2005 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
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Tasting notes
As for the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS, this is Clone 337, and came in at 14.5% alcohol. It is a relatively small cuvée of only 125 cases. This wine exhibits notes of underbrush, forest floor, fresh black and red currants, spicy oak, density, richness, and a supple and velvety texture. This seems to be the most evolved and precocious of the five cuvées, and probably will be the one that most consumers will prefer drinking today. However, don’t discount its aging potential, as it certainly has two decades left in it.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Good deep ruby. Vibrant aromas of crushed blackberry, bitter chocolate and violet. Quite suave on entry, then chewy and juicy in the middle, with strong acidity giving the wine sharp definition. Less obviously sweet than the 2004; in fact, this is distinctly firmer in texture and evolving slowly. Finishes with a note of dark chocolate. This will be entirely from Clone 337, which needs long hang time on the vines.
About the producer
Schrader Cellars is one of Napa’s cult names. It focuses on pairing specific clones with the perfect site to produce the ultimate expression of Napa Cabernet. The results regularly receive the very highest scores from critics, with 19 100-point scores from the Wine Advocate to date.