2005  Vineyard Info/Growing Year/Vinification

Winter rains took pause for a dry, mild March and then the rains began again with record-setting precipitation late into the May delaying bloom and fruit set. A continuing mild summer and late spring rains encouraged a higher than normal yielding crop. This kept our growers in the vineyards most of the summer, not only thinning grapes to one cluster per shoot, but also strategically removing leaves and closely monitoring irrigation until a just few weeks before harvest.  The onset of heat spikes in late August were patiently waited out. Heading into September, the unusually cool temperatures were a concern as sugar levels and flavors were not fully realized.  With cooler nights looming, warm, nearly perfect weather arrived in October creating conditions known as “Indian Summer.”   This generated extended hang-times, (in this case, 10 days to 2 weeks longer) and allowed us to finally attain those concentrated flavor and supple tannin profiles we were looking for. 

Winemaker Tasting Notes:

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec) is the most concentrated wine with the deepest hues of black and purple that we have produced to date.   Surging out of the glass, the 2005 Kobalt is fully expressed by supple and seductive ripe fruit aromas of sweet berry, cassis, and vanilla oak. The aromas continue onto the palate with added licorice, mocha and sweet toasty oak.  The tannins are supple and ripe rounding out this concentrated, full-bodied wine.  As always we suggest decanting for a minimum of 3 hours before enjoying.  The 2005 will continue to age for another 10 + years with proper cellar conditions. 

Robert Parker           The Wine Advocate #174     December 2007          94 pts

I thought the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was even stronger than the 2004. The wine has remarkable intensity, an inky bluish/purple color to the rim, and a stunning nose of acacia flowers interwoven with blueberry and blackberry, espresso roast, and pain grille. The wine is rich, full-bodied, has the somewhat European-like structure of this vintage, but exceptional generosity, richness, and depth. It is certainly an impressive Cabernet Sauvignon (there is some Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the final blend). This wine should age nicely for 20-25 years.

2005 Fortified Cabernet Sauvignon (Port)

The 2005 Fortified Cabernet Sauvignon (Port) was bottled in the fall of 2007 and will be released later this year.  Spicy, mocha, exotic berries and cherries dominate the bouquet with essences of violet.  The color is opaque/black purple.  On the palate are endless layers of chocolaty ripe black cherry, crème de cassis, sweet licorice, black pepper followed by structured, rich tannins and hints of spicy French oak.

This wine is made in the same “Old Word Tradition” as that country to the left of Spain.

NOTE: Your Credit Card will be not be charged for the Port until it is ready to ship.

Total Production in 2005:               

Cabernet Sauvignon - 467 cases of 750 ml bottles & 60 bottles of 1.5 L Magnums

Fortified Wine (Port) - 93 cases of 500 ml bottles