2005 Cerro Sur Napa Valley Red Wine

One of our favorite areas in the Napa Valley is in the hills east of the town of Napa. The rolling hills run through the Tulocay area and rise up to Wooden Valley, then continue east to the Sacramento Valley. This area is unique in Napa Valley, with perfectly drained volcanic soils, a cooling breeze off the San Francisco Bay, and an infinite array of slopes and exposures. Several years ago we were lucky to find a one-acre slope of twenty-five-year-old Cabernet Franc vines that are athletically proportioned, balanced but muscular. The wines they produce are similar in character. Whole berry fermentation using native yeasts, French oak barrel aging for 22 months, and bottling without fining or filtration, all help to highlight the complex fruit flavors from these mature vines. 2005 is the first vintage in which we have blended in Cabernet Sauvignon from the nearby Meteor Vineyard, in the Tulocay district of the Napa Valley. The Meteor fruit brings breadth and added fruit density to the wine. The final blend of the 2005 Cerro Sur is 72% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon. In the glass, the wine exhibits cherry tobacco, incense aromas, and notes of raspberry, wet stones, and leather. Flavors of cream, cherry, raspberry, and salt water taffy burst onto the palate, leading to a long, supple finish with great fruit intensity.

142 cases produced