2010 Vine Hill Ranch VHR Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Two-thousand ten is the first vintage which VHR makes the jump to a more serious and pedigreed wine. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2010 possesses tremendous driving intensity and tons of pure power, not to mention impressive freshness for an eleven years old wine. The 2010 is so expressive today. This is a fabulous showing. It was a generally cool year, but heat spikes at the end of the season pushed ripening and yielded wines that marry opulence and structure, as is the case here.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Cool season punctuated by heat spikes. The Cabernet was slow to ripen and there had to be a lot of leaf removal to encourage ripening. There was also sunburn so the vintage is apparently known for angularity. 'But we like dappled light', according to Bruce Phillips. Still quite a tight nose. There was a note of creosote that was to surface in other vintages on the nose. Deep and plush. Very flattering and really quite ripe. And still quite youthful. Firmer than the 2008. Still muscular. (JR)
Saturated full ruby to the rim. Brooding, very ripe scents of cassis, black cherry, licorice, minerals and dried herbs. Suave, intense and utterly fine-grained on entry, then remarkably vibrant and youthful in the middle palate, showing uncanny energy and razor-sharp definition to its urgent black fruit, mineral and floral flavors. Rare flavor intensity here! This is plush and refined yet remarkably youthful, savory and unevolved--still in need of patience. The palate-staining finish features firm, noble tannins and inexorable mounting length and vibrancy. With its sappiness and sheer personality, this is one of the monuments of the vintage, and it should easily enjoy a 30-year life span. It may yet merit an even higher score. My sample was every bit as satisfying 48 hours later.
This has the makings of a great classic from Napa Valley. There is lots of structure as well as deep, concentrated, rich fruit, a heady perfume of black currants, licorice, spring flowers and toasty oak, a full-bodied, powerful, well-delineated style, and terrific purity as well as aging potential. Still young and tightly wound, but loaded, this 2010 will benefit from a few years of bottle age, and should keep for 20+ years. Kudos to Vine Hill Ranch. Tel. (707) 944-8130, VHR@vinehillranch.com