A bottle of 2010 schrader t6 cabernet sauvignon on a grey background

2010 T6

This monumental 100% clone 6 Cabernet masterfully reveals the excellence of the vintage. Hallmarked by ultra ripe red and black fruit character infused with provocative spice, the stunning concentration of our 2010 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 is a new octane level of Cabernet rocket fuel. The wine offers copious amounts of dark berries, cassis, blueberries and violets beautifully interlaced with notes of spice, cedar and mocha. The outstanding vintage amplifies the signature structural force of this blend, providing great promise for extended cellar aging.

  • Vintage 2010
  • Vineyard Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
  • Appellation Oakville, Napa Valley
  • Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Clone Pure Clone 6
  • Cooperage Aged 20 months in rare Darnajou French oak barrels
  • Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown

  • Tasting Notes

    This monumental 100% clone 6 Cabernet masterfully reveals the excellence of the vintage. Hallmarked by ultra ripe red and black fruit character infused with provocative spice, the stunning concentration of our 2010 Schrader T6 is a new octane level of Cabernet rocket fuel. The wine offers copious amounts of dark berries, cassis, blueberries and violets beautifully interlaced with notes of spice, cedar and mocha. The outstanding vintage amplifies the signature structural force of this blend, providing great promise for extended cellar aging.

  • Accolades

    96 Pts. " Tightly wound, intense and potent, with explosive dark berry, spice, cedar and mocha flavors. Among the most closed and backward of the 2010 Schraders, this nonetheless delivers Napa Cabernet's proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. Best from 2015 through 2030." — James Laube, Wine Spectator

    93 Pts. "The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard T6 is a small step down from the George III and RBS, although it is still an outstanding wine. Rich, smoky and pretty, but slightly less impressive without the enormous stuffing, multiple dimensions and richness of its siblings. Nevertheless, this beauty offers lots of spring flower, licorice, black currant, forest floor, cedarwood and unsmoked cigar tobacco-like characteristics. From clone 6, it was aged 20 months in 90% new Darnajou barrels and 10% new Taransaud barrels." — Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

  • Vineyard

    First planted in 1868 by viticultural and winemaking icon Hamilton Crabb, To Kalon Vineyard® has long been regarded as the source of Napa Valley's finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Within the prime vineyard blocks, an alluvial fan provides excellent and varied mineral deposits, and the rich soils are filled with marine sediment that gives our wines their distinctive profiles. The vines receive full sun and optimal heat during the day and are cooled by marine fog at night. These conditions allow the Cabernet Sauvignon planted in the vineyard to display its own unique character, and this celebration of individuality is the essence of Schrader ®.

  • Vintage

    The 2010 growing season began cool and wet, and by early summer we knew harvest would be delayed by as much as three weeks. Growers around the valley feared the cooler season would not allow the grapes to fully ripen so many, including us, made early thinning passes through the vineyard to reduce the crop load and concentrate the vines' energy. While it was the right thing to do, the decision of when to thin and by how much proved critical as the Napa Valley sweltered under a late August heat spike which saw temperatures climb above the 110 degree mark. We were fortunate, as our vines handily endured the extreme weather and the clusters showed little evidence of sunburn or shrivel. Following this one significant heat event, we enjoyed an extended spell of warm, Indian summer weather that carried through until early October. The ideal conditions allowed the clusters to gain optimal ripeness and maturity.

All T6 Vintages

2018
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Previous 2010 RBS