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Search Flickinger Wine Inventory
Inventory updated: Sat, Oct 25, 2025 11:02 AM cst
Your search criteria:
Regions: USA Red
Vintages: Between 2010 and 2010
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | USA Red |
| Abreu |
2010 |
Howell Mountain Proprietary Blend  |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 100 (11/2013): The 2010 Howell Mountain is simply magnificent. Inky, deep, and full-bodied to the core, the 2010 blasts out of the glass with graphite, pencil shavings, menthol, melted road tar, plum, cassis and licorice notes. The 2010 is an exciting, viscerally thrilling wine that takes hold of the sense and never lets up. Today, it is firing on all cylidners. The Howell Mountain is the only Abreu wine that incorporates Malbec, a variety that seems to work magic here. The 2010 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec and 5% Merlot.
WA 94-97 (10/2013): An absolute blockbuster, the 2010 Howell Mountain includes Malbec and Petit Verdot blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as a sumptuous perfume of barbecue smoke, lead pencil shavings and wet rocks. This ripe, smoky, intense, full-bodied wine reveals a boatload of tannins, but also richer fruit and a deeper, multidimensional mouthfeel and finish than the 2009, which appears to be more broodingly backward and structured. This appears to be a great success. Consume it over the next 25-30 years. |
|
| Alban Vineyards |
2010 |
Reva Alban Estate Syrah |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 95+ (8/2015): Coming from the coolest vintage on record at the time (before 2011), the 2010 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard still hit 15.2% natural alcohol, of which it doesn't show a trace. Possessing the telltale Iodine and seaweed character this cuvee always shows, it has lots of darker fruits, smoked herbs, black olive and a touch of floral aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, concentrated, firm and structured, it's a serious, age-worthy wine from John that should be forgotten for 4-5 years. |
|
| Araujo Estate |
2010 |
Eisele Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (3.0 L) |
$1,200 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (12/2012): Araujo’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is a picture perfect example of the year. Vibrant, precise and beautifully chiseled, the 2010 boasts serious depth and concentration. The aromas and flavors are incredibly vivid in this textured, dazzling Cabernet Sauvignon. Hints of dark blue and black fruit, mocha, espresso and grilled herbs flesh out on the huge finish. Today the 2010 is unusually open, but it is almost certain to shut down in bottle over the next 6-12 months. The 2010 is a super-classic Eisele Cabernet Sauvignon from Araujo. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035.
VM 95+ (6/2013): Good full, deep red-ruby. More floral and refined on the nose than the Alta Gracia, offering ineffable aromas of blueberry, brown spices, menthol, bay laurel and cedar. Marvelously silky on entry, then opens out dramatically on the back half, showing insidious, savory flavor concentration but also finishing with Outstanding grip and verve. The very fine-grained, building tannins are perked up by notes of pepper and herbs. This wonderfully poised wine, delivering great richness without any undue weight, displays classic Eisele Vineyard character without any signs of roasted fruit. Understated today, this beauty may well merit an even higher score eight or ten years down the road.
WS 94 (11/2013): Pure, rich and delicious, with a sumptuous core of melted black licorice, dark berry, nutmeg-scented spice, loamy earth and dried herb. Shows impressive focus, density and persistence. Tempting now, but should age well. Best from 2014 through 2028. 1,900 cases made. |
|
| Arietta |
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$109 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 92+ (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa from proprietor Fritz Hatton is another winner. Rich and dense with an inky/blue/purple color, plenty of tannin and graphite, a touch of oak, and attractive spice, purity and texture, this young Cabernet should be forgotten for several more years, and drunk over the following 15-20, perhaps longer. |
|
|
2010 |
88 Keys Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (5/2017): Arietta's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Keys is a deep, concentrated wine, qualities that are further brought out by extended time in barrel. Chocolate, torrefaction, spice and dark shades of fruit are pushed forward. This is an especially creamy, unctuous Cabernet that will appeal most to readers who like flamboyant wines. Andy Erickson gave the 2010 27 months in barrel. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Bond Estates (Harlan) |
2010 |
Quella Proprietary Blend |
$375 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2013): The 2010 Quella is a candidate for perfection. From the lower foothills of Pritchard Hill, it offers up notes of charcoal, graphite, espresso and copious quantities of blueberry and black raspberry liqueur, along with distinctive minerality, a full-bodied mouthfeel, moderately high tannins, gorgeous richness and a long, moderately tannic finish. Forget it for five years and drink it over the following three decades.
