2010 Onda Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Full red-ruby. Musky, slightly low-toned aromas of currant, plum, mocha and soil. Silky, seamless and sweet on entry, offering plush plum, redcurrant and spice flavors and just enough acidity to maintain energy and definition. I find this ready to drink but its long, suavely tannic finish suggests it will go on for at least another 10 years. Utterly mouthfilling and thick without being heavy--but not quite as rich or deep as the Helms Vineyard bottling. The tannins are also a bit less noble but the wine's finish is long and powerful. At 15.6% ABV, the Onda is obviously high in alcohol, like the Helms (15.6%), but here the warmth is a bit more apparent in the wine's slightly porty quality. Onda is a blend of Dana Estates's four vineyards: Helms, Crystal Springs, Lotus and Hershey; aged in 70% new French oak, vs. 100% for the vineyard-designated wines.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
This is the first US release of Onda, Dana's second wine, which has previously only been available in Korea. Mocha, espresso, plums, cloves and licorice flesh out in the 2010 Onda. Rich, voluptuous an intense, the 2010 is a great choice for drinking over the next handful of years. The style is decidedly opulent and flashy, but all the elements are in the right place. A distinctly floral, spiced finish rounds things out beautifully. Ideally, readers should give the 2010 another few years in bottle to allow some of the baby fat to drop off. This is a gorgeous showing. Onda is made from the second selection of fruit and/or barrels from Helms, Hershey and Lotus, plus fruit from a fourth site, Crystal Springs Vineyard, which sits just below Lotus.
Aged 20 months in French oak, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Onda (510 cases produced) came across as an elegant, Bordeaux-styled wine with a touch of austerity as well as noble red and black fruits intermixed with forest floor, unsmoked tobacco, and a stylish, St.-Julien-like personality. Those who think Napa Valley only makes big blockbusters are advised to check out this beauty of finesse, elegance and mid-weight. It should drink nicely for 10-15+ years. Proprietor Hi Sang Lee has resurrected this once historic estate in Rutherford where the winery was first constructed in 1883 by H. W. Helms. There are four cuvees as of 2010, the Crystal Springs Vineyard on Howell Mountain, the Helms Vineyard in Rutherford, the Hershey Vineyard on Howell Mountain and the Lotus Vineyard in Napa Valley. They also produce a wine called Onda, which is meant to be a more forward styled, lower priced effort. Kudos to Hi Sang Lee and his son for resurrecting this historic estate. www.danaestates.com
About the producer
Located on the Rutherford bench, Dana Estates is a small Napa estate focused on producing fine, single-site Cabernet Sauvignon. The concentrated wines are some of the region’s most sought-after, regularly earning top ratings from critics – with 19 100-point scores to date.