2005 O'Shaughnessy Merlot Howell Mountain
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Tasting notes
Good full ruby-red. Cherry, graphite, milk chocolate and nutty oak on the nose and palate. Lush, sweet and seamless but with good definition; complicating notes of smoke, tobacco and truffle. A fat, deep merlot with substantial sweet, dusty tannins. O'Shaughnessy has just a bit of merlot planted, and made just four barrels in 2005.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Merlot Howell Mountain is terrific. Notes of mocha, melted chocolate, smoked herbs, and loads of cherry and black currant fruit dominate this dark ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied Merlot. Silky tannins and juicy acidity give uplift to this wine, which cuts a broad, savory mouthfeel. Drink it over the next decade. A I said last year, this relatively new producer is off to a flying start. Winemaker Sean Capiaux (who has his own Pinot Noir operation) seems to be doing some stunning work with this 35-acre vineyard, planted with 29 acres of Cabernet and the rest other Bordeaux varietals. There is also a small cuvee (under 1,000 cases) of Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder. Tasting through some barrel samples of 2006 showed this to be a very fine vintage, if not up to the level of 2005 and 2004, at least at this stage in their development. Tel. (707) 965-2898; Fax (707) 965-3010