Any Opinions on Corison Wines?

[Brian K Miller]

I think I am in love.

The 2005 Napa Valley is just so beautiful right now, and the 2004 Kronos was simply amazing. Pricey, of course, but the second label Helios Gewurtzaminer and even more so the Cabernet Franc...that Cabernet Franc is worthy of a really good Chinon, imho.

Any opinions from the group?

[Oliver McCrum]

I'm a fan. One of the few Napa producers who stuck to their guns stylistically. Haven't had the Cabernet Franc, though, and I love the variety.

[Hoke]

So am I a fan. But also haven't had the Franc.

[Jon Leifer]

Also a fan, going wayyyy back but also no experience re her Cab Francs

[Mark Lipton]

I too love her Cabernets. I had (and bought) the '03 Kronos as well as the '04 Corison Cab. The older editions of her wines have really been superb. The Gewurz didn't do a whole lot for me, and I don't think that I've had the Cab Franc. If a self-professed Arboisophile likes it, though, that counts for a lot in my book!

Mark Lipton

[Brian Gilp]

Been a fan of the cabs but not on the shelves much in my area. I don't think it sells well on this coast as all I find are pre-2000 bottles and in some cases I have bought out a stores remaining stock. Probably best as I understand the price has gone up substantially.

Based on vintages from the 1990s (94,97,99) you are drinking the wines early. I think the Corison wines are better with 10-12 years of bottle age but that's just me.

[Dale Williams]

Put me in the Like the Cabs a Lot, Haven't Tried Anything Else camp

[Lou Kessler]

I think her cabs are great and they sell very well in our store. SO CA located. In fact we can't get as many bottles as we could sell each year.

[Brian K Miller]

Brian G:

I think you are right vis a vis ageability. I tasted the 2001 last month and it was still very bright and very youthful (although some bottle age was showing)

I don't think the Helios second label wines get very wide distribution (Cab Franc and Gewurtz).

2005 is an iffy year, though, so maybe it was accessible early.

The prices have gone up quite a bit. Still, there are so many cabernets at similar price points that are undrinkable.

I just like the feeling of the place...real low key, no attitude or snobbery or poshness. I'm going to rotate wine clubs out and replace one of my others with Corison.

[Florida Jim]

'Like them in most vintages, although usually prefer the regular cab. to the Kronos.
Have not had the franc.
The 1990 regular cab. is still one of my benchmarks for Napa cab. - that wine sang from day one until the last bottle in the case was drunk in about 2002.
Best, Jim

[Sam Platt]

I have tasted the '97, '98, 2000 and 2003 standard Cab. bottlings from Corison. While I have no clear memory of tasting the wines "poor QPR" and/or "disappointing" appear as discriptors in each of my notes. It looks like I generally found them to be weak and understated. From my notes I see that I tasted the '98 Corison Cab along with '98 Heitz M.V. which I clearly remember loving.

I guess the Corison wines are just not a good fit for my palate.

[Lou Kessler]

I have tasted the '97, '98, 2000 and 2003 standard Cab. bottlings from Corison. While I have no clear memory of tasting the wines "poor QPR" and/or "disappointing" appear as discriptors in each of my notes. It looks like I generally found them to be weak and understated. From my notes I see that I tasted the '98 Corison Cab along with '98 Heitz M.V. which I clearly remember loving.

I guess the Corison wines are just not a good fit for my palate.

If you consider Corison cabs to be understated, you definetly seem to have a Parker palate. But it's different strokes for different folks. We do have many cabs that you should love.

[Brian Gilp]

I have tasted the '97, '98, 2000 and 2003 standard Cab. bottlings from Corison. While I have no clear memory of tasting the wines "poor QPR" and/or "disappointing" appear as discriptors in each of my notes. It looks like I generally found them to be weak and understated. From my notes I see that I tasted the '98 Corison Cab along with '98 Heitz M.V. which I clearly remember loving.

I guess the Corison wines are just not a good fit for my palate.

I have never had the 98, 00, or 03 but have had the 97 at least 4 different times. Weak was not a term that came to mind for me anytime I tasted it but I guess using today's Napa Cabs as a benchmark it makes sense. That said, I prefered the 94 to the 97 and the 97 to the 99.

[Brian K Miller]

"Parker Palate" may be a somewhat "derisive" term but Cathy's wines are definitely not for everyone.

Increasingly, my palate tend towards Gang of Four Cru Beaujolais, Northern Rhone Syrah, Arbois and Savoie wines (new Mondeuse vintage to try tonight!) and, especially, Loire Valley reds! (Baudry, Breton, and Lenoir Chinon!)

So...Cathy Corison's wines are right up my alley, while still providing (for me) plenty of sunny California fruit.

Strangely, I also love Heitz Cabs (although not really the Napa Valley bottling. Too much American Oak flavor) even thought they are definitely rich and big...there is still some interest and complexity there. And, they age!

[Sam Platt]

If you consider Corison cabs to be understated, you definetly seem to have a Parker palate. But it's different strokes for different folks. We do have many cabs that you should love.

Ouch Lou! My favorite Cal Cab producers are Caymus, Heitz, Ridge and Dunn. If those wines are on Bob's hit list then I guess I will have to plead to it.

It didn't dawn on me that I did not prefer the Corison wines until I read Brian's post and checked my notes. If I happen onto another vintage of the Corison (that I can afford) I will give it another shot.

[Lou Kessler]

If you consider Corison cabs to be understated, you definetly seem to have a Parker palate. But it's different strokes for different folks. We do have many cabs that you should love.

Ouch Lou! My favorite Cal Cab producers are Caymus, Heitz, Ridge and Dunn. If those wines are on Bob's hit list then I guess I will have to plead to it.

It didn't dawn on me that I did not prefer the Corison wines until I read Brian's post and checked my notes. If I happen onto another vintage of the Corison (that I can afford) I will give it another shot.

Everybody is entitled to their own likes and dislikes. Ridge and Dunn are not in the spoofed wine stable. Heitz I haven't tasted much since Joe died, there was a slump time. Caymus is usually on the "big" side but not as bad as many.