JS 97 (6/2014): The sister winery to Harlan made wonderful, distinctive wines in 2010. The Quella is powerful, rich and savoury.
VM 96 (11/2013): BOND's 2010 Quella is all about texture. There is virtually no sensation of tannin whatsoever in this supple, utterly gracious Cabernet Sauvignon. Rose petals, licorice, small red berries, new leather, spices and asphalt all wrap around the juicy, explosive finish. A super-ripe, racy finish rounds things out in style. In 2010, Quella is impeccable.
VM 94+ (5/2013): Good bright ruby-red. Knockout perfume of black raspberry, violet, mocha and raspberry. Sweet, fine-grained and creamy on entry, then a bit drier and more backward on the back end. The wonderfully rising finish features substantial broad tannins but calls for patience.
WS 93 (10/2013): A deceptively subtle, understated style that holds its flavors tight to the vest. Though restrained, this nonetheless offers a lot of everything in smaller doses. Dark berry, dark chocolate, dried herb and savory underbrush notes all add up to something special. Patience required. Best from 2015 through 2028. 550 cases made. |
|
| Cain |
2010 |
Five Proprietary Blend |
$125 |
2 |
|
| |
|
| Carte Blanche (Nicholas Allen) |
2010 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$99 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 94 (12/2012): Another powerful, young wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly dense and virtually impenetrable. Blue and black fruit, grilled herbs, licorice, new leather, menthol and tobacco flow through to an incisive finish layered with graphite and crushed rocks. Today, the 2010 is cool and implosive, suggesting it needs at least another few years to come together. The addition of 10% Petit Verdot seems to give the wine some of its brooding personality. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Cobb |
2010 |
Diane Cobb Vyd. Pinot Noir |
$106.25 |
1 |
|
| |
VM 92+ (7/2013): The 2010 Pinot Noir Diane Cobb: Coastlands Vineyard has an extra level of mid-palate juiciness and depth next to the straight Coastlands bottling. Sweet, dense and perfumed, the 2010 is all about texture and perfume, of course in the restrained style of the vintage. Readers who can resist the temptation of opening bottles for at least a few years will be on for a real treat. (Drink between 2013-2031). Antonio Galloni.
WA 92 (11/2020): Pale garnet, the 2010 Pinot Noir Diane Cobb Coastlands Vineyard has an incredible perfume of violets, tea leaves, tangerine and loads of dried, sweet red berry fruits with alluring earth and amaro accents. The light-bodied palate is so elegant, with chocolaty tannins, seamless freshness and delicate, pure sweet berry fruits, finishing long, uplifted and ethereal. Wow! What a gorgeous, mature Sonoma Cost Pinot Noir. |
|
| Coleman Nicole |
2010 |
Roman’s Lot II Pinot Noir |
$31.50 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Roman’s Lot II Pinot Noir |
$45 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Colgin |
2010 |
Cariad Proprietary Blend Bin-Soiled Label |
$509 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2013): The 2010 Proprietary Red Cariad reveals great intensity along with abundant notes of unsmoked tobacco leaf interwoven with blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, charcoal and coffee bean nuances as well as a Pauillac-like lead pencil shaving character. This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Franc is one of the finest wines I tasted over the 12 days I spent tasting in Napa Valley in late August and early September. This remarkable 2010 should drink beautifully for 20 or more years.
VM 97 (12/2012): The 2010 Red Wine Cariad is incredibly shut down at this stage. Dark raspberries, flowers, mint and tar emerge over time, but the Cariad remains quite a bit tighter and more introspective than the other wines in this lineup. At the same time, there is a level of purity in the fruit that is striking. This is the tightest of the estate's 2010s. Accordingly, it will require a few years to open up. This is the lowest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever used in Cariad.
VM 95+ (6/2013): (a blend of 48% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 14% petit verdot and 10% cabernet franc): Saturated, bright ruby-red. Deeper and darker on the nose than the Tychson Hill cabernet, offering vibrant scents of blackcurrant, graphite minerality and bitter chocolate. At once round and delineated in the mouth, with dark berry and mineral flavors displaying Outstanding depth without excess weight. With its very firm tannic structure, this typically Medoc-like wine will need a good eight to ten years to evolve in bottle and may ultimately merit an even higher rating. These vines in Madrona Vineyard in St. Helena were planted on an alluvial fan in the 1980s.
