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: 2005 Levy & McClellan Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

2005 Levy & McClellan Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

SKU #1082546 95 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark A limited production of a very powerful and massive wine from two of California’s most famous winemaking gurus, Bob Levy and Martha McClellan, this wine remains primordial and backward, especially for a 2005. Loads of graphite notes interwoven with cassis, new saddle leather, blackberry and earth are impressive. It may sound unusual, but what came to mind is tasting some of the more recent vintages of Château Montrose in St-Estèphe in Bordeaux. This wine still needs another 5-6 years of cellaring easily. This masculine, vigorous, bigger-than-life, full-throttle wine will evolve for another 25-30 years. (RP) 95+ Inner quote mark (6/2015)

94 points Vinous

Outer quote mark Medium ruby. Knockout nose combines scents of cassis, tobacco, gravel, mocha and tropical dark chocolate. Boasts lovely sweetness and intensity, along with enticing inner-mouth perfume and lift. Classic 2005 in its energy, definition and light touch. Wonderfully suave tannins make this deep beauty accessible 2016 but it has the energy and tension to age gracefully for many more years. Finishes ripely tannic, tactile and very long, with a savory complexity and firming minerality. (ST) Inner quote mark (5/2016)

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2005 Levy & McClellan Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

Price: $249.99

Quantity:

RP: 95

VN: 94

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Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Napa Valley

- America's most famous wine region, which encompasses a varied geographical territory running about 20 miles long from the San Francisco Bay northward to the foot of Mount St. Helena. Napa's great diversity, both in terms of climate and terroir, has led to the creation of a number of smaller AVAs like Stags Leap District, Rutherford, Howell Mountain, Oakville and Mount Veeder, among others. Cabernet and chardonnay still reign supreme, but just about everything under the sun is grown in Napa Valley, in quality levels ranging from $2 jug wine to $500 a bottle California cab.