2012 Larkmead - Firebelle Napa Valley (93 pts) @larkmead

2012 Larkmead - Firebelle Napa Valley (93 pts) @larkmead _vineyards · 🙋‍♂️ Do you prefer blends or single varietal wines❓· ℹ️ This wine is a Bordeaux blend of 54% Merlot, 21% Malbec, 13% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is all Estate fruit. A surprisingly high % of Malbec and Petit Verdot. Aged 18 months in French oak with 60% being new. · 👁 Deep ruby color· 👃Medium+ intensity on the nose. Aromas of new French oak, smoke, mocha, clove, blueberry preserves, creme de cassis, black plum, floral, lavender and violets· 👄 The wine is dry, medium acidity, medium+ plush tannin, high alcohol, full body. The oak is a lot more subdued on the palate. The finish is very long with notes of black fruit, liquorice, and violets· 🔔 A great example of a Bordeaux Blend that is still true to Napa with clean ripe fruit. This is not overripe and while I expressed trepidation upon opening due to the oaky nose, this opened nicely in the glass and is integrated on the palate. Larkmead is a great California producer with 1 foot in the new world and 1 foot in the old. This could have been bombastic, but it has polish and refinement. It will age well and anyone drinking it now please decant it to get the best showing now. My second time opening this wine in recent memory and both scored similarly.