It looks like the California wine industry is officially out of the recession. Yesterday, at the annual Premiere Napa Valley wine auction, the Napa Valley Vintners Association cleaned up, earning a total of $3.1 million, a gain of 31% from 2011’s total. As usual, the auction featured 200 unique wines, most from the 2010 vintage, which were sold to raise funds for the organization. These wines are made solely for the auction in quantities of 5, 10, or 20 cases, and often represent the highest quality wine that each producer can make.
For anyone (such as myself) with no aspirations of buying fairly expensive, very unique wines, the primary point of interest lies in the tasting held before the auction, where these two hundred barrel lots are made available for members of the trade and the media to sample.
So what’s the good in me tasting wines that most won’t be able to buy, let alone drink for some time? As I swoon over some of these wines, I often ask myself the same question.
Some of these wines can actually be purchased by the public, though they require persistence to track down, plus a cavalier attitude towards the price of wine (the top grossing auction lot yesterday was 5 cases of wine from DANA estates, sold at $70,000, or $1167 per bottle).
In recent years, the Napa Valley Vintners Association has been making a concerted effort to give the public access to these wines, and as a result, interested parties can look up the winning bidders on the auction site, and see which lots may be sold by the winning bidders.
If you’re like me, however, you probably can’t afford a single bottle of even the lowest priced wines from this event, so really, apart from offering a ringside view on the uppermost echelon of California wine buying, the Premiere Napa Valley auction provides three main 
insights:
1. The measure of demand strength for the luxury end of the Napa wine industry
2. A gauge of the quality of wine that a large number of Napa producers can make when they really try
3. A broad sense of the qualities of a particular vintage — in this case, 2010
I attend every year for these insights, along with the fantastic food and laid-back camaraderie that accompanies the event.
The bidding action was strong from the earliest auction lots and continued through a strong finish. The demand for what Napa has to offer is clearly strong, and to the extent that the winning bidders represent folks that will be re-selling these wines, the size of the bids and the overall proceeds from the auction represent a clear assessment of where the market is going for Napa wine. If I were a winemaker in Napa, I’d feel pretty good about the results.
But let’s talk about something more interesting, which is what these ultra-special wines might tell us about the quality of many regular bottlings that are due to hit the market in 12 to 24 months. What does the 2010 vintage taste like? For those who know what they were doing, in a word: beautiful. While the somewhat challenging vintage offered a wild ride — a desperately cold and wet spring followed by a cool summer, punctuated by August heat spikes and then capped off by rain during the harvest — the fruit that didn’t succumb to shatter, botrytis, mildew, rot, or sunburn seemed to fare very well. The best wines have a wonderful bright acidity, juicy floral fruit, and vibrant deep colors. Managing tannins seemed to be somewhat of a challenge for some, with some wines suffering from thick, rigid tannins that dried the mouth and were clearly out of balance. Those that farmed and vinified well, however, were rewarded with smooth, supple tannins that, combined with the excellent acidity, promise wonderful aging potential for many 2010 wines.
In summary, I’m quite excited about the 2010 vintage, though clearly the year provided the opportunity for some potentially challenged wines if vintners didn’t keep careful tabs on their fruit.
The Premiere barrel tasting is quite a marathon, especially for a guy like me who sets out to taste literally every single one of the 200 wines on offer each year. This year I took the time to taste several of the auction lots on the day prior to the auction, which didn’t do much to change the event from being a several-hour-long slog through a lot of big wines, but it did allow me to actually make brief tasting notes for each of the wines, instead of my normal recording of scores for most wines and a few random notes for my favorites.
So below I offer my notes on all 200 of the barrel lots. These notes are rapid, initial impressions, not carefully considered tasting notes, so please appreciate them for what they are.
Tasting Notes
WINES WITH A SCORE BETWEEN 9.5 AND 10
1996 Schramsberg Vineyards” J. Schram Late Disgorged” Sparkling Wine, Napa Valley
Nutty, yeasty, juicy, explosive, lemon, gorgeous
2010 Lail Vineyards “Henry III” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright, explosively juicy, cherry, gorgeous, lush, really well balanced, faint tannins
2010 Barbour Vineyards “Man Cave Blend III” Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Gorgeous, dark fruit, mysterious
2010 Kapcsandy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville
Beautiful, balanced lush, bright, juicy, lean, taut,long
2010 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Bright, juicy, explosive fruit, gorgeous acidity
2010 Levy & McClellan Red Wine, Napa Valley
Rich, gorgeous, smooth tannins, cherry, plum, dark, woody finish
2010 Ovid Napa Valley “Hexameter” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Gorgeous plush,hint of sweetness, really powerful, lovely
2010 PlumpJack Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Pure cherry, bright, explosive, gorgeous, totally awesome. Long cedar notes. Best wine ever from PJ?
