2005 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon California Red

2005 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon

95 RP

Featured Review

The east-facing hillside Vineyard 29 turns out superb Cabernet Sauvignon, but again there is not much of it. While the Cru negociant Cabernet Sauvignon represents 3,000 cases, there are just under 700 cases of the estate Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2005, a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, is superb. Notes of lead pencil shavings intermixed with smoky cassis and black cherries, a hint of white chocolate, and cedar are all present in this wine, which spent 17 months in French oak. Beautiful texture, medium to full body, and a totally seamless personality make for a gorgeous wine to drink now or cellar for 15 or more years. The impressive talents of viticulturalist David Abreu and winemaker/consultant Philippe Melka have turned Vineyard 29, owned by Chuck and Anne McMinn, into a bright new star of Napa. There are essentially two levels of wine here, the estate wines, which come from the Aida Vineyard and Vineyard 29, and of course their negociant wines, which are represented by the 3,000 or so cases of their Napa Cabernet Sauvignon called Cru. Robert Parker

Robert Parker | 95 RP

The east-facing hillside Vineyard 29 turns out superb Cabernet Sauvignon, but again there is not much of it. While the Cru negociant Cabernet Sauvignon represents 3,000 cases, there are just under 700 cases of the estate Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2005, a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc, is superb. Notes of lead pencil shavings intermixed with smoky cassis and black cherries, a hint of white chocolate, and cedar are all present in this wine, which spent 17 months in French oak. Beautiful texture, medium to full body, and a totally seamless personality make for a gorgeous wine to drink now or cellar for 15 or more years.

The impressive talents of viticulturalist David Abreu and winemaker/consultant Philippe Melka have turned Vineyard 29, owned by Chuck and Anne McMinn, into a bright new star of Napa. There are essentially two levels of wine here, the estate wines, which come from the Aida Vineyard and Vineyard 29, and of course their negociant wines, which are represented by the 3,000 or so cases of their Napa Cabernet Sauvignon called Cru.

Robert Parker | 95 RP

(14.8% alcohol): Bright, saturated ruby-red. Deep, showy nose combines blackberry, black raspberry, plum, licorice, flowers and black olive. Compellingly silky, plush, dense wine with terrific breadth and medicinal reserve--not to mention lovely inner-mouth lift--to its currant, licorice and mocha flavors. Finishes aromatic and very long, with firm but nicely buffered tannins and a whiplash of flavor. This impeccably balanced beauty, which I've rated very highly since the outset, is already quite sexy but still has a long life ahead of it. This was current winemaker Keith Emerson's first vintage at Vineyard 29; it was a year with huge quantity and high quality, he told me, as well as one of the latest harvests ever for this estate (October 24 through 27), which normally benefits from extended hang time.

Vinous Media | 95 VM

Offers wonderful purity of flavors. Generous, ripe and fleshy, with intense, supple currant, black cherry and wild berry fruit that's vivid and well-defined, tight and focused. Yet the tannins are very ripe and fleshy even as they gently grip the palate. Best from 2010 through 2017. 300 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon : It is recognized worldwide, referred to as “king of grapes” and has easily become the most popular grape variety in the world. Cabernet Sauvignon has seemingly taken the world by storm. It has seen exponential growth and popularity in American and around the world over the past thirty years. The phrase “Cabernet is king,” is a common maxim in the world of wine. Cabernet Sauvignon wine has become so popular that when being referred to can be recognized by simple slang, such as “Cab” or “Cabernet. It might appear simple, straightforward and easily understood; yet, interestingly remains an enigma, which has both baffled and excited oenologists since its discovery. The exact origin and circumstances of this world-altering event are still enigmatic; however, at the end of the 20th century, UC Davis Scientists (John Bowers and Carole Meredith) were able to solve part of the mystery using DNA fingerprinting technology that proved Cabernet Sauvignon to be the offspring of a surprising spontaneous crossing of Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. By the 18th century there were already records of Cabernet Sauvignon being well-established on the west side of the Gironde Estuary (Left Bank) in the Medoc and Graves. Although tremendously popular in California and what seems to have become the identity of Napa Valley winemaking, Cabernet Sauvignon’s birth took place in the Bordeaux region of southwest France by fortuitous unification. Whereas Napa Valley experienced a winemaking renaissance during the 1970’s and 1980s (greatly due to the 1976 Judgement of Paris) quality wine from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape has been produced in the Medoc, on the Left Bank of Bordeaux for over 400 years. Cabernet Sauvignon’s first recorded plantings in California can be traced back to the 1850’s when Antoine Delmas, a French nurseryman, brought French vines (including one called ‘Cabrunet’) to the Santa Clara Valley. Early cultivation suffered due to obscurity of the varietal and improper planting in inhospitable soil. It wasn’t until pioneers such as Robert Mondavi, Randy Dunn and Warren Winiarski with their amazing foresight and understanding of terroir, would the grape variety finally find its niche in California winemaking. Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in warm climates moderated by a cooling marine influence. It is perfectly attuned to gravel-based soils with good drainage. Whether on flat land or a hillside, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape flourishes in proper climates and terroir, producing incredible yields. The thick grapevine is extremely vigorous allowing it to exploit its natural host. Its distinctive small, black berries (reminiscent of blueberries) adhere firmly to the stalk and are capable of a very long “hang time.” These berries are extremely concentrated, producing intensely flavored fruit. The thick skins of the grape are characterized as having highly astringent flavor, high tannin, acidity and dark color. Coincidentally, the variety has a special affinity for oak, which helps soften the bitterness. Today, the Noble Bordeaux varietal of Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on 340,000 hectares (741,300 acres) of vineyards across the earth’s surface. From Sicily to Sonoma, Chile to Bordeaux, South Africa to Napa. It has found symbiosis in terroir hotspots that mimic that of the Medoc and Napa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon’s globetrotting has allowed the grape variety to take root all over the world, captivating its inhabitants and influencing winemaking. This serendipitous marriage between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc centuries ago, which offered to the world its progeny, has changed the landscape of winegrowing, winemaking and the face of the entire wine market forever. It has influenced blending, changed civilization and has cultivated a place for itself in today’s world… the very pinnacle.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.
Subregion	Napa Valley
Appellation	St. Helena
Climat/Vineyard	29 Estate