St. Clement 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

W&S 91pts. - Tasting Notes - This wine opens with bright red fruit aromas of raspberry, cherry and dried cranberry with background notes of vanilla, clove, and bittersweet chocolate. The palate offers a concentrated core with layers of black currant, red cherry, cocoa powder and smoky oak. A full-bodied, Napa Valley Cabernet, this wine has solid structure and tannin to ensure aging potential. The addition of Merlot and Cabernet Franc adds mid-palate weight and structure along with ripe fruit notes on the nose. Winemaker Danielle Cyrot kept the lots separate through harvest and fermentation. After nineteen months in French oak (40 percent new) she assembled the final blend before bottling.