Nose
Reveals aromas of boysenberry, cassis and huckleberry with a touch of soft spice.
Palate
Th eplush entry hits the palate with flavors of fresh baked berry pie and allspice balanced with a hint of oak. Sweet tannins and a structured finish result in a balanced wine that is a true expression of the varietal and its terroir.
Growing Conditions
At the foot of Mount St. Helena, Calistoga’s warmer climate and volcanic soils produce wines of unmistakable character. With a southwestern exposure and deep, established roots that allow for the use of minimal irrigation, the vines produce berries that were crafted into a wine with excellent flavor, body and overall complexity.
"Classic" and "perfect" are just two accolades being bestowed upon the 2012 Napa Valley growing season and harvest. Textbook conditions saw near-ideal spring bud break, steady flowering, even fruit set, and a lengthy stretch of warm days and cool nights during the long summer months. Late and light rains held off until Napa Valley's treasured wine grapes found optimal ripeness, bringing exceptional quality to the crush pad and into the cellar.
Winemaking
After hand-harvesting in early October, the grapes were fermented on the skins for 39-53 days with pumpovers twice daily and native fermentation.
Aging
After fermentation, the wine was gently pressed, racked and aged for 17 months in French oak barrels, 45% new French Oak. A mix of Radoux, Seguin, Moreau and Saury French oak barrels from forests in the center of France impart their oak on wines slowly for a consistent, well rounded aging process while yielding subtle oak influences to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a balanced wine that is a true expression of the varietal and its terroir.
Appearance
Our 2012 is a deep dark red in the glass.
