2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
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Tasting notes
Bright, saturated ruby. Very ripe, almost porty aromas of blackberry, cassis, sexy spicy oak, espresso and dark chocolate. A plush, spicy, oaky fruit bomb, offering captivating sweetness to its black raspberry, black cherry, dusty herb and coffee flavors but also more energy and definition than the winery's basic Cabernet bottling. This slightly medicinal, no-holds-barred, hugely tannic mountain wine still has a long future ahead of it. And it has the stuffing to support its slightly high-toned oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Almost as impressive is the 2005 Cabernet Reserve, a blend of 95.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.5 % Petit Verdot, in this case sourced 58% from Sonoma County and 42% from Napa. Its 14.5% alcohol is slightly lower than its sibling’s. This full-bodied wine is very concentrated, with a saturated bluish/purple color and a classic nose of mocha and espresso intermixed with crème de cassis and charcoal. The finish is a good 40-45 seconds, and the wine has a remarkable vibrancy and freshness from the vintage’s acidity. This is terrific stuff to drink now and over the next 12-15 years.
(14.5% alcohol; includes 4.5% Petit Verdot): Saturated medium ruby. Knockout nose combines cassis, kirsch , licorice, menthol and pepper. Superconcentrated and fine-grained, conveying superb spicy lift to the classic mountain berry, spice and tobacco flavors. This dense, sappy wine shows a complex and complementary herbal element in a distinctly claret-like way. Really dances on the palate and rises on the powerful, savory aftertaste. Still very young. A splendid example of this wine from a below-average crop level due to rain during the flowering that arrived after most valley floor vines had already set their crop.