JS 95 (5/2014): Lots of ripe fruit, chocolate and iron. Full body, with loads of velvety tannins and a round and rich palate. It is round and mouthfilling yet fresh and beautiful. Delicious already but will improve with age
WS 92 (10/2013): Notable for its charcoal and graphite woodiness, along with its edgy entry into the core of dark berry fruit. Keeps you at arm's length, with the flavors both concentrated and nuanced. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2024. 550 cases made. |
|
| Constant |
2010 |
Diamond Mountain Vyd. Cabernet Franc |
$50 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Franc exhibits a dense ruby/purple color along with attractive aromas of spring flowers, lavender, spice box, and blue and red fruits, and a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated style. The wine is long, rich and impressive although the tannins are soft. It should be enjoyed over the next 10-12 years. |
|
|
2010 |
Diamond Mountain Vyd. Claret Writing on Label |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 92 (5/2013): Good bright ruby. Slightly wild aromas of cassis, chocolate, mocha, cedar and leather. Sweet, pliant and suave, with dark berry and graphite flavors offering considerable early appeal. Broad, ripe but tame tannins spread out nicely to saturate the palate on the long aftertaste. Very nicely balanced wine. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Coup de Foudre |
2010 |
Cuvee 37.2 Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
11 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (10/2013): The 2010 Merlot 37.2 Cuvee is composed of 56% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. Seductive notes of kirsch, licorice, lavender and lots of juicy fruits characterize this velvety-textured, opulent Merlot that cascades over the palate with no hard edges. This is pure hedonism combined with class and complexity. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. |
|
| Dalla Valle |
2010 |
Maya Proprietary Blend Nicked Label |
$349 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 98+ (10/2013): The 2010 Maya is a less evolved, more backward, brooding wine with a dense opaque blue/purple color, explosive richness, and abundant notes of incense, camphor, charcoal, blackberries, blueberries and hints of violets and forest floor. Full-bodied, pure, deep, structured and powerful, this massive Maya comes across as even bigger and richer than the 2009. Forget it for 3-5 years and drink it over the following 30+ years.
VM 96+ (6/2013): (two-thirds cabernet sauvignon and one-third cab franc): Deep, bright ruby. Crushed blueberry and violet on the perfumed nose. Densely packed and wonderfully aromatic, with terrific floral lift to the sharply delineated dark berry flavors. Almost painful in the early going, but has great energy and class. Finishes with big, broad tannins and Outstanding vibrating persistence. Should turn out to be one of the monuments of the vintage. I've long been a sucker for cabernet franc from this red volcanic soil on the eastern hillside above Oakville.
WS 93 (10/2013): Firm, dense and tannic, offering a potent mix of dried berry, black licorice, dried herb and savory notes, gaining tannic traction and ending with a wonderful push of flavors that bode well for the future. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2014 through 2025. 420 cases made. |
|
| Donelan |
2010 |
Cuvee Moriah Proprietary Blend |
$50 |
10 |
|
| |
JD 89-91 (12/2011): I was able to taste each component destined for the 2010 Donelan Cuvée Moriah and this cuvee always excels aromatically, and this vintage is no exception. Sporting already complex notions of herbs de Provence, pepper, earth, and meaty characteristics, each component was medium-bodied, well balanced, and possessed an overall fresh, pure character. Lighter styled and elegant, this will most likely benefit from 1-3 years of bottle age, and have upwards of a decade of prime drinking.
