2012 Castellucci Merlot St. Helena Napa Valley 750 ml

Shaped by world-class winemaker Jac Cole—an author of polished, long-lived wines at Spring Mountain Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and S. Anderson—this 2012 treasure hails from a gorgeous St. Helena property, not to mention one of the finest seasons of all time: Robert Parker declared it “spectacular…a vintage for followers of classic, big, fruit-dominated Napa wines.”

Robert Parker rated the 2012 Napa vintage 96 points, calling it “a great vintage that appears to be a no-brainer when it comes to consumer interest.” Predictably, there was a run on 2012s back in 2015-2018, and they mostly disappeared from the market. That’s why we never expected to get access to a library release like this.

Ten-plus years have been extremely kind to this Merlot, which reveals an opaque black core with crimson tones at the rim. The wine opens with inviting and warm aromas of blackberry, wood-spiced plum, and dried blueberry, cradled in a basket of cedar, sandalwood, and black pipe tobacco. The palate is round, dense, and mouth-filling, with a fine-grained tannin structure that feels soft yet defined. Raw chocolate, Madagascar vanilla, and dried herbs linger on its remarkably long finish, showcasing the wine's youthful precision and substance. Enjoy a bottle now with a thick ribeye, then savor the rest through 2030.

Headed by Italian immigrant and property magnate Antonio Castellucci—a true American success story—the Castellucci family has owned and farmed land in Napa Valley for over 20 years. They own 50 acres spread over prime sites in the Spring Mountain, Carneros, Rutherford, and St. Helena AVAs. This comes from their family's Fern Rock Vineyard on Spring Mountain, just up the road from Fantesca.