2005 Flying Horse Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley CA

This vintage embraces the dense and deep crimson-purple compliment ripe aromas of red currant, anise, black cherry, dried cranberry and tar minerality infused with subtle floral aromas of lavender, peony and crushed violets. Crème de cassis, crushed pepper, tobacco, leather and mulberry jam with velvet reception, finished with notes of earth, chocolate and black truffle. This Cabernet clearly expresses the terroir of the 'King' and Cassiopiea' vineyards with its tremendous opulence, appropriate sophistication and flavor complexities.

Editor's Choice, Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points, May 2011: "This is the kind of Cabernet that's soft and accessible enough to drink now. It's rich in blackberry, cherry and spice flavors, with a sweet edge of charred wood. Saved from mere simplicity by a fine, firm tannic structure."

Robert Parker, 89 points: "If elephants can fly, then presumably Greek mythology was correct that horses can as well. This is a winery that I don’t know at all, but the wine has certainly acquitted itself impressively in my horizontal tastings of 2005s. Dense ruby/purple, with loads of blackcurrant fruit and good purity of texture and body, it’s well-made, approachable already, but capable of lasting another 5-8 years. Interesting, this is certainly one of the least expensive high-quality Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa. This wine was aged 18 months in about 30% new French oak, and the label says it is 14.7% natural alcohol. This is a sleeper of the vintage."