2012 Scarecrow, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford

Vinous 93-96

Bright medium ruby. An appealing elderflower quality lifts the aromas of blackberry, black cherry, licorice and minerals. Layered, rich and deep, with a chocolatey ripeness as well as a medicinal reserve to its plush flavors of cassis, black raspberry, spices and Rutherford dust. Seriously dense wine with broad, noble tannins. The estate’s oldest vines now make up barely 15% of Scarecrow’s flagship cuvee, but this wine nonetheless offers great potential. [Stephen Tanzer, 05/01/2014]

Robert Parker 98

The classic 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon included fruit from the 2-acre, old vine parcel that is nearly 70 years of age. It boasts an opaque purple color as well as copious notes of spring flowers, blackberries, black raspberries and wet rocks. The wine’s gravelly minerality and spectacular opulence and density make it an instant classic. This massive, full-bodied 2012 should drink beautifully for 15-20+ years. It showed incredibly well last year, and it still reveals the potential to possibly merit a 3-digit score ” it’s that special. [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 30/10/2014]

Anticipated maturity: 2014-2034