2012 Las Posadas

So much tar with blackberry and blueberry aromas. Perfumed. Black olive. Forest floor. A fabulous Bordeaux blend with complexity and subtlety. Full-bodied yet polished and refined. Incredible length and finish. Wonderful spice.

The 2012 Las Posadas Proprietary Red is a massive fruit bomb from that high-elevation vineyard. Forest floor, floral notes, lead pencil shavings, licorice, fruitcake, cedar wood and oodles of black fruits soar from the glass and from the palate of this full-bodied, majestic, multi-layered wine. Like most 2012s, it is really strutting it’s stuff. It is still obviously young, but dramatic and flamboyant. This sensational wine should age effortlessly for 25-30+ years.

The 2012 Howell Mountain has really come together beautifully over the last year. Deep and expressive in the glass, the Howell Mountain exudes richness and intensity. Here, the tannins are naturally a bit firmer than in the St. Helena wines, but all things considered, this is a striking Howell Mountain Cabernet that won't take years or decades to come around. This is an especially translucent, vibrant wine for Howell Mountain. The blend is 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 16% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec and 5% Merlot.