2010 Schrader “Double Diamond Never Ever Cuvee” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Gorgeously rich, rich dark fruit, lovely cherry, plum, stunning
2010 Arietta “Against the Grain” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Beautiful, mix of cherry with a hint of bell pepper, gorgeous
2010 Lewis Cellars “Best of the Best Premiere Blend” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Sweet, but not too sweet, rich, ripe lush, gorgeous powdery tannins
WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9.5
2010 Clos Du Val “JG’s Joie de Vin” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Nutty, dark berry cherry fruit, smooth stony, restrained, lovely graphite dirt, cherry
2010 Robert Mondavi Winery “To Kalon Vineyard, Monastery Block” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Bright pure clean, lovely, perfectly balanced, long, juicy. Yum
2010 PATEL Napa Valley Malbec, Yountville
Sweet luscious fruit, gorgeous fine tannins, very beautiful
2010 Realm Cellars “PNV Cuvee” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Rich, smooth tannins, core of black cherry, supple, big, powerful
2010 Casa Nuestra Winery & Vineyard “Oakville Farmhouse Historic Blend” Red Wine, Oakville
Wonderful earthy, cherry, blackberry, juicy, nutty, very nice, very unique
2010 The Hess Collection Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder
Gorgeous acidity, yummy dark fruit, supple tannin, stunner
2010 Volker Eisele Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Chiles Valley District
Juicy dark, bright, cherry, plum, cedar, lovely acidity
2010 Tournesol Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright juicy bold, gorgeous fruit, great acidity, lovely
2010 Farella-Park Vineyards “Terrace Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright gorgeous fruit, cherry, plum, great acid. More new oak than I would like, but well integrated
2010 Parallel Napa Valley “Fortune Teller” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Gorgeously bright, juicy, lean, lovely tannins, great acidity, power and restraint. Delicious
2010 Continuum Estate Red Wine, Napa Valley
Beautiful, balanced, bright
2010 Coup De Foudre “The Lightning Bolt Blend” Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Gorgeous, bright juicy, lovely cherry and plum, long fine tannins
2010 Chappellet Vineyard and Winery “Heaven on the Hill” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright juicy pure cherry, taut tannins
2010 Newton Vineyard “The Puzzle” Red Wine, Spring Mountain District
Lush plummy scents, dark cherry and chocolate fruit. Sweet oak and a long finish. Luscious
2010 Peter Paul Wines “Magic Mountain” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Juicy, bright, cedar, cool, wet stone, lovely
2010 TOR Kenward Family Wines “2010 TOR Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer To Kalon” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Gorgeous bright cherry, juicy supple tannins, lovely long, cedar, tobacco on finish
2010 Corison Winery “Premiere Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright juicy, cherry, balanced, lovely, lean, wet stone quality
2010 Rocca Family Vineyards “Grigsby Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville
Eucalyptus/mint chocolate, pretty, delicious
2010 Buoncristiani Family Winery “The Quattro” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Juicy, bright lush cherry cassis, great acidity
2010 Shafer Vineyards “Sunspot Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Incredibly bright, juicy fruit, lovely, lush, supple tannins
2010 Anomaly Vineyards “Ode to Ollie” Red Wine, St. Helena
Bright chocolaty plum and cherry, soft suede tannins, juicy, yum
2010 Ladera Vineyards “Two Mountains” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Floral, juicy, bright cherry, great acid
2010 Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Bright juicy, great purity, length lovely, suede tannins
2010 VHR Vine Hill Ranch “Assessment” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Cassis, juicy, bright, very fine tannins, cherry, cola. Lovely
2010 Blankiet Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville
Juicy bright lean, wet stone and earth with, supple tannins, yum
2011 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District
Grapey nose, bright juicy fruit. Fantastic acidity, cassis and black cherry. Faint oak signature and leathery tannins
2010 Stony Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Lean, even stony (duh), bright, cool, fine tannins, old school/old world
2010 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Rich black cherry, lush, very ripe, good acid, long, cedar, tobacco, smooth
2010 Inglenook “Niebaum Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Gorgeous dark fruit, lovely stony acidity, wet slate, yum
2010 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright, good acidity, juicy, long finish, tobacco, cedar, lovely, long. Supple tannins
2010 Hourglass “Five Element Theory” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright minty fruit, touch heavy on the oak but lovely and juicy
