Araujo Estate Red Blend ‘Altagracia’ 2012

Introduction

Since 1971, some of California’s most ageworthy and intensely-flavored Cabernet Sauvignons have been made from grapes grown at the Eisele Vineyard, located on a benchland near the northern end of Napa Valley, just east of Calistoga. Protected by the Palisades Mountains to the north and cooled by westerly breezes from the Chalk Hill Gap, this 38-acre vineyard is planted on warm cobbly soils that produce a low-yielding crop of exceptionally concentrated fruit.

This Altagracia is a generous wine reflecting the exceptional quality of the vintage. The wine reflects the character of the eastern parcels of the Eisele Vineyard, and its fine-grained tannins provide a perfect foil for the intensity and richnessof the layered fruit.

93 Points – James Suckling

This is a savory and balanced second wine with plums, berries and spices such as cloves and pepper. Full-bodied and velvety with bright acidity underneath and a flavorful finish. They say they used a little press wine in this and it gives a lift to the wine. Lots of currants and hints of pepper. Traditional.

91+ Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Araujo’s second wine, the 2012 Proprietary Red Altagracia exhibits beautiful blueberry, black raspberry and cassis fruit which reflects the purity that frequently comes from this vineyard. The tannins are soft, and the wine is lighter than its bigger sibling, but it possesses medium body, velvety tannin, and a gorgeous mouthfeel.