Beaulieu Vineyard

2012 Reserve Clone 6 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum

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2012 Reserve Clone 6 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum
Beaulieu Vineyard

2012 Reserve Clone 6 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum

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1.5L Magnum

The notably small clusters and berries of Clone 6 Cabernet Sauvignon yield a wine with highly concentrated, distinctive flavors structured by muscular tannins. For this exclusive bottling, sold only at the winery, we chose the finest wine lots from BV Ranches No. 1 and No. 2, which exemplify the superior qualities of this historic clone. The powerful dark fruit aromas and flavors of black cherry liqueur, briary wild blackberry and crème de cassis intertwine with black olive, espresso, sweet anise spice and toasty vanilla oak. This wine has extraordinary aging potential.
93 pts
“A very balanced and refined cabernet with blackberry, blackcurrant and floral character. Medium-to full-bodied, subtle and complex. So drinkable now but will improve with age.”
James Suckling

Technical info

Alcohol 14.5%
Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation Napa Valley
Oak treatment 100% New French Oak

Winemaking

A grape’s flavor and tannin compounds are in its skin, which explains why the very small berry size of Clone 6, with its high skin-to-juice ratio, yields highly extracted, powerful wines. Cold soaking of the must and gentle punch-downs in open-top fermenters mixed the flavor-rich skins with the juice. Upon completion of primary fermentation, we pressed and transferred the wine to new French oak barrels for in-barrel malolactic fermentation and aging.
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Vintage

The relaxed, high-quality 2012 harvest was a winemaker’s dream. The ideal growing season—well-timed rains, no frost during bud break, and perfect weather for bloom, berry-set and ripening—was textbook Napa Valley. Long stretches of sunny days coupled with foggy nights gave our 2012 wines exceptionally rich, expressive flavors and impeccable balance. We had no weather pressures, from either pending rains or excessive heat, to rush the harvest. Instead we had the luxury of waiting until the grapes reached absolutely perfect maturity.

Vineyard

In 1980, we began a 14-year series of trials in conjunction with UC Davis, to identify Cabernet Sauvignon clones best suited to our Rutherford Bench terroir. Two clones (4 and 6) were ultimately selected for grafting to rootstocks planted in the well-draining, alluvial fan soils of our estate vineyards. As a component of our Georges de Latour and other reserve Cabernet Sauvignons, Clone 4 gives the blend pronounced, lush, full flavors and has softer, more approachable tannins in its youth. Also known as the Mendoza clone, it was identified and isolated in Argntina and then brought to the United States. Known for its larger berries and tighter berry cluster, resulting in a Cabernet with lush, round and opulent style.

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