2012 Futo Oakville Estate

The 2012 Futo is just as impressive as it has always been. One of the darker, more brooding wines of the vintage, the 2012 exudes radiance and intensity. Dark fleshed fruit, exotic spices, espresso and menthol are some of the notes that flesh out. The 2012 has really opened up since last year, but it still needs at least a few years to truly come together.

The 2012 Futo is a real head-turner. Rich, explosive and totally voluptuous in the glass, the 2012 races across the palate with superb depth and pure intensity. There are no hard edges at all in this creamy, super-expressive wine. Layers of totally seamless finish build to a striking crescendo of pure pleasure. In 2012, the blend is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Stylistically, the Futo holds quite a bit more near and medium-term appeal than the 5500, which is darker and quite a bit backward.

(76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot): Saturated bright ruby. Lovely perfumed aromas of blueberry, dark chocolate, licorice and menthol. A superconcentrated fruit bomb in the mouth, boasting extremely primary, fresh flavors of black and blue fruits, coffee and menthol. Wonderfully silky and floral, with harmonious acidity and nicely buffered tannins giving this blend the balance for a graceful evolution in bottle. The estate is now using green shade cloth to protect the fruit from the hottest sun, noted winemaker Jason Exposto, "so we can pick when we want to, without dimpling of the fruit. We like turgid, fresh grapes." These two highly successful wines avoid the roasted fruit character of some past vintages here.