A French maid’s outfit outshines the dust and cleanser, pulling dark fig and wet leather into musky places no frills can cover. Sweet reward is dangled miserably under the sweaty glow of earth and briar, fleshy outcropping ripe for the taking. I’m not a huge fan of 2012, but this one–despite a bit of obvious alcohol–maintains flirty decorum in spite of ripeness.
2012 CLOS DU VAL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 14.1
Stephen McConnell 