2005 Constant Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(14.8% alcohol): Deep ruby. Complex, musky aromas of currant, truffle, earth, mocha and bitter chocolate. Then a bit more rigid and unyielding than the nose would suggest, offering flavors of dark berries, licorice, minerals and crushed rock. This very firm, even hard-edged, wine may yet loosen up with time in bottle. Or is it in a state of suspended animation? A distinctly tannic mountain style with a granular toughness currently squashing the wine's sweetness of fruit. Can it still blossom in the bottle?
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Shy nose, then full-bodied, rich mountain black fruit on the palate, plus cassis, creamy oak and liquorice. Tight, tannic and brooding, it shows fine aging potential. (LM)
The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain reveals dark, chocolatey, earthy, black currant fruit flavors intermixed with hints of bay leaf, cedar, and spice box. This outstanding effort may be the finest Cabernet Sauvignon I have yet tasted from Constant. This magnificently situated vineyard, high on Diamond Mountain with striking views in every direction, still appears to be a work in progress. The 42 acres of vineyards look superb, and the winemaking seems to be moving in a positive direction. At this high elevation, the Syrah reveals a very Crozes-Hermitage-like style. Tel. (707) 942-0707; www.constantwine.com