Mettler Family Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon
The Mettler family heritage honors 100 years and five generations of farming in Lodi with the release of this exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. The size of the crop, the time spent on the vine, and the many months aged in French oak barrels all reflect the care our family took to fully express the potential of these very small and unique portions of our vineyards.
The grapes chosen for this wine came from four of our outstanding blocks of Cabernet—all of which are sustainably farmed and planted from unique French clones. For each vineyard, the planting and trellis system were customized for the vineyard site. The vines on one of the vineyards, situated on a hillside, are contoured to follow the natural curvature of a bordering creek. Another vineyard has a unique trellis system to help the grapes ripen more evenly. A custom-designed modification to the VSP (vertical shoot positioning) trellis system allows the fruit in this vineyard to bask in the morning sunlight but then shelters it from the afternoon sun.
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with inviting aromas of black cherry, cedar and spice, followed by a graceful mingling of cherry, cassis, dark berry and smoky oak flavors. On the palate, the plush mouthfeel is moderated by juicy acidity, taking the perfect alignment of fruit, oak and tannins through to a flawless finish. This elegant and poised Cabernet is accessible now, and its structure and complexity will see it through many years of aging.
