An 18-litre bottle of Au Sommet 2010, the Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon made by Heidi Barrett. That is the volume of 24 standard bottles, and in this size a mountain Cabernet from a cool year will age very slowly.
About This Wine
Au Sommet is almost all Cabernet Sauvignon with a few per cent of Petit Verdot, grown at about 2,100 feet (640 metres) near the top of Atlas Peak. 2010 was a cool year in Napa until late-season heat spikes brought the fruit to full ripeness, giving wines with structure and freshness. Antonio Galloni, then at the Wine Advocate, scored the 2010 95 points and felt it combined the fruit of the 2008 with the silkiness of the 2009.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Dark cherry, plum, tobacco, smoke and incense.
- Palate: Powerful and intense, with ripe, firm tannins and mountain concentration.
- Finish: Long, with black olive, grilled herbs and liquorice.
Serving & Food
A bottle this size needs planning: stand it upright for several days, open with a long corkscrew and decant into several vessels. Serve at 16 to 18°C. Standard bottles of the 2010 were thought ready from 2016; this format will still be developing. Serve it with whole roast beef rib, barbecued lamb or a large cheese board.
How to Enjoy
A landmark event for a large group, or a showpiece in a serious cellar.
Product Details
Producer: Au Sommet
Country: USA
Region: Atlas Peak, Napa Valley, California
Vintage: 2010
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Petit Verdot
Winemaker: Heidi Barrett
Format: 18L (24 bottles equivalent)
About the Winery
Au Sommet belongs to John Schwartz, a restaurateur who bought a 45-acre property at the top of Atlas Peak in the Vaca Mountains. He and Heidi Barrett had already worked together on Amuse Bouche from 2002, and the first Au Sommet vintage was 2008.
The name means to the top, a reference to the vineyard's height above the valley floor. Jim Barbour farms the vines, and the wine is made in very small quantities.