the notes. I'm a fan of Havens wines-especially the Hudson Syrah. It's nice to see there is no hurry to drink the 2002 Hudson Vineyard.

I also really enjoy their Albarino, grown in Carneros.

Thanks, Tom, for the notes. I'm a fan of Havens wines-especially the Hudson Syrah. It's nice to see there is no hurry to drink the 2002 Hudson Vineyard.
I also really enjoy their Albarino, grown in Carneros.

Brian,
MichaelHavens sold his wnry but was supposed to stay onboard, but I seem to recall that sometime in the last yr
he terminated his association w/ them. So not sure how their current wines are.

I've not had the Albarino but have heard nothing but good things about it.

Tom

From my limited experience, they are still atypical for Napa. Lots of fruit from cooler vineyards in Carneros, relatively lean, even tart wines. Below 14.5% in alcohol. Not fruit bombs at all.

Have you ever tried Bell's wines. They are literally on the other side of the Highway 29 Freeway, and they have a somewhat similar character. (Versus Elyse, Havens' neighbor on the road, which appear to make pretty much unmitigated Napa Fruit Bomb wines )

From my limited experience, they are still atypical for Napa. Lots of fruit from cooler vineyards in Carneros, relatively lean, even tart wines. Below 14.5% in alcohol. Not fruit bombs at all.
Have you ever tried Bell's wines. They are literally on the other side of the Highway 29 Freeway, and they have a somewhat similar character. (Versus Elyse, Havens' neighbor on the road, which appear to make pretty much unmitigated Napa Fruit Bomb wines )

Brian,
Yup....the Haven's are hardly typical Napa wines. Carneros fruit can produce a leaner/more interesting style of Syrah...like the Neyers or
several others. And then that same Hudson Syrah can become more typical Napa in the hands of Konsgaard or Elyse.
Nope...never tried the Bell..but will look for it.
Tom