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St. Clement 2005 Oroppas
Item Number: A10158
Vineyard Notes
The 2005 harvest was an exceptionally long one in the Napa Valley due to a mild summer and cool temperatures in the first few weeks of September. As a result, some of the fruit for the 2005 Oroppas arrived at the winery almost four weeks later than last year. Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards on Diamond and Howell Mountain, as well as Mount Veeder, contributed to the blend along with valley floor fruit from Rutherford and St. Helena. The addition of seven percent Merlot from Star Vineyard in Rutherford adds a bright red fruit component and length in the mid-palate. Each lot was aged separately in fifty percent new French oak barrels for nineteen months, and then blended together before bottling.
Winemakers Comments
The Oroppas opens with enticing aromas of blueberry jam, red cherry, raspberry, milk chocolate, clove and brown sugar. Black cherry, raspberry jam, caramel, and dark chocolate flavors greet the palate, and the rich fruit flavors are supported by structured, yet velvety tannins. Black pepper, candied apple and dark chocolate linger on the palate for a long, complex finish.
Acclaim:
91 Points Wine Advocate | Robert M. Parker, Jr. | December 2007
St. Clement's proprietary red, the 2005 Oroppas, is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with small quantities of Merlot and Petit Verdot included in the blend. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by notes of licorice, black currants, cedar, bay leaves, and toast. Ripe, round, medium to full-bodied, and opulent, it should drink well for 10-15 years.
90 Points Wine Spectator | James Laube | March 12, 2008
Rich and creamy up front, with lively currant, vanilla-scented oak, herb and blackberry notes that firm up nicely on the finish, giving it backbone and traction. Drink now through 2013. |
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