2010 Kongsgaard Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark, rich and explosive. Mocha, plums, dark cherries, tobacco, new leather and licorice all jump from the glass. The 2010 is intense and powerful, but it is also a bit closed in on itself, with less overall exuberance and a greater impression of structure than it has shown in the past, a kind of in between stage wines can enter when they are best left alone for a few years.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(Kongsgaard blends 10% merlot into his cabs): Deep red, more saturated than the 2011. Sweeter and more open on the nose, offering complex scents of black raspberry, brown sugar, truffle and underbrush. Rich, sweet and lush, but with lovely minerality energizing the flavors of blueberry and brown spices. The slowly building finish shows serious, youthfully sullen tannins that will require at least several years of bottle aging.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon explodes from the glass with juicy dark cherries, tobacco, plums, spices and grilled herbs. Despite its considerable concentration, the 2010 is quite compact. Today, the wine is much less expressive than it was when I tasted it from barrel. According to John Kongsgaard, the cold vintage produced small berries with high skin to juice ratios, great for firm, cellar worthy wines, but not exactly the conditions that make wines accessible when young. Readers who can be a little patient will be rewarded with a superb wine.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon explodes from the glass with juicy dark cherries, tobacco, plums, spices and grilled herbs. Despite its considerable concentration, the 2010 is quite compact. Today, the wine is much less expressive than it was when I tasted it from barrel. According to John Kongsgaard, the cold vintage produced small berries with high skin to juice ratios, great for firm, cellar worthy wines, but not exactly the conditions that make wines accessible when young. Readers who can be a little patient will be rewarded with a superb wine. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030. These wines from John Kongsgaard were among the highlights from the month I spent in Napa Valley this year. The overall quality level here is absolutely remarkable. It is rare to see someone who is so brilliant with so many grape varieties, but Kongsgaard seems to have the magic touch. The Chardonnays remain among the most exquisite in California. Kongsgaard favors longer elevage for his Chardonnays and is generally willing to take greater risks than most of his colleagues. No guts, no glory, as the saying goes. Well, there is plenty of glory here. Fax (707) 226-2936