2005 Lail Cabernet Sauvignon J Daniel Cuvée
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Good full ruby. Sexy aromas of blackberry, dark raspberry, mocha, bitter chocolate and coffee. Plush, very ripe and rich, showing softer acidity than the 2004 and not quite the impeccable balance of that wine. Dark berry, plum and dark chocolate flavors carry well on the back end, where building tannins reach the front teeth. Can't quite match the '04 for sheer class but this wine boasts plenty of lift and power and may be an even better bet for enjoying over the next few years. (15.5% alcohol; from a larger crop than the '04; 67% new oak)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(14.9% alcohol): Bright ruby-red. Deep aromas of dark berries, mocha, plum and musky oak. Sweet, plush and deep, with thoroughly ripe but penetrating dark berry and chocolate flavors nicely framed by well-integrated acidity. A very powerful, dense, ripely tannic wine with a long life ahead of it. Superb.
The top three vineyards constituted this wine from Robin and John Lail – the Mole Hill Vineyard on Howell Mountain, the Vine Hill Ranch in Oakville, and the Shuler Vineyard in Coombsville. Bordeaux in style, somewhat St.-Estèphe-like in its earthiness, with high tannins and firm grip, this wine has good acidity and plenty of graphite and blackcurrant notes It is still somewhat austere and tannic, but dense and medium to full-bodied, with a positive upside to it. Only 710 cases were produced, and it was aged in 70% new French oak for 19 months prior to bottling. Give this wine another 2-4 years of bottle age and drink over the following two decades.
(100% cabernet sauvignon) Good full medium ruby. Black cherry, cassis and licorice on the slightly medicinal nose. Pliant, juicy and spicy, with good grip to the flavors of dark berries, plum and bitter chocolate; this reminded me of a St. Julien. Nicely tactile wine, finishing persistent and complex, with dusty tannins. A very successful vintage for this wine. Owner Robin Lail, who purchases fruit from sites up and down Napa Valley, says her objective is to create "a poor man's estate vineyard" by having her team farm all of the parcels she buys from.