Mission Codename Birds and beasts
Remember how fast their 2013 came and went in May? Well, we went back for more and they dug deeper into the library, to find, GULP…
“This $#!% is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!”
Bananas. Bonkers. Spun. That’s how we feel about this one. Ever wish you could get a glimpse at the upcoming Super Bowl winner so you could place a monster bet? Or get in on some pre-IPO Amazon stock? We can’t make that happen, but we can advise you to grab this REEDONKULOUS TRIPLE GOLD winning, 93 pointer Cabernet at a head-spinning 66% OFF.
And that’s kind of the same thing.
Why? Two things you need to understand.
First, the winemaker, Dr. Richard Peterson. Heard of him? Probably not. But you’ve heard of Screaming Eagle and Heidi Barrett. Get this - before Heidi came on board it was her dad, Dr. Peterson who led the first four vintages of Screaming Eagle into cult stardom. Then Heidi Barrett took over. That’s not all. Richard also took André Tchelistcheff’s post at Beaulieu Vineyards, helped develop Atlas Peak Vineyards, and he presides over numerous institutions including the American Society for Enology & Viticulture, The Wine Institute, Society of Wine Educators and American Institute for Wine and Food. Oh and he wrote an award-winning autobiography “The Winemaker”. Just…WOW!
Second, we have the Red Hills AVA, a little known (for now) region named for its red volcanic soils. It sits just north of Napa, in Lake County - about ten miles north of Howell Mountain in fact. Here you’ll find some exceedingly high-quality Cabernet without the “Napa tax”. There’s a good reason why visionaries like Fred Schrader, Stéphane Derenoncourt, and Andy Beckstoffer have been quietly investing in land here. This gem comes from a small 18-acre Demeter Certified Biodynamic® Vineyard perched at 2,200 feet elevation.
Anyways, you want to know what it’s like?? Smooooth, creamy raspberry jam, cassis, cocoa, spice, savory bacon fat, and pencil shavings all served up in a CLASSY, balanced style somewhere between New and Old World. It has dusty, fine-grained tannins and can definitely age for another 5+ years. For a truly memorable experience, serve up a nice fatty prime ribeye dusted with some Maldon salt. MMMM…Man, what a discovery!
Just flat out rocking good stuff at this price and we might have enough to last the day. That’s it, we’re off to Five Dot Ranch to grab a Porterhouse!!
Gold Medal / 93 Points – Tastings
“Exceptional!”
Gold Medal – New York International Wine Competition
Gold Medal – Denver International Wine Competition
Tasting Profile
Tasting Profile
Look | Dense ruby to purple with brilliant streaks of deeper garnet emerging |
---|---|
Smell | Smooooth, creamy raspberry jam, cassis, cocoa, spice, savory bacon fat, and pencil shavings |
Taste | All served up in a CLASSY, balanced style somewhere between New and Old World |
Finish | It has dusty, fine-grained tannins and can definitely age for another 5+ years |
Pairing | For a truly memorable experience, serve up a nice fatty prime ribeye dusted with some Maldon salt |
What the Winery Says
2012 Red Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
- Consulting Winemaker
- Dr. Richard Peterson
- Vintage
- 2012
- Varieties
- 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petite Verdot
- Appellation
- Red Hills, Lake County
- Vineyard
- 100% Hawk and Horse Estate
- Soils
- Cortina (gravel), bale loam (sand), Pleasanton loam (clay)
- Alcohol
- 14.3%
- pH
- 3.55
- Aging
- 19 months
- Barrels
- 80% new French oak