2010 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
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Tasting notes
Mind blowing in every way, this has so much depth of fruit, you can drink it, or eat it with a spoon. Inky in color, the sweet, black cherry liqueur, chocolate, licorice, jam, blue fruit and espresso nose takes you where its wants to, regardless of if you\'re ready or not. The wine coats your mouth, palate and stains your teeth with its insane levels of extract. This is no shy sister. it grabs your attention and keeps it too. This is still quite young. 100 Points
Critic scores
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Utter perfection, the 2010 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon (a 610-case blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc; 14.5% natural alcohol) boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with a staggering bouquet of spring flowers, graphite, creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice and subtle toast in the background. Opulent and full-bodied with a multidimensional personality, gorgeous purity and a stunning, flawless texture, this spectacular wine is among the wines of the vintage. Under the ownership of Stan Kroenke, this vineyard has been replanted and a new cellar has been constructed. The production of Screaming Eagle has remained between 700-1,000 cases, and a second wine, the Second Flight, includes 520-800 cases. The introduction of a second wine is an attempt to keep Screaming Eagle at its mythical level of quality. This vineyard, situated on the valley floor at the Oakville Crossroads across the road from the Rudd Estate, encompasses 60 acres, but only a small percentage is used for these two cuvees. Based on the three vintages I tasted, it appears the Second Flight wines include much less Cabernet Sauvignon and more Merlot than the flagship Screaming Eagle. Tel. (707) 944-0749
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with an exotic combination of pure power and intensity. Plums, mocha, lavender, espresso, licorice and new leather all blossom in a brooding, imposing wine that is going to require quite a bit of patience. This is another huge, dark Screaming Eagle. Plums, smoke, licorice and melted road tar add complexity on a huge crescendo of exotic aromas and flavors. The 2010 is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc.
(75% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot and 9% cabernet franc; the harvest here ended on October 13, about two weeks later than usual): Brilliant ruby-red. Urgent aromas of crushed boysenberry, wild herbs, licorice and spearmint are complemented by sexy oak tones. Densely packed and electric, with great energy to the highly concentrated, pliant flavors of black fruits, cocoa powder and flowers. Still quite youthfully backward, but the inexorable slowly mounting finish and big but noble tannins suggest a long and glorious evolution in bottle. Owing to the small clusters, thick skins and concentration of tannins, this wine got a longer elevage than usual, with the bottling done at the end of November 2012.
About the producer
Screaming Eagle is one of the Napa Valley’s original cult Cabernets. Right from the first release, the now iconic producer garnered huge scores and a fanatic following.