Late Harvest Napa Valley 2012
About This Wine
On the nose: Apricots, honey, almonds, vine flowers, Christmas spices, fresh hay, tea leaves
On the palate: Marmalade, almond paste, cheese rind, coconut, bay leaf, pineapple, canned peach, brioche, caramel, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, rich texture, balanced sweetness with good lingering acidity
Wine Profile
Blend: 86% Sauvignon Blanc, 14% Semillon
Fermentation: 70% barrel fermented, 30% stainless steel tank fermented
Aging: 8 months in French oak
Vintage Notes:
2012 proved to be a vintage of extremes. This was not because of frost, heat, or rain, but mainly due to the high yield of fruit. The growing season was ideal with no frost, a mild spring, and a very temperate, long growing season. This allowed all varietals to ripen to their optimum condition with significant concentration and complexity. The biggest challenges were to find space to ferment and to manage the tannin structure of the very thick-skinned red vintage. This means that winemakers who simply apply recipes had a challenging year as tannin levels were at twice the average level.
