Vintage
Overall, 2005 was significantly cooler than usual. A wet spring and heavy May rains delivered more than twice the normal amount of rainfall in Napa Valley. The late storms caused delay of budbreak and bloom for all varieties, and once they began, the vines grew quickly. Vineyard crews carefully thinned foliage, removing more leaves in the vineyards than ever before to bring the vines into balance and ensure ripening. May and June temperatures were cooler than usual, followed by a hot July and a return to the cooler pattern for the remainder of the growing season and through harvest, which started up to a full month later than average in most Napa Valley vineyards. Picking began for this wine on August 30 and didn’t finish until October 27. The long hang time allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, fostering excellent development of aromatics and flavors and setting a relatively easy pace for the vineyard and winemaking teams.
Aroma
Ripe aromas of wild blueberry merge with a hint of black olive and notes of spice and vanilla derived from aging in new French oak.
Tasting Notes
Powerful tannins are chewy and generous, and beautifully balanced by the wine’s equally dense flavors of black fruits—blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry and crème de cassis. Vibrant and alive with fresh acidity, the 2005 Reserve is a powerful wine that carries its considerable muscle with elegance and style.
Reviews
92 Wine Spectator Insider
94 Wine Enthusiast
95 Wine News
Composition & Analysis
Blend:94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc
Vineyard:81% To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville AVA; balance from Oakville Bench (12%) and Stags Leap District (7%)
Appelation:Napa Valley
Ageing:18 months aging in 100% new French oak château barrels
Fermentation:Fermented in traditional oak tanks and gently pressed in a traditional basket press
37 days extended skin contact (maceration) for softening of tannins
