2005 Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

This winery always seems to me to be somewhat under the radar, which is surprising, given the high quality of the wines, which seem to be consistently well-made. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve, which spent 24 months in about 50% new French oak (14.5% alcohol), is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot. It is still a youthful, inky ruby/purple color, almost primary, which is rather remarkable after ten years, but the wine is that promising, with plenty of pure blackberry and cassis fruit and a subtle dosage of oak, licorice, and underlying loamy, earthy notes. (By the stretch of one’s imagination, that soil note might suggest the so-called Rutherford dust characteristic.) Full-bodied, ripe, youthful and promising, this wine still needs another 3-5 years of cellaring and should last at least 15-20 years afterwards. This is an impressive, rather classic Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.