Napa Cab Recommendations for an Old World Dude?

[Br1an_Th0rne]

Togni is a ringer for Classic Bordeaux. In a Bordeaux blind tasting a few years ago, I swore the ‘92 Togni was the ‘82 Gruaud Larose.

[Chris_H2]

Agree with the above, so will not repeat, and would add A Rafanelli regular bottling cab and their Terrace Select.

Finding some older La Jota and Diamond Creek would be on my list, and Peter Michael Les Pavots, as well.

I have had friends mistake older Simi cab and merlot for Bordeaux, too!

Good suggestion of A. Rafanelli, I don’t think if I’ve seen that recommendation yet in this thread. Their regular cab is consistently below 14.5% ABV, Terrace Select is a good representation of what their best fruit+cooperage will do. I also very much like their Estate Blend, which is a 60/40 blend of Cabernet and Merlot. Over the last year, my friend shared a wonderful bottle of 2007 Merlot, that was fresh, integrated, and a joy to drink. So I can say that A. Rafanelli, though not Napa, should be considered.

[Wes_Barton]

Hyde de Villaine

[Howard_Cooper]

A lot of good recommendations. I would add Stony Hill.

[Dan_Hammer]

A little over $50 > Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Home Ranch. This performs above it’s price point.
I’ll add Myriad and Quivet to this list.

Becklyn, William and Mary in the $65 - $100 range.

[Michael_D]

I’ve never gotten into Napa cabs but perhaps that’s because I’d simply not found the right bottles. I recently tasted '17 Di Costanzo “DI CO” and a '15 Eisele Vineyard Altagracia and enjoyed both very much. I was hoping to get some bottle suggestions in the $25/$50/$100/$150 ranges so I can put together a little tasting at different price points. If it’s any help, the red wines I drink most are cru Bojo, Burg, Barbaresco, and N Rhone. I appreciate any feedback.

Based on the wine types you like to drink, I’d suggest you look to Paso-Robles. They have numerous Rhone types there. Way more than Napa… Over the mountain to Sonoma, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley you will find more Rhones as well. For Napa, you will find several Bordeaux’ish blends. For Burgundy’ish Pinot’s, I don’t know… I do not get many “barnyard” characteristics from Napa or Sonoma that I would normally equate to Burgs.

For right/left bank blends that remind me of France (dirty fruit), Peter Micheal, Morlet, Dominus, and Melka pop into my mind. They are all north of 100 per bottle though…

[Marek_Hnatyk]

Togni is among the best, IMO.

+1 also Diamond Creek Volcanic from 90’

[Yao_C]

Thirding Corison

If you truly want an “old world” tasting Napa cab then my suggestion would be Dominus. Yes, they are pricy, but truly taste old world. Haven’t had any Dominus Napanook red, their second label. But, they can be had for around $75.

Sadly Dominus is now north of $200, even for the relatively unheralded 2017. I do think your tastes have to run Right Bank for Dominus to make sense (mine do! )

[Kris_Patten]

Agree with the above, so will not repeat, and would add A Rafanelli regular bottling cab and their Terrace Select.

Finding some older La Jota and Diamond Creek would be on my list, and Peter Michael Les Pavots, as well.

I have had friends mistake older Simi cab and merlot for Bordeaux, too!

Lots of Sonoma above vs. the ask for Napa…but I agree there are some really good balanced Cabs in Sonoma.

[T_Altmayer]

A little over $50 > Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée Home Ranch. This performs above it’s price point.
I’ll add Myriad and Quivet to this list.

Becklyn, William and Mary in the $65 - $100 range.

I’m not sure I would say Myriad, Quivet or Becklyn are Bordeaux-like. To me they are more fruit forward, albeit well made.

[Andrew_Kotowski]

Agree with the above, so will not repeat, and would add A Rafanelli regular bottling cab and their Terrace Select.

Finding some older La Jota and Diamond Creek would be on my list, and Peter Michael Les Pavots, as well.

I have had friends mistake older Simi cab and merlot for Bordeaux, too!

Lots of Sonoma above vs. the ask for Napa…but I agree there are some really good balanced Cabs in Sonoma.

