Aroma:  Black cherries, cream de cassis, smoke, tobacco, anise, and minerals all come in waves in this big, well structured cab.  Fine tannins and the judicious use of oak, which was all French, come together to create velvety texture that will be pleasing for many years to come.

Palate:  The palate follows the nose with a black & blue-berried fruitfulness that doesn't overpower the roses, licorice, and smoke hints.  This is a well balanced wine with outstanding power. 

2012 Weather Conditions: 2012 in Napa started cool, and wet for those who bud earlier than we do here in Conn Valley.  The summer brought cooler than normal temperatures, and then a wet & cool harvest season.  We harvested long after the rains came and left, but that forced us to tighten the belt by dropping fruit both before & after the storms in order to get full maturation of the grapes, but at a heavy cost of yields.  This is a vintage we are extremely excited about, it truly shows off how wonderful a spot we have in Conn Valley, and how skilled our team is at growing grapes and making wine. 

grapes and making wine.