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Napa Gold
Editor-in-Chief Anthony Dias Blue looks at
current Napa Valley Cabernets
f
orty years ago, when vineyards were being planted all over Napa Valley, growers tried
nearly every available grape variety. Among others, there were plantings of French Co-
lombard, Gamay and Gewürztraminer. But slowly, as vintners learned more and more
about their terroir, most of these experiments were terminated in favor of the grape that
was to make Napa Valley famous throughout the world: Cabernet Sauvignon.
There are so many world-class Cabernets made in Napa now that it is virtually impossible
to keep up. Nevertheless, I thought it might be useful to take a look at some current releases
to assess the state of Napa Cabernet. This list is by no means comprehensive; it is just a
snapshot of some of the best wines currently available. In the interest of including as many
wines as possible, my notes have been abbreviated and the Napa Valley appellation omitted
from the listings.
