2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23

In a vintage such as 2010 where individual terroirs are so clearly marked, the Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Cask 23 – a blend of the SLV and Fay – is at a distinct disadvantage because it naturally lacks the character and personality of those two wines. I must also note that the SLV and Fay have improved dramatically on their own terms, so the rationale of blending them is further diminished. To be sure the Cask 23 is an excellent representation of the vintage. There is plenty of 2010 fruit, structure and tannin, along with attractive hints of smoke, tar and incense, but at the end of the day, I find the Cask 23 less satisfying than Stags’ Leap Wine Cellars’ very best wines. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030. These 2010 Cabernet Sauvignons from Stag's Leap Wine Cellars are just as exciting from bottle as they were from barrel last year. The improvement in quality that has taken place here over the last few years is simply remarkable. I also tasted several samples of the 2011s, but as was the case at many addresses, the wines were too raw and unfinished to properly evaluate. Unfortunately, there will be no 2011 Cask 23. Dec 2012, www.erobertparker.com, Drink: 2016-2030