Atlas Peak Claret 2005 Front Label
Atlas Peak Claret 2005 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The Atlas Peak Mountain Series are limited production wines that showcase the best of the prestigious Napa Valley Mountain Appellations: Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain District. Mountain top vineyards have poorer soils and better drainage, which stresses the vines, thereby producing smaller berries with a greater skin to juice ratio. Grapes grown at high elevation, above the natural fog line, experience lower daytime temperatures than those on the valley floor, allowing them to stay cool while gaining maximum sun exposure. These wines are handcrafted by our winemaker to make more intense, more structured and age worthy wines.

The Atlas Peak 2005 Claret is an intricate blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc that combines power, structure and elegance. The 2005 Claret is quite possibly the best edition we have produced thus far. Its inky dark color, luscious blueberry and ripe cherry fruit, plush mouthfeel and bold tannins will reward cellaring. This wine pairs beautifully with Steak au Poivre and roasted red potatoes.

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot, 12% Merlot, 11% Malbec, 6% Cabernet Franc

Professional Ratings

  • 91
    Very sweet in fruit and refined in texture, a softly gentle wine to enjoy now and over the next six years. Shows lots of blackberry, cherry, orange zest, licorice and sandalwood flavors, wrapped into rich, silky tannins.
Atlas Peak Winery

Atlas Peak Winery

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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.

Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.

SWS285545_2005 Item# 114205