Growing Conditions
Vintage 2012 was considered ‘perfect’ by the prognosticators as soon as the last grapes were making their way to the wineries. It was perfect in the sense that quality and quantity benefited both grower and winemaker. The weather cooperated throughout all critical parts of the growing season to produce beautifully ripe and flavorful fruit. Wine lots and barrels selected for our Villa Vista Cabernet Sauvignon don’t necessarily come from a particular spot on the estate (à la Vineyard Designate), but rather share common flavor and structural attributes that highlight bright red fruit and a balance of sweet and savory spice aromas. Certain lots are pushed further in the desired flavor and structural profile by co-fermenting with other varieties.
Our Villa Vista bottling of Cabernet is often an in-house favorite because of its beautiful acid/tannin balance, and the 2012 will surely shine among recent vintages. In a ripe vintage such as 2012, co-fermenting a couple of small batches of Cabernet with a bit of Sangiovese and Syrah ensured that at blending time we would have the necessary components to build a wine that walks the line between fruity and savory. Even at a fairly cool temperature, it pumps out volumes of black cherry, melted wax, and fresh oregano aromas. It’s about as concentrated and mouthwatering as a red wine can get and remains perfectly focused down the mid-palate.
Aging
27 months in 40% new French oak
