Nose
has rich, ripe cherry, cassis and
blackberry fruit aromas.
Palate
Soft tannins and sweet oak combine with a gentle hint of
pepper and spice to yield a full-bodied wine with excellent balance and a long
lingering finish. The four different Cabernet clones give the wine a multi-layered
dimension to the palate. The long growing season at the Truchard Vineyard in the
cool Carneros district yields grapes with deep color and great natural acidity. The
Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard on the Conn Creek alluvial fan adjacent to Caymus
in Rutherford delivers classic mid-valley fruit and supple tannins and “Rutherford
Dust” earth flavors. The Petit Verdot adds depth to the color and a tannic richness,
while the Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet franc bring softness, acidity and fruit
respectively. Crafted in a rich, concentrated European style, this wine pairs well with
flavorful, full-bodied meals, and will develop a harmonious smoothness with age.
Growing Conditions
The 2005 growing season began with wet weather, followed by a dry period in March. Rainfall continued well into
spring with later than usual bloom and set and we experienced unseasonable rain into June. The cool weather
continued into summer with few heat spikes. As September approached we were concerned that the larger than
normal crop would not mature as fog prevailed well into the harvest season, keeping daytime temperatures cool.
The long cool growing season gave us excellent wines with beautiful structure, great color and high natural acidity.
Aging
20 months in 88% French 12% American Oak, 58% new
Appearance
deep ruby in color
