Winemaker Notes
Picking took place in the early morning to keep the fruit as cool as possible. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes for this wine were de-stemmed, but not crushed, leaving over 90% whole berries. The berries and juice were cold soaked and fermented using mainly native yeasts, then aged for 18 months in French Oak. Similar to a left bank Bordeaux, we like to blend in Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for additional "roundness" on the palate and complexity through the finish.
Our 2005 Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon displays aromatic notes of cassis, lifted black current, vanilla and exotic spices. The mouthfeel is round and focused with a long finish. The wine will improve with short term cellaring.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Merryvale's '05 is very rich and balanced, and shows fine Napa Cabernet character in the intense focus of cassis, enriched with new French oak. It's not an ager, but showcases very high Napa quality for immediate drinking.
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.