96 pts - Wine Advocate
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon goes from strength to strength. Beautiful notes of crushed rocks, white flowers, and blue, red, and black fruits form a complex, compelling set of aromatics. The wine reveals superb richness, a full-bodied mouthfeel, excellent integration of acidity, wood, and tannin, and a terrific finish. This beautiful 2005 is already displaying some secondary nuances, and it should drink splendidly well for 2-3 decades. One of the true blue chip vineyards and wines of Napa Valley, winemaker Celia Masyczek fashions approximately 400 cases of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a legendary Rutherford vineyard with 60-year old vines. Aged in 100% new oak, this cuvee reveals a very singular character. If California vineyards were ever classified a la French sites, this Rutherford terroir would be judged a grand cru. - Robert Parker
96 pts - Wine Spectator
Combines power with finesse and purity of flavor. Ripe, with fleshy, juicy wild berry, plum and black cherry fruit that's supple and polished, rich and concentrated, with a long, deep, focused and persistent finish that keeps repeating the fruit themes. Best from 2009 through 2018. 850 cases made.-JL
95 pts - Vinous
Good deep ruby. Pungent aromas of liqueur-like cassis and blackberry, violet, bitter chocolate and camphor; a real essence of cabernet sauvignon. Juicy, pure and penetrating, with a mouthwatering quality to the crushed berry, violet and bitter chocolate flavors thanks to lively acidity and firm underlying minerality. This extremely young wine really coats the mouth with flavor. Began quite closed but showed increasing density and sweetness as it opened in the glass. The finish features superb palate-saturating tannins and an uncanny vibrating quality. A wonderfully aromatic wine that should improve in bottle for many years.- Stephen Tanzer (5/28)