Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a blend of 93.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyards on the Silverado Trail, south of Stags Leap. Made in a good structural style with plenty of barrique in the background as well as lots of blackcurrant, licorice, new saddle leather and spice characteristics, this tastes like a Cabernet Sauvignon made by someone of Italian origin. I say that because of its tannic structure and spice. This serious, full-bodied, concentrated 2012 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for two decades. Rating: 91+
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.