- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
RP
96
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Deep garnet colored, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Hershey Vineyard has a profoundly scented nose of baked cherries, mulberries with touches of smoked meats, mocha and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm structure of chewy tannins and great freshness, finishing long and earthy/minerally. Reviewed by Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Issue date: December 2017. Drinking window: 2017 - 2032.
2012 Dana Estates Hershey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, USA
Vintage Notes
After the challenges presented in 2009-2011, the 2012 vintage was welcomed with open arms. We had some beautiful warm days in both January and February, followed by almost 12 inches of rain in March. This pushed bud break back a couple weeks into mid and even late April for Hershey. These rains set us up for larger than normal yields and berry sizes. We left cover crops in place a bit longer to dry soil profiles, leaving extra fruit to limit berry size. The extra fruit was then dropped later to balance the vines. The summer of 2012 was very mild, with just one summer heat spike on June 16th and an Indian summer warming event on October 1st. The October warming trends can be detrimental, but in this case they were just the motivation the vines needed to achieve perfect ripeness.
Harvest and Aging
September could not have been gentler to Hershey in 2012. The higher elevation typically presents warmer evenings which can be a challenge as skins begin to soften in September. The lower daytime temperatures in the upper 70’s and low 80’s allowed a long ripening period. We picked our clone 191 and most of the SEE clone just before a mid-October warming trend. We then held out until the 29th of October for the lower portion of the SEE clone. The final blend was 52% barrel fermentation and 48% concrete. As the SEE clone becomes older and roots dig deeper, it’s expressing more ripeness and generosity, calling for concrete fermentation. Maceration ranged from 32 to 54 days. The wines were pressed directly to barrel, and malolactic was native.
Tasting Notes
Dark fruit and baking spices spring from the glass. The palate is dominated by ripe black and red fruit, intense minerality and a tannin profile that is pure unadulterated Hershey, the purest form of Howell Mountain. The slightest chalk and ash notes layered with fruit, anise and forest abound in the finish. Best enjoyed 2017 through 2030.
Statistics
Appellation: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Alcohol: 15.1%
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Titratable Acidity: 6.0 g/l
Ageing: 25 months in 92% New French Oak
pH: 3.82
Barrel Coopers: Baron, Ermitage, Demptos, Taransaud
Bottling Date: December 16th, 2014
Production: 312 cases
After the challenges presented in 2009-2011, the 2012 vintage was welcomed with open arms. We had some beautiful warm days in both January and February, followed by almost 12 inches of rain in March. This pushed bud break back a couple weeks into mid and even late April for Hershey. These rains set us up for larger than normal yields and berry sizes. We left cover crops in place a bit longer to dry soil profiles, leaving extra fruit to limit berry size. The extra fruit was then dropped later to balance the vines. The summer of 2012 was very mild, with just one summer heat spike on June 16th and an Indian summer warming event on October 1st. The October warming trends can be detrimental, but in this case they were just the motivation the vines needed to achieve perfect ripeness.
Harvest and Aging
September could not have been gentler to Hershey in 2012. The higher elevation typically presents warmer evenings which can be a challenge as skins begin to soften in September. The lower daytime temperatures in the upper 70’s and low 80’s allowed a long ripening period. We picked our clone 191 and most of the SEE clone just before a mid-October warming trend. We then held out until the 29th of October for the lower portion of the SEE clone. The final blend was 52% barrel fermentation and 48% concrete. As the SEE clone becomes older and roots dig deeper, it’s expressing more ripeness and generosity, calling for concrete fermentation. Maceration ranged from 32 to 54 days. The wines were pressed directly to barrel, and malolactic was native.
Tasting Notes
Dark fruit and baking spices spring from the glass. The palate is dominated by ripe black and red fruit, intense minerality and a tannin profile that is pure unadulterated Hershey, the purest form of Howell Mountain. The slightest chalk and ash notes layered with fruit, anise and forest abound in the finish. Best enjoyed 2017 through 2030.
Statistics
Appellation: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
Alcohol: 15.1%
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Titratable Acidity: 6.0 g/l
Ageing: 25 months in 92% New French Oak
pH: 3.82
Barrel Coopers: Baron, Ermitage, Demptos, Taransaud
Bottling Date: December 16th, 2014
Production: 312 cases