Sterling Vineyards Platinum 2012

Sterling's first step in making Platinum is to select the best fruit. The second step is to respect that fruit, using a restrained hand in winemaking. They hand-harvested the fruit at the peak of maturity, then put it through a multi-level sorting process, keeping the berries fully intact. In this way, they started their wine with perfectly ripe berries, balanced acids and mature tannins.

The use of small lot fermentation in a majority of stainless steel captures the inherent flavors in the fruit to maintain freshness, and color. The wine was aged for 21 months in French oak barrels, 60 percent new, to impart a gentle dusting of spice and depth of flavor.

91 Points - Wine Spectator     Smooth, complex and layered, offering mocha-scented oak, ripe, snappy blueberry and blackberry fruit, with anise, cedar and espresso notes, all sailing along on the finish. The balance of acidity, tannins and fruit is evident. Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Drink now through 2024.

90 Points - Wilfred Wong of Wine     The 2012 Sterling Vineyards Platinum Red Blend offers a sturdy and multi-layered example of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Showing beautiful black fruit, with a hint of dust and tar, this wine is well suited for braised meats. Drinking quite well now.(Tasted: May 9, 2016, San Francisco, CA)

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast     Thick like a chocolaty malt, this full-bodied, robust wine is big and rich, concentrated and layered in tobacco and jam. Despite its size, it is drinkable now, with well-integrated tannins and a complete finish.