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on the brink of release, and they are spectacular wines from a tremendous vintage. Oh, and we purchased a vineyard. Green Shoots. A note from Elton I know that spring has arrived beyond the shadow of a doubt. We are well into March and those of us who don t see customers during the day are wearing jeans and t-shirts or shorts and flip flops depending on the mood. It has been 70 degrees and sunny for most of January and February, and I am hoping for a cold snap to give our vines a little retreat to dormancy. The urge to abandon my cluttered inbox in favor of a margarita on the deck at Compadres is a siren song that s hard to ignore. Lash me to the mast, spring fever is upon us. At Robert Craig Winery, 2015 marks the beginning of a new chapter in many ways. At our Cavallo Point Valentine s dinner we said farewell to our 2012 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay, and we introduced that focused laser beam, Gap s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay, in its place. Our Andrew Geoffrey Vineyard Diamond Mountain Cabernet was released and then sold out in the matter of a few weeks. The 2012 vintage Cabernets are Plantable property in the Napa Valley is getting increasingly hard to come by, particularly in the mountains where an Erosion Control Plan (ECP) passage is going the way of the spotted owl and wild salmon. Rare. After ten years of searching high, but not low, one of the best vineyards on Howell Mountain (making it one of the best in the entire world) became available almost next door to us along the summit ridge. I am still amazed by the Zen of it all. After six months of negotiations, financing and due diligence, we closed on January 15. I cannot remember a day in my life when I was happier. Many green shoots are emerging for our winery this year, and in the words of Frank Sinatra, the best is yet to come. Love, peace and cabernet-filled evenings, Elton Slone, President/CEO/Partner
Robert Craig is still one of the most consistent wineries in terms of quality and keeping pricing within realistic levels, not something frequently seen in Napa Valley. Robert Parker, TheWine Advocate, October 2014, issue # 215 I was blown away by the wines I tasted from Robert Craig this year. The 2012s offer exceptional quality, and, just as importantly, do so at very reasonable prices by Napa Valley standards. Stylistically the wines capture a middle ground of ripeness allied to a classic-leaning sense of structure, so I won t be at all surprised if the 2012s appeal to a wide range of consumers. Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2014 2012 affinity cabernet sauvignon 92 points 91 points inky/purple color, a big sweet kiss of crème de cassis, spice box, mocha and assorted black fruit.... An absolutely stunning value in Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate October 2014 issue # 215 Dark red plums, tobacco and spices blossom in a supple, radiant wine. The flavors brighten up through the mid-palate and finish, adding energy and polish. Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2014 2012 mount veeder cabernet sauvignon 95 + points 95 + points It is full-bodied, exhibits tremendous potential, and should age beautifully for 15 or more years.... There s something about these Mount Veeder Cabernets: when they re good, they re supergood.... This is a stunning wine. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, October 2014 issue # 215 The highlight among these releases from Robert Craig, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder is off the charts gorgeous.... A super-classic Veeder profile of graphite-infused blue and black fruit opens up in the glass.... A radiant finish round out this knockout effort from Robert Craig. I can t recommend the 2012 highly enough. Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2014
2012 Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon Early in the 2012 season, we converted the Affinity vineyard to a cane pruned vineyard. Basically it meant the difference of giving every row the same haircut (the same number of grape clusters per vine) to giving each vine its own specific haircut (a unique number of clusters per vine). Since each vine struggles with different challenges, we could now assess each vine independently. As harvest approached, we walked the Affinity Vineyard twice a week tasting the grapes and gathering samples. We were paying close attention to how each vine was responding to the weather, gauging the amount of fruit we expected each individual vine to ripen. Despite the fact that each vine was carrying a different number of clusters, the vineyard was remarkably uniform and picked at the same time. While being more time, labor and cost intensive, we are thrilled with the results of the cane pruning. Stephen s Notes Aromas of dark chocolate and espresso, sweet spice and bramble, cherry and cassis. Complex flavor profile with licorice, tar and slate, black cherry fruit, firm and rich tannins with balanced acidity. 2012 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon The Pym Rae vineyard is found at the northern end of the Mount Veeder AVA, where fractured blue shale and sandstone soils dominate the landscape. With an average elevation of 1800 the vineyard is actually two separate blocks; the upper elevation site called Pym Rae Upper, and the lower elevation site employing an equally creative naming scheme. In any given vintage the two blocks ripen at very different rates; Pym Rae Lower always ripens first, usually about two weeks earlier. 