SOLD OUT! The 2012 Grassi Cabernet Sauvignon is an incredible find in perfectly aged Napa Valley Cab! Good news — I just scored my distributor’s last 6 cases, and I’m running a crazy-good deal on it.
Rated 92 points by Vinous Media, the Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, and James Suckling upon release, this wine is drinking like a 94-95 pointer right now. The tannin has softened, the fruit has gotten sweeter, and the wine is in a really great spot right now.
2012 Grassi Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Estate’ Napa Valley
Just 725 cases produced | 95 points JS (that's me)
Let’s get right into the reviews to get started. Antonio Galloni called it “a gorgeous, supple 2012 built on fruit, texture and exuberance” while Robert Paker said it “exhibits an opaque purple color, sweet black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, underbrush, loamy soil, licorice, tobacco leaf and spice box notes.” Not to be outdone, Wine Spectator said this “rich and juicy red exhibits pure blackberry, black licorice and olive flavors, offering a supple texture that firms nicely on the graceful finish.” And finally, James Suckling called it a “Napa cab with form and tension from firm tannins.” It’s very rare that all of the major wine critics are in agreement, but they certainly loved this one.
And so do I! And I’ll bet you money that if these same guys tasted the wine today, they’d up their scores by 2 to 4 points. It’s just a lovely and absolutely classic expression of Napa Valley Cab. And how many other retailers, near or far, are offering you up 2012 Napa Cabs. In case you forgot, the vintage was very kind to Cabernet Sauvignon, yielding a large crop of high quality grapes that both Wine Spectator and the Wine Advocate rated 96 points overall. And as good as this one is drinking currently, I’m sure it could rest comfortably in the cellar for another 4-5 years.
If you’re not familiar with Grassi Wine Company, that’s understandable. They’re fairly new, but they’ve quickly established themselves as a rising star. Founded in 2005 by Mark Grassi, the winery was already getting mention as a “hot new” Napa Cab producer by Wine Spectator as early as 2008. Prior to starting his winery, Mark built sustainable homes and high end wineries in the valley — in fact, it was his firm that built Ovid Estate and Cade Winery. After years of building other people’s dream homes and wineries, he and his wife bought land in the southern part of the valley in 1999. They chose the perfect spot!
Grassi’s vineyard is located on Soda Canyon Road, just a mile south of the Stag’s Leap District and just below Atlas Peak. Much of the estate’s clonal selection includes Clone 337, the one commonly used in all of the super expensive ‘Cult Cabernets.’ Add to that the fact that winemaking is handled by Robbie Meyer, who previously worked at Peter Michael, Lewis Cellars, Del Dotto, and Pierson Meyer. And finally, the wine is aged for 20 months in high-end French oak barrels — it’s got all of the qualities and style I look for in top flight Napa Cab.
I’d drink this over Caymus, Silver Oak, or Cakebread any day. It sells for way less and it’s got 7 years of ‘bottle conditioning’ on it. With many passionate Napa Cab fans in the ‘Table Wine family’ of customers, this one will get gone soon.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville