2010 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages

Dark plum, black cherries, licorice, smoke and new leather are all layered into the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cepages. This is another huge, intense wine from Chateau St. Jean, but the flavors have a sense of brightness and cut that is not found in the 2009 Reserve reds, much of that coming from the higher acidity of the vintage. I would give the 2010 at least a few years in bottle. It has more than enough freshness to age well for a number of years. The cooler vintage balances some of the wine's more overt qualities nicely. (AG) 92+

Far superior is their flagship offering for Bordeaux varietal blends, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cepages, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. It possesses a deep ruby/purple color along with notes of cranberry sauce, black cherries, black currants, dusty, loamy soil, unsmoked cigar tobacco and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied and rich with light tannins as well as a textured mouthfeel, there are 7,000 cases of this beauty that can be enjoyed over the next 10-12 years. Chateau St. Jean offers some fabulous values in their portfolio, particularly for readers interested in Sauvignon Blanc (which they call Fume Blanc), one of California’s finest Pinot Blancs and their generic Sonoma Chardonnay, which is an absolute steal at $15. There’s also a new entry of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay that’s slightly more expensive. I tasted six Chardonnays from Chateau St. Jean, and, surprisingly, the least expensive cuvees fared better than the higher priced offerings, although none of them are expensive. The red wines, especially those from the 2011 vintage, are somewhat hit or miss, although none miss by too much. Tel. (707) 833-4134