Vine Cliff Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

The aroma has an array of fruits with plum, blue berries, red currants, cranberries, and baked cherries. Cinnamon spice, bay leaf, cocoa and white chocolate add depth and complexity. The palate has bright sweet fruit at entry with plum, cherry and blueberry fruits. The palate texture is rich, full bodied and powerful. Nuances of mocha chocolate and molasses add oak complexity which lingers with hints of cedar on the finish.

The Vine Cliff Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine crafted from our Estate Vineyards in Oakville and Calistoga. In 2005 the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon blend was a mix of approximately 5% Calistoga Pickett Ranch fruit and 95% Oakville Estate fruit. The Calistoga fruit contributes floral aromatics, mouth feel and finesse to the blend, while the Oakville fruit imparts structure and concentration. The 2005 growing season began in late spring with cool rainy weather. The long summer was very moderate and encouraged extra vine growth and increased cluster and berry size. The extra growth required constant work in the vineyard thinning shoots, thinning clusters, removing excess leaves and top canes. The long cool season was perfect for developing grapes with good maturity and flavors and with the sugar levels coming in slightly lower than in past vintages. We look forward to the resulting wines having great elegance and balance.