2010RelicCS2010 Relic, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley.
The duo of Mike Hirby and Schatzi Throckmorton make and run Relic, a small lot winery in Napa Valley, these two worked at the famed Behrens & Hitchcock and craft some great wines, including some of the best Petite Sirah and Syrah wines in the Valley. Mike also makes Realm and has consulted at D.R. Stephens, Husic and Sarocka, while Schatzi continues to run and manage Behrens & Hitchcock, these are hardworking and busy people, who deserve some light shinning on them, especially for their work at Relic. They have done a bit of Chardonnay and have a new Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir coming, so it’s exciting times for this small label and winery, but you should not miss their 2010 Cabernet, this is impressive stuff. The 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which is sourced from top tiny parcels is a big, dense and deeply colored wine, but that has structure and remarkably refined tannins and lifting cut, this is not shy at about 15%, though you’d not find any overripe or heat in this well balance Cab, it is shockingly easy to love and evolves nicely in the glass, pure and wonderfully layered from start to finish. The Relic Cabernet starts with plenty of dark fruit, wild flowers and hints of sweet oak and smoky embers leading to a mouth coating full palate of blackberry, currant, plum and blueberry fruit along with a mineral streak, mocha, creme de cassis, licorice, cedar and vanilla all playing supporting roles plus as it gets air some tobacco/cigar wrap, sage and acacia come through. This excellent Napa red is really starting to strut it’s stuff, but it should be at it’s best between 2016 and 2024.
($65 Est.) 94+ Points, grapelive

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