2010 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Juicy, bright, lean and lovely, cherry, plum, supple tannins
2010 Derenoncourt California “A Tale of Two Terroirs” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Rich dark cherry, cassis, nice tannins, lovely
WINES WITH A SCORE BETWEEN 9 AND 9.5
2010 Erba Mountainside Vineyards “Clonal Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Cool, earthy fruit, bright, lean very pretty
2010 Antica Napa Valley – Antinori Family Wine Estate “Antinori 1” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Lean cool fruit, nice earthy balance, old-world feel, lovely
2010 Hunnicutt Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley
Hint of green bell paper, juicy bright cherry, plum, lovely tannins
2010 Coquerel Family Wine Estates Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Slightly sulfurous nose, bright, crisp, lean, lemon and apple. Tasty
2009 Spelletich Cellars “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright, rich juicy, cherry
2010 Martin Estate “Puerta Dorada Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Bell pepper, cherry, earth, old-school, fine tannins, lovely
2010 Louis M. Martini Winery “254 Series” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Drying tannins, pretty fruit, Lean, cool, long, nice
2010 Thirteen Appellations Red Wine, Napa Valley
Very pretty fruit cherry and plum, supple, muscular tannins
2010 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Super thick tannins around gorgeous dark fruit. A monster, but a good one
2010 Larkmead Vineyards “Best out of the Blocks” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Very pretty, bright, juicy fruit, lovely acids, muscular tannins
2010 Rombauer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Rich dark, supple tannins, cherry, dark
2010 PEJU “Wine Thief Cepage” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Dark chocolate and mint, sweet aromas. Yummy
2010 Terra Valentine “The Crown Jewel” Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District
Smooth, cherry, oak is heavy but well integrated, polished
2010 La Jota Vineyard Company Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Bright juicy fruit, cherry, plum, lovely tannins
2010 Renteria Wines “River Block” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Sweet nose, bright juicy, lovely, great acid
2010 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder
Gorgeous dark fruit, powdery tannins, long great acidity
2010 Textbook “OMG it’s good (but don’t tell anyone it’s Merlot)” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Lush, juicy, plummy, spiciness, suede tannins, yummy
2010 Coho “Michael Black Vineyard ” Merlot, Napa Valley
Bright juicy lovely
2010 The Vineyardist Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Bright dark fruit, clean, nice velvet tannin, smooth
2009 Spring Mountain Vineyard “Elivette’s Sister” Red Wine, Spring Mountain District
Heavy graphite and new oak on nose, lush seamless cherry fruit, long, aromatic sweetness
2010 Pride Mountain Vineyards “Cuvée des Quatre Cépages” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Cedar and cherry give way to wet dirt and dust. Core of cherry, dusty tannins
2010 Detert Family Vineyards “East Block 30-Year-Old Vines” Cabernet Franc, Oakville
Beautiful nose, bright juicy fruit, lovely plummy, cola, cherry. Great. Slight heat on finish
2010 Paradigm Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Black cherry, lush, bright, balanced, lovely hint of dirt
2010 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Rich black cherry, aggressive tannins, chocolate, rich, needs lots of time
2010 Laird Family Estate Red Wine, Napa Valley
Bright cherry, dark thick tannins, cedar
2010 VinRoc Wine Caves “Koko’s Block” Cabernet Sauvignon, Atlas Peak
Juicy, bright, cherry and plum
2010 Vineyard 7 & 8 “Collaboration” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Nice vegetal note amidst cherry and cocoa powder
2010 Porter Family Vineyards “Duet” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Juicy bright, lovely fruit, tight tannins
2010 Hill Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Dark cherry, bright fruit, stiff tannins
2010 Fontanella Family Winery “Lokoya Road” Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder
Rich dark cherry, smooth tannins, great acidity
2010 Signorello Estate “Cuvee Athena” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright juicy, thick tannins, cherry
2010 Clos Pegase “Antipodes” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Sweet fruit, cherry, bright, juicy
2010 Boeschen Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Bright cherry, lush but not overripe, juicy
2010 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Creamy cherry chocolate, supple tannins
2010 Mi Sueño Winery “Seleccion Herrera” Red Wine, Napa Valley
A bit sweet, bright, juicy, rich and ripe
2010 Patland Estate Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Juicy cherry, cedar, thick tannins
2011 Ancien Wines “Selection Massale” Pinot Noir, Napa Valley
Juicy, balanced, raspberry, bright, fine tannins
