2005 Steve Hoff Cabernet Sauvignon

The fabulous purple/black-colored 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in American oak barriques, 20% new. It is redolent of cedar, tobacco, spice box, vanilla, black cherry, and blackberry liqueur aromatics. This leads to a full-bodied, extracted, thick, layered Cabernet with oodles of black fruit flavors, an excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a super-rich 60-second finish. It is an awesome value in age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. Give it 6-8 years to blossom and drink it through 2035. If this wine said Napa Valley on the label, you could quadruple the price (and it would still be a deal). Steve Hoff, the burly owner/winemaker of Steve Hoff Wines, hit the wicket in Barossa’s outstanding 2005 vintage. The winery is composed of 20 acres of estate vineyards and Hoff purchases some fruit from nearby neighbors. His first vintage was in 1984. Total production stands at 5,000 to 5,500 cases annually. Importer: Ken Onish and John Gorman, Southern Starz; tel. (714) 892-3030