This Bordeaux-style blend from the northern reaches of Napa Valley’s Calistoga AVA hits the sweet spot of the valley’s expression with tactical precision. While Napa reds can range from overly extracted styles to those which reflect the austerity of Bordeaux’s left bank, the 2012 Chris’s Cuvée from Kenefick Ranch delivers the ideal balance we look for in Napa Valley Cabernets.
This boutique producer consistently strikes a chord with me every time I drink their wines; this incredibly elegant example is no exception. Well-composed fruit, complex earth and savory components merge to reveal a classic snapshot of Napa terroir. I’ve tasted many Napa Valley wines this year that retail for over $100; most of them pale in comparison to this wine, at half the price! In a region where SommSelect’s requisite price-to-quality has become increasingly difficult to find, this wine over-delivers.
The 2012 Chris’s Cuvée displays a dark garnet red core with light garnet and hints of orange on the meniscus, showing just a touch of bottle age. The pure and elegant nose offers aromas of black cherry, blackcurrant and dried raspberry laced with wildflowers: fresh, wet thyme, crushed cacao, and a light kiss of red tobacco leaf, along with vanilla bean and baking spices from beautifully integrated new French oak. Medium-plus in body, with elegant, soft mouthfeel, the palate delivers flavors of red plum, wild raspberry, blackcurrant and sweet cherry in its core, which is wrapped in layers of red tobacco leaf, wet flowers and slightly dusty clay. All of this evolves into a long finish, encapsulating a near perfect expression of red wine from the northern reaches of the Napa Valley, which is entering its beautiful peak now. This wine will also age gracefully for another 7-10 years thanks to its beautiful composition of fruit and balanced structure; don’t be afraid to lose this beauty in a dark corner of your cellar for a while. Decant for 15 minutes, then serve in Bordeaux stems at 60 degrees alongside a serious cut of meat and enjoy!