VHR Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Vintage
VHR 2012 A near perfect season, the 2012 vintage witnessed the return to classically characteristic Napa Valley growing conditions. The combination of idyllic weather throughout the season and the singular attributes of the vineyard brought forth a winegrape crop of incomparable quality. Fruit harvested from blocks 3, 4, 6 and 7 produced a wine of exceptional character from Vine Hill Ranch.
Block 7 highlights the cobbly stone and graphite qualities of its creekside setting. Our hillside Block 6 carries the flavors of its forest perimeter—dark fruit, bay laurel and chaparral—with highly structured brooding tannins. Block 3, planted on our deep gravelly loam benchland soils introduces the complementary character, color and unique qualities of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Also situated on the loamy benchland soils, Block 4 brings forth vibrant red cherry fruit, spirited mouth feel and fine silky tannins.
The 2012 VHR, Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with aromas of black raspberry, dark chocolate, minerals and wild herbs. This vintage boasts an outstanding combination of fruit depth and energy, displaying superb intensity to the silky, mineral-driven flavors of raspberry, sage and forest floor. Conveying an essence of the vineyard’s western Oakville soils, the wine finishes with a wonderful slow-building length and lift, the ripe tannins perfectly supported by rich fruit. Well tempered, with seamless and persistent tannins, the 2012 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon will continue to develop in bottle, providing years of enjoyment from this stellar vintage.
2012 harvest began in the early morning of October 5th, ending October 15th. Grapes were scrupulously hand sorted and aged in French Oak for 8 months, then blended and returned to barrel for an additional 12 months. 625 cases were bottled in June 2014.
