2010 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon Ellie's
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Ellie’s is an homage to Kathryn Hall’s mother-in-law, who was one of the first women to enlist in Word War II. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by notes of boysenberries and black raspberries. Medium to full-bodied with attractive earthiness and spice as well as a long finish, it is impeccably well-made, although not at the complexity level of the Bergfeld or Howell Mountain. Drink it over the next 12-15 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
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(15% alcohol): Full, bright ruby-red. Slightly high-toned aromas and flavors of plum, currant, coffee and mocha. Plush and open-knit, in an almost exotic style and showing considerable early appeal. A sweet chocolate element carries through to the long finish, which features sweet, building tannins. I'd hold this for two or three years before popping the cork.
Another super impressive wine, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Ellie's wraps around the palate with layers of voluptuous dark fruit. Plums, black currants, cinnamon and licorice are some of the many notes that come alive in the glass. The Ellie's is one of the more overt wines in this lineup. It captures the essence of the Hall house style in all of its pure exuberance.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Ellie's comes across as more reserved and structured than the 2009. It shows gorgeous delineation in its dark fruit, along with hints of asphalt, tar and smoke that add complexity. The 2010 Ellie's is vibrant and totally polished. The French oak also appears to be better balanced.