A bottle of 2012 schrader giii cabernet sauvignon on a grey background

2012 GIII

The signature of our 2012 Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard GIII is its piercing aromatics and its lush, fruit-forward style. Eminently approachable, this pure clone 337 wine is handcrafted to accentuate the cornucopia of delicious ripe red fruit flavors characteristic of this Rutherford vineyard site. The idyllic weather of the 2012 vintage allowed the grape clusters extended hang time on the vine and endowed this wine with gorgeous flavors of ripe raspberry and plum concentrate in addition to beautiful undertones of caramelized brown sugar. The supple tannins are silky smooth on the palate and combine with the lush fruit profile to deliver a highly pleasurable, classic Napa Valley Cabernet experience.

  • Vintage 2012
  • Vineyard Beckstoffer Georges III
  • Appellation Rutherford, Napa Valley
  • Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Clone Pure Clone 337
  • Cooperage Aged 20 months in rare Darnajou French oak barrels
  • Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown

  • Tasting Notes

    The signature of our Schrader GIII Cabernet is its piercing aromatics and its lush, fruit-forward style. Eminently approachable, this pure clone 337 wine is handcrafted to accentuate the cornucopia of delicious ripe red fruit flavors characteristic of this Rutherford vineyard site. The idyllic weather of the 2012 vintage allowed the grape clusters extended hang time on the vine and endowed this wine with gorgeous flavors of ripe raspberry and plum concentrate in addition to beautiful undertones of caramelized brown sugar. The supple tannins are silky smooth on the palate and combine with the lush fruit profile to deliver a highly pleasurable, classic Napa Valley Cabernet experience.

  • Accolades

    96 Pts. "The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, from this famous vineyard in Rutherford, is made from Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337, and 90% new Darnajou and 10% new Taransaud was used. One of the smaller cuveés, the wine has great intensity, with chocolaty cassis notes, fruitcake and forest floor along with licorice and spice. This is a big full-bodied, powerful, rich, yet accessible style of wine, as most 2012s tend to be. Drink it over the next 15-20 years." — Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

    95 Pts. "Bold, rich and focused on a core of blackberry, currant, plum and spicy, cedary oak. Gains a dusty, loamy textural nuance and ends a bit trim, without losing its potent personality." — James Laube, Wine Spectator

  • Vineyard

    Located in Rutherford on the east side of the valley floor, the Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard boasts a pedigreed history that dates back to the late 1800s. We source the grapes for our Schrader GIII from a small, specific section of the vineyard that was formerly a natural riverbed. The gentle slope and unique gravel and rock composition of this block produces stunning fruit with phenomenal concentration and character. We truly feel we have found the ideal "sweet spot" of this historic vineyard estate.

  • Vintage

    In the words of Henry Hartman, "success always comes when preparation meets opportunity." With more than a decade of experience in the vineyard we definitely had the preparation part down, however we were happily surprised by the unlimited opportunity given to us by Mother Nature in 2012. The growing conditions were beyond fabulous, provding the double benefit of phenomenal quality as well as grand abundance, a winemaker's dream. Serendipitous and trouble-free, the pristine conditions of the season delivered a harvest with both marvelous quality and ample quantity, an ideal combination.

All GIII Vintages

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