Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
9% Petit Verdot; 6% Merlot; 2% Cabernet Franc. A quick whiff of mint, a focused suggestion of black cherries, a hint of cocoa and a rounded, fruity impression of more Merlot than shows in the wine's cepage all lift this wine into the full commendation. Its supple palatefeel and polished tannins allow it to drink nicely now, and its firm underbelly will allow it to age for a few years into a smoother potion yet.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (a blend from various sites) is a soft, sexy combination of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. A big, sweet nose of Asian spices, smoky oak, and plenty of black and red fruits, are followed by a lush, round, generously constituted wine with medium to full body, decent acidity, and velvety tannins. Enjoy it over the next 8-10 years.
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.