Winemaker Notes
Blend: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of black currants, walnut shell and blueberries follow through to a full body, round tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows the finesse and drinkability of the 2012 vintage. Drink or hold.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
This one could easily be the poster child for ultra-premium Napa Valley Cabernet, such a first-rate effort and a wine that rises above most of the rest of the field. The 2012 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Cabernet is full and sturdy on the palate; exhibits excellent black fruit flavors, with a fine balance of sweet oak and earth. Always a favorite on my list of choices. (Tasted: April 22, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Both generously fruited and solidly structured with a steady fix on fairly deep, classically curranty Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, this inviting wine gains added richness from its well-integrated oak and flirts with touches of graphite and sweet soil. It is full and slightly supple on entry before ample tannins arrive to remind that it is, in fact, still a youngster that is far from its best, and, if we would urge for restraint now, its path to better some four or five years hence is without obstacle.
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.