1995 Napa Valley

Heavy winter rains and a precocious spring sparked an early budburst in 1995. Yet cool, cloudy weather in April and May slowed the progression of the vines right down so that bloom was later than average, and the growing season continued to lag right up until harvest. Fortunately, June and July came in hot and sunny, with just a few days breaking the 100-degree Fahrenheit barrier. September cooled down again, and it was a relatively late harvest for Cabernet Sauvignon, generally occurring mid to late October.

The 1995 Napa Cabs are lighter, less intense, and fresher than the 1994s, yet the best are contenders in terms of quality. There is also less consistency of quality compared to its predecessor, therefore the slightly lower score. A fair few 1995s have withstood the test of time and are drinking well today, though they are likely at their peak.