The 2012 Cappella, probably has less Cabernet Franc than his other cuvées but at least 25-30%. This wine has closed down since I had it from barrel last year, but that probably reflects more on its post-bottling dormancy. A wine... Read More
Once again, the 2012 Thorevilos struts its enormous potential. A deep purple color is accompanied by wonderfully sweet blueberry, blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with notes of licorice, spring flowers and forest floor.... Read More
There are 750 cases (which means good yields for John, although any normal person would call 1.5-1.75 tons per acre financial suicide) of the 2012 Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard, and it's a terrific vintage for this cuvee.... Read More
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous, a flamboyant and dramatic wine with terrific fruit intensity (blackberry, cassis and blueberry), subtle background vanilla and toast, a hint of lead pencil shavings and floral underpinnings.... Read More
The 2012 Pinot Noir Cix Estate was made from suitcase clones from Vosne-Romanee. It exhibits abundant notes of forest floor, blackberries, blueberries and spicy oak along with dry tannins in the finish. The wine is multi-dimensional... Read More
An exceptional perfume of rose petals, loamy soil, raspberries, blueberries and spring flowers jumps from the glass of the 212 Pinot Noir UV-SL. Primarily Calera clonal material with some Vosne-Romanee suitcase clones, it was... Read More
Made from the Calera clone, the 212 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard offers up plenty of cola and root beer notes intermixed with black cherry, dusty, loamy soil and foresty nuances. Deep and medium to full-bodied with fresh, lively... Read More
Aged in Taransaud (75%) and Darnajou (25%) oak, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Tin Box is more backward than the perfect 2011 was last year, but it reveals similar decadence, opulence and velvety texture. Its opaque blue/black/purple... Read More
The grand vin, the 2012 Beychevelle, is one of the stars of St.-Julien. Opaque purple, with beautiful crème de cassis notes, the wine has floral underpinnings, sweet tannin and a nice layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel. This... Read More
For the 2012 Pinot Noir The Coast, the winemaking team went for muscle, structure and density with the Calera, Mt. Eden and Swan clones. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a sweet bouquet of raspberries, black... Read More
Bryant's 2012 DB4 is rich, round and silky in the glass, with plenty of the vintage's trademark silkiness and suppleness. Pliant and expressive, the 2012 offers gorgeous depth in its dark, resonant fruit. Savory herbs,... Read More
A blend of 97% Zinfandel and 3% mixed blacks, the 2012 Zinfandel Bedrock Vineyard offers briary, raspberry and black cherry notes. This earthy, peppery, spicy, medium to full-bodied Zinfandel possesses good acidity and headiness.... Read More
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is a very pleasant, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon. The modern-day Caymus style of sweetness and glycerin richness is very much in evidence, but at the same time, the elements are well... Read More
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is a very pleasant, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon. The modern-day Caymus style of sweetness and glycerin richness is very much in evidence, but at the same time, the elements are well... Read More
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is a very pleasant, mid-weight Cabernet Sauvignon. The modern-day Caymus style of sweetness and glycerin richness is very much in evidence, but at the same time, the elements are well... Read More
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection has a dense blackish/purple color and creamy, sweet crème de cassis fruit, blackberries, a touch of graphite and vanilla, This exuberant, boisterous, in-your-face style of Cabernet... Read More
Another longer-term prospect is the 2012 Syrah Armada Vineyard. One of the more burly, structured releases from this estate, it's always poured after the Bionic Frog and is the last Syrah we taste in a vintage. The 2012 gives... Read More
While a lot of the 2012s came in near the bottom of the barrel score, that wasn't the case with the 2012 Syrah Bionic Frog and this beauty flirts with perfection. Inky colored and purple to the rim, it offers extraordinary... Read More
A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, the 2012 Camaspelo is more refined and elegant than the Lovers release, showing a seamless, elegant profile to go with lots of dark fruits, savory herbs, graphite and hints of... Read More