Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005

Our 2005 Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon displays aromatic notes of cassis, lifted black current, vanilla and exotic spices. The mouthfeel is round and focused with a long finish.

Picking took place in the early morning to keep the fruit as cool as possible.

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes for this wine were carefully sorted and de-stemmed, but not crushed, leaving over 90% whole berries. The berries and juice were cold soaked and fermented using mainly native yeasts, and then aged for 18 months in French Oak. Similar to a left bank Bordeaux style red wine, we like to blend in Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for additional “roundness” on the palate and complexity through the finish.

The 2005 harvest was one of great extremes. A very wet spring provided a lot of potential for a big harvest of very juicy fruit. A fantastic Indian summer resulted in long hang times which allowed the grapes to mature at a leisurely pace giving us outstanding character. The result at harvest was thick skins and great flavors at moderate alcohol levels.

Our favorite pairings include strong cheeses and lamb chops.