2005 Oso Vineyard, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage
The 2005 harvest in Napa Valley culminated a long, cool growing season that ripened the flavors and tannins of our Oso Vineyard grapes to perfection, enabling winemakers Rob Mondavi, Jr. and Tony Coltrin to create a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon of great richness, elegance and balance. Rob and Tony consider 2005 an exceptional year for Napa Valley red wines, similar in character to the celebrated 1997 vintage.
Vineyards
The grapes for this exceptional, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon come from the beautiful stone-lined terraces of the Michael Mondavi family's Oso Vineyard on the northeastern slopes of Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. The cooling afternoon breezes that waft over this breathtaking site temper the heat from the valley floor, keeping the Oso fruit fresh and vibrant throughout the growing season.
Winemaking
After gently de-stemming and crushing the fruit, Rob Mondavi Jr. and Tony Coltrin fermented the pristine juice in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, stretching the post-fermentation maceration period to 28 days. This extended juice-skin contact time beautifully married the flavors and tannins in our Oso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, giving the wine a wonderfully round, seamless texture. Malolactic fermentation in barrel, combined with 18 months aging in French oak barrels, 66% new, further concentrated the wine's intense, dark fruit flavors, adding nuances of toffee and toasted vanilla.
Enjoy this superb Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled steak, rib roasts, lamb shanks and venison.
Wine Facts
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon 100%
Appellation: Oso Vineyard, Napa Valley
Barrel Aging: 18 months in French oak (66% new French oak)
Alcohol: 14.3%
pH: 3.68 g/l
TA: .62 g/100mL