Cabernet Sauvignon, Top 100 - 2015
#1: The 2012 Noemi Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Dec
Wine Spectrum’s Top Wine of 2015
2012 Noemi (Available Online)
Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley
Wine Spectrum Rated 95+: Noemi certainly doesn’t disappoint with this gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon from the rich and bountiful 2012 vintage. Aromas of perfume, violets, lavender, and macerated black cherries emanate from the glass. The palate boasts a silky smooth texture and mouthfeel with flavors of rich red berry fruits, hints of toffee and a touch of brambly chalk and underbrush. The tannin structure and balance are seamless and promise plenty of age-worthiness. A long, mouth-coating finish completes this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 20 months in French oak. About 500 cases produced. Made by Rolando Hererra.
NOEMI is far and away Wine Spectrum’s NUMBER ONE wine of 2015 with both our advisors and clients.
The above statement is not an exaggeration. Since we began carrying this wine a few years ago, Noemi has become our most popular wine with all of our clients. Once you try a bottle, you will understand why.
Although the majority of the fruit from this vineyard is sold to Caymus Vineyards for their Special Select Cabernet and was formerly sold to Joseph Phelps for the Insignia project, owner Eleadoro Hernandez has reserved the best of his vineyard for his own Cabernet Sauvignon, which is named in honor of his wife, Noemi.
Noemi’s journey begins with the best fruit from the vineyard and with winemaker and vineyard manager Rolando Herrera (formerly the Director of Winemaker at Paul Hobbs Consulting, and currently the owner of Mi Sueno and Herrera wine) who is known for creating phenomenal wines at all levels.
This wine is so good that you won’t want to drink it, as every swallow means there is less in the glass for you to enjoy.
NOEMI
Noemi is the personal project for farmer and vineyard manger Eleadoro Hernandez. Eleadoro moved his family from Michoacan to the Napa Valley in 1982 where he began working with his uncle, Fernando. Fernando introduced Eleadoro to John Caldwell shortly after John began planting his Vineyard in the Coomsville area. He worked with John in the planting and development of these vineyards and eventually became the Vineyard Manager. Shortly after leaving the Caldwell ranch, Eleadoro leased 25 acres of land in the Napa Valley on Big Ranch Road and began to plant 6 or 7 acres a year. Today he has planted a total of 33 acres of Cabernet in that Oak Knoll area. Most of the fruit continues to be sold to wineries such as Mi Sueno and Caymus, but Eleodoro along with his wonderful winemaker Rolando Herrera produce about 500 cases each vintage under the Noemi label.
ROLANDO HERRERA
Rolando Herrera started his career working under the famous Warren Winiarski at Stags Leap. He then moved on to work at Chateau Potelle, Vine Cliff, and spent many years as winemaker with Paul Hobbs. His personal project is Mi Sueno, and other projects include but is not limited to Longfellow, Red Stitch, Hiatus, Baldacci, and others.
Hands down one of my favorite Cabernet labels, especially under $100/btl. This is a fantastic opportunity to procure a mini vertical of a wine that, I can confidently agree with a collegue of mine, is “The creme de la creme of Cabernet.” Each of these wines showcases the respective vintages in Napa Valley to the tee. I have included my notes for the wines in italics along with general information about each vintage. I have also included an insert from the Wine Insider which talked about the 2009 vintage and comparing it to Caymus. The majority of the fruit from this vineyard is sold to Caymus for their Special Select Cabernet and it has a style similar to Caymus Special Select, at half the price.
The Wine Insiders
“This brand new release Cabernet features a silky smooth texture with a wide array of deep, dark, and complex fruit including blackberry, plum, toffee and a hint of sweet tobacco flavors balanced by sinewy tannins typical of Napa Valley’s finest Cabernets. The structure and balance of this wine is seamless with a velvety texture reminiscent of my favorite age-worthy wines. The smoky oak on the finish is so elegant it seems to float across your palate and then linger seductively for :30, boding well for enjoying now or anytime prior to 2018. If you’re a fan of CAYMUS, don’t miss this new wine discovery!”
2015 wines of the year release schedule
December Schedule
12/10: #10, #9, and #8 ranked wines
12/11: #7, #6, and #5 ranked wines
12/15: #2 ranked wine
12/16: #1 ranked wine
12/18: #11 – #25 ranked wines
12/21: #26 – #50 ranked wines
12/21: 2015 Winemaker of the Year
12/22: #51 – #75 ranked wines
12/23: #76 – #100 ranked wines
January Schedule
1/4: Top Chardonnay’s of the Year
1/7: Top Pinot Noir’s of the Year
1/11: Top Cabernet Sauvignon’s of the Year
1/14: Top Other Domestic Red’s of the Year
1/18: Top International Wines of the Year
1/21: Top Wines of the Year under $60
