This wine exudes heady aromas of black currant, blackberry and dark plum, enhanced by touches of anise, smoke, cinnamon and cola. In the mouth, the fruit notes are pure cassis spiced with nutmeg and sarsaparilla, leading to more earthy notes of loam, graphite and espresso. The wine is dense and concentrated but balanced, its core sweetness embraced by firm but silky tannins; the wine seems to dance across the palate into a lingering finish of spice and minerals. Notes winemaker Françoise Peschon: Beginning with soft creaminess on the attack, becoming powerful and rich in the mouth, and finishing with a supple sweetness, there is tension in this wine that holds your interest throughout. It is a wine of power, persistence and grace.
Reflecting a superb growing season, this wine is immensely aromatic, exhibiting notes of ripe cassis and blackberries layered with hints of leather, dried sage, crushed rock and rose petals. In the mouth, the wine is a seamless expression of elegance and depth, perfectly balancing rich fruit, earthiness, minerality and powerful but fine oak tannins, finishing with incredibly persistent notes of wet granite. Notes winemaker Franoise Peschon: The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of great purity and strength, with abundant silky tannins enveloping the sweet fruit and mineral core. It is vibrant, authentic and intense - less fruit driven, more earth driven, it is a sophisticated wine of place.
The aromas of this wine exhibit profound notes of fresh loam, dusty cocoa powder and crushed rock. In the mouth, spicyblack licorice, dried laurel and delicate violet nuances balance the ripe, juicy, briary black fruit components. On the palate, itis seamless, complete from start to finish, showing the luxurious velvety tannins that are the signature of Eisele Vineyard andending with a long graphite note. Notes winemaker Matt Taylor: This wine is expressive of earth, chocolate, mineral and darkfruit notes, yet the superb silky tannins that persist through the extended finish, and the acidity that preserves freshness, combineto create a balanced, youthful and rich wine with years of ageing potential.
During spring, the vineyard was nearly through flowering when late spring rains reduced fruit-set elsewhere in the region. The cool temperatures of summer kept the crew busy opening the canopy, and the resulting light penetration allowed the Syrah crop to mature evenly. Dry warmth throughout September lifted all Syrah blocks to optimal ripeness. Harvesting spanned five days and ended September 30, well in advance of October rains. The wine was aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 19 months and was bottled in late June 2013.