Winemaker’s 2012 Vintage Wine Tasting Notes:
It’s important to say that wines evolve as they age. For that reason our winemaker dates his tasting notes and may provide more than one as the wine undergoes its natural evolution. Below are the latest of his notes on our currently released wines.
2012 L’Arpege, Applegate Valley Grand Vin
The 2012 vintage was one of the best we’ve seen in the last 6 years. Cool through budbreak but accelerating heat accumulation through the rest of the season brought the vintage to 2,960 growing degree days at harvest. Relying more on taste than chemistry the winemaker decided it was time to harvest beginning the 7th of October and finishing the 27th. The ’12 Merlot hit the winery at a gorgeous 26 Brix.
Tasting Note – March 19, 2018
Dark and concentrated is what this wine is about. A brooding wine that shows evolving levels of dark fruits, rich spices, white pepper and intriguing cola undertones.
The wine is gorgeously colored and will present like a champ on the table.
Varietals:
Merlot 87%, Cabernet Franc 13%
Skin Contact:
21 Days
Barrel Aging:
65 Months in combination French and American oak barrels.
Pair with: Pair as you would with classic Merlot recommendations but also this wine stands up to stews, creamed dishes and oriental foods and can also raise the appreciation of dark fish dishes such as salmon and tuna, especially when those are garnished with olives, mushrooms, and herbs.
