2012 Larkmead LMV Salon
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Tasting notes
Good dark red. Redcurrant, cherry, mocha and spices on the nose. In a powerful style like the 2012 Solari but creamier and more luscious, perhaps due in part to the addition of 33% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage for the estate to this point. This wine really fills the mouth while avoiding heaviness. Finishes very long and nicely delineated, with harmonious tannins. As with the 2012 Solari, total polyphenols were considerably lower than in most recent vintages, but none of these wines lack for tannic support. (15.4% alcohol)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Good dark red. Redcurrant, cherry, mocha and spices on the nose. In a powerful style like the 2012 Solari but creamier and more luscious, perhaps due in part to the addition of 33% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage for the estate to this point. This wine really fills the mouth while avoiding heaviness. Finishes very long and nicely delineated, with harmonious tannins. As with the 2012 Solari, total polyphenols were considerably lower than in most recent vintages, but none of these wines lack for tannic support. (ST) 93+
What a finish on this with great fruit intensity. Full-bodied, firm and velvety. Lots of fruit and tannin tension. It has a fabulous finish. Wonderful elegance.
Larkmead's 2012 LMV Salon is all about texture, polish and silkiness. Dark red cherries, plums and cloves are all beautifully expressive. Silky tannins support the creamy finish. The LMV Salon has changed quite a bit conceptually since I first started tasting the component wines in the Spring of 2013. Since then, winemaker Dan Petroski has opted to add a fair amount of Cabernet Franc to the blend, 33% to be exact, the highest ever here. That has resulted in a wine built on finesse and resonance. There is so much to like here.