Parker Review:
As for their own wines, all of which come from southern Napa sites in Oak Knoll and Coombsville, the 2005 is certainly one of the finest wines they have yet made. A 1,000case blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec, the wine is dense purple colored to the rim, with an exquisite nose of charcoal, graphite, and blackberry liqueur. Fullbodied, with great power, richness, and sensational length, this wine will benefit from 4 to 5 years of bottleage and last three decades.
Tanzer Review:
Deep, bright ruby. Reticent but pure aromas of black cherry, cassis, bitter chocolate, licorice and minerals. Broad in the mouth if not yet as filled in as the 2004 but this has a solid, dense core of sappy fruit and a firm shape. Less sweet and obvious than the 2004 but the acids are nicely integrated and the substantial, tonguedusting tannins arrive late. Quite different in shape from the 2004 and potentially more sophisticated. Two thousand five could have been an austere year for those who picked too early, observed Erika Gottl. Here we find 2005 as lush and unctuous as 2004.
