($135) Good saturated ruby-red. Sexy aromas of cassis, raspberry, tobacco leaf, cigar box and nutty oak (100% new). A step up in concentration and flesh from the appellation wines but not at all a blockbuster in the context of Oakville wine (this is 81% from To-Kalon fruit). Fat, mouthfilling and deep but quite closed today, with its serious tannic structure apparent. I picked up a very ripe note of almost honeyed tobacco as well as a floral high tone, a medicinal element and a leafy hint. This long and classy wine needs time to harmonize in the bottle and may ultimately merit a higher rating. These 2005s are carrying alcohol in the high 14s, noted winemaker Janssens, but the To-Kalon Vineyard generally produces fruit with pHs in the 3.6 range, which is on the low side for ripe cabernet from Napa Valley.

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The dense ruby/purple-hued 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve's big, sweet nose reveals aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, cedar, and spice box. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, restrained, and made in a distinctively Bordeaux style, it possesses admirable purity, texture, and length. It is delicate and poised as opposed to flamboyant, and should age easily for 15-18 years.

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Sleek, elegant and polished. A refined yet rich and complex effort, with a mix of mint, currant, bay leaf, sage and dusty berry flavors. Firms up on the finish, where the tannins are firm yet supple and integrated.

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Similar notes as last time. Good, not great. I think this vintage has already hit its prime. The tannins were well integrated and the fruit tasted as if it was beginning to fade.