2012 was no exception, with Cabernet starting to come off the vine on the lower block on October 10. With 2012 s compact harvest, tank space was precious and the two week break between harvest dates of the two blocks turned out to be ideal. By October 31 everything was harvested, allowing us to catch our breath, and give the Pym Rae fruit all the time and attention needed to make an exemplary wine. Stephen s Notes Aromas of graphite and slate, cedar and black licorice, exotic black berry, currant and rose oil. Big, full and rich on the palate, with black currant, tar and earth finishing with chewy and lingering tannins. TECHNICAL NOTES 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Petite Verdot, 5% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc 6500 cases produced TA: 6.3/L ph: 3.77 Alcohol: 14.8% TECHNICAL NOTES 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot 1200 cases produced TA: 6.3 g/l ph: 3.78 Alcohol: 14.8%
2013 Gap s Crown Chardonnay The 138-acre Gap s Crown Vineyard is situated on the western edge of Sonoma Mountain. It is a hillside vineyard with extremely stony soils and low yields that crowns, if you will, The Petaluma Gap. This gap in the coastal mountain range is a fog and breeze pocket that that draws cool ocean wind and fog from the Bodega Bay inland. Cool temperatures, low ph values and high natural acidity produce wines of stunning vibrancy. Long and wonderfully even, 2013 is a great vintage to kick things off with our new vineyard source. We pressed the juice off the skins immediately, fermenting 40% in stainless steel to capture the delicate fruity esters. Another 40% was fermented in neutral French oak, imparting subtle, nuanced flavors. The remaining 20% was fermented in new French oak, imparting more flavor, spice and oak character. Characterized by its focused minerality and bright, tightly wound structure, this wine is perhaps THE perfect pairing with Hog Island oysters. Stephen s Notes Bright fruit aromas of citrus, apple, pear and white peach along with hints of brioche and baking spice followed up with a subtle floral note. The flavors are crisp and steely with juicy citrus fruit finishing with an element of flint and mineral. TECHNICAL NOTES 100% Chardonnay 652 cases produced TA: 7.0 g/l ph: 3.23 Alcohol: 14.2%
To see all the photos from the 2015 Valentine s Day Party, or other past events, visit the Photo Gallery at robertcraigwine.com. at cavallo point - sausalito 2015 Valentines Day Party The Cavallo Point Lodge, just on the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, once again proved to be an exceptional venue for our annual Valentine s Day Dinner, with stunning weather inviting our guests to linger outside to soak up the view. Craig Collectors from across the country had the first opportunity to enjoy our 10-year library release, as well as sample a sneak peek of the entire 2012 Craig Cabernet line-up. All this amazing wine was paired with a delicious three-course dinner and a hearty dose of banter from the Craig Crew. Upcoming Events Representation Without Taxation Spring Release Party at Bar Craig Tasting Salon Saturday, April 11 Taste of Howell Mountain at Charles Krug Winery Saturday, June 20 Bob s Backyard Bash at Affinity Estate Vineyard Saturday, July 18 (club only) Mount Veeder Appellation Tasting at Hess Winery September 19 Club Harvest Party at Howell Mountain Winery Saturday, September 12 (club only) CELEBRATE with THE CRAIG Whether you re celebrating a wedding, graduation, birthday, or just the weekend, magnum and 3-liter bottles are always more festive. Make your celebrations extra special with a super-sized bottle of the Craig!
WINE LIST SPRING RELEASE WINES 2013 Gap s Crown Chardonnay $50 2012 Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon $55 2012 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon $80 CURRENT RELEASES 2011 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $80 (last 10 cases) 2011 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $70 (last 5 cases) 2012 Howell Mountain Zinfandel $55 2013 Mount George Cuvée $35 375ML BOTTLES 2012 Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon $28 MAGNUMS 2013 Gap s Crown Chardonnay $115 2012 Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon $135 2012 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon $180 2011 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $160 Visit our Downtown Napa Tasting Salon Tastings available by appointment at Bar Craig Mon-Sat 10am 4pm Sun 11am 4pm Call 707-252-2252 ext.1 or email jeff@robertcraigwine.com 3 LITERS 2012 Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon $350 2012 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon $425 2011 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $425 2011 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $395 MEMBERS-ONLY DISCOUNTS 12-Bottle Members 6-Bottle Members 3-Bottle and à la Mode members 20% off 15% off 10% off To inquire about membership, or to upgrade your membership level, please contact us directly at (707) 252-2250 ext. 2. HOW TO ORDER: Visit our online wine shop at robertcraigwine.com Stop by our Napa Valley Tasting Salon: 625 Imperial Way, Napa, California Contact us by phone at (707) 252-2250 ext.1, or fax (707) 252-2639.
625 Imperial Way, Suite One Napa, California 94559 robertcraigwine.com SPRING NEWSLETTER 2015 FIRST CLASS US POSTAGE PAID