2005 Provenance - Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Proprietary Blend - USA - California - Napa - Rutherford - Red

Dried currant and cherry on the nose. Dry cherry, oak, leather, saddle and tar on the palate. Rutherford dust, cigar box and a hint of licorice ends with a nice long finish. Paired with a T-bone.

For Provenance winemaker Tom Rinaldi, achieving this cabernet's characteristic "Rutherford Dust" is a matter of selecting the right fruit. The majority of the grapes for this wine come from outstanding Rutherford vineyards, including Beckstoffer George III on the east side of the appellation and the Provenance and Hewitt estate vineyards on the west. Aged in a combination of new and used American and French oak barrels, the wine displays classic mocha and toffee characters on the nose, with hints of clove, violet and chocolate in addition to lively red currant, black cherry and wild blackberry aromas. On the palate, the wine is richly textured, with flavors of dark chocolate, blackberry and espresso on the entry, with black pepper, black tea and green olive mid-palate. Balanced, with plush tannins and a long, elegant finish with the signature, cocoa powder notes of "Rutherford Dust."

Good nose and finish, but a bit "pruny". Not one for the cellar

Garnet in color. Low rim variation. Slow legs. Aromas of forest floor. Blueberry, Cherry Preserves, Cedar, Clove.