O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder Napa California Red 2005

Good ruby-red. Complex nose combines wild spices and herbs with mocha, game, tobacco leaf and pepper. Pure, rich and sweet, with complex, rather claret-like flavors of cigar box, tobacco leaf and menthol. The tannins reach the front teeth but are nicely supported by ripe fruit. A bit drier on the back but the tannins are fine.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a beauty, with dark ruby/purple color and a big sweet nose of tobacco leaf intermixed with black currant, black cherry, new saddle leather, and white chocolate. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, with superb purity, texture, and length. It s approachable now but promises to be better in 3-4 years, and last for at least 15 or more. A I said last year, this relatively new producer is off to a flying start. Winemaker Sean Capiaux (who has his own Pinot Noir operation) seems to be doing some stunning work with this 35-acre vineyard, planted with 29 acres of Cabernet and the rest other Bordeaux varietals. There is also a small cuvee (under 1,000 cases) of Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder has a soaring bouquet of smoked meats, black fruits, espresso roast, lavender, and creme de cassis. Gorgeously rich, with high tannins, high extract, and superb purity and concentration, this is a beautiful wine that may be even better than my score. The good news, I think, is that they produced nearly 1,000 cases in this vintage, and by Napa standards, this is still a decently priced Cabernet Sauvignon for such compelling quality.