Notes from the Winemaker
 

February 16, 2008

Happy New Year!

Many of you who read my “note from the winemaker” from late last year may remember my remarking on how incredible the 2005 vintage has been showing from Washington State.  In 2008 Woodinville Wine Cellars will be releasing, starting in March, our first “Reserve” wine since the 2002 Conner Lee Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which some of you may remember.

The 2005 Reserve Cabernet is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard and may be the finest offering from this winery to date. The grapes came from block 40, planted with Clone 8 rootstock and were aged in 75% new French oak for 21 months.

As my tastings progressed during 2007 it was difficult to decide what was the best fit for all of these great lots, my hardest decision was splitting up both the amazing Merlot and Cabernet from their single vineyard bottling and incorporating them into the 2005 Ausonius to be released in May 2008. The result is not only an amazing new Ausonius, but I think you will find the single vineyard Merlot (released November 2007) and the Reserve Cabernet a great testimate to Stillwater Creek and the quality of Washington wines.

This wine starts with a full “engaging” nose of black currant, cassis, licorice and tobacco. The flavors saturate the palate, with cocoa, cherry, currant, and chocolate. The finish has firm tannins and a resistant length that proves this is a special bottle of wine well deserving of the label “Reserve”.  This wine will see its peak in two years and will continue to evolve for the next 10 years.

The 2005 Reserve Cabernet will be available to Wine Club Members only from February 18 until our release party, on a first come fist serve basis. Our release party for this wine will be March 15-16.  See our Events page for more details. 

After these dates, if there is anything left, we will be selling to the public from the winery directly—this wine will not be available in any retail stores.  Don’t miss out on this extraordinary wine!  We think you will love it as much as we do.

Cheers,

Sean Boyd
Winemaker