St. Eden is always a favorite of mine within the Bond portfolio, and the 2010 does not disappoint. It needs a few hours of air to really open up, but then you find a deeply colored wine with a nose showing spicy black cherry compote, crushed mint, dark chocolate, walnuts. Really lovely and you could just swirl this and sniff it without actually drinking it and still be very happy! But on the palate extremely appealing, with a gentle softness that envelops a core of ripe yet not-sweet fruit, modest acidity, endless finish. Cory Empting made fantastic wines in 2010, and this is a good choice for your first bottle to open. Just becoming approachable now, and should be even better five years from now in 2026. This will have a very long life.
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This round and layered Cabernet is drinking beautifully right now, especially after about two hours in the decanter. Dark red in color and full in body, the wine offers welcoming aromas of blueberry skin, graphite, and espresso. The most prominent flavor, to me, was coffee bean, but it was surrounded by lovely notes of blackberry, graphite, and dried herbs. 14.5% alcohol.
This St. Eden is more full and silky than a 2010 Quella I had a few weeks ago, which showed more Pritchard Hill density (while this showed more Oakville generosity). To me, the Quella was more complex and interesting, but this wine is still fantastic. 95+ for now, with upside in 2022 or later.
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from magnum, decanted. rich dark fruits but has great balancing acidity, intriguing notes of anise and mint; layered and complex. as far as Cali cabs go, as good as I've tried. 95 pts with upside.
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Decanted for one hour. Opaque deep violet, inky with legs; teeth-staining intensity of color. Nose explosive, dark fruits/cassis, hint of cracked black pepper. Palate balanced, fruity — some sweet blackberries/blueberries, cassis; some herbal note, almost hint of green in an interesting fashion. Tannins on finish were noticeable but fine grained and not harsh at all, just gave a light grip tying the flavors together. Wonderful nose and great depth on the palate, went very well with a steak course. Could be polarizing I suppose, but for a Napa red, hard to imagine anything better than this, so well crafted and well executed. 94 pts
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Winter in Wineland; 1/14/2017-1/20/2017 (Sonoma & Napa): Very floral on the nose. Even herbaceous. But the first impression is of sweet black fruits. Almost some metallic undertones. It evolves in the mouth to start a bit sweet and end with a bit more spice. Nice acidity and tannin. One of my favorites of the tasting.
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9/20/2021 - KPB wrote: 97 Points
St. Eden is always a favorite of mine within the Bond portfolio, and the 2010 does not disappoint. It needs a few hours of air to really open up, but then you find a deeply colored wine with a nose showing spicy black cherry compote, crushed mint, dark chocolate, walnuts. Really lovely and you could just swirl this and sniff it without actually drinking it and still be very happy! But on the palate extremely appealing, with a gentle softness that envelops a core of ripe yet not-sweet fruit, modest acidity, endless finish. Cory Empting made fantastic wines in 2010, and this is a good choice for your first bottle to open. Just becoming approachable now, and should be even better five years from now in 2026. This will have a very long life.
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1/9/2021 - msuwine wrote: 95 Points
This round and layered Cabernet is drinking beautifully right now, especially after about two hours in the decanter. Dark red in color and full in body, the wine offers welcoming aromas of blueberry skin, graphite, and espresso. The most prominent flavor, to me, was coffee bean, but it was surrounded by lovely notes of blackberry, graphite, and dried herbs. 14.5% alcohol.
This St. Eden is more full and silky than a 2010 Quella I had a few weeks ago, which showed more Pritchard Hill density (while this showed more Oakville generosity). To me, the Quella was more complex and interesting, but this wine is still fantastic. 95+ for now, with upside in 2022 or later.
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2/2/2019 - fred o. Likes this wine:
from magnum, decanted. rich dark fruits but has great balancing acidity, intriguing notes of anise and mint; layered and complex. as far as Cali cabs go, as good as I've tried. 95 pts with upside.
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9/29/2018 - fred o. Likes this wine:
Decanted for one hour.
Opaque deep violet, inky with legs; teeth-staining intensity of color.
Nose explosive, dark fruits/cassis, hint of cracked black pepper.
Palate balanced, fruity — some sweet blackberries/blueberries, cassis; some herbal note, almost hint of green in an interesting fashion. Tannins on finish were noticeable but fine grained and not harsh at all, just gave a light grip tying the flavors together.
Wonderful nose and great depth on the palate, went very well with a steak course. Could be polarizing I suppose, but for a Napa red, hard to imagine anything better than this, so well crafted and well executed. 94 pts
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1/17/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Winter in Wineland; 1/14/2017-1/20/2017 (Sonoma & Napa): Very floral on the nose. Even herbaceous. But the first impression is of sweet black fruits. Almost some metallic undertones. It evolves in the mouth to start a bit sweet and end with a bit more spice. Nice acidity and tannin. One of my favorites of the tasting.
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