Kudos to winemaker Genevieve Janssens for producing a wine that ticks all the boxes expected in Napa Valley Cabernet (ripe dark fruit, supple tannins, overlay of oak, full body), yet also minds its manners. True, the label alcohol is 15%, yet there is no heat to this wine, just vibrant, luscious cassis and black cherry fruit, subtle herbal notes, oak spice and sturdy tannins that suggest long-term cellaring — yet the wine is also delicious now. It’s a difficult trick to pull off, tasting great now and later. Janssens makes it happen.
Robert Mondavi Winery, Oakville (Napa Valley, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
By Linda Murphy