96pts James Suckling

Plenty of spicy dried berries, iodine and light earth. Bark and lead pencil, too. Medium to full body and firm, polished tannins. Savory, so complex and long. 61% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 13% cabernet franc, 6% malbec and 5% petit verdot. Gorgeous now.

Description

The aromas are quietly enticing, subtle and savoury. Some blackberry and black cherry fruit overlies the wine’s closely woven, structured, satisfying flavours. There’s nothing ostentatiously voluptuous or sweet about this Bordeaux blend; instead it puts you in mind of field and forest.

Completely sourced from Cain’s Spring Mountain estate vineyard, the 2008 Five is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.

Estate Notes:

2008 was dramatic for the vineyards of northern California. Between the frost, rain, fi re, smoke, heat, and rain (again), one had to pay close attention at every stage during the growing season and during the winemaking.  The result: while there is not very much of this wine, we think it has been worth the eff ort. For the best vineyard sites and the most meticulous winegrowing teams, 2008 will be seen as a classic year in the Napa Valley.