2010 O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Bright, juicy, cherry and cedar, nice long, lean
2010 Somerston “Gauntlet” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark juicy, cassis, velvet tannins that have strong attack on finish, good acidity
2010 Chimney Rock Winery “Tomahawk Vineyard Tete de Cuvée Unfiltered” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Bright juicy fruit, new oak presence, smooth, bright, yummy, long, polished
2010 Cornerstone Cellars “The Premiere Cornerstone” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright juicy, cherry and cedar, elegant
2010 Chateau Boswell Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Cassis and dark chocolate cherry, good acidity, light spiciness
2010 Bressler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Juicy, dark cherry, great acids, bright, well integrated oak
2010 Buehler Vineyards “Kindly Well” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Sour cherry, cedar, bright acids
2009 Promise Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Bright cherry cola, muscular tannins
2010 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Cherry core, cool, taut
2010 David Arthur Vineyards “XXXI” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Very ripe, bright and juicy
2010 Nickel & Nickel “State Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville
Bright juicy, drying tannins
2009 Tuck Beckstoffer Wines Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark fruit, rich, nice acidity
2010 HALL “Schweizer” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Bright, juicy, cocoa, cherry, smooth tannins
2011 Domaine Chandon Pinot Meunier, Los Carneros
Juicy, raspberry, taut, fine tannins
WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 9
2010 Pine Ridge Vineyards “5×5” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Oaky, bright fruit, hint of sweetness, pure
2010 Ghost Block & Markham Vineyards Red Wine, Yountville
Cassis, dark ripe fruit, rich, light tannin, sweetness
2010 Kitchak Cellars “Silverado Bench Symphony” Merlot, Napa Valley
Plummy, darker fruit, nice supple tannins
2010 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars “XL” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Juicy, cool, bright, lean
2010 St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery “Rutherford Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark fruit, cocoa, nice tannins, cool fruit
2010 Beringer Vineyards “Home Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Dark fruit, grippy tannins, tobacco, long
2010 Honig Vineyard & Winery “Westside Trio” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Juicy dark fruit, pretty aggressive tannins
2010 Conn Creek Winery “Howellin’ For You” Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Sweet fruit, thick tannins
2010 Twomey Cellars “SoCaRaNa” Merlot, Napa Valley
Smooth, thick tannins around core of dark fruit, pretty, brooding
2010 Long Meadow Ranch Winery “LW Block” Merlot, Napa Valley
Bell pepper, cherry, plum, elegant, pretty
2010 St. Clement Vineyards “Paras Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder
Darker fruit, back cherry, drying tannins, pretty
2010 Moone-Tsai “To Kalon” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Very ripe, somewhat sweet, lush, powdery tannins, chalky
2010 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Rich cherry plum, thick- peanut butter thick – tannins
2010 Oberon Wines “Three Elevations” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Ripe, drying tannins, dark cherry and plum
2011 Saintsbury “Brown Ranch” Pinot Noir, Los Carneros
Bright raspberry and leaf-stem, juicy, earthy, fine tannis
2010 Casa Piena and Jones Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Sweet, lush, bright fruit, a bit too sweet, but super juicy
2010 Oakville East Exposure “The Sun and The Moon” Cabernet Franc, Oakville
Heavy oak on nose gives way to bright juicy cherry and raspberry, good acid, drying tannins
2010 PureCru Napa Valley “Return of the Secret Clone” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright, fruity
2010 John Anthony Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Crazy blueberry explosion. Never tasted more blueberry in a wine. To the point of being a little bizarre, but the fruit is tasty
2010 Blackbird Vineyards Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley
Bright juicy, cedar, thick tannins
2010 Arkenstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Howell Mountain
Sweet, bright fruit
2009 XTANT “Dirt Blend” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Lovely fruit, bright juicy acidity, heavy new oak. Too bad, would rate much higher with less oak
2010 Clark-Claudon Vineyards “Wisdom Maker” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark, brooding, thick tannins, cassis
2010 Ahnfeldt Wines “Quid Pro Quo V” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Rich cherry, heavy oak, but nice
2010 Cliff Lede Vineyards “Dream Hill” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Lush cherry, chocolate, powdery tannins
