Winemaker Notes
Deep purple-black in color, the 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon displays aromas of black currant, cassis and spice. This powerful, full bodied wine is packed with the rich flavors of ripe dark fruit. Tannins are silky and smooth, resulting in a seamless yet intense wine of structure and balance. Enjoy this Cabernet Sauvignon now, or age it for an additional 5-10 years.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Clos du Val has gone as far as they intend to in order to make a ripe, opulent Cab in the modern Napa cult style. But they remain faithful to their Bordeaux-inspired house style, which is leaner and more tannic than most. The result is a natural cellar candidate, with an official alcohol of only 13.5%. Rich in blackberries and black currants, this wine should easily develop over the next 10–15 years.
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Wine & Spirits
The vibrant color and complex flavor depth make an immediate impression, but it takes two days of air for the elegance and detail of the wine to completely show. Until then, it seems a little self-consciously important, posturing with lots of face paint from new oak and spicy curves right under your nose. The oak integrates with air, and the freshness of the wine wins out over any affectations it displays for immediate drinking. This is, in fact, built for the long haul.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.