Vintage 2005

Acclaim: 90 points, Wine & Spirits, October 2008: "A powerful, dense Red Mountain wine, this has plenty of spicy oak. Some blackberry wends its way into the flavors, ending on a long, stylish, gripping finish that would match a rib eye."; 89 points, Wine Advocate, August 2008: "Purple-colored, it exhibits an expressive nose of cedar, tobacco, pencil lead, clove, cinnamon, and black fruits. The wine has a supple palate feel and an elegant personality bordering on leanness. The spicy flavors are attractive... It should evolve for 2-3 years and drink well through 2017."; Year's Best—Cabernet & Blends, Wine & Spirits, December 2008

Acclaim: 90 points, Wine Advocate, August 2008: "Purple in color, it offers notes of paine grillé, scorched earth, black currant, and blackberry. This leads to a smooth-textured wine with ample ripe fruit, spicy flavors, good concentration and an elegant personality."; 92 points, Wine & Spirits, October 2008: "This blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and cabernet franc is all fine-grained leather, black cherry and dark tobacco spice. The dense flavors gain complexity with air, and for all its weight, the wine still feels graceful and elegant. Ideal with roast beef."; The Top 100 Northwest Wines, Seattle Met, September 2008; Year's Best—Cabernet & Blends, Wine & Spirits, December 2008

Reviews: 90 points, Wine Advocate, August 2008: "Opaque purple, it has an excellent nose of wood smoke, scorched earth, espresso, plum, and blackberry. It is the densest of the three 2005s but retains elegance and balance. The fruit is sweet and the flavors spicy and already revealing some complexity. This lengthy wine will evolve for 3-4 years and offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2025."; 90 points, Wine Enthusiast, December 2008: "This is 100% Cabernet from three different vineyards, mixing cherry, berry, plum and cassis, and setting the fruit against crisp acids. The tannins, slightly green around the edges, are focused and appropriate. Could it be fleshed out with a little Merlot? Yes, but the elegance and precision of pure Cabernet is somehow more thrilling."

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