Napa Cabernet 2019 vintage verdict: 4.5 stars
A wet winter and cool spring delayed budbreak throughout most of the Napa Valley, while a warm, even growing season allowed for slow, phenolic maturity. The resulting Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines are fresh and vivid, with intense black fruits, savouriness and concentration. Very classic in style, with great balance, energy and tension, they exude upfront drinking pleasure but also have impeccable structure for long-term cellaring.
We have published more than 225 reviews online of 2019 Napa Cabernets for Decanter Premium subscribers which our corespondent Jonathan Cristaldi tasted (non blind) at the offices of the Napa Valley Vintners as well as at wineries and at home. Look out for AVA and value reports this week.
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Napa Cabernet 2019 – individual analysis by AVA:
Energy, freshness and balance characterise Napa Valley’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon vintage, which will find broad appeal.
The best are incredibly approachable, already showing intricate layers of complexity through the vivid upfront dark fruit, but also boast the structure to cellar for decades thanks to ultra-fine tannins and ample acid tension.
‘In time, we believe 2019 will prove to be one of the standout vintages of the decade,’ proclaims Paul Hobbs. ‘It is a return to classic.’
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores of the 63 wines Decanter rates best from the 2019 Napa Cabernet vintage
{"content":"<p>Abundant winter rainfall saturated the ground, which set the stage for uniform shoot and canopy growth. A cool spring rarely saw midday temperatures rise above 22℃, which delayed budbreak in some areas by as much as two weeks.</p>
<p>Temperatures began to rise in early June, and remained even throughout the growing season – a report from the Napa Valley Vintners shows the mercury hovered between 23℃ and 29℃.</p>
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<p>This is still relatively cool by Napa’s standards, which resulted in longer hangtimes and grapes with mouthwatering fresh fruit flavours and bright, natural acidities. Alcohol levels are slightly higher than the 2018s but impressively balanced across the board.</p>
<div id="attachment_487276" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-487276" class="lazyload blur-up size-large wp-image-487276" src="https://www.decanter.com/wp-content/themes/simba-theme/assets/images/placeholder.png" data-src="https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/andy-beckstoffer-630x416.gif" alt="Andy Beckstoffer" width="630" height="416" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/andy-beckstoffer-630x416.gif 630w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/andy-beckstoffer-300x198.gif 300w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/andy-beckstoffer-135x89.gif 135w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/andy-beckstoffer-320x211.gif 320w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/andy-beckstoffer-620x410.gif 620w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/andy-beckstoffer-920x608.gif 920w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /><p id="caption-attachment-487276" class="wp-caption-text">Andy Beckstoffer</p></div>
<p>Grower Andy Beckstoffer described the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon grapes he dealt with as having ‘great intensity, deep colour and softer, more elegant tannins.’</p>
<p>The intensity of the fruit – a hallmark of the vintage – is in the darker black berry spectrum on both nose and palate. There is a real generosity and ripeness running through the 2019 Napa Cabs, but balanced by a lovely savoury character, redolent of dried wild herbs, which is another common thread this vintage.</p>
<p>‘Energy’ is what defines the 2019s for Andy Erickson of <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/favia-producer-profile-and-five-wines-tasted-463448/">Favia</a></strong>. &#8216;2018 had great appeal because of the depth and richness. 2019 has a similar level of intensity, but the character of the wine is very bright, more aromatic and precise.’</p>
<h3>Immediate appeal but freshness and complexity to last</h3>
<p>Consultant winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown agrees. ‘While our lush and seductive 2018s have the upper hand now, a few decades will prove that 2019’s freshness, weight and complexity will ultimately best them.’</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/luczy-meeting-napas-maya-dalla-valle-455058/">Maya Dalla Valle</a></strong>, of her family’s eponymous winery, said berries were smaller in 2019, leading to more concentration in the wines, but that the tannin structure was more approachable earlier, meaning the wines were ‘very elegant and smooth without being too plush’.</p>
<div id="attachment_487277" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-487277" class="lazyload blur-up size-large wp-image-487277" src="https://www.decanter.com/wp-content/themes/simba-theme/assets/images/placeholder.png" data-src="https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-630x417.gif" alt="Maya Dalla Valle" width="630" height="417" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-630x417.gif 630w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-300x198.gif 300w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-135x89.gif 135w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-320x212.gif 320w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-620x410.gif 620w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-920x609.gif 920w, https://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2022/09/maya-dalla-valle-1220x807.gif 1220w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /><p id="caption-attachment-487277" class="wp-caption-text">Maya Dalla Valle</p></div>
<p>While not as abundant or vibrant as the 2013s, ‘which are a joy to drink right now’, said Kristy Melton of <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/freemark-abbey-profile-and-10-wines-from-this-napa-pioneer-483169/">Freemark Abbey</a></strong>, comparisons are being drawn between the 2019s and the 2016 and 2012 vintages, which also offered fresh fruit with good acidities and more easygoing tannins upfront.</p>
<p>By contrast, Matt Crafton of <strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/chateau-montelena-profile-top-wines-405369/">Chateau Montelena</a></strong> explained that ‘2017 was more dynamic than 2019, encompassing both hot and cold vintage characteristics’ while the 2015s ‘had more power and concentration,’ and the 2016s ‘more elegance’.</p>
<p>With ample freshness, concentration and lovely savoury qualities, the 2019 Napa Cabernets offer a lot of immediate drinking pleasure but have the balance, tension and complexity to age gracefully. Snap them up!</p>
<p>
"}
Top 2019 Napa Cabernets to buy
The 63 wines in this list are Jonathan Cristaldi’s top-scoring from more than 300 tasted. The appellations given are those marked on the label. Many producers choose to use the generic Napa Valley AVA even though their wines could be classified under one of the 16 sub-AVAs. For top-scoring 2019 Napa Cabernets from specific AVAs, as well as value wines, please see the links above.
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