A big, classic St. Helena Cabernet, the powerful 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld possesses a glorious bouquet of creme de cassis and kirsch, layers of fruit and power, wonderful purity and a long, full-bodied, voluptuous finish. This is another dazzling Cabernet Sauvignon from proprietress Kathryn Hall that should age for 20-25 years. I tasted eight cuvees of 2010 Cabernet Sauvignons from Hall. I will write abbreviated notes on the eight 2012s I tasted, which is a great vintage in Napa. Based on my experience with the Hall wines, they show better from bottle than from barrel samples, always a sign of a high quality winery. All of these wines possess splendid opaque blue/purple colors. A remarkable thing about all of Hall’s 2012s is that they should be accessible when released given the sweetness of the tannins, yet they should have 20-30-year drinking windows. Congratulations to Kathryn Hall. I have been high on her wines since I first tasted them in the offices of David Ramey. It is rewarding to see that she is realizing the enormous potential that accompanied her debut wines. Tel. (707) 967-2626

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Bergfeld boasts a striking inner perfume and big, expressive fruit, both supported by firm, yet well-integrated tannins. This is one of the racier, flashier 2010s here. It will be a fascinating wine to follow over the next year. Will the vintage character emerge more fully as time passes? Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025. This is a thrilling set of wines from Hall. The estate favors a rich, extroverted style, yet all of these wines have distinct personalities and tons of sheer character. Meticulous viticulture followed by native yeast fermentations, slow, natural malos and minimal rackings are at the heart of the approach at Hall. The wines are aged in French oak (mostly Taransaud, 40-90% new) and are bottled with no fining or filtration. Readers who appreciate the more opulent side of Napa Valley will find much to admire here. Simply put, I was blown away by what I tasted. As outstanding as the 2009s are, there is a very good chance the 2010s will turn out to be even better.Tel. (707) 967-2626