2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill
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Tasting notes
(15.7% alcohol): Bright medium ruby. Distinctly candied, liqueur-like scents of dark berry pastille, licorice and violet; barely showing secondary scents today. Silky, hedonistic wine with incredible grain and depth and a compellingly sappy quality to its powerful berry fruit. An incredible fruit bomb with huge dusty tannins and outstanding rising length. There's something almost magically primary about this classically dry, superconcentrated wine, which, like a number of top 2002s, seems to be in a state of suspended animation today.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon was made during a transitional period for Bryant when the winery was being constructed and a dramatic change in the winemaking was taking place, from Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer, who had made all the vintages until 2002, to Philippe Melka and Mark Aubert, and of course today, a new team. One of the finest vineyards of Napa Valley, Bryant is situated high in the Lake Hennessey region. While the 2002 is not one of their all-time great wines, it is performing beautifully, revealing plenty of classic notes of blueberry liqueur intermixed with acacia flower, incense, camphor and graphite notes. Full-bodied, opulent and generous, with low acidity, it can be drunk now and over the next 15+ years. www.bryantwines.com
When your expectations are exceeded, you know it was a good wine. At times, I\'ve found some California Cult wines were too extreme. I did not have high hopes for 2002 Bryant Family. Much to my delight, this stunning wine was much better than expected! With an inviting perfume packed with earth, espresso, black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, smoke, chocolate and truffle, I was hooked. On the palate, the wine was even better than expected! Dense, concentrated, complex and packed with layers of sweet, ripe, polished fruit, everything was in balance and harmony. Nothing was out of place in the long, seamless finish. This sexy wine delivers the goods. 98 Points
Saturated ruby. Sappy black fruits on the fresh, slightly medicinal nose; shows an almost grapey primary character. Dense, bright and full-bodied; offers an uncanny combination of weight and energy. This has superb fruit, given lift by floral, medicinal and licorice notes. A pure cabernet with terrific power and thrust, but without any heaviness. The very fine tannins belie the wine's serious structure for aging. Winemaker Philippe Melka points out that this is the second vintage to come from completely different vines planted in 1996 through 1998: different row spacing and row direction, different clones, different rootstocks.
About the producer
Founded by Don Bryant in 1986, Bryant Estate is built around a 13-acre vineyard rising from 900 to 1,200 feet on Pritchard Hill. Now led by Bettina Bryant, its acclaimed Bryant Family Vineyard is regarded as one of Napa Valley’s benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons.