Colgin
Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, United States
2010
Vintage
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
ABV
Where it is, June 2026
At Peak: in the heart of its drinking window (2024-2036).
In 2026, the 2010 Colgin Tychson Hill is at full peak, having entered the drinking window in 2018 and projected to hold through 2036. Wine Spectator rated the 2010 Napa Valley Cabernet vintage a Classic 96, describing it as a "cool, steady year" producing wines of "exceptional quality, tight, dense and layered." At sixteen years from harvest, Tychson Hill's signature cassis, cedar, and mineral complexity has deepened substantially: the tannins that were firm and precise in youth are now fully integrated into a seamless, long palate. This is prime drinking territory - collectors should not hesitate to open a bottle in 2026.
The ‘10 Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.
Colgin's 2010 Tychson Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Napa's most precisely constructed single-vineyard wines, sourced from a celebrated St. Helena hillside parcel and now at confident peak.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Deep, inky ruby with a brilliant center. The nose opens with a pure, classical cassis note layered with cedar shaving, graphite, and a mineral precision that speaks directly to the volcanic soils of Tychson Hill. The palate delivers on the nose's promise: full-bodied and structured, the wine's weight is balanced by a freshness of acid and the kind of laser-focused tannin integration that only a truly exceptional site achieves over time. The finish is long and precise, with dark fruit, mineral backbone, and a cedar-spice echo that lingers for nearly a minute. This is Napa Cabernet at its most intellectually satisfying.
The 2010 vintage
The 2010 Napa Valley growing season was defined by a cool spring and summer that pushed harvest well into October, one of the latest in the valley's recent memory. Yields were moderate and the crop arrived at the crush pad with excellent natural acidity preserved by the extended hang time. Wine Spectator scored the vintage a Classic 96, noting wines of "exceptional quality, tight, dense and layered" - a description that has proven accurate for Tychson Hill's structured single-vineyard expression. The cool year gave collectors a wine significantly more age-worthy than the warmer 2013 and 2016 Napa vintages that followed.
About Colgin
Colgin Cellars is among Napa Valley's most prestigious small-production estates, known for meticulous single-vineyard Cabernets that age on a longer arc than most in the valley. The Tychson Hill Vineyard, situated on volcanic basalt soils in St. Helena, has been the estate's flagship single-vineyard site since its earliest releases. Winemaking at Colgin emphasizes extended maceration and careful new French oak aging to build the structural framework the wine needs for long-term development. Production is extremely limited, and secondary market prices reflect the wine's collector-tier standing.
From the cellar: pair with
Prime dry-aged ribeye
Tychson Hill's full body, precise tannins, and graphite-mineral complexity demand protein of equivalent authority; the fat and char of a dry-aged ribeye match the wine's structural weight.
Braised short rib with bone marrow
The 2010's deep cassis fruit and cedar backbone integrate with the collagen-rich richness of braised short rib, while the wine's bright acid keeps each sip clean.
Aged clothbound cheddar
The wine's firm tannin structure and mineral character find a complementary counterpart in the crystalline, nutty complexity of a well-aged clothbound cheddar.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 62-65°F (17-18°C)
- Decanting
- In 2026, the 2010 Tychson Hill benefits from a confident 60-90 minute decant. The wine is at peak but retains firm structure from its tight, mineral-driven framework. Longer aeration allows the cassis and cedar complexity to fully unfold across the palate without sacrificing the wine's precision.
- Cellar Storage
- 55°F (13°C), 65% humidity, bottle on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Napa Valley, United States
Frequently Asked
Is the 2010 Colgin Tychson Hill at peak in 2026?
Yes — definitively. The wine entered its drinking window in 2018 and is projected at peak from 2024 through 2036. In 2026, it is delivering its full complexity: integrated tannins, deep cassis and cedar, and the mineral precision that defines Tychson Hill. This is one of the best years to open it.
How does the 2010 Tychson Hill compare to other Colgin single-vineyard wines?
Colgin produces four single-vineyard Cabernets: Tychson Hill, Herb Lamb, Cariad, and IX Estate. Tychson Hill is known for its mineral, structured profile with a slightly cooler St. Helena character compared to the more opulent Herb Lamb. The 2010 vintage is widely considered among the top Tychson Hill releases.
How long should I decant this wine?
Plan for 60-90 minutes. The wine's tight, structured tannins and complex cassis-cedar-mineral profile need meaningful aeration to fully open; a wide-bowled Bordeaux glass is ideal for the format.
What is the peak drinking window for this wine?
The 2010 Tychson Hill is projected at peak from 2024 through 2036, with the hard decline beginning around 2044. In 2026, you are in the heart of the drinking window — there is no reason to wait further, and no risk in opening a bottle now or over the next several years.