Barrett & Barrett Wine
2012 Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga, Napa Valley
Barrett and Barrett, two renowned and distinct winemakers working together, finally, is really what this wine is all about. The result is a handcrafted, limited edition Napa Valley wine that reflects our two different, yet complementary, winemaking styles.
WINEGROWING
The most remarkable thing about the 2012 vintage was the ripening of the fruit with no drying wind heat spells. We had an extended season with excellent maturation: simply ideal; never too hot nor too cold resulting in a very happy circumstance for Cab growers like us. We focus our wines on the place [terroir] and the vintage’s weather. The stressed vines that make this wine are some of the first to be harvested every year. Some vines have only two to four bunches of tiny berries, and these are the vines we prize most for our Barrett & Barrett Cab. They are super concentrated and intense, which is what these unique vineyard sites deliver to this project. Heidi then works her magic to polish the wine into the final product. This is what we strive for when working together: great concentration from the vineyard and super finesse in the winemaking.
UPDATED TASTING NOTES
Tasted Feb 2023
One of our panel’s favorites, the 2012 is extraordinary! It dazzles immediately with an opulent nose of raspberry, blueberry, and black currant, layered and complex with touches of nutmeg, tobacco, black tea, and vanilla. The palate is broad and rich - dense, voluptuous, and bursting with flavor. Great tannin texture and integration. Lots of life ahead for this still-youthful powerhouse. Drink or hold 15+ years
ORIGINAL TASTING NOTES
10/30/15 by Heidi Peterson Barrett
This 2012 is a powerhouse wine from this vintage. Aromas are deep, ripe, and intense with pure berry jam, lush black cherry, and layers of toasty sweet French oak. Explosive flavors follow the amazing aromatics. Just a delicious big lush mouthcoating wine. Our early ripening Calistoga vineyards served us well once again since the Barrett and Barrett blocks carry such a light crop. The typically low yielding vines produce tiny concentrated berries which result in this very cool dense and delicious Cab. It's the best possible combination blend of balance and finesse, purity of character, amazing length, and age worthiness. Don't miss it!
10/30/15 by Bo Barrett
The wine is opaque dark color, almost black to the very edge; The aroma is concentrated earthy-berry, smoked spices, fancy black tea with black cherry and cassis syrup. An instant mouthful of big fruit, lush throughout and a solid enduring richness and balance. Lots of good tannin grip and superbly acid balanced. A very classic “sun grown” Cabernet. Impressive palate focus and authority with rich fine polished structure.
ACCOLADES
from Antonio Galloni:
97 points - "The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Rich, racy, and totally voluptuous in the glass, the 2012 flows with seemingly endless layers of fruit. This is a decidedly dark, powerful brooding 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon endowed with real class. Dark cherry jam, wild flowers, gravel, mint and dark spice meld into the unctuous, riveting finish."
from Robert Parker: 93 points - "The wine is dense purple, shows loamy soil notes, forest floor and blackcurrant fruit intermixed with cedar wood, fruitcake and vanilla. It is dense, full-bodied, powerful and ideal for drinking over the next 20 years or so."
OTHER VINTAGES
Vertical Collection 2008-2019
Current Vintage: 2019
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
2014 Cabernet Sauvignon
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon