Winemaker Notes
The 2005 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium ruby hue and aromatics of black olive, brambly blackberry and herbs. It has a soft, silky entry and a broad presence across the palate with juicy fruit and very soft tannins. Enjoy now or, given proper cellaring, this wine should improve through 2028.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
A classic Alexander Valley cabernet, this is dark and cedary, and as smooth as velvet. The tannins last, built on black cherry-skin flavor and earthy, root-vegetable notes. With time, that black cherry flavor should become more prominent, balancing the wine's earthy complexities. Drink this over the next several years with anything meaty, from duck and game birds to steak.
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Decanter
This vintage made everyone happy with its high quality and large crop - an infrequent combination. The growing season was long and cool, with perfect slow ripening. This wine is a bit rustic, with an edge of tannin in the finish, and dark notes of earth and a savoury character. The aromas stand out: cherry, liquorice, earth and dried herbs.
While Sonoma County is acclaimed—and rightfully so—for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandels, it also produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the region’s 18 American Viticultural Areas, only a handful produce top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon. These appellations include Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley. Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons made in these appellations can offer a complex array of aromas and flavors. Fruit notes such as blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and raspberry often are accompanied by hints of graphite, dusty earth, cigar box, toast and vanilla. The varietal has a rich history in Sonoma, and some of these Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet-based blends rival the best from Napa Valley.