2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
(14.1% alcohol; the first vintage of this wine made by Jon Priest): Bright medium ruby. Black cherry, crushed blackberry and licorice aromas are complicated by hints of tar and dried herbs. At once supple and firm, with brisk acidity giving shape to the dark berry, licorice and tar flavors. Still a bit bound-up, even youthfully grapey, but essentially fine-grained, finishing with firm but ripe tannins and noteworthy persistence. A bit suaver and more refined than the 2004 release, this may yet expand with more bottle age.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The founder of this brand, Tony Soter, is now flourishing as a wine producer in Oregon, but he used to be a prominent producer in Napa. His 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc) has a dense purple color, with restrained notes of oak, black fruits, and loamy soil tones. Youthful firmness and grip suggest this wine is not yet near full maturity. It is concentrated, medium to full-bodied, pure and meticulously well-made. Nevertheless it’s not singing as of yet, although all the component parts are there for a promising future. Give it another 2-3 years and drink it over the next 15 years.
Bright, full ruby-red. Brooding aromas of medicinal black cherry, currant, tobacco and spicy oak. Chewy black fruit flavors display a supple texture but a nicely restrained sweetness and a juicy quality. Deeper and more generous than the Rutherford bottling. The tannins are broader and sweeter, but still turn a tad dry with aeration.
Good bright ruby-red. Reticent but complex nose offers a primary grapey character along with tar, licorice and pungent sage. Quite bright and spicy in the mouth, with flavors of cassis and garrigue I don't find the depth of the best 2005 examples, but this offers very good mouth coverage and firm acidity. But this was bottled just ten days before I tasted it and is difficult to taste today.