2009 HALL Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece

Hall’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Masterpiece bursts from the glass with a blast of dark red and black fruit, cloves and sweet French oak. The 2009 stands out for its undeniably attractive, juicy personality. The 2010 is more layered and complex, but the 2009 has the upper hand when it comes to near-term appeal. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2024. Once again, I tasted a large number of wines from Hall this year. The 2010s are off the charts, and a big step up from the more inconsistent 2009s. A meticulous approach to vineyard and cellar work, including organic farming, native fermentations and malos, and the avoidance of fining and/or filtration informs wines of true pedigree and personality. The Hall wines are unapologetically big, powerful and exceptionally well balanced. Tel. (707) 967-2629

Good deep ruby. Candied aromas of raspberry Pez, violet, cola and sexy oak. Fat, sweet and superripe, but showing better balance and brighter fruit than the Ellie's bottling. The chocolate and cola notes carry through to the long, sweetly tannic finish.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece brings together many of the elements that make the Hall wines so appealing. Well-articulated aromatics meld into a seamless core of fruit in this vibrant, expressive Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine possesses terrific delineation and plenty of class. Despite its ripeness there is plenty of underlying structure.