Ladera Cabernet at it's peak

Until I went through my entire list of past blog posts just now, I was sure that I had featured Ladera Vineyards at least once within the past three years (it doesn’t happen often, but I was wrong [haha]).

My first visit to Ladera, which is located on Howell Mountain (northeast of St. Helena) was back in 2009 (perhaps before I started my blog). The tour was amazing; we sipped wine as we walked around the historic winery and into the caves. We probably tasted 6 or 7 wines in total, including a Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, vineyard-designate Cabernet Sauvignons, and a Malbec.

Last time I checked, I had 2 bottles of the 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($41/bottle), 1 bottle of the 2006 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($75/bottle), and 1 bottle of the High Plateau Cabernet Sauvignon ($65/bottle). Wines like Ladera Cabs should be aged, but I am guilty of letting the price of these bottles scare me away from opening them.

I never hesitate to open a bottle of wine that’s under $20 a bottle. Even if I’m planning on having just one glass. But when I’m dining solo and I might not be home the following evening for second-day leftovers, I don’t want to waste the good [expensive] stuff. I try to avoid thinking about wine in this way, because life is short, and wine is only wine. And it’s quite possible to wait too long.

(Last night, I actually opened two bottles of 2007 Cab from another producer that were—sadly—past their prime, before I pulled the cork on the Ladera.)

After one sip of the 2007 Ladera Napa Valley Cab, I was grateful for opening it (and I fully intend to enjoy it again tonight). In my opinion, this particular wine is at its peak.

The wine is intensely perfumed with cherry cordial, fig, leather and tar. The palate expresses pure mountain fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cassis and sturdy tannins. There are undertones of oak and wet earth followed by a long-lasting finish that is berry-licious.

I enjoyed this bold wine with a delicious duck cassoulet; it would also pair perfectly with lamb, filet mignon, short ribs, spaghetti Bolognese and mushroom risotto. 

As I write this, it makes me wonder if the 2007 vintage as a whole is peaking earlier than critics predicted…

Like the 1997 vintage, 2007 was a phenomenal year for grape growers. But nothing stays fresh forever. If you prefer to drink wine that more fruit-focused and fresh, pop the corks on those bottles of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon you may have—now. Better to drink a wine before it peaks than once it has gone downhill.

(And stock up on Ladera Napa Valley Cabernet—it’s a value for the quality. It also comes in half-bottles!)