2005 Keenan Spring Mountain Cabernet

We are batting 1000 on Napa Cabs this month! This had lovely black cherry and anise fruit with nice licorice notes. A savory "soy" note on the finish that I liked. This may be? a couple years too young, as there were definitely some drying tannins and it felt like the wine was not quite "integrated"???, but the fruit was so lovely. Second bottle of this vintage from Keenan...have to admit I am a fan!

I'm not really a fan of Napa Cabs, but I love Cab Franc and was looking for interesting new world examples, so I found the 2005 Keenan Spring Mountain Cab Franc. Haven't opened it yet, but looking forward to trying it. Have you tried it?

I have not had a Keenan since the 1992 so not sure if the style changed. Back then this was one Cal Cab that benefited from bottle age with most needing a decade or more to really show the best.

Not had the pleasure, Joy. I have enjoyed a few of the Mayacamas Range Cab Francs I have tried, so the general area can produce good ones.

It's weird in that while I love "astringent" and "funky" French wines, I still love the more balanced, interesting versions (to my limited palate) of Napa Cabernet as well. (Not the monster soft fruit-oak bombs, though )

Brian: I've only tried their wines twice. This bottle seemed actually more "backward" than the sample from a year ago a friend brought in. May be entering an awkward phase (while other, softer Napa cabes are definitely entering a drinking window???) Would not say it was closed, just a little discombobulated at the moment.

I've had a hard time finding the more balanced Napa Cabs you speak of. Do you have any recommendations of good examples in the roughly under $30 range?

I've had a hard time finding the more balanced Napa Cabs you speak of. Do you have any recommendations of good examples in the roughly under $30 range?

Louis Martini. Graceful, old-school style Cabs.

Clos Du Val Napa Valley-french owners (at one point) and they are widely available at a good price.
Heitz Napa Valley...although the oak does show rather strongly (and they use some American oak, which impacts the flavors a bit)
Beaulieu Rutherford Cabernet is not bad.

Sterling's Napa Valley bottling was pretty decent for $19. Not manipulated and actually tasted like Cabernet, not generic red wine juice product. Have not tried it in a while, though.

Of course, I may be just more tolerant of bigger fruitier cabernets than you are. (I do have that mixed/schizophrenic palate). Yet I love green, tight Bordeaux, too. So weird.