Eisele Vineyard (Araujo Estate) - Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

WINEADVOCATE: "The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, is a relatively powerful statement from the new owners. Dense ruby/purple in color, with an exceptional nose of crème de cassis, a touch of mulberry and spice. The oak is completely obscured by the lavish, concentrated, ripe fruit and multi-dimensional mid-palate that expands beautifully, but with no sense of heaviness. The wine is rich and full-bodied, but with velvety tannin and stunning purple and black fruits. This is a beauty, with savoriness that’s hard to articulate. The finish goes on for a good 45+ seconds. This is a beauty that’s velvety, opulent and capable of drinking well now or in 25 to 30+ years."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The blackberries and spices on the nose, together with currants, earth and light chocolate, are extremely appealing, while the palate delivers a full, rich core of fruit and silky tannins. Excellent length. It’s just starting to open now. Drink or hold."

WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "A stunner in every sense. The wine is almost opaque in color, with its deep purple hues. The licorice, smoke, blackberry, blue fruit, vanilla bean and liqueur scents are in full force. Powerful, yet graceful, full bodied, but fresh, the wine stains your palate, and feels great as it coats your mouth with its opulent, very ripe, sweet layers of fruit. Yes, it's young, and frankly it is already delicious! This bottle was popped and poured. No decanting necessary."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard is incredibly primary at this stage, largely the result of late malolactic fermentations. Still, there is gorgeous volume on the mid-palate and finish, all supported by firm yet polished tannins. All the elements are in place for the 2012 to develop into a splendid wine, but it needs time, and lots of it. The purity and texture of the fruit alone is striking. The 2012 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. According to winemaker Nigel Kinsman, at this stage it appears no other varieties will be added to the blend."

ROBINSON: "More shy on both aromatics and palate than the Altagracia wines or the 2013 Eisele. Red fruit and spiced notes with very fine, beautiful tannin. Lovely sapidity and balancing acidity with a wash of spice all the way through a long finish. A sweet core of fruit flavour reflects the generosity of the vintage. The impressive structure of the site still shows here but the fruit dominates it slightly. There is more interest in oak, and less apparent freshness here in the 2012 than in the 2013, though this is still a nicely honed wine, reflecting not just the vintage contrast but also the shift in winemaking. The baby fat of 2012 will likely fall away with a bit of age."

WINESPECTATOR: "The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, is a relatively powerful statement from the new owners. Dense ruby/purple in color, with an exceptional nose of crème de cassis, a touch of mulberry and spice. The oak is completely obscured by the lavish, concentrated, ripe fruit and multi-dimensional mid-palate that expands beautifully, but with no sense of heaviness. The wine is rich and full-bodied, but with velvety tannin and stunning purple and black fruits. This is a beauty, with savoriness that’s hard to articulate. The finish goes on for a good 45+ seconds. This is a beauty that’s velvety, opulent and capable of drinking well now or in 25 to 30+ years."

DECANTER: "In 2012, François Pinault's team didn't vinify the wine but they did determine the blend, selecting wine from the estate's most interesting soils as opposed to its most immediately appealing barrels. A bouquet of cassis, black raspberry, scorched earth and creamy new oak is followed by a plush, open-knit and juicy palate. In contrast to the 2013, the 2012's barrel programme is more obvious, representing the last vintage in the old style rather than the first in the new. Drinking Window 2017 - 2030"