Palate
What makes Clone 6 especially compelling is its inherent structure. This small
berry’s thicker skin gives the 2012 vintage plenty of backbone to balance the
more fruit-generous qualities of the valley floor. The wine has enough tannin to
buffer the caramelized brown sugar and maple syrup elements that appear year
after year.
Once again, there is a satisfying mix of red and black fruits. While the red
fruits give the impression of higher acidity and make the wine more mouthwatering,
the black fruits give it a serious tone, a brooding side. Because the fruit was
allowed to hang without trauma until we were ready for it, the wine is showing a
bit of everything. It is rewardingly complete, equally suited to enjoying young
or cellaring
Growing Conditions
Valley floor or hillside vineyard, it didn’t matter; 2012 was a great, great year
for Napa Valley winegrowing. Moderate temperatures with no heat spikes made
for ideal conditions in the warmer north of the valley, where extreme heat can
ripen fruit a little faster than we’d sometimes like. In the Panek Vineyard, the fruit
took its time. Even with an early flowering and no rain, the clusters hung well
beyond previous harvest dates.
Thanks to the complete absence of weather challenges, vineyards on the
valley floor tended to produce larger than average berry size in 2012, which can
translate to wines that aren’t as concentrated as they first appear. That won’t be
the case for our 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Panek Vineyard. While each of
the four clones was picked and fermented separately, the wine is crafted primarily
from Clone 6, a naturally smaller Cabernet Sauvignon that is never wanting for
concentration, regardless of the vintage.
Bottling
We bottled without fining or filtration on June 17, 2014.
Aging
Aging: 20 months in 100% French
oak (85% new barrels)
Barrel Coopers: Ermitage and
Darnajou
