The 2005 Crossroads Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from the benchland vineyards of the Rudd estate in Oakville, the same vineyards that produce the Rudd Oakville Estate Red Wine. The entire 55-acre vineyard is planted in very rocky, red volcanic soils using low-vigor rootstock and high-density, 4’ x 4’ vine spacing.

The 2005 growing season was remarkable in many ways. Heavy winter rains that continued into April and May fully recharged the vineyard soils. The vines loved the soil moisture and proceeded to set much larger canopies than normal. The summer remained generally mild and our vineyard crew had to work overtime to aggressively thin the large crop load set by such happy vines. Fortunately, the remarkable weather in September and October allowed for perfect ripening. This mild fall weather allowed for extensive hang time and grape flavor development without excessive increase in sugar content. The harvest began at the normal time, with Merlot on September 8 and 13, followed by Malbec on September 19 and 22. The Petit Verdot was harvested at the end of September and early October. The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon harvest did not even start until the end of September, with Cabernet Sauvignon continuing until November 1. The wine resulting from such an extraordinary harvest has classic cassis and chocolaty red and black fruit aromas with a lush mid-palate and a supple, elegant finish. After four weeks on the skins, the wine went into barrel for twenty months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered in July 2007.