SUPERIOR WINE ALERT!:

We always feature great wines, but when one really stands out, we issue ana alert. Today’s exceptional wine is very delicious!

SAVINGS ALERT!:

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Mission Codename: High Five

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to our good friends at Five Vintners. This time, recover their 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Five Vintners

Wine Subject: 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Krisi Raymond

Backgrounder: In the United States, ‘multi-generational’ in winemaking usually means two or three generations have been involved in crafting wines. Krisi Raymond, whose great grandfather was winemaking pioneer, Jacob Beringer, is a fifth generation winemaker. Agent Red was sent to Five Vintners to meet with Krisi and husband, Kirk – and to retrieve their Cabernet Sauvignon. Read Red’s tasting notes and mission report below

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark burgundy in color with deep concentration of color to the edges and through the inky heart of the wine. When swirled, this wine moves fast and take some time to settle. When it does settle, it leaves behind thin legs that run down the glass at varying speeds. Some legs take forever to emerge and then they creep down the glass slowly!

Smell – Deeply layered with smoky dark fruit of plum, blackberry and black cherry, followed by musk, mushroom, earth, leather and oak

Feel – Light and medium round up front, very round on the mid-palate, and then the wines velvet tannins grip the edges of the tongue and pucker the lips

Taste – Dark fruit starts this wine off, but is fast replaced by a mid-tongue brightness that is both delightfully sweet with a hint of tart. The flavors present here include black currant, plum, soft leather, cigar box, dark cherry and dark mixed berries

Finish – The tender mouthfeel of this wine hangs around for a while. So, too, do the dark fruits and earthy flavors. Flavors linger for a long time – with a slight dryness that makes your mouth water.

Conclusion – Winemaker Krisi Raymond has inherited the skills and artistic talent of her winemaking family! True to her Beringer-of-old roots, Krisi makes wines of remarkable quality. However, where some Beringer wines are mass-produced supermarket wines, Krisi’s wines are all small production, hand crafted, super-quality gems! Today’s wine shows all of the Napa Cab bigness you expect, but also a suppleness and a brightness missing from some over-the-top Cabs. This wine has balanced acidity, making it a perfect food-pairing partner. In fact, all 5 Vintners wines share this food-friendliness. Looking for a delicious treat of a Napa Cab? You sleuthed it right here!

Winemaker Background Report:

Winemaker Krisi Raymond, great granddaughter of wine pioneer, Jacob Beringer, might just be the only 5th generation winemaker in the entire country. At least the only in an unbroken chain of winemakers. You see, America experienced this little period called, Prohibition, which nearly ceased all wine production in the country.

Jacob Beringer was one of only a few winemakers that was allowed to produce a minimal amount of wine – but only for sacramental and medicinal purposed.

Post-prohibition, winemaking wisdom was handed down from generation to generation and, today, Krisi Raymond is making distinctive wines that I really love.

Notes on today’s wine, as told to Agent Red by Krisi Raymond, between one of her frequent visits to the vineyards:

AGENT RED: Hi Krisi. It’s great to be able to show another of your wines. Our Operatives are big fans and they have been pestering me for another Five Vintners wine. Tell me, what’s happening in your world of late?

KRISI RAYMOND: Well, the last time we met, we were just beginning to think about the harvest. Now, its right around the corner!

RED: I would imagine that Sauvignon Blanc will be the first grapes that you harvest this year?

KRISI: Exactly. It’s getting exciting now. The end is neigh! (laughs) Sauv Blanc gets picked sometime in the next 7 to 10 days. I am in the vineyards at least once a day now. As we get closer, it’ll become more frequent.

RED: Are you keeping things fun, or is the pressure mounting?

KRISI: This business is always fun. Sure, it can have its challenges, but harvest is a great time. It portends great things ahead!

RED: From the intel we have gathered on you, we know that your approach to winemaking as rather, well, relaxed. We know that you don’t exert much outside influence when you make a wine. Is this true?

KRISI: I tend to tinker rather than experiment. Some wines are made in labs – by scientist winemakers. I view winemaking as a long-term process, where each year past tells you about those small inputs that you can make in subsequent years. Without ample history with a vineyard and without making just small changes – or even single small changes – its difficult to know how you are influencing a wine.

RED: How much do you collaborate with your peers in the industry? How much do they influence your tinkering?

KRISI: The winemkaing is close knit, but its also pretty competitive. Fortunately, I have a great many friends that all share their knowledge. We all contribute to the success of each other in some way. In the end, though, these wines are built by me to be fun, and easy to drink.

RED: They are fun. And all of your wines are very food-friendly.

KRISI: I’m glad you think so. That was certainly a goal. With this 2005 Cab, I wanted to craft a wine that would not tire out your palate as some Napa cabs can tend to do. This is a gulping wine, but you’ll enjoy it on its own, too!

RED: It’s a fun wine, but it’s also got its serious side. That’s another thing I appreciate about your wines, they strike that balance that I love. Thanks, for spending time with me once again. Our Operatives are sure to love this 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s pretty special.

KRISI: Thanks, Red!.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of Five Vintners can be seen in this satellite photo.