2012 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Sauvignon Stone Place
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Tasting notes
(85% new oak): Dark ruby-red. Superripe, almost roasted aromas of black raspberry liqueur, cocoa powder, vanilla bean, espresso and exotic spices, plus a whiff of leather. Concentrated, tactile and deep, and surprisingly juicy considering its thickness of fruit; a violet note contributes inner-mouth lift. Finishes with big, ripe, chocolatey tannins and lingering saline and spice notes. This wine really calls for five more years in the cellar to burn off some of its baby fat. Starr told me she added Petit Verdot for "a bit more texture and breadth of flavor" as the Cabernet Sauvignon was a bit monolithic. The pH is a bit high for this bottling at 3.75 (that of the '13 is even higher) but the natural acidity of the site was still constructive in this ripe vintage.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Dried flowers, herbs, smoke, tobacco and leather open up in the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. This distinctly feminine, savory Cabernet Sauvignon appears to be built for the near and medium term. Attractive jammy and spiced notes ring out on the finish. This is a very pretty, delicate Cabernet Sauvignon from Crocker & Starr. The super-heavy bottle is very 1990s, and not really all that consistent with the sustainable vineyard practices that are so heavily touted.
(this "core barrel sample" is currently 100% cabernet sauvignon, from the See clone): Deep, bright ruby. Extremely primary, brooding aromas of crushed dark berries, licorice and bitter chocolate, lifted by spicy clove and nutmeg. Densely packed and savory, with extremely unevolved but fine-grained dark berry and mineral flavors dominating. Finishes with a serious spine of ripe tannins and excellent length. Should be a beauty, although Pam Starr told me that she likes the young 2013 version even more for its "sticky, savory tannins."