Hill Family Estate
Napa Valley, California
Cabernet Sauvignon
2010
$29.99
14.5%
Glowing purple black close to black light, day-glo quality, saturated crimson to red magenta rims. Caramel, buttered toasted, roasted coffee spread widely in the nose, smoky and almost gamey at times, as the black currant, plum, cherry scents blend in it has a thick and close to gluey nostril presence. Full-bodied, noticeable green pepper and herbaceous notes, the extremely ripe plum, cassis, blackberry fruit fully avoids a dried fruit nature. The oak is overt as expected and feels natural in this context, butterscotch, caramel, buttered toast. The tannin is not fully resolved and adds grittiness. Large scaled and while not always in control and integrated, offers no lack of verve.
88 points