VM 88-90 (2/2012): Donelan's 2010 Cuvee Moriah is a blend of 54% Grenache, 26% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah fermented with 25-50% whole clusters depending on the variety. Mint, licorice, tar, smoke and blackberries are some of the notes that take shape in the glass as this intensely aromatic wine opens up in the glass. Today the tannins are a bit firm and I get a sense the fruit may not have achieved full ripeness. It will be interesting to see how the wine develops after bottling. Antonio Galloni. |
|
| Ehlers Estate |
2010 |
Merlot |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 89 (10/2013): The juicy, sexy, well-made 2010 Merlot (97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc) reveals an attractive dark ruby/purple color in addition to notes of mocha, berry fruit and spice, a generous, opulent mouthfeel and a heady finish |
|
|
2010 |
1886 Cabernet Sauvignon |
$79 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 91 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon 1886 is composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. This brilliant, rich Cabernet boasts a deep blue/purple color as well as admirable ripeness, a touch of toasty oak, and copious blueberry, black currant, licorice and forest floor characteristics. Full-bodied and well-balanced with supple tannins, it can be drunk now or cellared for a decade or more. |
|
|
2010 |
One Twenty Over Eighty Cabernet Sauvignon |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Fairchild Estate |
2010 |
Sigaro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$135.15 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Sigaro Cabernet Sauvignon |
$159 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Force Majeure |
2010 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series III Proprietary Blend |
$65 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 91+ (11/2013): Bright ruby. Sexy, vibrant aromas of black raspberry and blueberry lifted by high notes of flowers, pepper and spices. Very pure, juicy and intense, with strong but integrated acidity giving excellent definition to the flavors of blackberry, blueberry, violet, pepper and spices. I'd like to have seen a bit more syrah funk but there's no denying this wine's intensity, firm tannic spine and excellent length. Nothing overripe or thick about it. Stephen Tanzer. |
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|
2010 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series IV Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
2 |
|
| |
| WA 94 (6/2013): The 2010 Collaboration Series IV is a Merlot-dominated blend that’s made by Carolyn Lakewold of Donedei Wines. The stated goal with this cuvee is to straddle the line between old-world and Nld World in style, and while I’m not sure how close they got to that mark, I can say that it’s certainly a beautiful wine. Possessing an inky purple color as well as an up-front, intense bouquet of black and blue fruits, violets, licorice, leather and liquid flowers, it flows onto the palate with a full-bodied, hedonistically styled texture that carries solid freshness and plenty of framing tannin that emerges on the finish. There’s a smidge of volatile acidity here, yet the wine handles it and is a plush, downright sexy effort that’s hard to resist. It should have over a decade of evolution. Drink now-2023. |
|
|
2010 |
Ciel du Cheval Collaboration Series V Cabernet Sauvignon |
$70 |
2 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (11/2013): Bright, healthy ruby-red. Blueberry, cassis and menthol on the nose, along with a lower-toned whiff of nut skin; smells rather energetically extracted. Then lush and large-scaled on the palate, with sweet currant and raspberry flavors showing noteworthy depth. The huge tannins parch the tongue a bit, but the fruit outlasts them on the long finish. Definitely no-holds-barred! Stephen Tanzer. |
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2010 |
Collaboration Series V Proprietary Blend |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 96 (6/2013): The most full-throttle of the lineup, the 2010 Collaboration Series V is comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, from Ciel du Cheval blocks planted in 1975 and 1982, that was aged in 100% new French oak. Made by Chris Gorman, it offers up a decadent array of creme de cassis, smoked herbs, chocolate, roasted meats and freshly sharpened pencil-like qualities on the nose. Full-bodied, seamless and even elegant on the palate, yet with layers of fruit and texture, it has clean, integrated acidity, superb polish to its tannin and big minerality that emerges on the finish. Certainly impressive now, it still needs another 3-4 years of bottle age and will shine for 15 years or more. Drink 2015-2028+ |
|
|
2010 |
Collaboration Series VI Proprietary Blend |
$40 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 94+ (6/2013): A brilliant Southern Rhone-like blend of 56% Mourvedre, 38% Syrah and 6% Grenache that was fermented all in concrete and aged in neutral French oak puncheons, the 2010 Collaboration Series VI was made by James Mantone of Syncline Wines. Spectacular, with vividly defined aromas of blackberry, pepper, flowers, underbrush and licorice, it flows onto the palate with lively acidity, polished tannin and an elegant, seamless texture that has no hard edges and an overall classy, refined feel. Already approachable and complex, it will benefit from short-term cellaring and drink nicely for 10-12 years. Drink now-2025.
WS 92 (10/2013): Firm tannins underlie blackberry, currant and roasted meat flavors on a medium-weight frame, coming together on the plush finish. Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2018. 220 cases made.
