2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting

Saturday, January 30, 2021 - 07:30 PM

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Critics have done the wine industry a lot of good overall.
Robert Mondavi

Critics like Robert Parker Jr. have also made some wines a lot more expensive, like the ones that get those last two points on the 100-point scale and more 99- and 100-point scores have been handed out to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon than any other wines on the face of the earth. 

We had a vintage port tasting on the calendar for this evening, but it doesn’t look like we will have enough people to make that happen so in lieu of that I have put together some Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that I want to experience from the highly touted 2012 vintage.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular red wine in the world today and when it comes to immediate gratification wines this varietal it is hard to beat.  Most people know about Napa Valley's Cabernet Sauvignon and although it only accounts for around 3-5% of the total production in the state of California in terms of volume it is probably closer to 40-50% of all the total volume in terms of dollars.  

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape is a relatively new invention in the world of grape varietals, it is the result of the combination of a white varietal Sauvignon Blanc and a red grape Cabernet Franc crossed by some mad grape scientist in southwest France in the 17th century.  Because of its thick skin and relative ease of cultivation this varietal has spread around the world and makes high quality full bodied red wines in many parts of the wine world.

Napa Valley has experienced a slew outstanding vintages in a row with 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.  At our study of 10 year old Cabernet Sauvignon a few weeks ago we featured wines from the last challenging vintage in Napa 2011, so I figured with the impression of those wines fresh on our palates we should taste the 2012 vintage to see what a difference a year makes.

California Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the easiest wine tastings to sell, can you say immediate gratification… don’t wait to respond or this e-mail we only have 6 different examples of Cabernet Sauvignon on the table this evening but we have 2 bottles of each so we can use the big boy glasses so tonight and we will get a big pour of each wine for critical evaluation.  Of course, I threw in a ringer from Alexander Valley and we have two of the top-rated wines of 2012 according to Robert Parker JR. scoring 99 and 100 Points on the table tonight as well as the #1 wine in the top 100 from the Wine Spectator.  The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $325 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

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2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting at Wine Watch
Saturday, January 30th
7:30pm
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2012 Clark Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Eternity Napa
Price: $169.00    Your Price: $148.72          Quantity in Stock: 9

(95 Points)This may be the finest wine I have ever tasted from Clark-Claudon Vineyards. The inky/purple-colored 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Eternity (97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot) exhibits a beautiful perfume of crème de cassis, blueberries, boysenberries and spring flowers. This dense, full-bodied wine possesses good freshness, tremendous opulence and richness, and a long finish. Drink this beauty over the next 15 or more years. — Robert Parker 10/2014

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2012 Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Yoeman Alexander Valley
List Price: $90.00               Your Price: $79.20
This was the vintage that everybody thought was the Goldilocks year. 2012 was not too hot, not too cold, and just right with sun and fog. Near-ideal bud break, steady flowering, and a very even fruit set. A lengthy stretch of warm days and cool and often foggy nights during the long summer months. Grapes achieved optimal ripeness with fantastic quality. Skins were pretty thick so I'm guessing it will be a high-structure year. About 95 percent of the grapes were already picked when more than an inch of rain finally hit in late October. Alexander Valley and Napa Valley were exceptional and the wines should result in them being in the top 5 vintages over the last 20 years for both valleys. Comparison with 2001, 2002 and 2007 will be easy to do.
TASTING NOTES: Deep garnet; aromas of dark plum, black cherry, cassis, nutmeg, vanilla and dark chocolate. Shows concentrated flavors of black cherry, blackberry, plum, cassis, spice, tobacco, and chocolate. Rich and full-bodied, nice wood framing, sumptuous texture, supple tannin finish. My favorite vineyard from an exceptional vintage.  - Nick G.

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2012 Hartwell Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Stag’s Leap District
List Price: $148.00             Your Price: $130.24          Quantity in Stock: 9
(95 Points) Outer quote mark This blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot has beautiful, sweet blackberry fruit with cassis, chocolate, tar and earth. It’s thick, full-bodied, powerful and masculine. Even though it’s Stags Leap, this is a big, muscular, backstrapping wine … (RP)  Wine Advocate (12/2015)

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2012 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
Price: $442.00    Sale Price: $375.00           Quantity in Stock: 10

(99 Points) From a high-elevation vineyard that was replanted in 2006, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain reveals an opaque purple color as well as notes of mulberries, graphite, blackberries and a hint of charcoal. This dramatic, ostentatious 2012 is in keeping with the stylistic characteristics of this vintage. Multidimensional, stunningly pure and rich, it is a beauty that flirts with perfection. Drink now-2032. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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2012 Peter Michael Au Paradis Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
List Price: $450.00             Your Price: $396.00          Quantity in Stock: 11
(96 points) Outer quote mark Deliciously pure and supple, with explosive dark berry and red berry flavors and a silky, polished texture. The tannins become more evident midway through, with a gravelly crushed rock profile that adds a dimension of dust and mineral. *2015 Wine of the Year, Highly Recommended* (JL) Inner quote mark (10/2015)  Wine Spectator

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2012 Realm Cellars Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard Napa
Price: $565.00    Your Price: $497.20

(100 Points) A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, Realm’s perfect 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard exhibits a La Mission Haut-Brion-like bouquet of blueberries, scorched earth, burning embers and spring flowers, a dense, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a staggeringly long, multidimensional, 60-second finish. It can be drunk with enormous pleasure now, but promises to evolve for at least a quarter of a century. For historical buffs, the Dr. Crane Vineyard is named after a real doctor, who first planted the vineyard in 1858. In the 1920s, this small area was once considered the home of migrant Chinese workers.  Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.  Issue Date, 30th Oct 2014.  Source- 215, The Wine Advocate

Menu
Selection of Cheese:  Epoisses, Beemster Gouda, Stilton Blue Cheese
Pulled Pork Black Bean and smoked Mozzarella ravioli with Port soaked sundried Cherry browned butter
Black and Blue Bacon Seared NY Sirloin with Blue Cheese Flan and Ruby Port Reduction
Bittersweet Dark Chocolate Tart with Espresso Foam and blue cheese ice cream

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $325 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.  Please let us know when you make your reservation if you have any alergies and Toni will be happy to accommodate you.