93 Points - Wine & Spirits
2005 Duckhorn Vineyards Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon
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This Estate Grown Cabernet has the strength to carry forward for a decade or longer.
Wine Spectator
90
Wine & Spirits
93
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Content: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot; Cooperage: 100% French Oak Château-style barrels (60 gallons); Age of Barrels: 100% new
Winemaker Notes
A classic Cabernet Sauvignon that is blended with Merlot to add complexity and round out the mid-palate, this is a layered, mouth-filling wine with ripe, integrated tannins and a fine-grained finish. Dark aromas of toffee, hickory, bacon, cedar and smoke are contrasted by vibrant elements of red currant and spearmint. On the palate, black currant and blueberry flavors dominate, underscored by notes of earth and oak.
Production
The 2005 season began with a wet winter and spring, which led to annual rainfall totals that were well above average. We had an ideal fruit set, which produced an abundant number of full grape clusters. As a result, the vintage yielded exceptional fruit for the season. The harvest lasted over two months—into the early days of November. In many ways the 2005 season was reminiscent of the excellent 1997 vintage, which offered an abundant harvest of remarkable quality.
Other Notes
Released: September 2008
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2005
Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation
Napa Valley
Harvest Date
September 14—October 25, 2005
Sugar
26.9° Brix
Acid
0.59 g/100 ml titratable acidity
pH
3.53
Aging
20 Months in Barrel
Fermentation
10-12 days fermentation at 80°F
Bottling Date
July 2007
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Spectator
90
Wine & Spirits
93
