Wines by Vintage
2005 Wines
Vintage Notes
After several winters of lower-than-normal rainfall, the winter of 2004/2005 brought some much needed moisture to our soils. The vines were replenished and had a healthy, happy start to their growing season as budbreak began in March. The season progressed at a fairly “normal” pace until mid-summer, when we saw unseasonably warm weather. Throughout July and early August, the temperature hovered between the mid-90’s and low 100’s, which caused the vines to slow their growth in order to protect themselves from the heat. The high heat broke in mid-August, allowing the grapes to ripen.
The first grapes harvested were Syrah grapes for the Roseum program, on September 9th. We had such great success with the 2004 Roseum (sold out by mid-summer) that we decided to increase production in 2005. We picked the Syrah from our Huerhuero vineyard and put the grapes into the destemmer and crusher and then loaded them directly into the press. They soaked in the press for 10 hours, which allowed the juice to absorb color and flavor from the skins. It was then pressed into a stainless steel tank for a long, cool fermentation, retaining the fresh berry flavors characteristic of our Roseum.
The weather during the rest of harvest remained perfect for ripening – warm, sunny days and cool nights to maintain the grapes’ acidity. Yields were higher than the last few years due to the increased rainfall the previous winter. We did quite a bit of crop thinning prior to harvest to ensure that quality and yield were optimal.
September saw the harvesting of most of our Syrah and Petit Verdot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah in October. We finished harvest on November 7, nearly 6 weeks after our last harvested fruit in 2004! Needless to say, we were all tired after such a long “crush” but the wine quality is proving to be excellent.
As 2005 comes to a close, we are putting the final lots to barrel for aging and are finalizing the blends for our 2004 wines, which will receive another 6 months of aging before they are bottled in the summer of 2006. We are also preparing to bottle the 2005 Roseum before the year is over, so that it is ready for release in February of 2006.
2005 Chardonnay
Edna Ranch
Medium, golden straw in color with aromas of fresh ripe fruits, primarily pineapple and apples, with hints of honeyed citrus, and minerals combined with subtle notes of jasmine and toasty oak. Lush and rounded on the palate with flavors of baked apples, baking spices and hints of tropical fruits; a crisp, clean and lengthy finish.
2005 Roseum
Huerhuero Vineyard
Wonderful nose of ripe strawberry, watermelon, and kiwi fruit. Floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle are also present and add complexity. Ripe summer berries are echoed from the nose, along with sweet melon flavors. The bright, crisp acidity results in a refreshing wine with a long, clean finish.
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Magnum (1.5 liter)
Deep dark, bright garnet in color. Intense bouquet of dark sweet fruits such as blackberry and blueberry, complimented by notes of tobacco and toasty oak. A supple, full-bodied, rich flavored Cabernet Sauvignon which has intense fruitiness (blueberry, cherry), light oak, and excellent balance, with a medium long finish.
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Huerhuero
Deep dark, bright garnet in color. Intense bouquet of dark sweet fruits such as blackberry and blueberry, complimented by notes of tobacco and toasty oak. A supple, full-bodied, rich flavored Cabernet Sauvignon which has intense fruitiness (blueberry, cherry), light oak, and excellent balance, with a medium long finish.
2005 Petite Sirah
Jardine Vineyard
Deep, inky purple with aromas of plum, raspberry and dried cherry with dried sage and spicy oak notes. Ripe plum and black cherry flavors with cedar and sweet oak components, a soft and luscious texture supported by ripe tannins and balanced acidity.
2005 RED4
Blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre
Dark garnet in color with aromas of black cherry and plum with dark currant and spice, violets and toasty oak. A lush, fresh and fruity wine with dense blackberry, ripe cherry and vanilla notes.
2005 Signature
Intense aromas of black raspberry, blueberry, and violets supported by toasty oak, nutmeg and cinnamon notes. Fresh blueberry, plum and peach flavors with a hint of pine and tobacco supported by ripe, firm tannins.
2005 Suendero
Dark garnet with notes of wild strawberry, black currant and blackberry, in addition to vanilla and coconut aromas from the oak barrels. The dark fruits re-emerge on the palate with blueberry and fresh black raspberry dominating, as well as oregano and green peppercorn supported by toasted oak tannins and a balancing acidity that provides a long finish.
2005 Syrée
Dark cherry red with aromas of dark black berry fruit with bitter sweet chocolate, vanilla and some cedar. Initall soft on the tongue, the wine releases its dominant character on the mid palate. Loaded with spice and ripe fruit this wine ends with a prolonged finish.