2010 Beringer "Private Reserve" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is built from completely different sources. Sixty-six percent came from the St. Helena Home Ranch, 18% from the Chabot Vineyard, and the rest from Beringer's estates in St. Helena, Rutherford and Coombsville. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that came in at 14.6% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.8. Perhaps the greatest Beringer Private Reserve since the 2007, 2005, 2002 and 2001, the 2010 offers up notes of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, subtle smoke, wet rocks and background oak. Full-bodied, rich and impressive, it can be drunk now or cellared for two decades. (RP)” (10/2013)

“The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is showing beautifully today. Plums, black cherries, smoke and graphite all explode from the glass in a huge, dramatic Private Reserve built for the cellar. The full-throttle 2010 covers every inch of the palate with fabulous depth and richness. The 2010 is going to require patience, but it is striking, even today. Home Vineyard is the core site in the 2010, followed by Chabot, Morisoli, Tournahu and Verhey. The 2010 spent 18 months in French oak barrels, 93% new. (AG)” (11/2013)

“Musky aromas of blackcurrant, licorice, tobacco and graphite minerality. Large-scaled, plush and sweet on entry, then an utterly seamless wave of black fruits, minerals and cocoa powder on the palate. Lovely fruit sweetness nicely supported by serious broad tannins. A big boy for this bottling but not heavy. This wonderfully plush, pliant, tactile wine displays the ripeness of the vintage in spades; it's almost porty in its richness but benefits from an element of violet lift. Finishes with serious but ripe tannins and slowly mounting length. A knockout today but may be even better as it burns off a bit more of its baby fat. In fact, my sample showed more shape--even juiciness--with 72 hours in the recorked bottle, without any loss of fruit. A beauty. (ST)” (05/2020)

“A dense, rich and powerful expression of Cabernet, with loads of dark berry, loamy earth and crushed rock flavors that show pockets of black licorice, road tar and dried flowers, ending with rich, chewy tannins that give the lingering flavors traction. Should be long-lived. (JL)” (10/2013)

“Here is a big, very ripe, abundantly tannic young wine that may have high aspirations, but it is far more substantial and potent than it is tailored, and its rather rough-cut demeanor tags it as one that needs waiting. Fans of extract and power should find plenty to like, just as those who are troubled by high ripeness will not, and, if the rest of us will grudgingly acknowledge that it is a bit overdone, it does have the substance and sheer fruity strength to withstand the lengthy cellaring that its formidable, ten-year tannins prescribe. *Two Stars*” (12/2013)

“Ripe aromas of blueberries, lightly toasted oak and coffee bean follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a toasted-barrel aftertaste. Needs time to come together still but a stylish and well-polished red.” (05/2014)

“Gilded with toasty oak, this Cabernet is opulent with flavors of blackberries, cassis liqueur and mocha. The tannic mouthfeel is elegant, complex and dramatic. Blended with Cabernet Franc and Merlot...” (03/2014)

“Very complete and luscious on the nose. I'd be very happy to drink this as a nightcap – great balance if you don't mind the warm finish – but I think it could be a bit of a knockout blow at the dinner table. Certainly very well made. Very typical Napa Valley Cab well done.” (10/2014)