Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from the Dutch Henry Canyon area near both the Switchback and Hourglass Vineyards and sits at a 400-foot elevation, is certainly another stunner. It’s rare to see two Cabernet Sauvignons that eclipse anything from the Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, but I think Jenzen has done that in 2012. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon, the Cloudy’s Vineyard is opaque purple and displays richness and intensity in its notes of lead pencil shavings intermixed with cedar wood, fruitcake, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit. A wine of extraordinary intensity and a long finish, it should drink well for 20-25 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark, rich mountain blueberry and blackberry form the core of this classically delicious Napa Valley wine from an estate vineyard. Velvety dark chocolate melts over integrated tannins and a medium-strength body, the finish lengthy, dusty and well-structured. Age through 2020–2022. Cellar Selection
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James Suckling
A big and rich wine with blackberry, chocolate and spice. Chewy and powerful. Slightly too full-throttle for me but some are going to dig it.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.