2005 Snowden Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
(14.8% alcohol): Full medium ruby. Exotic oak tones to the aromas of currant, tobacco leaf, iron and dried flowers. Plush, ripe and sweet, with plum, redcurrant and mocha flavors complicated by subtle dried herbs. Finishes with broad, serious, dusty tannins that avoid dryness. Lovely length and lift here, and not at all overly sweet. Here's a case of positive herbal character that's in harmony with the wine's texture and strong fruit.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Combines opulence with admirable structure and super acidity. Aromas of wood, earth and cedar add interest to the optimally ripe red and black fruit. There is some flashy, creamy oak, yet the wine remains fresh and energetic. (LM) $65
The real stunner is the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. There are 1,600 cases of this prodigious wine. Dense ruby/purple to the rim with a smoky, roasted herb, creme de cassis, melted licorice, and espresso-scented nose with subtle pain grille in the background, it is full-bodied, fleshy, with a terrific multi-dimensional mouthfeel, well-integrated acidity, and ripe, silky tannin. This is great stuff, and a fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon that may well turn out to be the best wine yet made at Snowden unless it is eclipsed by the very promising 2006 Reserve, which, of course, is not yet in bottle. Tel. (707) 963-4292; Fax (707) 963-4292