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2012 Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2012 Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2012 Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes

Tasting Note

The 2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has complex layers of black fruit and notes of cocoa powder, graphite and light smoky oak. Notes of bittersweet chocolate and blackberry pastry complement its dense structure, plush tannins and lingering finish.

Technical Information

Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage 2012
Volume 750mL
Appellation Napa Valley
Blend 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petite Verdot
Oak Treatment Aged 18 months in new French Nevers oak (95% new)
Alcohol % 14.9%
Enclosure Type Cork
Case Production 10251 Cases
pH 3.77
Pick Date 10/27/2012

Scores & Accolades

  • 96

    Wine Advocate

    "Revealing the great blending skills of Beringer's winemaking team, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is a winner. Having purchased Private Reserves for many years, I can attest that they age incredibly well. The 1991, one of the great successes of that vintage, is still aging beautifully at nearly 25 years of age. The sensational 2012 (10,000 cases) boasts an opaque purple color along with abundant aromas of charcoal, burning embers, creme de cassis, chocolate, blackberries and licorice. The long, complex, compelling, full-bodied texture along with terrific purity and a savory, rich mouthfeel result in a classic, quintessential Napa Cabernet Sauvignon to drink now and over the next 20-25 years." - Robert Parker, October 2014

  • 95

    JamesSuckling.com

    "This is powerful with super polished tannins and a wonderful balance of fruit and acidity. Lots of blackberry, sweet tobacco and fresh mushroom undertones. Layered and structured. Needs at least three to four years to come around but already great. Exciting, harking back to the great vintages of this wine." - James Suckling, July 2015

Winemaking

Winemaking

The Beringer reserve vineyards offer Cabernet Sauvignon of such quality that a minimalist approach to winemaking has long defined this special blend. Each vineyard is vinified separately and monitored carefully by Laurie, from the moment the fruit comes into the winery at Harvest. She uses tailored pump-over techniques for optimal extraction, and ages the wines in hand-selected, custom-toasted barrels of new French Nevers oak (95% new). Each lot was aged for 18 months before selection of the final blend, to allow each vineyard to express the depth of its unique terroir.

Laurie Hook - Former Winemaker

Laurie Hook, Beringer's Winemaker Emeritus, began her career in the winemaking program at University of California at Davis, which is noted for training some of the best winemakers around the world. Upon graduating in 1984, she traveled to Australia to work at a small winery. After returning to work a harvest in Sonoma, Laurie came to Beringer as an enologist in 1986, a job that allowed her to solidify the scientific side of her training. In 1997, she was named Assistant Winemaker to Beringer Winemaster Ed Sbragia, and in 2000 she was promoted to Winemaker for Beringer Vineyards. Laurie lead our winemaking team for 15 years before transitioning to winemaker Emeritus in 2015.

Vintage

Vintage

The 2012 vintage began with textbook conditions that continued through much of Harvest. Spring bud break was ideal with steady flowering and even fruit set. A lengthy stretch of warm days and cool nights during the summer months allowed for optimal ripeness to develop in the grapes and an exceptional quality overall.

Vineyard

Napa Valley AVA

Napa Valley

Vineyard

Steinhauer vineyard provides the foundation (30%) for the 2012 blend, which has been part of the Private Reserve blend since 1993. A significant portion (17%) comes from Bancroft Ranch atop Howell Mountain as well, and another portion (17%) comes from the Saint Helena Home vineyard, which was part of the original acreage that founders Jacob and Frederick Beringer purchased in 1875 with the Beringer estate. Laurie also chose some select lots from the Rutherford appellation to include in the 2012 blend, as she particularly liked the broad, dense and classic Cabernet characteristics that appellation is known for. Each lot is closely watched during the ripening period to determine ideal pick time. Grapes for the 2012 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested between September 25th and October 27th.

Former Winemaker Laurie Hook

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