Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignontext

92POINTS

17/20

Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, United StatesThis is one of six notes written during a Late September vertical of Beringer’s Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from 2009-2014. Beringer has been harvesting grapes from Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960’s. The narrow valley is almost a bridge AVA between Napa and Sonoma famous for its cobbled alluvial soils. The Knights Valley designation first appeared on a Beringer label in 1974 and the company was instrumental in garnering official recognition for the area in 1983 when it was designated an American Viticulture Area (AVA). Minerality isn’t a word we use much in reference to California Cabernet Sauvignon but it comes into play with this 2010 Knights Valley offering from Beringer. The nose and palate are awash in black fruit and power but the wine is more elegant than anything. Licorice, menthol, sagebrush, graphite and more fleck the wine from front to back. Perfectly vibrant at seven years old with an opulent texture this should be a winner for another decade and beyond. There is enough finesse here to work with duck. The blend is 93 percent cabernet sauvignon, 4 percent merlot and 3 percent cabernet franc.Tasted: 22 September 2017Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices: