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2010 Cornerstone Cellars Napa ValleyCabernet Sauvignon

Showcasing the authentic varietal character of this incomparable cabernet sauvignon is an important part of the Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon legacy.

A winemakers wine, it is superbly crafted by blending cabernet sauvignon’s from specially selected sites very desirable for the variety throughout the Napa Valley from the unique mountain climate of Howell Mountain to the classic valley floor vineyards of Rutherford, Oakville and the Oak Knoll District appellations. A lively inner-mouth energy and lift is provided by our Talcott Vineyard cabernet franc and this is all balanced with the structure and mid-palate richness of our Oakville merlot which brings a unique harmony to this wine.

In 2010 the Napa Valley experienced an unusually cool, damp summer which delayed ripening by a good three weeks. These cooler temperatures coupled with a stubborn coastal cloud layer that seemed never to break up caused the vineyard growth cycle to move along slowly. Then we got SLAMMED the third week of August, a heat wave sent triple digit temperatures across the state and any exposed fruit, unaccustomed to such a radical onslaught, succumbed to sunburn damage. When it came time to pick the crews had to first make a pass through the vineyard and remove all the sunburned or shriveled grapes. They then went back through to pick the clusters that were optimally ripe. This is a textbook case of ‘precision farming’, it can be very time consuming, but the results are worth all the extra effort. Cooler than average temperatures returned again in early September, but gave way to a welcome and consistent Indian summer, bringing concentrated flavors and tannin development at lower sugar levels allowing us to make elegant, structured, impeccably balanced wines.

The 2010 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful example of a classic Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon featuring the best characteristics of each appellation that goes into the blend. This popular wine is consistently noted for its incredibly rich layers of complexity and remarkable overall balance and this is exemplified in this wine. With more emphasis on the layers of complexity and bright, flourishing flavors enveloping youthful, but supple tannins this wine shows the elegance and harmony of a classic, cool vintage Napa cabernet sauvignon.

Intriguingly fragrant aromatics of dark cherry, currants, savory dried herbs with a hint of cinnamon leap from the glass. The palate is greeted with energy and brightness with complex layers of rich dark fruits, dried herbs, dark chocolate and barrel spices surging through the mid-palate with a focused minerality. The tannins pick up weight throughout the palate and together with the wines balance and harmony carry through to an expansive finish.

This enthusiastic wine is drinking beautifully now and develops with time in the glass. For the patient among us this wine will age gracefully, enjoying a long, rewarding life in bottle and will offer increasingly dramatic drinking pleasures for years to come.

Suggested Retail $65 750mL

Composition85% Cabernet SauvignonGarvey Family Vineyards “Home Ranch” RutherfordKairos Vineyard Oak Knoll DistrictOakville Station OakvilleInk Grade Vineyard Howell Mountain

13% MerlotOakville Station, Oakville

2% Cabernet FrancTalcott Vineyard, St. Helena

HarvestThe vineyard was harvested early to late October, 2010 in perfect conditions.

Aging22 months in 65% new French oak

Bottling DateJuly 16, 2012

Cases Produced973 cases

Bottling AnalysisAlcohol: 14.50% pH: 3.56TA .620 g/100mL