2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No.1
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Tasting notes
Fairchild's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones #1, from Andy Beckstoffer's Las Piedras Vineyard, is laced with graphite, smoke, violets, plums and black cherries. The flavors are bright, precise and chiseled, especially for the year. Those themes reappear on the finely cut finish. The energy and tension are classic Las Piedras, but there is plenty of richness and texture to the fruit.
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Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 1 comes from the Beckstoffer Las Piedras vineyard in St. Helena. This is sensational Cabernet Sauvignon – black/ruby/purple with lots of cassis, a hint of lead pencil shavings, licorice and white chocolate. The wine has superb texture, an opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, and a rich, layered finish. Drink over the next 12-15 years.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Stones No. 1, Fairchild's second vintage from Las Piedras, is a big step up from the 2011. An explosive wine, the 2012 explodes from the glass with an enticing mélange of dark cherries, plums, new leather and spices, all supported by nicely integrated French oak. Smoke, tar, licorice, blue-toned fruit and a host of balsamic-inflected notes appear later. The 2012 is rich, powerful and totally voluptuous to the core. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow as it develops over the next year and beyond.