After 16 vintages it would seem easy to compare the newborn 2005 with a previous year, but it is actually quite difficult. We have had vintages where, because of growing conditions, the wines are delicate, light, and feminine. And other years where, because of low yields and climatic circumstances, the wines are powerful, rich, and dense. 2005 appears to be a blend of both styles. The color is dark ruby with plenty of purple highlights. The nose is very extroverted and shows no intention of shutting down. At present the wine reveals pure blue and black fruits, (primarily black cherries, raspberries, and a hint of blackberries) along with tell-tale beet root, earth and herb notes. In the mouth the wine is rich and full bodied, yet displays a lighter, more delicate finish.
It is somewhat of a paradox that such an intense wine could also be light on its feet, but that is the style of this vintage. We believe that this season’s unique growing conditions leading up to harvest gave us the ideal grapes to produce a wine with impeccable balance in acidity, alcohol, tannin, and depth of fruit. This wine should be relatively approachable in its youth, but because of its balance evolve for 10-12 more years. Over the last sixteen years, we have seen how well our wines have evolved. They have done what we have always hoped, improving in the bottle, which is no easy task.
"Firm in texture at first, but then blossoms into a panorama of flavors, fanning out its raspberry cream flavors and hinting at floral, mineral, green tea and Asian spice notes as the finish picks up steam. Not a big wine, but has many layers to explore." Best from 2009 through 2015. Score: 93. —Harvey Steiman, May 31, 2007.
