2012 Pepper Bridge Red Pepper Bridge Vineyard

The only 2012 I tasted from Pepper Bridge for this report (most were reviewed last year), the 2012 Pepper Bridge Vineyard (35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 28% Malbec and the rest Petit Verdot) spent 18 months in 41% new French oak. This rich, layered, forward beauty gives up lots of chocolatey dark fruits, graphite and leafy herbs to go with full-bodied richness, ripe tannin, no hard edges and impeccable balance. This was a great vintage for Washington state and this outstanding 2012 will keep for 10-15 years.