OK, I hit the shiny gold button for the first time in a while. Looking forward to these.

edit: so I'm "lots of wooters" eh? NV lit up like a xmas tree

Good deduction, AndyDuncan!

The winery web site.

A three-pack of Napa Cabernet. That make's it easy to get in on!

iByron

Laura Zahtila Vineyards Napa Cab Three-Pack
Current numbers (updated each minute):

First sucker: mill
Speed to first woot: 0m 10.077s

Last wooter to woot: nallie

In for one here... Good job guys!

Mill is back on top!

Andy-

You should change your name to Karnac. Very impressive.

First sucker: mill
Speed to first woot: 0m 10.077s

Last wooter to woot: nallie


Looks like nallie tried to stab mill in the back and get first sucker, but he just barely slipped past her.

<grmble, grumble> I was sure I was first ...

Laura Zahtila Vineyards Napa Cab Three-Pack
Current numbers (updated each minute):

First sucker: mill
Speed to first woot: 0m 10.077s

Last wooter to woot: nallie

I win! But what do I win?

andyduncan wrote:I win! But what do I win?

Labrat, maybe. Buy it now!

$5 shipping again. in for one.

Can't decide without some CT links. Anyone have any input other wise?

$33 per on her website

http://www.zahtilavineyards.com/wines/jsp/item.jsp?itemid=41&catid=20

I'm in - Laura Zahtila here - love to hear your comments and answer questions!

damightyanteater wrote:Can't decide without some CT links. Anyone have any input other wise?

http://www.cellartracker.com/list.asp?table=Notes&iUserOverride=0&iWine=402580

In for 1, love Napa cab.

WD, I will be traveling on business this week so please do not labrat me.

andyduncan wrote:I win! But what do I win?

Sometimes Labrat status. If you haven't done it in a while .....

ladyofwine wrote:I'm in - Laura Zahtila here - love to hear your comments and answer questions!

Hi Laura-

Welcome and thanks for the offering. I am looking forward to tasting these Cabs. First time I have heard of your vineyard. Cheers!

Questions for the winemaker when ever she shows up.

1) Why is the alcohol so high?

2) Since we are getting 3 and will have them on hand, what is the cellar life look on these? Drink now or later (and what range later)?

thanks!

hld1970 wrote:http://www.cellartracker.com/list.asp?table=Notes&iUserOverride=0&iWine=402580

Why thank you

damightyanteater wrote:Can't decide without some CT links. Anyone have any input other wise?

And -- eek! -- CT is down for maintenance at this writing!

Sells for $33 on the winery web site, and it's currently $24.98 on sale at WineLibrary (reg $30.99). $20 a bottle for a mid-range Napa Cab probably makes this the best price around at least.

iByron

Laura,

Before you get bombarded with the usual, awesome, highly-specific questions, can you say a little about your technical approach in general, and the style of these cabs in particular?

(I'm already in for one, and contemplating more...)

Thanks!

ladyofwine wrote:I'm in - Laura Zahtila here - love to hear your comments and answer questions!

Opps didn't see you, looks like we posted at the same time. I have some questions I would like to have answered:

damightyanteater wrote:Questions for the winemaker when ever she shows up.

1) Why is the alcohol so high?

2) Since we are getting 3 and will have them on hand, what is the cellar life look on these? Drink now or later (and what range later)?

thanks!

Add to that, what kinda food pairing you like with these?

damightyanteater wrote:Why thank you

You're welcome. I am too lazy to make it an instant link. Only one review and they gave it a 91.

iByron wrote:And -- eek! -- CT is down for maintenance at this writing!

Sells for $33 on the winery web site, and it's currently $24.98 on sale at WineLibrary (reg $30.99). $20 a bottle for a mid-range Napa Cab probably makes this the best price around at least.

iByron

Hmm, the WL bottle looks to me like the Beckstoffer Cabernet, not this one. (And a good price, to boot!)

ladyofwine wrote:I'm in - Laura Zahtila here - love to hear your comments and answer questions!

Wow, that's quick! Welcome Laura!

Would this be considered a "big" Napa style Cabernet, or is it on the lighter end? 15.1% alc notwithstanding of course.

iByorn

damightyanteater wrote:Questions for the winemaker when ever she shows up.

