Smith-Madrone Cook’s Flat Reserve Red Wine 2012, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley, California

Cook’s Flat Reserve is a proprietary name for a wine that is the culmination of our 42 years of growing grapes and making wine in the mountains of the Spring Mountain District. The name refers to George Cook, the first owner of the property. ‘Cook’s Flat’ was the local oldtimers’ name for the eight-acre plateau-like vineyard block which was replanted in 1972. Each bottle is numbered; only 1,350 bottles of the 2012 vintage were produced. Each bottle is wrapped in tissue which has been printed with a copy of the U.S. Land Office Patent which granted ownership to George Cook and was signed by President Chester Arthur on December 5, 1885. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Franc. It was aged for nineteen months in 100% new French oak, and then aged three years in the bottle. The wine is seductive, rich, dense and structured. The aroma has whispers of plum, rosemary, and forest floor. The palate is the definition of ‘seamless,’ where Bordeaux flavors are integrated into the tannins in a velvety progression of power. This full, deep mid-palate in joined by layer of complexity, with bright acidity keeping the wine lively, focused and distinctly Smith-Madrone. It ends with a beautifully elegant finish.