The 2005 growing season was cooler than average with few heat spikes, leading to an evenly paced harvest. Due to a dry winter, berries of all varietals were smaller and more concentrated. 2005 is recognized as an outstanding vintage for the Napa Valley.

This vintage is blended from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec. The grapes come from the Snowden Vineyard (33%), on a rhyolitic (volcanic tufa) bench just outside the Rutherford AVA, next to Hall and Sloan, above the Auberge du Soleil; Somerston Vineyard (28%), in the eastern hills next to Chiles Valley; Jericho Canyon Vineyard (19%); Larkmead Vineyard (15%); and 5% from the Kelleher Vineyard in the Oakville AVA, behind Brix Restaurant. Analogous to our appellation Chardonnays, this blend gives us the opportunity to work with a broad range of vineyards which offer the typicite of the Napa Valley, as well as providing a new tier to allow declassification of lots from our vineyard-designates, such as Larkmead and Jericho Canyon.