SOMERSTON WINE COMPANY® Somerston Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (Napa Valley, California) – [RP 95] – 6045505650847

Notes from the Winemaker:

Appellation/Vineyards
Somerston wines are produced from selected blocks from our 1628 estate, high in the eastern hills of the Napa Valley. This estate bottled wine was sourced from two of our best vineyard blocks; Queensberry block 30 and Oriental block 23, both hillside vineyards with an average elevation of 1250 asl.

Harvest
Rainfall returned after three dry years, pushed bud break, owering and fruit-set back by at least two weeks at the front end of the growing season, and due to the cloud cover, there was no frost damage in 2010. e summer brought cooler than normal temperatures, where constant vigilance and rigorous canopy management averted mildew or pest
problems. en lag continued into a later than average veraison. Winegrowers were faced with a two-day heat spike into triple digits for the rst time this season, coinciding with the rst day of harvest on August 24. With canopies thinned to adjust for the cooler season, grapes at various sites experienced some sunburn. e damage was variable site-to-site with many vineyards reporting no sunburned clusters at all.

Winemaking
The grapes were hand picked and then delivered to the winery. e grapes were de-stemmed and sorted, then pumped
to tank for an 5 day cold soak at 55 degrees. When the fermentation began, we pumped the tank over twice per day. The Native yeast fermentation lasted for 16 days, followed by a short heated extended maceration of 3 days. e free run was drained from the tank overnight. e wine was barreled down into 70% new French oak, the balance was put in once used French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation occurred naturally in barrel. e wine was aged in 28 months and bottled unltered.

Tasting Notes
The 2010 Somerston Cabernet Sauvignon is our third release. is wine is intended to be a collector’s wine, the showcases the potential of the property. e aromas are bright and explosive, and continue to develop in the glass. On the pallet, the wine is rich and full bodied, full of fruit and hints of oak spice. e wine is extremely balanced and has great structure, supported with bright acidity. e tannins are present but rened. e nish is lingering and very enjoyable! is wine will mature over the next 25 years

95 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:
“A dark, sumptuous wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Somerston boasts
stunning depth, power and richness. Mocha, chocolate, espresso and
cloves flesh out in this intense, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. There
is so much fruit, the tannins of the vintage are nearly buried. A full
throttle, opulent Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 is a gorgeous wine from
start to finish and a terrific example of the vintage. The 2010 is 95%
Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2030″ – Antonio Galloni (Dec 2012)

93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2009):
“The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Somerston stands out for its gorgeous
balance of fruit acidity and tannin. All the elements fall into place in
this effortless Cabernet. Dark red berries, spices and flowers lead to a
creamy, textured finish. Interestingly, in 2009 there is a bit less
difference between the two Cabernet bottlings than in 2010. The 2009
needs a few more years in bottle for the tannins to start softening.
Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. ” – Antonio Galloni (Dec 2012)