VM 91+ (12/2013): (56% mourvedre, 38% syrah and 6% grenache; made by James Mantone of Syncline; fermented in square concrete bins and 500-liter puncheons): Good bright, medium ruby-red. High-toned aromas of red berries, red pepper and licorice, plus a whiff of tree bark. At once sweet and bright, with the red fruit flavors accented by spices and pepper. Lovely energetic, intense mourvedre here. A very successful blend with sound natural acidity. Most of the Force Majeure Vineyard's mourvedre fruit was stolen in 2010, with the thieves leaving only the outside rows intact. |
|
| Frank Family |
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$49 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 88 (11/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley opens with scents of cassis, smoke, licorice, violets and melted road tar. An attractive, medium-bodied wine by Napa standards, the 2010 is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Blackberries, blueberries, cloves and menthol all flesh out on the finish. This is a very pretty, entry-level wine from Frank. A dollop of Merlot adds suppleness and softness. Antonio Galloni. |
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|
2010 |
Reserve Petite Sirah |
$50 |
2 |
|
| |
|
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2010 |
Reserve Pinot Noir |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2012): Bright ruby. Sexy, oak-spiced aromas of candied blackberry, cherry-cola and mocha, with a sneaky floral quality building in the glass. Sappy and seamless in texture, with very good depth to its red and dark berry preserve flavors. Shows impressive power and energy on the finish, which lingers with resonating spiciness. In a plush, open-knit style and drinking very well right now. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2010 |
Reserve Zinfandel |
$20 |
4 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (6/2014): Dark red. Musky aromas of blackberry and blueberry. Sappy and seriously concentrated, with a lightly saline character to the flavors of black raspberry, truffle and pepper. In a pliant, rather plush style, finishing with sweet tannins and excellent length. |
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| Freemark Abbey |
2010 |
Bosche Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5 L) |
$225 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Grgich Hills |
2010 |
Estate Grown Merlot Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$40 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 88 (10/2013): The attractive, complex 2010 Merlot exhibits plenty of espresso bean, red and black fruit, spice box, sweet cherry and Christmas fruitcake-like notes. This delicious, medium-bodied Merlot should be drunk over the next 5-6 years.
VM 87 (5/2014): Bright red-ruby. Black cherry, mocha and a hint of walnutty oak on the nose. Fat and sweet but a bit simple, with easygoing dark raspberry and blackberry fruit dominating. A little syrupy and in need of more verve. Finishes with substantial, moderately ripe, slightly dry-edged tannins. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
|
2010 |
Estate Grown Zinfandel |
$30 |
1 |
|
| |
|
|
2010 |
Miljenko’s Vyd. Petit Sirah |
$70 |
1 |
|
| |
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| Hall Winery |
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$65 |
3 |
|
| |
| VM 90 (5/2013): Good bright, dark red with ruby highlights. Pure aromas of redcurrant, loam and licorice. Pliant and sweet, offering good texture and extract to its flavors of plum, currant, mocha and brown spices. Finishes with broad, sweet tannins and a drop of milk chocolate. Stephen Tanzer. |
|
| Honig Cellars |
2010 |
Bartolucci Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
| WA 90 (10/2013): The single vineyard 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Bartolucci Vineyard exhibits toasty vanillin notes intermixed with red and black fruits. Nicely textured, rich, medium to full-bodied, elegant but substantial, this is a well-made Cabernet Sauvignon to consume over the next decade. |
|
| Jonata Winery |
2010 |
Todos Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
5 |
|
| |
| WA 95 (8/2013): Looking at the entry level effort, and almost making me wonder why you would pony up the money for the La Sangre when you can get this level of quality at less than half the price, the 2010 Todos, which is over 75% Syrah, offers up knockout aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness and a seamless, layered profile that is hard to resist. Blackberry liqueur, caramelized beef, chocolate and flowers are just some of the nuances here and this pure, polished 2010 can be enjoyed now or cellared for a decade. Drink now-2020. |
|
| Kistler |
2010 |
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Slightly Raised Cork |
$95 |
1 |
|
| |
| WS 88 (9/2013): Young, intense, vibrant and full-bodied, with rich dark berry fruit and firm, gripping tannins. Shows impressive density, but remains a little raw around the edges. Needs time. Best from 2014 through 2023. 2,077 cases made. |
|
| Lancaster |
2010 |
Nicole’s Cabernet Sauvignon |
$100 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 93 (4/2013): Raspberry jam, mocha, spices, flowers and tobacco flesh out in the 2010 Proprietary Red Blend Nicole's, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend with dollops of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Intense and full-bodied, yet also impeccable in its balance, the 2010 is all about harmony. This is yet another hugely delicious 2010 from Lancaster Estate. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
VM 92 (5/2014): Inky ruby. Sexy, intensely perfumed aromas of dark berry liqueur, cherry pit, vanillin oak and roasted coffee, with a hint of pipe tobacco in the background. Fleshy and broad on the palate, offering sweet blackberry, cassis and cherry-vanilla flavors nicely lifted by juicy acidity. Finishes smoky and very long, with resonating spiciness and round, harmonious tannins. While I have no doubt that this wine will age smoothly, there's a lot going on already, especially if you like to drink your cab-based wines on the fruity side. Josh Raynolds. |
|
| Larkmead Vineyards |
2010 |
Firebelle Proprietary Blend |
$95 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94 (12/2012): The Merlot-based 2010 Proprietary Red Wine Firebelle boasts stunning depth, power and richness. Black cherries, chocolate, spices and new leather explode from the glass in this deep, resonant wine. There is more than enough fruit to fill out the wine’s big, broad-shouldered frame. This is an especially structured vintage for the Firebelle, partly because the Merlot is the lowest ever. Winemaker Andy Smith did a lot of co-ferments with the 2010 to bring all of the elements together. The 2010 is 42% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030. Antonio Galloni.
