Getting Exaspeated

[Innkeeper]

OK, right up front I’ll give you, Napa Valley produces among the, if not the very best Cabernet Sauvignon in the whole world. But, not all of it! In the current edition of Wine Spectator (November 15, ’04) devoted to California Cab they have an alphabetical six page, three column listing of how they rate the Cal Cab. Ninety percent of the wines come from Napa Valley. Most of the rest come from Sonoma Valley, chiefly Alexander and Dry Creek Valleys. There are a dozen from Paso Robles, and a half dozen from points south. There are none whatsoever, nada, zero with the Monterey appellation. This excludes, among many others, Chateau Julien, Galante, Heller Estate, Joullian, Lawson Ranch, Parkfield, Scheid, and Smith & Hook. Other than the first line of Chateau Julien, all are priced in the $20 to $50 range. I only mention this to try to point out they are not all plonk. We thoroughly enjoy Monterey Cab, and in this year have enjoyed offerings from Galente and Smith & Hook, as well as some of that entry level Chateau Julien and Monterra. Both of the latter are produced in quantity, which WS gave plenty of (low rated) press to others. How can a respected publication ignore an entire region of a larger region they are reporting on? I just can’t believe it!

[californiagirl]

I agree with you IK. I got 6 whites and 6 reds as a sampling from A Taste of Monterey after reading one of your posts. There was maybe 2 out of the whole lot that I would not purchase again.

[Bucko]

Playing the devil's advocate, I tend to fall into the Spec's camp. I have been underwhelmed by Monterey wines/wineries.