2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
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Tasting notes
(14.8% alcohol; includes 0.5% Petit Verdot; from the third consecutive November harvest here): Bright medium ruby. Deep, alluring aromas of blue and black berries, camphor and almond extract, with a light herbal element providing lift. Very suave, rich and sweet but conveys a distinctly lower-alcohol impression than the 2009, despite the fact that the technical numbers are nearly identical. Not an opulent or particularly powerful 2010; in fact, this classic vintage is quite backward today, with its fruit in the deep background. Serious tannins and a tight finish call for extended cellaring. Steve Pride noted that the wine actually has softer tannins than the 2010 Reserve Claret, but I find this bottle clenched today. I would expect it to merit an even higher score a decade from now.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep ruby-red. Restrained aromas of musky blackcurrant, licorice and wild herbs. Densely packed and sweet, with strong acidity framing the dark berry, licorice and fresh herb flavors; in contrast to the Reserve Claret, this is black-verging-on-tarry. Tightens up considerably on the powerfully tannic finish. This very impressive 2010 cab seems to be in the process of shutting down in bottle now and calls for patience.
Graphite, pencil shavings, mint, wild flowers, melted road tar, rosemary and cedar are some of the many notes that burst from the glass in the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. All the best elements of the Pride house style come through in the glass. The 2010 is rich and intense, but also beautifully nuanced and delineated, especially for such a big wine. Firm tannins frame the explosive finish.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is already drinking remarkably well with abundant notes of creme de cassis, incense, licorice and spring flowers. Stunningly rich, full-bodied and built like a skyscraper, this wine is intense and full with velvety tannins and an overall impression of a voluptuous, opulent Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next 10-15 years. As always, this winery situated at the crest of Spring Mountain on both sides of the Napa/Sonoma counties boundary, has turned out a portfolio of interesting as well as satisfying wines. Amazingly, Pride Mountain Vineyards now owns over 85 acres at high elevation sites spread over the top of Spring Mountain. Pride Mountain’s two flagship offerings are much more limited in availability, with only 569 cases of the 2010 Claret Reserve and 1,365 cases of the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. Tel. (707) 963-4949