2012 Ganymede Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

The sexy, up-front 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Ganymede Vineyard comes from the estate’s oldest vines and is made from a combination of mountainside and benchland fruit. Soft and seductive, with a deep ruby/purple color, lots of cassis and plum fruit, this pure, savory Cabernet is Pomerol-like in its succulent, rich, elegant finish. It should drink well for 10-15 years.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Ganymede Vineyard wraps around the palate with black fruit, cloves, crushed rocks and graphite. More exotic floral and citrus notes develop in the glass, adding tons of complexity and pure nuance. Far from an easygoing 2012, the Ganymede boasts tremendous power. This intense, tightly-wound Cabernet Sauvignon is likely to require at least a few years to come together. Even at this early stage it is delicious.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Ganymede Vineyard is one of the more elegant wines in this range, as evidenced by its medium-bodied structure and overall shape. Black fruit, mocha, spice, incense and pipe tobacco are nicely delineated throughout. Like all the 2012s here, the Ganymede appears to be aging at a relatively fast clip. I like the aromatics, but the fruit is fading. Ultimately, the Ganymede has not aged as well as I had hoped.