 Vintage
The 2005 growing season got off to a slower, later start with a cool spring and late rains stretching into June. The long summer brought moderate heat that stretched into October. The sizable crop showed higher numbers of berries per cluster, and slightly lower sugar levels. Due to the mild weather and large crop, harvest was later – by about two weeks – and gradual, with picking stretching out over several weeks. The lengthy 2005 growing season gifted these elegant wines with lively aromatics and a beautiful balance of concentration and texture.
Vineyard
Our family vineyard, located on the valley floor just north of St. Helena on the Silverado Trail, possesses well-drained, sandy, alluvial soils and is characterized by its ability to produce complex wines with well-defined fruit flavors, gentle acids and naturally balanced tannins. Further north, our Ehlers Lane Vineyard consists of a stony, dry streambed and a knoll composed of thin gravelly soil over hard volcanic ash. Planted entirely to Cabernet Sauvignon these infertile soils produce low yields of grapes with concentrated flavors.
Vinification
Following harvest, the grapes were de-stemmed but not crushed, allowing increased control over tannin extraction by minimizing the possibility of broken skins and split seeds. Following a 48-hour cold soak to extract color and flavor, the grapes underwent a warm, fermentation, with pump-overs occurring twice daily. The free-run juice was transferred to oak barrels, where it underwent malolactic fermentation.
Wine Profile
Our fourth vintage of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon exudes the unique, chewy and rich varietal characters of our best estate Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Blending in a small amount of Petit Verdot elevates the wine’s elegant structure while a bit of Malbec and Cabernet Franc highlight the wine’s red fruit characters. This robust, red wine is firing on all cylinders - mouth coating and full bodied, elegant and lush. Deep aromas of ripe blackberry, cherry and cassis are framed by layers of sweet and spicy oak, exotic allspice, smoky vanilla, mocha and milk chocolate. On the palate, the firm but round tannins balance the ripe fruit notes, espresso and sweet oak flavors. The recommended drinking time for our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is four to six years from vintage, with an hour of decanting prior to drinking. The maximum suggested aging of this wine is ten to fifteen years from vintage.
Detailed Wine Information
Vineyard Manager: Eric Titus
Winemaker: Phillip Titus
Appellation: Napa Valley
Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc
Harvest Date: 10/14/05 - 10/19/05
Barrel Aging: 22 months, 100% French oak
Bottled: August 2007
Cases Produced: 484
Alcohol: 14.5%
Total Acidity: .60 g/100 ml
pH: 3.67
Release: March 2008
Press & Praise
91, CONNOISSEURS' GUIDE To California Wine (Dec. 2008)
2005 TITUS RESERVE Cabernet Sauvignon
7% Petit Verdot; 2% Malbec; 1% Cabernet Franc. Earning its title by dint of more richness and depth than is shown by its less-pricey partner, this weighty and well-concentrated wine is both supple and solid with plenty of volume and a fine sense of polish. It is roughed up at present by undisguised tannins, yet it stays fruity and focused, and its ongoing impressions of careful proportion are the sure guarantor of a handsome maturity five to eight years from now.
88, Wine Spectator (Nov 15, 2008)
2005 TITUS RESERVE Cabernet Sauvignon
"Rich, dark and intense, this is well-focused on the currant and blackberry fruit. It's also well-structured, with firm tannins, yet the earthy Cabernet flavors flow through nicely. Best from 2011 through 2016." - J.L.
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