2012 Celani Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Ardore

Community Tasting Notes (6) Avg Score: 92.9 points

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  4/3/2019 - michigan dogs Likes this wine:

  Had a glass, very good, but not worth the price IMO

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  8/20/2018 - Quiet Lion wrote:

  Decanted three hours and drank over the following three. This seems to be in a transitional phase. Flavors were restrained and confused. Hoping it comes out well on the other side with time in bottle.

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  1/12/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Decanted and served with escargot and steaks. At first youthful and juicy with unyielding tannins. Went through a confused phase after 10-15 minutes and then continued to improve. At 90 minutes silky smooth with beautiful balance of red and black fruit. Another 2012 drinking beautifully right now.

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  4/23/2017 - BeachBum_73 wrote: 91 Points

  Not getting any better. Very mediocre.

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  4/23/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points

  This 2012 Celani Ardore was tasted alongside the 2013 Celani standard Cabernet. I liked both for different reasons, though I would have to say I gave a slight nod to the Ardore because the craftsmanship and quality of the fruit and cooperage was just a tad more nuanced and complex than what the standard 2013 Cabernet had to offer.
  
  Tasting both of these wines made me wish I was able to try the 2013 Ardore, as I really loved the power and precociousness of the 2013 standard Cabernet, but also wanted more tiered flavors and complexities (the likes of which were offered a little more in the 2012 Ardore). I imagine the 2013 Ardore would possibly be a nice combination of the two.
  
  Both were very big wines. Both had Mark Herold's signature stamp of lavish, up-front, dark core fruit flavors. The 2012 Ardore really displayed the Darnajou cooperage nicely, offering quality spice and a kiss of vanillin oak to the wonderful fruit without being overbearing or seemingly overworked.
  
  The Ardore had specific notes of ripe blackberry, black currant, black cherry, dark chocolate, anise, baking spice, vanilla bean, and a hint of earth. Whereas the 2013 standard Cabernet was a 93+, this was a 93-94+, as the Ardore likely has a higher ceiling over the standard Cabernet.
  
  The winery direct QPR is a bit high at $200, especially considering Mark Herold's namesake wines rival, and in some cases surpass (e.g.: the 2013 Mark Herold Stagecoach & Coombsville offerings) the quality of the Celani wines.
  
  Nevertheless, this is a very good bottle of wine. It remains to be seen if time will elevate its flavor profile, or simply continue to make it even more lush (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). It indeed tasted like an extravagant, "expensive" bottle of wine.
  
  This bottle was decanted for about an hour; another hour in the glass and continued sipping brought out even more elevated flavors in terms of depth and viscosity.

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