2010 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
A big, classic St. Helena Cabernet, the powerful 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld possesses a glorious bouquet of creme de cassis and kirsch, layers of fruit and power, wonderful purity and a long, full-bodied, voluptuous finish. This is another dazzling Cabernet Sauvignon from proprietress Kathryn Hall that should age for 20-25 years. I tasted eight cuvees of 2010 Cabernet Sauvignons from Hall. I will write abbreviated notes on the eight 2012s I tasted, which is a great vintage in Napa. Based on my experience with the Hall wines, they show better from bottle than from barrel samples, always a sign of a high quality winery. All of these wines possess splendid opaque blue/purple colors. A remarkable thing about all of Hall’s 2012s is that they should be accessible when released given the sweetness of the tannins, yet they should have 20-30-year drinking windows. Congratulations to Kathryn Hall. I have been high on her wines since I first tasted them in the offices of David Ramey. It is rewarding to see that she is realizing the enormous potential that accompanied her debut wines. Tel. (707) 967-2626
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(15.6% alcohol; 65% new oak): Medium red-ruby. Redcurrant, tobacco, mocha and a hint of cola on the expressive, slightly high-toned, oaky nose. Plush, round and fine-grained, with very sweet, creamy flavors of currant, sassafras, chocolate and spicy oak. A bit aggressive but open-knit; the smooth tannins will not get in the way of early drinking.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Hall Bergfeld captures the essence of this St. Helena site in its perfumed, red berries, silky tannins and phenomenal length. This is one of the more primary wines at Hall, but it seems to have a very bright future. Today the 2010 is way too rich to truly enjoy, but is super-impressive just the same. A huge, intense, racy finish rounds things out in style.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld boasts a striking inner perfume and big, expressive fruit, both supported by firm, yet well-integrated tannins. This is one of the racier, flashier 2010s here. It will be a fascinating wine to follow over the next year. Will the vintage character emerge more fully as time passes?