1) Why is the alcohol so high?

2) Since we are getting 3 and will have them on hand, what is the cellar life look on these? Drink now or later (and what range later)?

thanks!

Hi All - (Laura Zahtila WineMaker here!)
Alcohol isn't that high for this vintage of Cab - we are all in at 14% or higher these days. I will say that without the big oak hit, this wine is fruity now and very drinkable, so, the alcohol is diminished and it will cellar well - the best of all worlds!

iByron wrote:Wow, that's quick! Welcome Laura!

Would this be considered a "big" Napa style Cabernet, or is it on the lighter end? 15.1% alc notwithstanding of course.

iByorn

In for one, I need some under $30 wines after all that RPM wine-tour damage. It's remarkable that after that I need to buy MORE wine...

ladyofwine wrote:Hi All - (Laura Zahtila WineMaker here!)
Alcohol isn't that high for this vintage of Cab - we are all in at 14% or higher these days. I will say that without the big oak hit, this wine is fruity now and very drinkable, so, the alcohol is diminished and it will cellar well - the best of all worlds!

If you had to give a drinking window, what would you give it? 0-5 years, 3-10, etc...

pfcouvar wrote:Hmm, the WL bottle looks to me like the Beckstoffer Cabernet, not this one. (And a good price, to boot!)

No, the Beckstoffer is on sale for $15 more (regular price is $49.99, making it a better deal at WL). They just got lazy about the labels. Search for "Zahtila" and they'll both come up.

ladyofwine wrote:I'm in - Laura Zahtila here - love to hear your comments and answer questions!

Hi Laura, Thanks for staying up for the launch of your wine offering. You will love this community. Intelligent (did I say that?) and sometimes comical banter abounds.

My question: Can you comment on the following line in the wine.woot description?

Don’t be fooled by Laura Zahtila’s current unsavory association with Wine.Woot.

ladyofwine wrote:I'm in - Laura Zahtila here - love to hear your comments and answer questions!

Welcome!

Question: I noticed you used French Oak and 30% new. Any specific reason on the 30%, or on using French Oak?

iByron wrote:Wow, that's quick! Welcome Laura!

Would this be considered a "big" Napa style Cabernet, or is it on the lighter end? 15.1% alc notwithstanding of course.

iByorn

It's big, but not too much in your face. With a little decanting, it goes a long way!

iByron wrote:Wow, that's quick! Welcome Laura!

Would this be considered a "big" Napa style Cabernet, or is it on the lighter end? 15.1% alc notwithstanding of course.

iByorn

"iByorn" You haven't been drinking have you?

iByron wrote:No, the Beckstoffer is on sale for $15 more (regular price is $49.99, making it a better deal at WL). They just got lazy about the labels. Search for "Zahtila" and they'll both come up.

Ah, you're right of course! If I can taste this in time, I would love to get a few of the Beckstoffer for comparison. I'll have to check locally...

hld1970 wrote:Hi Laura-

Welcome and thanks for the offering. I am looking forward to tasting these Cabs. First time I have heard of your vineyard. Cheers!

Thanks for your support. I look forward to your taste of the wine!

ladyofwine wrote:Hi All - (Laura Zahtila WineMaker here!)
Alcohol isn't that high for this vintage of Cab - we are all in at 14% or higher these days. I will say that without the big oak hit, this wine is fruity now and very drinkable, so, the alcohol is diminished and it will cellar well - the best of all worlds!

Can we expect it to "develop" or would an expectation for it to simply "maintain" be more likely?

By "develop" I refer to what I'd usually expect when a wine, while good and even drinkable, has obvious layering of flavors that will integrate better over time. By "maintain" I mean that what integration will happen is already in place, but the wine will not begin to sag or go flat with cellar time.

Probably not standard definitions, but I hope I'm being clear.

iByron

MarkDaSpark wrote:Welcome!

Question: I noticed you used French Oak and 30% new. Any specific reason on the 30%, or on using French Oak?

My goal is to let the fruit show thru without an oak hit - 30% new and only 20 months on oak means it's drinkable now and cellar happy too!