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What We Say 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
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Mission Codename: Tower Above
Operative: Agent White
Objective: Infiltrate the famous Peju Province Winery in Napa Valley and return with an exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.
Mission Status: Accomplished
Current Winery: Peju Province Winery
Wine Subject: 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Sara Fowler
Backgrounder:
Peju Province Winery, located in Napa Valley’s Rutherford AVA was founded in
1982. The Rutherford AVA is among the most famous names in the valley and is primarily know for its exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Located just south of St. Helena, Peju is known for its amazing Cabernet Franc, but take it from us, this Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as good.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark purple almost black with a deep dark core and slightly inky clarity. Evenly spaced thin legs ring the glass when swirled.
Smell – This Cabernet has a well developed bouquet of rip black-cherry, blackberry, and raspberry balanced over aromas of dusty minerality and earth, toasted oak spice and a touch of bay leaf and floral perfume.
Feel – Full-bodied, dry and warm with fine supple tannins revealing solid structure and easy acidity.
Taste – Well integrated and round flavors of black-cherries and blackberries over a base of oak, cocoa and hints of spice and tobacco.
Finish – This wine finishes long and smooth with lingering flavors of its fruit, oak and spice.
Conclusion – The 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is yet another delicious 2005 Napa Cab, which is quickly proving to be one of the most memorable vintages in recent history. This wine is smooth, rich and complete in its aromas and flavors. This wine should continue to improve with some age but is also drinking beautifully right now.
Mission Report:
Ahh, Thanksgiving… One of my favorite holiday’s. Football, good food, family and friends and of course lots of wine. And, if your family is anything like mine, you definitely don’t want to skimp on the wine… In honor of this most American of holidays, The Wine Spies have secured a very limited allocation of a delicious 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from our new friends at Peju Province Winery.
Peju, a family run winery in Rutherford, is perhaps best known for its tower that graces both its labels and towers above the winery property. Resembling a French Provincial tower, the structure encloses 1600 square feet with mezzanine and is built from stucco and stone. Posts and beams are made of lumber salvaged from old Midwestern barns and the building’s 10′ × 20′ stained glass window was created in 1906. The building is topped with an elaborate copper roof, painted with a verde gris finish of copper-green, creating a Napa Valley landmark to be enjoyed for generations to come.
We hope you enjoy today’s exceptional selection and visit us through the holiday weekend as we present to you some exceptional wines that will get you through the next family holiday dinner.
Cheers!
The Peju Tower
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Peju Province Winery in Rutherford can be seen in this satellite photo.
What the Winery Says
Peju
Peju Province Winery, Member, Napa Valley Vintners
About This Wine:
Our 2005 vintage reveals a lovely nose with aromas of dark black cherry, bittersweet chocolate and hints of bay leaf. On the palate, the dark garnet wine is rich and concentrated with layers of plum, holiday spice, tobacco and dark cocoa. Velvety tannins provide a long, memorable finish.
Winemaker’s Notes:
Our 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from hand-selected Napa Valley fruit. After harvest, the fruit spent extended maceration time on the skins for deeper color and flavor components. It was then aged 18 months in 40% new French and American Oak. The wine is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from our organically farmed Rutherford Vineyard and sustainably farmed Persephone Vineyard.
About The Winery:
Peju, founded in 1982 by Tony and Herta Peju, is a family-owned boutique winery located in the Rutherford Appellation in the heart of Napa Valley. We offer wine tasting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily of our award-winning wines, which include the flagship HB Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Provence, a proprietary blend of red and white varietals. Our wines are hand-crafted using fruit organically farmed from our Rutherford Estate Vineyard and our sustainably farmed Persephone Vineyard. Travelers to the Napa Valley will enjoy our magnificent 50-foot tasting room tower, pristine gardens and unique food and wine events and classes. We have wine gifts, wine accessories and three different wine clubs, for both the occasional wine drinker and wine connoisseur.
About The Winemaker:
Sara Fowler joined Peju as the Winemaker in the summer of 2006, bringing a wealth of knowledge and creativity into the cellar. Sara’s passion for Bordeaux varietals and knack for innovative blending make her the perfect fit to lead Peju’s winemaking team.
Sara cut her teeth in the wine industry as a seasonal member of the Kendall-Jackson Winery staff during high school and college. The experience with Kendall-Jackson and mentoring from then Head Winemaker Jed Steele (Steele Wines) laid a solid foundation and taught her key winemaking concepts. Jed has since become an ‘inspirational character’ within her wine industry circle.
But Sara was no stranger to agriculture. Her family has owned and operated a 400-acre organic ranch dating back to 1884. Though she initially studied Art upon entering the college ranks, Sara took a year hiatus from school and lived in Mexico on a sailboat where she reflected on a future career. She decided to redirect her passion, pedigree and expertise back into viticulture.
Upon returning stateside, Sara began to help her family plant wine grapes on their organic ranch. She took a very active role in their new venture and chose the varietals and rootstock, installed the drip tubing and eventually pruned the vineyard. At the same time, she also served as an Enologist Assistant during crush at Kendall-Jackson. From these efforts, Sara decided her new focus would be in the wine industry as a Winemaker.
Sara applied and was accepted to Fresno State. She doubled as a student and research assistant for the Viticulture Enology Research Center (VERC). Upon completion of the program at Fresno State, Sara worked for seven-plus years as the Associate Winemaker at Franciscan and Mt. Veeder Winery under Larry Levin, where she honed and perfected the craft. Through her tenure at Franciscan, Sara worked abroad during the 2002 harvest season in Chile for Veramonte.
Sara also had the honor to work with world renowned wine consultant Michel Rolland, where she gleaned from his experience and knowledge. She also played a role in the terroir-driven Bordeaux blends of Quintessa and Estancia from 1999 to 2002, where she was able to utilize her talent for blending and creating Meritage wines.
As the keystone of Peju’s wine team, Sara’s commitment to excellence in the vineyard and in the cellar is extraordinary. In September 2007, Sara headed Peju’s efforts to gain organic certification in the Rutherford Vineyard and she is overseeing the winery’s sustainable farming efforts in the Persephone and Wappo Vineyards with organic certification goals in the near future.
“The Peju vineyards are excellent properties,” Sara explained. “The diversity is extremely exciting. I’m enjoying having a hand in maintaining and enhancing the quality reputation of the Peju wines."
Over the past decade, Sara has traveled the world representing the Napa Valley as a speaker, guest panelist, trainer and wine educator. Sara currently lives in St. Helena with two sons. Her interests include travel, gourmet cooking, and wine education.
Technical Analysis:
Alcohol: 14.0%
Barrel Aging: 18 months
Barrel Type: 45% French Oak, 55% American Oak, 40% New
Harvest Date: 10/05-11/05
Date Bottled: 07/07
Date Released: 04/08
Aging Potential: 6 – 8 years
