2011 Bevan The Impetus

This is a prodigious effort! The 2011 Proprietary Red The Impetus, a blend of Oakville and Bennett Valley Cabernet Franc and Merlot (a Cheval Blanc look-alike?), it appears more reserved than Bevan Cellars’ other offerings, perhaps because of the Bennett Valley fruit component. An outstanding effort, it exhibits attractive dusty, loamy soil notes intermixed with forest floor, black currants and a touch of wood as well as a full-bodied, rich, concentrated palate. The tannins then kick in and the wine shuts down ever so slightly. I suspect this was just a more restrained effort in the company of potential legends and candidates for the wine of the vintage. I continue to be blown away by the wines from Russell Bevan and his partner, Victoria de Cresenzo. (I’ll save my reviews of the Bevan Cellars wines from Sonoma appellations for the December issue when I will be writing an extensive report on that viticultural area.) These are by no means shy wines, but their richness and complexity are remarkable. Despite their massive size, concentration and density, they reveal tremendous polish, finesse and elegance. I tasted five barrel samples of 2012s, and all of them were almost beyond belief in their richness, bombastic fruit and remarkable intensity and purity combined with amazing polish and delineation. Two cuvees that have the potential to merit perfect scores include the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Harbison Vineyard (300 cases produced) from Oakville and the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 6110 (225 cases) from Stags Leap. Tel. (707) 542-0123