JS 94 (5/2014): Intense violets, dark chocolate and berries. Licorice. It's full-bodied with super-integrated tannins and a beautiful silky texture. It's long and fresh. A blend of 42% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 13% malbec, 5% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc. |
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|
2010 |
LMV Salon Proprietary Blend |
$159 |
2 |
|
| |
VM 94+ (5/2013): (78% cabernet sauvignon, 13% cabernet franc and 9% petit verdot; 69% new oak): Bright medium ruby. Very ripe but pure aromas of cassis, licorice and beefsteak tomato lifted by dried thyme and a floral note. Very full, dense and fine-grained but perfumed and gripping too, with subtly complex, very fine-grained flavors of sweet dark berries, flowers, tobacco and fresh herbs Most impressive today on the slowly mounting, very long finish, which displays substantial but noble tannins and terrific verve. Smith noted the "effortless vine balance" of the fruit that went into this wine and the Solari.
WA 94 (10/2013): The 2010 Proprietary Red LMV Salon (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot) possesses a European-styled structure imposed on its white chocolate, black currant, cedarwood and Christmas fruitcake notes. This classic Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine reveals abundant aromas, rich fruit and a medium to full-bodied, youthful, firmly structured finish. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.
WS 87 (9/2013): Chewy and raw, featuring extracted dark berry flavors. In a tight phase now. Should gain, but may never lose its tannic texture. Best from 2014 through 2024. 718 cases made. |
|
| Montgomery Vineyard |
2010 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$75 |
1 |
|
| |
|
| Morlet Family Vineyards |
2010 |
Coeur de Vallee Cabernet Sauvignon |
$189 |
1 |
|
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WA 97+ (12/2012): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vallee is laced with freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries and mint. Weightless and crystalline, the 2010 is pure silk and finesse. The Coeur de Vallee is always the most elegant of Morlet’s Cabernets, and the 2010 plays true to type. Sweet floral notes add lift on the finish. The 2010 is gorgeous today, but it needs a few years in bottle to blossom fully. This is yet another tremendous wine from Luc and Jodie Morlet. The 2010 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030.
VM 94+ (6/2013): (blended with 24% cabernet franc): Bright medium ruby. Lovely violet lift to the intense aromas of cassis, licorice and bitter chocolate, complicated by sexy mocha and earth tones; a real essence of Oakville. Wonderfully plush and sweet in the mouth, with captivating minty lift to the pliant dark raspberry and spice flavors. Finishes very long, with noble, rising tannins that coat the teeth. An Outstanding and very suave wine in the making: I love the cabernet franc element here. |
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| Myriad |
2010 |
Three Twins Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Very Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$99 |
1 |
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VM 90 (6/2013): Bright medium red. Aromatically expressive nose offers currant, tobacco leaf, pepper, herbs and a musky smoky nuance. Sweet, lush and very ripe--in fact, a tad roasted in the middle palate. Finishes with serious, slightly rough, chocolatey tannins that dust the teeth. Stephen Tanzer.
WA 92 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins Vineyard, which comes from the backwoods of Conn Valley, is a big, juicy, rich Cabernet with loads of fruit, plenty of blueberry, raspberry and floral notes, medium to full-bodied power and no hard edges. It can be drunk now or cellared for 10-15+ years. |
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| Old Shore Vineyards |
2010 |
Tree Line Lake Michigan Shore Pinot Noir |
$20 |
3 |
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| Peacock Family |
2010 |
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir |
$50 |
2 |
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| Ramey |
2010 |
Pedregal Vyd. Cabernet Sauvignon Lightly Bin-Soiled Label |
$159 |
1 |
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WA 98 (12/2013): As usual, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Pedregal Vineyard is a fabulous effort. The debut vintage of this cuvee was 2004, which is still quite young (I recently rated it 95). From the Oakville appellation, it is aged in 100% new Taransaud barrels, but sadly, only about 260 cases are made. The 2010 boasts beautiful notes of fruitcake, espresso roast, chocolate and black currants in its complex, full-bodied, concentrated, multi-dimensional personality. There is a huge up-side to this beauty as the tannins have not yet fully resolved. Give it another few years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades or more.
