Issue #187 A big, sweet bouquet of smoke, creme de cassis, earth, underbrush, and herbs soars from the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Saratoga Cuvee. The wine hits the palate with silky tannins, medium to full body, and no hard edges. This smooth, beautifully fruited, well-balanced Cabernet should drink well for a decade or more.Robert Parker Jr's The Wine Advocate
Release Date: Spring 2009
The 2005 Cuvee Cabernet is composed of seven separate vineyards in Saratoga and Los Gatos. All the vineyards are under our complete control and are meticulously farmed. 2005 was a great vintage throughout California for Cabernet. A sunny but cool
autumn brought in the various vineyards slowly and evenly during the month of October. Full, complete ripening was effortless – a winemaker’s dream.
The style, given our cool mountain climate, is directed towards complexity rather than power. With a blend of all five classic Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot (11%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Malbec (2%) this wine is aged a full two years in French and American barrels then gently bottled without any fining or filtration.
Perfumes of “creme de cassis” and blueberry with a hint of oak on the nose, this Cabernet is fresh and savory on the palate with expansive fruit and moderate, sweet tannins. Drinkable now, this wine should age and acquire more complexity over the next five years. A great value for a hand-crafted California wine.
