Today's selection is the second Cabernet Sauvigon I'm looking at from Artesa Winery. They makes 
several others in addition to this and the one I looked at earlier. While the one I looked at previously blended Napa & Sonoma fruit, this one is entirely from Napa Valley. Fruit was handpicked from estate vineyards based on the winemakers selections for this reserve wine.
The 2005 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 60% new French oak for 21 months. Small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Malbec were added to the final blend. Just under 9,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $40.
This wine from Artesa has explosive, chocolate covered black cherry notes in the nose. I found this wine to be, not surprisingly, tight out of the bottle. If you plan to drink this now I'd recommend decanting it for an hour at minimum, two would be better. Once it opens up the nose also reveals some subtle earth notes. Dark berry fruits, spice notes, earth and mocha pack the palate of this wine with flavor. This is a layered wine with tremendous complexity. Earth and spice linger in an above average finish. The Artesa Reserve Cabernet is a full bodied, full flavored wine befitting it's Napa Valley pedigree.
This wine is well balanced and has an excellent tannic structure. I'd expect it to improve over the next 7-8 years and drink well for another 3-5 after that. I went back to this wine after it had been open for a full 24 hours, it was even more impressive. Excellent effort here from Artesa Winery.
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