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Tasting Notes
Tasting Note
A proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Merlot, the 2016 Twelve Falls is an elegant and rich, dark, red wine, with layers of fragrant dark berry fruits and savory spice. Blackberry, Bing cherry and dark plum sit alongside aromatic notes of anise seed, coffee and baking spice which all unfold together in the glass. Secondary notes of cedar box and tobacco entice your senses while the mouthfeel showcases hints of fresh wild chaparral herbs leading to a restrained and graceful finish with long length and finesse. The tannins are soft and fine-grained, reflective of the estate's ability to combine depth of flavor with elegance. This wine will continue to develop beautifully as it ages in the cellar.
Technical Information
| Varietal | Red Wine |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Volume | 750mL |
| Appellation | Stags Leap District |
| Alcohol % | 14.1% |
| Enclosure Type | Cork |
Scores & Accolades
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93
JamesSuckling.com
“A generous, creamy blended red with lovely berries, chocolate and hints of hazelnuts. Medium to full body. Juicy and delicious at the finish. Mostly cabernet with petite sirah, merlot, petit verdot and malbec. Drink now.” - James Suckling, February 2020
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93
Wine Advocate
"The 2016 Proprietary Red Twelve Falls Estate is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petite Sirah, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. Deep garnet-purple colored, it features fragrant notions of warm plums, black raspberries, kirsch and blueberry compote with touches of Chinese five spice, Sichuan pepper, dusty soil and garrigue. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm, rugged texture of chewy tannins supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and spicy. 504 cases were made.” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, August 13th, 2020
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94
Wine Enthusiast
"This wine is led by 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Petite Sirah, with small accents of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, all estate-grown. Robustly built, muscular no less, it has sturdy structure and powerful black fruit, with secondary characteristics of garrigue, leather and forest earth. This will do well in the cellar; enjoy best from 2026–2031. Cellar Selection.” - Virginie Boone, October 2020
Winemaking
Winemaking Note
Maceration followed suit for each of the varieties, which allowed Winemaker Christophe Paubert to monitor and evaluate each lot individually, coaxing each variety to its maximum potential. The Cabernet Sauvignon fermented and aged in high quality new French oak barrels for 19 months, while the Merlot went to neutral French oak, and the Petite Sirah went into neutral American oak. The final assemblage was blended just prior to bottling.
Christophe Paubert - Winemaker
For Christophe Paubert, Winemaker and General Manager at Stags’ Leap Winery, the identity of a wine is found through the terroir. Christophe’s career has spanned the industry from sales to winemaking, and his impressive background includes positions at Chateau d’Yquem and Gruaud-Larose as well as projects in Chile, Spain and Washington State. But it was the terroir of Stags’ Leap that drew him to California.
Vintage
Vintage Note
The extended drought was beginning to cause real concern as the 2016 growing season kicked off, but some welcomed winter rain hinted at the relief to come. After a relatively dry January we enjoyed significant rainfall in February, along with mild temperatures. Bud break was early, but was slowed by heavy April showers. While still early by historical standards, picking began about a week later than 2015, and continued at a leisurely pace, allowing the grapes to reach full flavor maturity. A traditionally sized harvest followed the lighter showing of 2015, and the extended season helped to balance the acidity in each varietal and added additional complexity to the layers of flavors. This resulted in wines with outstanding concentration and flavor.
Vineyard
Stags Leap AVA
Vineyard Note
Crafted as an ode to our own Stags' Leap Winery Estate Vineyards, Twelve Falls is a barrel selection red blend that beautifully mimics the varietal composition of these plantings. Year after year, the blocks surrounding the historic Manor House produce on average around 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petite Sirah, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Malbec fruit, and the elegant Twelve Falls is a perfect reflection of this assemblage, crafted as a tribute to showcase the best fruit the estate offers.
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