Judging Young Cabs

[Thomas]

One reason I do not lay down much wine is that it is simply a crap shoot. The other reason is even more simple: I subscribe to the here and now. A Mack truck can end what might have been a long life, and I do not want to have a lot of good wine laying down that I never got to taste. ...

I'll go with a wine because I like what I taste at the moment; deciding on its balance is critical. I never even think anymore about the length of its future beyond a year or so. Like Bucko, got burned by that habit far too often.

As I posted earlier, I'd rather the winery decide when the wine is at its peak and pay for its own inventory storage. If the winery can sell it all on futures, so be it; I'll buy something else.

Re, Cabernet Sauvignon: the reason it is not the sole grape in Bordeaux is because of its rather harsh qualities that take too long to settle down. Drink Whitehall Lane CS and you will see how harsh it can be when young, and how it is too early when they release it; but they have us inventory keepers out there, so why not release it early?