Courtney Benham Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
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2019-
Wilfred
Wong
Falling in love with wine, meant falling in love with Napa for Courtney Benham. Inspired by his farmland upbringing, Courtney found himself entrenched in the wine industry early in his life. 30 years later, as dedicated to his craft now as he was from day one, he brings you distinctive wines from Napa Valley.
A perfect convergence of soil and climate, Napa offers diversity unlike any other wine region in the world. It is distinctive, it is dramatic, its enviable terroir results in wines of complexity, breadth, and beauty. Rooted in the philosophy that great wine cannot exist without ideal growing, Courtney Benham wines are a tribute to his love of terroir, and the heightened sense of clarity when two elements merge.
Courtney Benham, a leader in quality wine for nearly 30 years, brings you top bottlings from the Napa Valley. From high elevation mountain appellations, to benchland vineyards and sun-drenched valley sites, he seeks locations of distinction, offering wines that are expressive, terroir driven, and exceed expectations.
Stags Leap District
Just west of the Vaca Range, this historic district was the first designated AVA in the valley. Benefitting from afternoon marine winds that cool its average daytime temperatures of 90-100 degrees, it is ideal for Cabernet and Merlot. Loam, clay, and ancient volcanic alluvial runoff are coarser and retain less water, resulting in low vigor and fruit yielding great intensity.
Rutherford District
From the heart of the valley floor, these vineyards see perfect weather with lingering morning fog and warm daytime highs in the mid 90’s, with the western bench seeing less afternoon sun. Marine winds coupled with a range of soil, from gravel and loam to volcanic deposits, this district’s distinctive terroir offers wines of complexity and character unlike any other in Napa Valley.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Diamond Mountain is the northernmost mountain appellation in the Mayacamas Range, on the northwest side of the valley floor, above the town of Calistoga. Defined mainly by elevation, vineyards are planted at 400 to 2,200 feet.
Diamond Mountain vineyards receive plenty of sunshine at these elevations and are typically above the coastal fog line. But given its western proximity, the area still easily cools down from early morning and late afternoon Pacific Ocean breezes. The AVA (American Viticultural Area) covers 5,000 acres but just over 500 acres are under vine.
Diamond Mountain soils, mainly weathered, red sedimentary rock and decomposed, volcanic ash, are infertile, quick-draining and produce small, thick-skinned grapes, bursting with chewy tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Zinfandel have great success here.
Like other sub-appellations in Napa Valley, the Diamond Mountain area had no shortage of pioneer winemakers. Rudy von Strasser led the effort for Diamond Mountain to acquire AVA status in 1999.