
2012 Kuleto Danielli, Napa Valley
90 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Winemaker Notes
Vintage 2012 was considered ‘perfect’ by the prognosticators as soon as the last grapes were making their way
to the wineries. It was perfect in the sense that quality and quantity benefited both grower and winemaker.
The weather cooperated throughout all critical parts of the growing season to produce beautifully ripe and
flavorful fruit.
Our ‘Danielli’ bottling has evolved from being labeled as ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ to ‘Red Wine’ in order to grant
us maximum flexibility in blending the best wine each vintage without having to worry about the 75% varietal
minimum. Blending at Kuleto takes place at all stages of the process – at harvest with co-fermentation of different
varieties, at racking to build strength and complexity into various pieces of a potential blend, and finally with
barrel selection as we approach bottling. The goal for our ‘Danielli’ is to make the most flavorful and supple wine
possible. Our 2012 Danielle Red Wine smells like the best berry pie you ever encountered with enticing aromas of
baked blue and black fruits, butter, baking crust, cinnamon, sugar, and maybe even some toasted hazelnuts on top!
In the mouth, it enters and spreads around almost like a dessert wine with its concentrated sweetness, compact
tannins, and juicy acidity. It’s a wine to pour into the largest glass you own, swirl vigorously, and enjoy.
Composition
61% Cabernet Sauvignon; 14% Merlot; 14% Syrah; 11% Cabernet Franc
Wine Specs
Vintage
2012
Varietal
Red Blends
Appellation
Napa Valley
Acid
6.3 g/L
pH
3.55
Alcohol %
14.80
Wine Enthusiast
90
Production Notes
For winemaker Dave Lattin, there is a mutual understanding that all but a small percentage of the winemaker’s
work is done in the vineyard. Keeping the vineyard’s serpentine twists and exposures in mind, the best-suited
varietals for each block have been selected. Working with the land, not against it, the individually terraced lots are
not oriented to one central direction, but instead are planted to maximize the benefits of their natural location.
Production
Only 220 cases produced