Monticello Vineyards
2005 Monticello Vineyards Estate Grown Cabernet Franc
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Print: Tasting Notes | Shelf Talkers
Tasting Notes:
This is our third varietal-bottled Cabernet Franc. As we have with the two previous vintages, we have bottled a 100% Cabernet Franc with relatively little new oak – roughly 10%. This year, however, we have utilized a larger percentage of our Clone X from Block 2. Block 2 typically tends toward dark, rich flavors and firm tannins. This year, however, I noticed that aromatics were a little brighter, and that the tannins were less pronounced than usual. This was exciting, and opened up the possibility for the wine to be bottled as a “stand alone”.
Cabernet Franc has been the predominant varietal in all but one of our highly acclaimed CORLEY Proprietary Red Wines and we consider it extremely important to the success of that wine. The fact that this release is 100% Estate Grown Cabernet Franc supports our belief that this varietal is not just a great wine to blend, but is to be taken seriously as a stand-alone wine.
– Chris Corley, Winemaker.
Vineyard:
Home Ranch Vineyard – Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District: Block II - Clone X.
Harvest Dates: October 3, 2005.
Vintage:
2005 was one of the most memorable vintages in recent years. Not only did we have a large crop, the quality was high across the board. We were able to let some of our blocks ripen for about two weeks longer than usual, resulting in some very nice aromatic and flavor components.
Vinification:
The wine opens with nice spicy red berry aromas - Cherry, strawberry, raspberry with just the slightest hint of oak. Medium-bodied in structure, the wine is very well balanced. The deep color is in indication of the extraction and also the potency of the grapes from this block. The flavors are of dark berries, and are intertwined nicely with subtle hints of oak. The tannins are just firm enough to merit short-term cellaring, but there is a richness and volume that make this wine enjoyable in its youth.