Hidden Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Fragrant and lush, the 2005 Hidden Ridge Cabernet offers a veritable bounty of blue and red fruit flavors with spice and toast notes consistent with the wine’s style. The 2005 favors a bit more elegance as the wine evolves in the glass, continuing with chocolate and spice notes accenting the rich fruit. This wine will be best enjoyed in three to five years as the marriage of the mountain fruit and oak fully develops.

Located on the west side of Spring Mountain in the heart of the Mayacamas Mountains, just inside the Sonoma County line, Hidden Ridge features 55 acres of vines planted in 21 Blocks, with some blocks at 55% slope. The land was developed throughout the nineties by owner Lynn Hofacket. Three distinct microclimates make this rugged mountain property a once in a lifetime winemaking opportunity. Winemaker Marco Di Giulio looks to the "Ancient Slide", "Uplifted River Bed" and "Twin Cinder cone" for their unique and distinctive soil compositions, while the unforgiving terrain stresses the vines, maximizing the flavors within the berry.

Simple, non-interventionist winemaking showcases the unique character of the vineyard in this wine. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks with lots of gentle pumpovers, an extended maceration of almost 40 days and malolactic fermentation in barrel completing the process. The wine was aged in 80% new French oak for 22 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered.