94 POINTS, WINE ADVOCATE "The fabulous, full-bodied 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Home Vineyard from St. Helena possesses great intensity, a blackcurrant fruit-bomb-like style, and wonderful opulence and richness. Drink now-2050+. For its size and prominence, the St. Helena flagship Beringer winery does a remarkable job with the quality of its offerings. They have been fortunate to choose a brilliant line-up of chief winemakers, from Ed Sbragia, to Laurie Hook. The following group of wines, coming primarily from 2012 for the reds, and 2012 and 2013 for the whites, is one of the strongest I have tasted with them." - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Wine Description
The Story
The St. Helena Home Vineyard is largely responsible for the establishment of Beringer Vineyards because this site, situated around the present-day winery, first attracted founder Jacob Beringer to the property in 1875. The vineyard is formed of a sloped alluvial fan of rock and gravelly soils with little capacity to hold water. Planted entirely to Cabernet Sauvignon, its fruit has been a key component of the Private Reserve Cabernet since 1982. St. Helena Home Vineyard Cabernet is characterized by classic Cabernet flavors of berries and black cherries layered with licorice and spice and a fleshy mid-palate. The 2012 St. Helena was harvested between October 18th and 20th and was aged for 18 months in 94% new French oak barrels. 401 cases produced.
Wine Information
The relaxed, high-quality 2012 harvest was a winemaker’s dream. The ideal growing season—well-timed rains, no frost during bud break, and perfect weather for bloom, berry-set and ripening—was textbook Napa Valley. Long stretches of sunny days coupled with foggy nights gave our 2012 wines exceptionally rich, expressive avors and impeccable balance. We had no weather pressures—from either pending rains or excessive heat—to rush the harvest. Instead, we had the luxury of waiting until the grapes reached absolute perfect maturity.
