2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill

Bright red-ruby. A captivating cool aspect to the aromas of black raspberry, licorice and graphite. Classic youthfully dense, savory wine in a rather Old World style, showing a beautifully refined texture and a distinctly briney minerality to its flavors of blackcurrant, black cherry and chocolate. Clearly less viscous in texture than the 2009 but as strong in extract. The wine's huge but thoroughly ripe tannins shut down the chewy, savory, very long finish in the early going. This beauty should unfold spectacularly over the next 20 years.

Teasing the taster with a possible three-digit perfection is the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill. This beauty shows lots of creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur, spring flower and forest floor notes in an opulent, full-bodied, powerful, dense, rich style buttressed by significant ripe tannins and decent acidity. Again, the striking purity and singular character of this Bryant Cabernet Sauvignon oozes potential as well as pedigree. This spectacular, young Cabernet should turn out to be one of the all-time great Bryant Cabernet Sauvignons, rivaling their 1997, but slightly more structured. Forget this one for 3-4 years and drink it over the following three decades. Since its debut vintage in 1992, the Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has always been 100% Cabernet Sauvignon made from a 13-acre vineyard atop Pritchard Hill, overlooking Lake Hennessey. It is a magnificent site that has served as a catalyst for other producers to plant vineyards in this gorgeous, distinctive micro-climate and terroir. The Bettina cuvee, named after Don Bryant’s wife, is a proprietary blend from viticulturist David Abreu’s three estate vineyards, Madrona Ranch, Thorevilos and his estate on Howell Mountain called Lucia. Often dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, it usually includes a considerable amount of Cabernet Franc and smaller quantities of Merlot and Petit Verdot. A third cuvee called DB4 is the least expensive offering produced from the same vineyards as the Bettina. Although I have not tasted any recent vintages, it is made in a more forward, drinkable style. As for the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon flagship wine from Pritchard Hill, after a period where Bryant Family changed winemakers and there were numerous distractions (2001 and 2002), these wines have come back to represent some of the most singular and prodigious Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley. Tel. (707) 963-0483

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Bryant Family Vineyard is drop-dead gorgeous. A sumptuous, layered wine, the 2010 flows across the palate with stunning depth. The aromas are beautifully vibrant, nuanced and delineated, while the tannins have begun to soften just a touch, revealing superior depth, polish and finesse. Overall, this is an energetic vintage for Bryant's flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, with lovely tension and energy, not to mention tremendous overall balance. Rose petals, sweet red berries and mint wrap around the expressive, textured finish.