2010 Ramey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Ramey's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very serious wine. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, spices and new leather meld together in a rich, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon loaded with fruit, depth and pure intensity. A big, full-bodied voluptuous wine, the 2010 is one of the better values in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. There is plenty of personality and character here.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is more rustic with more biting tannins. Nevertheless, it is an excellent Cabernet displaying good depth and richness. It will benefit from another year or so of bottle age, and should drink well for 10-15 years. David Ramey has long had one of the most impressive resumes for any California winemaker. He worked at Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux and for Christian Moueix at Dominus. He also consulted and worked for a number of high end Napa Valley wineries. Of course, his first love is Ramey Wine Cellars, and he has built an extensive empire of Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignons and more recently Syrahs as well as a tiny quantity of Pinot Noir (talk about going to the dark side). I tasted through his 2011 Chardonnays, which are successful in this challenging vintage. The generic Chardonnays spend 12 months in 25% new oak and the single vineyard cuvees spend 20 or more months in 50% new oak. All of the whites are fermented with indigenous yeasts. Ramey has also done a terrific job with Syrah, even though he says it is nearly impossible to sell in today’s marketplace. Ramey has actually reduced the price on his two fabulous 2010 Syrahs, and it is difficult for somebody like me who loves Syrah and knows how great they can be to understand how these wines can be such a challenge in the marketplace. Ramey’s early experience was primarily with Bordeaux varietals, so it’s not surprising that he continues to do a stunning job with his assortment of Bordeaux-based wines. As one might expect, the 2011s are soft, easy-to-drink efforts that many consumers may find more appealing than the 2010s, which are much bigger, richer and more classic. Tel. (707) 473-9167