Have to be honest - I opened a 2003 Rafanelli Terrace Select tonight and was expecting an oaky dumpster fire after 19 years with mixed provenance. It was shockingly good. Birth year wine for my daughter, and David pulled out of his library for her ~15 years ago.

[Nathan_Smyth]

Since no one mentioned Togni, well, that would be number one on my list. The other important examples have been mentioned. Not sure I would put contemporary Montelana on the list, and I would argue that post-2010 (i.e. 2011 and on) Spottswoode are the most “old world” wines they have made in many respects, but those are just quibbles.

!!!TOGNI TOGNI TOGNI!!!

Togni’s wines of the 1990s ought to just now be starting to show some tertiary characteristics.
Search wines for 'Philip Togni Napa Cabernet Sauvignon\' - CellarTracker

Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon | Vivino California
You can also look for the wines Togni made at Chappellet, back circa the late 1960s & early 1970s.

PS: It is beyond my ability to comprehend how people can recommend Cathy Corison in threads like this.

Cathy Corison makes very very nice wines.

But pretending that her wines are Old School or Old World or traditionalist is simply ludicrous.

You guys must be drinking Napa cabernet aged in Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels if you think Cathy Corison is Old School.

[JosephW]

If you truly want an “old world” tasting Napa cab then my suggestion would be Dominus. Yes, they are pricy, but truly taste old world. Haven’t had any Dominus Napanook red, their second label. But, they can be had for around $75.

Dominus ‘old world’ taste? Sorry, maybe a while back but these wines are bigger and bolder than ever. Plus, they are not straight cabs.

[dave_kammerer]

Drinkward Peschon is very old world style and very reasonable

[B_Davies]

Nickel and Nickel could be an option and widely available.

[JMReuter]

If you truly want an “old world” tasting Napa cab then my suggestion would be Dominus. Yes, they are pricy, but truly taste old world. Haven’t had any Dominus Napanook red, their second label. But, they can be had for around $75.

Dominus ‘old world’ taste? Sorry, maybe a while back but these wines are bigger and bolder than ever. Plus, they are not straight cabs.

My recent experiences are limited to a 1990 Dominus, which was otherworldly and very much reminiscent of the best of Bordeaux, and a 2018 Napanook, which was a generic Napa red that wasn’t worth the money (to me). I would have loved to have tried the 2018 Dominus, but I didn’t feel like paying $300, so I have no idea in what style it is being made.

I took “Napa Cab” in the title to mean Napa Bordeaux-blend, but agree that may not have been the OP’s intent.

[Jeff_M1]

Since no one mentioned Togni, well, that would be number one on my list. The other important examples have been mentioned. Not sure I would put contemporary Montelana on the list, and I would argue that post-2010 (i.e. 2011 and on) Spottswoode are the most “old world” wines they have made in many respects, but those are just quibbles.

Big Spottswoode fan. They age very, very well.

[Nate_Simon]

I’ve never gotten into Napa cabs but perhaps that’s because I’d simply not found the right bottles. I recently tasted '17 Di Costanzo “DI CO” and a '15 Eisele Vineyard Altagracia and enjoyed both very much.

I’m going to take a different tack here and suggest that this is a bit of a square-peg situation. If you like and prefer “Old World” (as evidenced by the other wines you say you usually enjoy), why not continue your explorations in that realm? The two Napa wines you say you liked are $60 and above. For that money (and much less), there’s an ocean of fantastic Old World wines out there.

[B_Davies]

California can be difficult because it can be 80% cab and 20% merlot and they can still be labeled cab w/o calling it a bdx blend. It does require some knowledge about the wines specifically.

[Nate_Simon]

California can be difficult because it can be 80% cab and 20% merlot and they can still be labeled cab w/o calling it a bdx blend. It does require some knowledge about the wines specifically.

This is not a “California” thing. It’s a Federal regulation, and the minimum for a single-variety-labeled wine is 75%.
The producer is not obligated to state other varieties. So, it could be 75% Cabernet, 15% Pinot Noir, 3% Chenin Blanc, and 7% Catawba, and be labeled “Cabernet Sauvignon.”

Grape Variety Designations on American Wine Labels | TTB: Alcohol and Tobacco...