2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve
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Tasting notes
Saturated bright ruby to the rim. Musky aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, tobacco and graphite minerality. Large-scaled, plush and sweet on entry, then an utterly seamless wave of black fruits, minerals and cocoa powder on the palate. Lovely fruit sweetness nicely supported by serious broad tannins. A big boy for this bottling but not heavy. This wonderfully plush, pliant, tactile wine displays the ripeness of the vintage in spades; it's almost porty in its richness but benefits from an element of violet lift. Finishes with serious but ripe tannins and slowly mounting length. A knockout today but may be even better as it burns off a bit more of its baby fat. In fact, my sample showed more shape--even juiciness--with 72 hours in the recorked bottle, without any loss of fruit. A beauty.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
(14.6% alcohol; 66% St. Helena, 18% Chabot, 5% Tournahu north of St. Helena, 7% Morisoli in Rutherford and 4% Verhey in Coombsville): Saturated ruby to the rim. Deep, brooding, highly complex aromas of blackberry, licorice and sweet oak show a slightly port-like quality. Full, plush and sweet, offering outstanding chewy depth to its superripe flavors of dark berries, bitter chocolate, licorice and mint. The wine's huge baby fat is framed and energized by nicely integrated acidity. Boasts an impressive combination of fruit, flesh and underlying structure, finishing with wonderfully smooth tannins. A spectactular early showing for this wine, which should enjoy a glorious evolution in bottle.
Deep crimson. Very complete and luscious on the nose. I'd be very happy to drink this as a nightcap – great balance if you don't mind the warm finish – but I think it could be a bit of a knockout blow at the dinner table. Certainly very well made. Very typical Napa Valley Cab well done. (JR)