This vintage is defined by the longest hang time Linked Vineyards has experienced to date. Bud break happened right on schedule, but a long cool fall resulted in the latest harvest recorded by Drew. This gave the fruit extra time to develop deep rich flavors and some exceptional tannins.
94 POINTS The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is laced with bacon fat, smoke, licorice and tobacco. Wonderfully alive in the glass, the 2010 is loaded with complexity and nuance. The 2010 isn't a big, huge Cabernet, but rather a wine of finesse. I could see the 2010 filling out in bottle, but today it is a wine built on pure energy and length. Sweet, perfumed notes resonate on a silky finish endowed with tons of Knights Valley character. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.
Luc Morlet has done a fabulous job with the wines from Linked Vineyards, a new property in Knights Valley. The 2010 is terrific, while the 2009, which I had a chance to revisit, isn't too far behind.
- Antonio Galloni, eRobertParker.com, The Wine Advocate, April 2013
93 POINTS This slightly opaque and dark ruby colored 2010 vintage Cabernet from Linked was one of our top scoring wines in our recent Big Blind tasting of high end reds. It opens with a very faint black cherry bouquet with hints of cedar, parsnip, and vanilla. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, rich, balanced and concentrated. The flavor profile is an extracted blackberry with notes of mild minerality, black currant and old oak. The finish is dry and its moderate tannins are nicely prolonged. The panel suggested pairing this delicious Cab with a well-marbled dry aged ribeye.
- Ken's Wine Guide, November 2014
Winner of the Cabernet blind tasting! I'd say that the 2010 Linked is by far the best wine Luc Morlet has produced from this small estate. Situated next to the likes of Peter Michael, Perfect Season and Luc's own winery, this Cabernet is grown in some of the best dirt in the Valley and when you add a Top Notch Winemaker to the fold, you have something amazing! This wine showcases intense fruit from the get-go. Distinct aromas of dark chocolate, cassis, spice and whiff of graphite jump out of the glass. Very full body, yet extremely elegant and well-crafted, this wine offers up an amazing multi-dimensional profile. A terrific effort this wine has splendid concentration, perfect balance and amazing personality. This wine is big and round with supple tannins that makes you eagerly anticipate the next sip. This is a wine that shows well now (decant about 2-3 hours prior to the first sip) and has 15-20 year aging potential.
- Frank Melis, Golden Gate Wine Cellars, August 2014