On a hunch, Hugh Davies replanted his Diamond Mountain estate vineyard with Cabernet in 1994. Since then, he’s moved his sparkling grape parcels to cooler regions. A stroke of brilliance, really because Cab flourishes on Diamond Mountain and the 2012 J. Davies offers the most sumptuous aromas of plums, black currents, anise, mint and allspice. In the mouth, it’s sensuous and hedonistic with round, ripe silky tannins, and ample blue fruit notes embellished by layers of mocha, minerals and subtle earthiness. Sample
9.2 Points