Winemaker Notes
82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is racy and opulent, yet also medium in body. It was a vintage characterized by high yields and a late harvest that stretched into October, something that would not happen again until 2023. In this context, the 2012 comes across as super refined and elegant. There’s so much energy, complexity and drive here. Impressive.
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James Suckling
A rich and vibrant red with a firm backbone of tannins and agile, taunt form that goes against the full-throttle style. Full, structured and serious. Give this three to four years to soften. Mountain cab muscle.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate’s dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of crème de cassis, licorice, mulberries and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied and elegant, it cuts a broad swath between a great Médoc and a Napa Valley Cabernet. There is still some tannin to shed, should be at its peak in 4-5 years, and drink well for 20-25 years. Rating: 94+
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.