VM 93 (5/2014): (includes 15% petit verdot; 100% new oak): Inky ruby. Pungent black and blue fruit aromas show an exotic peaty quality and suggestions of incense, violet and Indian spices. Deeply pitched cassis and blueberry flavors are braced by juicy acidity and pick up a suave floral pastille nuance with aeration. The spice and blue fruit notes dominate the finish, which is firmed by youthful but harmonious tannins. While I have no doubt that this wine is built to age it's pretty showy already.
WS 92 (11/2013): Bold and expressive, featuring loads of deep flavors, with a fine measure of restraint and balance. The core flavors are keyed into dried dark and red berry, cedary oak, crushed rock and loamy earth, ending on the dry side. Best from 2014 through 2024. 260 cases made. |
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| Round Pond |
2010 |
Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$35 |
3 |
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| VM 90 (5/2013): Cool, soil-driven aromas and flavors of blue fruits, licorice and underbrush struck me as quite claret-like. At once glyceral and fresh, offering lovely depth and sweetness in the middle, with bright tannins giving the wine more obvious focus than the 2009 release. Shows a distinct ferrous quality. Finishes with building ripe tannins. This should age very well. In comparison to the 2009s, the estate's 2010 cabernets are more acid- than tannin-driven, according to winemaker Brown. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Sans Liege |
2010 |
en Gedi Grenache |
$45 |
1 |
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VM 92 (11/2013): Vivid ruby. Heady aromas of raspberry compote, cherry, cola and licorice, with a spicy topnote. Spicy, floral aromas of black raspberry and cherry, with a peppery overtone. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering subtly sweet red fruit flavors that become spicier with air. Rich but surprisingly lively grenache with excellent finishing clarity and a hint of supple tannins. This broad-shouldered wine checks in at 15.9% alcohol but doesn't come off as hot. Josh Raynolds.
WA 91 (8/2013): Pulling no punches, the 2010 En Gedi (all Grenache and aged 22 months in 7% new French oak) is ripe and decadent, with notions of black cherry liqueur, new leather, licorice, scorched earth and spice. Possessing no hard edges, lots of tannin and a blockbuster, heady finish, it’s hard to resist and despite all of the fruit and texture, remains lively and beautifully drinkable. I don’t think it will make old bones but 7-8 years of ultimate longevity sounds about right. Drink now-2018. |
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2010 |
Pickpocket Grenache |
$40 |
5 |
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VM 91 (11/2013): Inky ruby. Ripe cherry, licorice and lavender on the highly perfumed nose. Silky and sweet, offering juicy red fruit flavors and a sexy floral pastille quality. Silky tannins give shape to the impressively persistent finish, which echoes the floral and cherry notes. Josh Raynolds.
WA 91 (8/2013): Playing in the same ballpark, yet more restrained and tight at the moment, with a darker fruit profile than the En Gedi, the 2010 Pickpocket (100% Grenache) has loads of darker berry and cherry fruit, licorice, leather, crushed flowers and underbrush as well as a full-bodied, voluptuous palate that stays light and fresh. There’s ample ripe tannin adding focus on the finish and it should benefit from another year or two of bottle age and drink well through 2018 or so. Drink 2014-2018. |
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2010 |
The Adversary Mourvedre Very Lightly Scuffed Label |
$35 |
2 |
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| VM 91+ (11/2013): Opaque ruby. Deeply pitched cherry, cassis and licorice aromas, with a subtle herbal nuance adding complexity. Chewy, penetrating dark fruit and bitter cherry flavors are sweetened by a subtle vanilla quality and pick up smokiness with air. Closes with firm, chewy tannins and excellent length. Shows a suave blend of New World fruit power and Old World structure, which bodes well for cellaring. Josh Raynolds. |
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2010 |
The Offering Proprietary Blend |
$29 |
3 |
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VM 90 (11/2013): Inky ruby. Potent red and dark berry preserve aromas are complicated by notes of licorice and woodsmoke. Plush, palate-coating black raspberry and boysenberry flavors show very good depth and pick up a licorice nuance with air. Finishes smooth and appealingly sweet, with soft tannins and a late jolt of cracked pepper. This big boy clocks in at 15.5% alcohol, for those who are keeping score. Josh Raynolds.