2010 Monticello Vineyards “The Tributary” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Nice herbal, hint of farmyard, cherry, plush tannins, cedar
2010 Groth Vineyards & Winery “Sweet Spot” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Ripe cassis, plush, tart and sweet (think of the candy), bitter finish
2010 Checkerboard Vineyards “Bear Hollow” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Overtly sweet, but gorgeous fruit, cherry
2010 Krupp Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark cherry, cedar, thick tannin
2010 Provenance Vineyards and Hewitt Vineyard Red Wine, Napa Valley
Slightly reduced? cherry fruit, cedar, thick tannin, goods acid
2010 Beaulieu Vineyard “Georges de Latour Private Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Bright, creamy cherry, thick tannins
2010 Tamber Bey “DCV Sandbox Blend I” Cabernet Franc, Yountville
Nutty, bright, floral, cherry-cedar, cocoa powder
2009 Howell at the Moon “Knoll Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Creaminess, cherry, cedar
2010 J. Davies Vineyards “Nopales Block” Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District
Leaner, brown sugar and cherry, woodiness
2010 JAX Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Thick tannins, cassis
2010 Spotted Owl Vineyards “Kiss of Verdot” Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder
Dark fruit, cassis, juicy, stiff tannins
2010 Paoletti Estates Winery Malbec, Calistoga
Cassis, blueberry, bright
2010 von Strasser Winery “Rudy’s Choice” Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District
Bright, tart cherry, good acid
2009 Heitz Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Lean, sour cherry, anise, cedar, taut, cool
2010 William Hill Estate Winery “Bench Blend” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Juicy cherry fruit, drying tannins
2010 Peacock Family Vineyard “The Shire” Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District
Juicy, bright cherry, cocoa powder
2010 Maroon Wines “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Sweet, very ripe, heavy new oak, but pretty
2010 BURLY “Kiss” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark cherry, thick tannins, smoky oak
2010 Montagna Napa Valley “The Freshman” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Drying tannins, good acid, lean, hint of bitterness
2010 Snowden Vineyards Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley
Heavy oak, bright fruit, definitely too much oak, but lovely and bright
2010 Mount Veeder Winery “Slope 30” Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder
Minty, cherry, herbal, thick tannin, good acids
WINES WITH A SCORE BETWEEN 8.5 AND 9
2010 Duckhorn Vineyards “Three Palms Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Tart cherry, cedar dark
2011 Grgich Hills Estate “Paris Tasting Commemorative” Chardonnay, Los Carneros
Nutty, vegetal, bright juicy,wet rock, chamomile, herbs
2009 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Slight funky smell, dark very oaky fruit. Aggressive tannins, drying
2010 Whitehall Lane “The Deep Six” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark cassis plum, oak, drying tannins
2010 Miner Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Bright plummy fruit, heavy drying oak tannins and wood flavor
2010 Reynolds Family Winery “Prize Fighter” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Darker cherry fruit, drying tannins, smooth, hint of bitterness
2010 Paraduxx “Rector Creek Vineyard” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Slight funk, core of plummy cherry, very drying tannins
2010 Oakville Ranch Vineyards “PURE Brilliance” Cabernet Franc, Oakville
Smells sweet, nutmeg, very ripe, muscular tannins
2010 Trinchero Napa Valley “Mountain to Mountain Cuvee” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark cherry, drying tannins
2010 Silverado Vineyards “SOLO” Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Plummy even blackberry fruit, leathery tannins
2011 Elyse Winery “Mixed Black” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Sweet nose, dark, unusual fruit character, sour note, chunky tannins
2010 Sawyer Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Oak-infused cherry, lots of new wood, drying tannins
2010 Gemstone Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville
Sweet, ultra ripe, gorgeous tannins, great black cherry fruit, but too sweet, hot finish
2010 Trefethen Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley
Cool, stony
2010 Titus Vineyards “Then and Now” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark and spicy, thick tannins
2010 Merryvale Vineyards “Schlatter Family Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Thick tannins, quite ripe
NV The Grade Cellars “A PhenomeNon-Vintage” Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Tart cherry, drying tannins
2010 Cakebread Cellars “Vaca Range Blend” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Smoky, graphite, heavy oak toast, cherry, a bit much wood
2010 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Black cherry ,creamy, odd carob note
