2009 Hall, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1x3L

Vinous 90

(15.8% alcohol): Good saturated ruby-red. Superripe aromas of dark fruits, coffee and mocha. Sweet and large-scaled if a bit unrefined, with a smooth texture and considerable alcoholic power to the chocolatey fruit. Plenty of ripeness and depth here but today the wine’s exotic oak component is keeping the fruit under wraps. [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2012]

Robert Parker 91

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall is one of the more subdued wines in this lineup. The blend includes 14% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec, which probably accounts for much of the wine’s personality. Sweet red cherries, flowers and spices are some of the nuances that emerge from this silky, polished Cabernet Sauvignon. As outstanding as this is, I don’t get the visceral thrill of the best wines here. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. 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 [Antonio Galloni, 23/12/2011]

Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019