2012 Krutz Family Cellars “Magnolia” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley.
The Krutz brothers from Mississippi form a trio that make up the Krutz Family artisan winery based in Santa Rosa focusing on most Napa Valley grapes, and especially Cabernet Sauvignon. Patrick began the journey to winemaker after working at the famed Cheese Shop with Kent Torrey and meet local winemakers in Carmel by the Sea and the Monterey area before following other artisan winemaking friends north to Sonoma County where he set up the winery and drafted his brothers Cole and Bryan into the new family business. Patrick with talent and his southern charm has developed many long term relationship with growers and special vineyards including the famous Stagecoach Vineyard, owned by the Krupp brothers high up in the eastern hills of Napa Valley between Howell Mountain and Pitchard Hill on red volcanic soils, this site forms the base of their top Cabernet. The 2012 Magnolia Cabernet is a forward and lush Cabernet made in an approachable new world style and offers a terrific value in handcrafted Napa wine. The Magnolia series is huge hit for the Krutz brothers, they make a lovely Sonoma Chardonnay, a Napa Zinfandel and this Cabernet Sauvignon from sites in Napa Valley, Magnolia is their entry level offerings, but these are serious wines that deserve attention and are well made, solid and wonderfully pleasing. The 2011 Magnolia Cabernet from a difficult vintage was a killer wine, and while more tannic and fuller the 2012 is tasting great too with very deep garnet/purple color, lush blackberry, cassis and plum fruit leading on the ripe and dense palate along with stylish sweet oak notes, cedar, tobacco, mocha and lingering black currant. This wine impresses for it’s price no question, but it would still be worthy at $50, this a wine to search out if you want a full flavored Cabernet on a budget, it perfectly expresses varietal character and terroir, drink over the next 3 to 5 years, this is a big wine for the buck.
($25 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