2011 Madonna Estate “Due Ragazze” Pinot Noir, Los Carneros
Sweet raspberry, strong tannins, sweet
2010 Kenefick Ranch Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Tight tannins, cherry, bright, tart
2010 Frank Family Vineyards “Winston Hill Block 5 (Heart Block)” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Ripe, ripe, ripe. Drying tannins, cherry
2009 Kuleto Estate “Gatto Nero” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Unusual blend, dark juicy, not fully resolved
2010 Freemark Abbey “Wood Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Oaky cherry, cassis, blueberry, drying tannins
2011 Artesa Winery “Estate” Pinot Noir, Los Carneros
Light, bright juicy raspberry, simpler
2009 Jarvis “Lake William” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Dark cherry, drying tannins, good acidity
2010 Sodaro Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Oaky fruit, drying tannins
2010 Charnu Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Bright cherry, drying tannins, heavy oak signature, tiny bit-o-heat on finish
2010 Terlato Family Vineyards “Rutherford Reflection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Dried fruit, cherry, figgy, bit-o-heat, cedar, leather
2010 Cimarossa “Poppy Flats” Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Cherry, plum, drying tannins, tart
2010 Canard Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Calistoga
Uber-ripe, think tannins
2010 Faust “Le Démon de Midi” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dark, ripe, oaky, but otherwise well made
WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8.5
2010 Ballentine Vineyards Petit Verdot, St. Helena
Tart, dark cassis, thick tannins. Stunning color, but plain
2010 Amuse Bouche Winery Merlot, Napa Valley
Sweet oak, and more oak, too much!! overly dark fruit, drying mouthfeel
2010 Sequoia Grove Vineyards “Tonella Vineyard” Cabernet Franc, Rutherford
Bright juicy cherry fruit, long, tacky tannins, too heavy on oak
2010 Alpha Omega “Proprietary” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Oaky, with thick tannins. Overdone
2009 Dutch Henry Winery “Lost Dog” Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Tart fruit, drying tannins
2010 Revana Family Vineyard “Premiere Cuvee” Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
Nutty, dusty, oaky nose, too much oak, cherry
2011 Truchard Vineyards Pinot Noir, Los Carneros
Reduced (?) nose, bright, raspberry, cedar
2010 Turnbull Wine Cellars “Number Nine” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Super-ripe, prune, cherry, thick
2010 Far Niente “Martin Stelling Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Heavy new oak, drying tannins, cherry and cedar. Too much wood
2011 Acacia Vineyard “Lone Tree Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Los Carneros
Raspberry, cedar, wood
2010 Amici Cellars “Morisoli Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
Super-ripe, drying tannins, oak
2010 ROY Estate “Voix Basse (a whisper)” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Ultra-ripe, black cherry, cassis, with hint of sweetness, but far prunier than I’d like
2010 Stags’ Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District
Heavy tannin, cherry cedar, hot finish
2010 Raymond Vineyards “Evolution” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Cherry, oak (bit too much) cinnamon, leathery tannin, spicy
2010 Keenan Winery “Hard to Get.” Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District
Pungent, piney, sharp. Cherry, herbs
2010 Black Stallion Winery “Evolution” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Tart cherry, drying tannins
2010 Frias Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District
Plummy, faint tannins. Good acid, somewhat plain
WINES WITH A SCORE BETWEEN 8 AND 8.5
2010 Flying Horse Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Raisiny, dried fruit. Drying tannins, bitter
2010 Tetra “Right Bank Blend” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Ultra ripe, ultra heavy extract, raisined
2010 Robert Craig Winery “Block Two” Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
Drying tannins, not great.
2010 Rubissow “Hawkwind” Red Wine, Mount Veeder
Raisiny, all dried out
Non-Vintage ZD Wine “Petit Abacus” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Heavy, sweet oak and vanilla, caramel, too much
2009 Schweiger Vineyards Malbec, Spring Mountain District
Slightly sulfurous, cassis and burnt match heads, chocolate, but unfortunately probably in an awkward stage now. Might improve.
WINES WITH A SCORE AROUND 8
2010 Silver Oak Cellars “NaSoCaRa” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Oak totally excessive, obscures fruit
2010 Cain Vineyard & Winery “Francois’Pick: AxR Cain Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District
Funky nose (maybe brett!?) cherry, leather, barnyard tasting as well
2009 Hestan Vineyards “Stephanie” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Super-ripe, flabby, thick tannins
2010 Rutherford Hill Winery “Harmony” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Drying tannins, super-heavy oak, fruit overwhelmed
