Horizontal Tasting of Napa Valley’s 2004 Cabernets

Europhiles who are skeptical about the ability of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to age gracefully are especially likely to assume that warm, early vintages can't possibly last. But on my early spring visit to Napa Valley, a major horizontal tasting of the 2004s demonstrated that that was not the case. Not only were very few wines showing signs of age, but the best examples are developing at a snail’s pace and will continue to improve with more time in the cellar.

This event made it clear to me that a lot of fans of big California reds are drinking their bottles way too soon—a fact corroborated by my tasting of the 1994 California Cabs, and several vertical tastings of top reds.

A stunning view from Dominus