The fourth wine I'm looking at that was made by winemaker Joe Otos is another Cabernet Sauvignon from Owl Ridge Wines. This time the fruit is from Dry Creek Valley. While Zinfandel is the first thing most people think of when it comes to this appellation, there are actually more acres of Cabernet Sauvignon under vine.
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit sourced at the T.R. Passalacqua Vineyard. The wine was aged in all French oak, 40% of it new. 773 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $38.
Cassis, plum and blackberry fill the nose of this Cabernet. I was hit with a touch of Eucalyptus on the first sip followed by a ton of rich, mouth-filling berry fruit. In the mid-palate a hint of chicory comes put accompanied by tobacco and dust that is so typical of Dry Creek. Black tea notes emerge as a lead in to the finish which is filled with crushed cherries, white pepper and vanilla. Sweet chocolate notes slither in and out of the palate making their presence known from time to time. This wine has approachable tannins and good acidity.
My favorite component of this wine is the rich berry fruit that really comes to the forefront throughout the palate. Time in the decanter allowed this wine to express itself fully. Once it opened up a good bit of earthiness exposed itself that had previously been hidden. As with the other wines I've looked at made by Joe Otos this is lovely expression of the varietal. I look forward to keeping up with his wine-making in the future.
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