<p>An attractive array of blackberry, smoke, dark chocolate, and bay leaf aromas leads to a lustrous, layered wine. Rich on the palate with a velvet texture, the spicy, ripe, black fruits are beautifully integrated with the oak, tannins, and acidity.</p><p><strong>90+ Points, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate:</strong></p><p>&quot;Revealing a deeper ruby/purple color as well as a classic bouquet of blueberries, creme de cassis, spring flowers, and background earth, the medium to full-bodied, moderately tannic 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years.&quot; (Dec. 2008)</p><p><strong>88 Points, Wine Spectator:</strong></p><p>&quot;Tightly wound, well-focused, intense and concentrated, with a dusty berry and spicy, leathery edge that sits on the palate and ends up dominating the flavor and texture. Drink now through 2013. 6,530 cases made. &ndash;JL&quot; (5/31/2008)</p>

Young, deep, direct and promising, this cassis-scented bottling offers aromas that are still in the nascent phase of development. Not surprisingly, the wine is tight and tannic on the palate, but it is also well-focused and awaits some patient cellaring to open up and reveal its full, layered personality. Three or four years of patient cellaring would seem to be a minimum with a decade not being that much out of order.

Bright ruby-red. Black raspberry, plum, mocha, musky espresso, leather and game on the nose. Big, chewy and rich, with sweet, pliant, moderately intense flavors of dark berries, plum jam, cherry, mocha and oak, plus a light element of game. Finishes with dusty, oak-driven tannins, an herbal nuance and good length.

Community Tasting Notes (average 90.5 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 61 notes)

Rating for United States-California: 95 (slightly better than average year)<br/><br/>Drinkability: too young, let it sit<br/>