Enkidu ANU Moon Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2012: Inky dark color; black fruits, nuance of oak on the nose; dark cherry, blackberry, black currant, French oak on the palate;
smooth with significant tannin that clearly benefits from air/decanting; average acidity (3.78 pH), very smooth after some air, rich, nice structure and depth, a vivid example of cab-led offering—blend of 85% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc. Moon Mountain District is brand new AVA that lies in volcanic Mayacamas mountain range separating Sonoma and Napa valleys; at more than 1,700 feet elevation, the vineyards avoid the classic Pacific coasts fogs, but does get the cooling winds and greater sunshine, conditions that favor cab and cab franc. Enkidu treated this wine gingerly: minimal raking, no fining to preserve rich fruit flavors. This is Enkidu’s inaugural vintage from the Moon Mountain District AVA. The Enkidu name comes from The Epic of Gilgamesh, written in Sumerian cuneiform more than 4,500 years ago. Enkidu was Gilgamesh’s steward of the land. Two-thirds a god and one-third a human, Enkidu represented strength, passion, and bravery. As years went swiftly by, his rustic edges became more cultured and refined—this wine travels the same journey with exposure to air. This is small production effort—less than 200 cases—but Enkidu makes others in greater volume. They, and this, are worth finding. $75
Enkidu Wines website
Second photo: Enkidu winery.
