TRIPLE GOLD MEDAL - 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL - Tasters Guild Wine Lovers Int'l Wine Competition
CRITICS PLATINUM MEDAL- 2010 Critics Challenge Int'l Wine Competition
GOLD MEDAL - Lodi Int'l Wine Competition
94 POINTS - AlaWines.com
GOLD MEDAL - Dallas Morning News Wine Competition
Tasting Comments:
This 2005 R&B Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an extraordinary wine with remarkable depth and complexity. Bright ruby red in the glass, the 2005 R&B Cabernet boasts a lovely nose of berry, fig, cherry, cocoa, and a slightly herbal vanilla note. The palate is dominated by blackberry and currant, with plum and spice, and chewy tannins that linger on the finish, suggesting this five-year-old wine has plenty of life left. The finish is long and concentrated, leaving an impression of dark chocolate. This is a wonderful Cab for those who enjoy a big, full-bodied red wine that remains balanced and doesn’t go over the top into the area of over-ripeness. Perfect with beef stew or mushroom risotto, this wine certainly proves that the “urban winery” scene is more than just a fad, and is producing some excellent wines. At $35 for Napa Cabernet, you don’t want to miss this one!
Bingham Ranch:
The Bingham Ranch in Calistoga is one of the oldest Cabernet vineyards in the Napa Valley, dating back to 1850s. There are three parcels of vines used in our Cabernet, one is 55 years old another is 35 years old and the third is 17 years old. It is a small berry clone with very low yields, approximately one and a half tons per acre. The resulting fruit is very intensely flavored with a rich dark blackberry profile that makes intensely structured Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cellar Practices and Winemaking:
Perfectly ripe grapes were harvested in late October early November 2005. They were crushed into a stainless tank and cold soaked at 50F for 5 days. The temperature was increased to 70F, and cultured yeast fermentation started and lasted thirty days at a peak temperature of 90F. The grapes were gently pressed and the resulting wine racked into barrels, which were 100% new French oak 60 gallon barrels from ten different French coopers: Vicard, Seguin Moreau, St. Martin, Billon, Trieul, Ermitage, Boutes, Jarnac, Bel Air and Chalufour. The Cabernet was blended in the classical way with small amounts of Cabernet Franc added from an El Dorado vineyard. The wine was aged for 28 months in oak and given an additional 18 months of bottle age prior to release.
Vineyards: 97% Napa Valley, 3% El Dorado, 97% Bingham Ranch, Calistoga, 3% Verbitsky Ranch
Composition: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 % Cabernet Franc
Harvest Date: Oct 27 ~ Nov 4, 2005
Sugar at Harvest: 25.2 Degrees Brix
Total Acid: .69 gm/cl
pH: 3.37
Fermentation: Hand picked, 5 days cold soak at 50 degrees, pumped over 3 times a day,fermentation temp. to 90 degrees, extended maceration for 20 days, D-80 and Monte Rosso yeast.
Aging: 22 months in 100% French Oak from 10 different French Coopers; Vicard, Seguin Moreau, Ermitage, Boutes, Jarnac, Bel Air,St. Martin, Billon, Trieul, and Chalufour, 100% new oak.
Bottling Date: April 2008
Release Date: October 2009
Production: 1000 750ml Cases
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
Inky, plush, cellar-worthy
The nose is an aromatic riot—a decadent mashup of blackberry, black cherry, and plum swirled with whimsical notes of red licorice, vanilla, and cocoa. A savory dust of spice, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak adds a sophisticated edge to this fruit-forward powerhouse.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
96 Points
Bold and luxurious with inviting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, notes of cedar and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
95 Points
Aromas of wild berries, black fig and ripe dark fruits are intertwined with hints of fresh mountain herbs, mineral, leather, savory spices, and cigar box. On the palate, the rich fruit flavors of dark cherry, ripe plum, blackberry, red currants and cassis are layered with notes of wild sage, dark chocolate truffle, cinnamon, clove, and a kiss of oak.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
95 Points
A powerful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose, it's enticing and fragrant, bursting with fresh blueberries, blackberry tart, cedar, black olives, and hints of spicebox. Its palate provides big, round chewy tannins, sweet ripe black cherries, blackberry cordial, Bourbon-soaked maraschino cherries, maple roasted walnuts, and a touch of vanilla.
92 Points
Lofty aromas of ripe red fruits layered with notes of crushed violets, berry cobbler, cherry and creme brulee leading into crushed blackberry with cassis, mocha, leather, mineral, and baking spice. Its all encompassing and bold mouthfeel are outstanding, as deep tannins dance around the palate, finishing with flavors of blackberry, fig, and pipe tobacco.
Chewy & Ripe
Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, bacon, blackberry jam, and black tea. Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight. Rich, structured, and complex, with a long evolving finish.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This opulent wine opens with aromas of blackberry, black plum, violets and spice on the nose. Flavors on the palate of dark cherry, sarsaparilla and orange zest wrap around dried tobacco leaf, malt chocolate and toasted vanilla, with a long, supple finish.
92 Points
Inviting aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, and pomegranate. The palate unfolds with layered flavors of black cherry, raspberry cordial, vanilla bean and spice, where focused tannins envelop, leading to a rich red fruit finish with blue fruit undertones.
93 Points
Depth, balance and big flavors. The nose evokes black cherry pie, licorice, plums, vanilla, and notes of chocolate. On the palate, it bursts with cassis, red currants, toasted walnuts, and chocolate. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.
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