Bond (4 Bottles in OWC) 2005

Professional Ratings

• 98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  2005 Bond Pluribus: The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Pluribus is from a relatively high-elevation vineyard on the steep slopes of Spring Mountain and planted in the white Tufa volcanic bedrock of that area. This is the most northern vineyard of the Bond Estates, and this wine was just incredible. By far, the biggest, most backward and massive of all the 2005s, this wine behaved as if it were three or four years old, rather than ten. Dense purple, it offers notes of blueberry liqueur, St.-Estèphe-like earth, licorice and a gravelly note with incredible depth, lots of blackberries, and a finish that goes on for 45+ seconds. This is incredibly youthful and dominated by the blue and black fruits that are so much a part of the Spring Mountain AVA.

  Rating: 98+

• 98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  2005 Bond Vecina: 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Vecina is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 100% new oak, like the other cuvées. It is from an 11-acre site directly southeast of the Bond Winery, close to Harlan Estate. This wine tends to be the closest to the Harlan Estate in quality, with notes of new saddle leather, blackberry, roasted coffee and a hint of chocolate – and again – graphite and subtle smoke. Opaque purple, but still incredibly youthful, the wine is spicy, intense, full-bodied and majestic.

• 97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  2005 Bond St. Eden: The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon St. Eden is from an 11-acre vineyard on the foothills north of the Oakville crossroad that has the classic red, rocky soil of this area, essentially in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains that define the eastern edges of Napa Valley. This wine, which shows notes of new saddle leather, Christmas fruitcake and spice, is broad and savory, with a classic full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning purity and sensational flavors of wild forest mixed with blackberry and cassis fruit.

• 97 Wine Enthusiast

  2005 Bond Vecina: Very refined, with lovely perfume. Heady, showing currants, cassis, cedar, chocolate-covered cherries and sweet herbs. Decadent, classy, elegant, with a great tannin structure. Just oozes class.

• 95 Wine Enthusiast

  2005 Bond Melbury: Lots of fresh herbs and spices in this beautiful red wine. Offers loads of red and black currants and chocolate, with a fine application of cedar and cigar box from oak. Very fine, enormously likeable.

• 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  2005 Bond Melbury: The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Melbury, which comes from the hills east of Rutherford just north of Lake Hennessey and Pritchard Hill, is absolutely spectacular. This is a 7-acre parcel, planted in sedimentary and clay soils on steep slopes. Deep purple, with blueberry, black raspberry and graphite notes, a gracious and generous, full-bodied mouthfeel, soft, but noticeable tannin, a refreshing finish and loads of complexity, this is a compelling 2005 that seems to be coming close to its plateau of maturity, where it should last for 20-25 years.

• 91 Wine Enthusiast

  2005 Bond Pluribus: Very polished and pure, if a bit direct and obvious in appeal. A beautiful wine, with pure flavors of currants and cedar.