After a cold and wet beginning, the 2005 vintage developed into a wonderfully moderate growing season that had plenty of sun and some decent hot temperatures, but contained no really aggressive heat spikes. This helped the grapes to mature very evenly and deeply with beautifully ripe flavors and rich, round tannins and allowed us to pick the vineyard calmly over several weeks when each block had reached its peak.
This wine jumps from the glass with an animated nose of flowers, black cherries and ripe plums liberally inflected with aromas of cedar shavings, cigar box, wet river rocks and graphite. It cascades across the palate revealing rich layers of black cherries, Crème de cassis and blueberries intermixed with generous hints of black tea and cardamom, leading to a reverberant exit of spiced plums and kola nuts followed by a lengthy mouth coating finish. While drinking well now, it will benefit from and open up more fully with some additional time in bottle and should continue to develop more weight and complexity over the next 10+ years.
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"Smooth and fleshy, with an appealing mix of spicy red currant, black cherry, plum and light cedary oak, joined by a loamy earthiness. Gains velocity and length, while remaining elegant and supple. Drink now through 2016. 2,500 cases made. –JL
" -Rated 91, Wine Spectator
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"Staglin’s primary red wine is their estate Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes from their beautifully manicured and cared-for vineyards in the hillsides of Rutherford. None other than David Abreu looks after the viticulture, and of course that means yields are frightfully low. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has a Bordeaux-like, cedary nose intermixed with black currants, crushed rocks, smoke, and earth. The wine has beautiful texture, lots of layers, depth, richness, and a long finish. The overall impression is one of elegance and restraint, but without sacrificing richness. This wine should evolve nicely for at least two decades." -Rated 93, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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"Black in color, glyceriney. Massive, deep, tremendous. Some will find it overpowering in New World extraction, but it’s a real beauty in that style. Explodes in black currants, chocolate and new oak, almost overripe, with suggestions of raisins. Almost dessert-like, but stays dry and elegant. Defines modern Napa Valley cult Cabernet Sauvignon. — S.H. (5/1/2009)
" -Rated 95, Wine Enthusiast
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