2012 Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena
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Tasting notes
(15% alcohol): Good bright red. Reticent but pure aromas of raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, licorice, mint and sexy oak (60% new). Conveys lovely balance and obvious sweet fruit and licorice flavors but comes across as very closed today, with its big, broad, oak-driven tannins currently keeping the mid-palate tight and the finishing fruit under wraps. Strong potential here but lay this one down and forget about it. Exudes lovely subtle floral tones for a wine at this octane level.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the relaxed, easygoing personality of the year. Soft, supple and voluptuous, the 2012 is a great choice for drinking while some of the more structured vintages rest comfortably in the cellar. Sweet mocha and spice notes wrap around the silky, seamless finish.
Made from a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with small percentages of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across like a textbook Bordeaux, specifically a Graves. Elegant blueberry and raspberry fruit intermixed with charcoal and camphor are followed by a wine with a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin and a long, luscious, expansive mid-palate and finish. It will be even better in 2-5 years, and will last for two decades.
(cabernet sauvignon blended with about 15% cab franc and 5% each merlot and petit verdot): Bright dark red. Crushed redcurrant, pomegranate, minerals, flowers and red licorice on the perfumed nose. Very ripe grapes are nicely supported by strong acidity, giving the wine a lovely high pitch and preserving its treble notes of herbs and flowers. Very light on its feet for 15% alcohol. Finishes slightly warm, with dusty tannins and perfumed lift. This wine will need at least a few years in the bottle to absorb some of its acidity.