2012 - First Amazing Drought Year

2012 Le Bijou du Roi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - Diamond Mountain

96 points (Wine Review Online)

"Diamond Mountain has long been one of the most distinctive sub-regions of the Napa Valley for cabernet sauvignon, making complex cabs that will improve with age over multiple decades. The En Garde Le Bijou du Roi is an example of the genre. This vintage exhibits lovely red fruits and spice, with a floral background note and hints of vanilla and darker fruits on the palate." - Robert Whitley

95 points (SteveHeimoff.com)

"Fascinating to compare the ’11 and ’12 Bijous. The latter is of course higher in alcohol by a fairly significant amount because it was a warmer, drier vintage. It is thus richer, rounder and more opulent. Like the ’12 Adamus, it is also higher in the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, presumably because the Cab got riper in ’12. The result is a seriously good wine, delicious right out of the bottle, with soft, complex tannins framing blackberry jam, crème de cassis, dark chocolate, espresso and anisette flavors that finish long and spicy. As rich as the wine is, it’s dry, and the alcohol contributes a welcoming note of warmth. I’m not sure I would age this much beyond six years, but it sure is a rewarding Cab that shows the pedigree of its Sori Bricco Vineyard origin."

94 points (Critics Challenge, San Diego)

92 points (FredSwan.wine)

"There is a core of ripe, dark fruit with coconut and sweet spice on the nose. Medium+ body in the mouth with very fine, soft and beautifully integrated tannins. The flavors of blackberry, toasted wood, spice and chocolate are long and powerful. 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot from the Sori Bricco vineyard, aged for 21 months in 100% new French oak. As with the Adamus, this is a graceful wine, ready to drink now and requires neither food nor decanting. It will gain complexity over 10+ years." - Fred Swan

92 points (The Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com)

"The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Bijou du Roi is an impressive bottling. The wine has a dense ruby/purple color, loads of cedar, red and blackcurrant fruit, licorice and a style that’s somewhat reminiscent of a very ripe St. Emilion. This beauty is nicely textured, lush, seductive and complex. Drink it over the next 10-12 years." - Robert Parker

90 points (Wine Enthusiast Magazine)

"Chocolate mocha and black fruit define this full-bodied, robustly made and oaked wine from a mountain appellation. Moderate acidity helps cut through the generous tannin and rich ripeness, finding a brushy dried sage note along the way." - Virginie Boone

2012 Adamus - Diamond Mountain District

95 points (SteveHeimoff.com)

"More Cabernet in the ’12 Adamus than the ’11, and higher alcohol (14.8%), too, all of which makes for a better wine. It has the black currants and cassis, the macaroons, the smoky blueberries and the chocolate, but that herby, olivey tapenade of the less ripe 2011 is gone. It’s richer, smoother, deeper and ultimately more satisfying and fun to drink. Really lovely and complete, and the famously hard Diamond Mountains tannins have been buffed as soft and satiny as a pearl. Delicious now, and will age seamlessly for at least ten years."

95 points (Cabernet Shootout)

"Extremely well balanced and complex. Plum, cassis, cardamom, unsweetened dark chocolate, pomegranate seeds, and cola show in the complex nose. Bright plum, hints of blood orange marmalade, oak, earth notes, and vanilla keeps shining through. Integrated wine with a New World spin."

93 points (The Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com)

"Even better is the 2012 Proprietary Red Adamus, another Diamond Mountain cuvée. I don’t know the exact blend B it’s obviously Bordeaux varietals B but it’s rich, opulent, full-bodied and lusty, in a Right Bank Bordeaux style. The wine is fleshy, succulent, fragrant and sexy. Drink it over the next decade. The 2013s are not yet in bottle." - Robert Parker

92 points (FredSwan.wine)

