Tasting Notes:
Deceptively sweet aromas of strawberries, raspberries and rose petals. The flavors are dark, rich, lusciously mouthwatering, with cherries, boysenberries, tart plum skins, hints of leather, sweet pipe tobacco, and coffee beans. The tannins are firm, but not a bit edgy and the finish lingers with just a touch of anise. A truly lovely vintage.
Winemaking:
Crushed gently and dropped by gravity into small 1.5 ton bins, cold soaked a minimum of 48 hours, then inoculated with a variety of yeasts, hand-punched and pressed directly to barrel, where the wine finishes both primary and secondary fermentation.
Cooperage: The wine is on 40% new oak barrels, mostly French and American oak with a compliment of Eastern European oak for 16 months.
An excellent value, the 2012 Firehouse Red is a plump, supple and medium-bodied effort that’s loaded with black cherry, red currants, licorice and spice. Enjoy this fruit-forward, yet classy effort over the coming couple of years. - Robert Parker 88 Points
Taut, with a tang of acidity to balance the fleshy red plum and rhubarb pie flavors, persisting on the smoky finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and others. Drink now through 2017. 15,000 cases made. –HS - Wine Spectator Magazine 87 Points