WA 90 (8/2013): Moving on to the reds and a blend of 48% Grenache, 29% Syrah, 21% Mourvedre and 2% Viognier, the 2010 The Offering dishes out loads of blackberry, kirsch, licorice, pepper and hints of chocolate in a full-bodied, voluptuously styled package. It’s an outstanding, full-flavored effort to drink through 2016. Drink now-2016. |
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| Somnium Cellars |
2010 |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
$85 |
1 |
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| Spring Mountain Vineyard |
2010 |
Elivette Proprietary Blend |
$110 |
2 |
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| JS 91 (5/2016): Fresh herb and berry character to this with some chocolate. Medium to full body. Bright finish. Drink now. |
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2010 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$89 |
2 |
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JS 90 (6/2016): A firm and juicy wine with redwood, orange peel, sweet tobacco and currants. Mineral character. Full-bodied, round and soft. Very drinkable now. Delicious.
WA 89 (10/2013): Spring Mountain’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon (76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec) is one of the better efforts I have tasted from them over recent vintages. It offers sweet raspberry and black currant fruit intertwined with a hint of flowers, medium body and excellent balance and length. It should drink well for a decade or more. |
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2010 |
Napa Valley Pinot Noir |
$40 |
2 |
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| Stags' Leap Winery |
2010 |
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon |
$60 |
1 |
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| WA 87 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Malbec) exhibits elegant black raspberry, mulberry and chocolate aromas, a lush, nicely crafted, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, excellent purity, and plenty of berry fruit and wood spice characteristics. It should drink well for 15 or more years. |
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2010 |
The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon |
$70 |
7 |
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| WA 89 (10/2013): The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon The Leap Estate is more similar than different in any significant way from the previous wine. I have always thought of this winery as a Petite Sirah specialist, but they are now also producing cuvees of Cabernet Sauvignon, a proprietary red and a couple of Merlots. Stags Leap Winery first made its reputation with its Petite Sirahs, and they now offer two cuvees of California’s most underrated varietal. |
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2010 |
Winemaker’s Muse Napa Valley Syrah |
$30 |
1 |
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| Orin Swift |
2010 |
The Abstract Proprietary Blend |
$45 |
1 |
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| Terlato Vineyards |
2010 |
Episode Proprietary Blend (1.5 L) |
$228.65 |
1 |
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WS 90 (4/2014): Dense and powerful, rustic and tannic, offering a core of dark berry, mocha, cedar and tobacco, marked by chewy, grainy tannins that give the flavors traction. Needs time. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2015 through 2028. 1,000 cases made.
WA 88 (10/2013): The 2010 Proprietary Red Episode (44% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 9% Petit Verdot) is a more Pomerol-styled effort displaying a deep ruby color, lots of mocha and black cherry notes, soft tannins and a round, hedonistic appeal. This elegant, pure 2010 is ideal for drinking over the next 5-6 years. |
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| Sean Thackrey |
2010 |
Sirius Eagle Point Ranch Petite Sirah (1.5 L) |
$165 |
6 |
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| VM 92+ (5/2014): Deep, bright ruby. Lovely expressive aromas of black raspberry, violet, licorice and bitter chocolate. Concentrated, dense and sweet, with excellent inner-mouth energy and lift to the flavors of dark berries, dark chocolate and flint. Perhaps most impressive today on the very long, ripely tannic back end. Long on personality for the variety. Showed eucalyptus and licorice pastille notes after 72 hours in the recorked bottle without losing its verve. Stephen Tanzer. |
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| Vineyard 7 & 8 |
2010 |
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon |
$125 |
2 |
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WA 94 (10/2018): Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a little closed to begin, opening out to expressive wild blueberry, black cherry and black raspberry notes with touches of menthol, baker’s chocolate, underbrush and mossy bark plus a touch of truffles. The palate is full, firm and chewy with a lively backbone and plenty of muscular fruit, finishing earthy.
VM 92 (5/2020): Saturated deep ruby! Brooding, medicinal aromas of crushed mountain blackberry, sage, tar, licorice and bitter chocolate. Dense, deep and chocolatey on entry, conveying an almost port-like ripeness and a lack of restraint to its powerful mountain berry and black pepper flavors. Powerful but still a bit musclebound, and in need of further cellaring. This pungent, hugely tannic wine should become more civilized with a few more years of cellaring. Right now, it's no-holds-barred, and quite tannic. In fact, it's hard to believe that it's almost ten years old, as it tastes like a barrel sample. Classic mountain wine, but fans of more delicate Cabernets may find it a bit overbearing. A second bottle was a bit more pliant in the middle palate, showing a stronger licorice element, and of equal quality It, too, was quite tannic, but seemed a bit sweeter--and closer to maturity. (Drink between 2023-2038). Stephen Tanzer. |
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