"Attractive aromas of red and black fruit, cocoa, coconut and eucalyptus. The lithe palate is medium-bodied with very fine and well-integrated tannins. Flavors include ripe and tangy red cherries, blueberry, cocoa and sweet spice. This is a lovely blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petite Verdot and 3% Malbec, from the Sori Bricco vineyard, aged 21 months in 55% new French oak barrels. It’s flavorful but doesn’t try to hard. It’s both ready and easy to drink now, with or without food. Don’t decant now, but Adamus will gain complexity with 7+ years of bottle age." - Fred Swan

91 points (Wine Enthusiast Magazine)

"Blending 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 12% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec, this wine offers length and breadth, built on a foundation of firm tannin and toasted oak. The palate suggests blackberry, black cherry and licorice, remaining lively and fresh in the glass." - Virginie Boone

2012 Pinot Noir Reserve - Russian River Valley

95 points (California State Fair Wine Competition)

93-94 points (Pinot File)

"Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Extroverted nose featuring scents of Bing cherry, spice, tea and sous-bois. Delicious flavors of fresh, perfectly ripened strawberry, cherry and cranberry with harmoniously integrated oak. Very juicy and charming with plenty of grace, tannins so fine as to be imperceptible, and a long, powerfully scented finish. Still hitting on all cylinders the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle."

Double Gold Medal (San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition)

93 points (Affairs of the Vine Pinot Shootout)

90 points  CELLAR SELECTION  (Wine Enthusiast Magazine)

Gold Medal (Sonoma Harvest Wine Competition)

2012 Pinot Noir Starkey Hill - Russian River Valley

92 points (SteveHeimoff.com)

91-92 points (Pinot File)

"Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose opens slowly in the glass to reveal scents of dusty cherry and strawberry. A plentiful black cherry attack is augmented with notes of spice, cola and tea. Nicely crafted with supple tannins, a good acid underbelly and a lip-smacking, cherry-driven finish."

91 points  CELLAR SELECTION  (Wine Enthusiast Magazine)

Double Gold Medal (Sonoma Harvest Wine Competition)

Gold Medal (San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition)

92 points (Affairs of the Vine Pinot Shootout)

2012 Pinot Noir Olivet Court - Russian River Valley

91 points (Affairs of the Vine Pinot Shootout)

90-91 points (Pinot File) 

"Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Very shy aromas of cherry and raspberry. Very tasty core of black cherry and black raspberry with a hint of dark chocolate and spice. Modest in weight with muscular tannins and a very lengthy finish. The least showy wine in the lineup, but should blossom with more time in bottle."

90 points (Wine Enthusiast Magazine)

90 points (SteveHeimoff.com)

2012 Pinot Noir - Russian River Valley

92 points, Gold Medal (Critics Challenge International Wine Competition)

Gold Medal (Orange County Wine Competition)

90 points, Gold Medal (Affairs of the Vine Pinot Shootout)

"Slightly smoky with a dusty rose note on the nose. "Really nice acid. Sour cherry with white pepper flavors makes me want more. " stated one of our judges. "Excellent food pairing wine given its acidity and balance of sour cherry and herbs on the long finish.

2012 Petite Verdot - Ghielmetti Vineyard, Livermore Valley

93 points (Winemaker Challenge, San Diego)

2012 Tempranillo - El Dorado

90 points (Wine Enthusiast Magazine)

2012 Petite Sirah - Ghielmetti Vineyard - Livermore Valley

90 points (Romancing the Rhones Wine Competition)

"Vibrant nose of blackberry, blueberry, black pepper, and leather continues onto the palate and through the velvety finish. Good intensity. The core of tart blueberry is deftly wrapped with oak accents. Well balanced."

2012 Albariño - Terra Alta Vineyard - Borden Ranch

94 points, Best in Show Micro White Award (California State Fair Wine Competition)

Gold Medal (Best of the Bay Wine Competition)

Gold Medal (International Women's Wine Competition)

2012 Rosé - Six Grapes

90 points (Wine Enthusiast Magazine)