2010 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow

The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. It was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak. Medium to deep garnet in color, it leaps from the glass with bold, expressive notes of plum preserves, warm cassis and dried mulberries with hints of cigar box, spice cake, dusty soil and menthol plus a touch of bouquet garni. Medium-bodied, the palate bursts with vibrant, youthful black fruits plus loads of savory/spicy sparks, framed by soft tannins and lively acidity, finishing with loads of minerally layers. (LPB)

Lastly, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow, from the smallest of the parcels at five acres, seems to be the most gravelly (pardon the pun) and with loads of minerality it’s a more backward tannic style. Offering less obvious pleasure, but loads of structure and minerality, it’s an intellectual interpretation of Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s full-bodied, rich and needs a good decade of cellaring. (RP) 94+

Diamond Creek's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow opens with an intensely mineral bouquet redolent of graphite, smoke, crushed rocks, incense and dark cherry jam. There is plenty of vintage 2012 richness, but the Gravelly Meadow deftly balances opulence and structure. Today, the Gravelly Meadow is the most dense and unctuous of the wines here. (AG) 95+