Winemaker Notes
The 2010 Cariad has a dazzling perfumed nose with aromas of licorice, violets and orange blossoms. Dark berry scents combined with cracked peppercorns and a gravelly minerality bring a meaty and inviting quality to this wine. The Cariad always has a richly textured palate, and the 2010 vintage is no exception. The richness of the wine belies the tannins, making their large structure appear smooth and velvety. We composed the 2010 blend from 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine may be cellared for 20 to 30 years, or enjoyed near term after 5 years.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2010 Proprietary Red Cariad reveals great intensity along with abundant notes of unsmoked tobacco leaf interwoven with blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit, charcoal and coffee bean nuances as well as a Pauillac-like lead pencil shaving character. This blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 14% Cabernet Franc is one of the finest wines I tasted over the 12 days I spent tasting in Napa Valley in late August and early September. This remarkable 2010 should drink beautifully for 20 or more years.
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Wine Spectator
Notable for its charcoal and graphite woodiness, along with its edgy entry into the core of dark berry fruit. Keeps you at arm's length, with the flavors both concentrated and nuanced. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2024.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.