Tasting Notes
Sweet blackberry, dark currants, mocha and baking spice aromas fill the glass and coat the palate.  At once powerfu and elegant, this is a wonderfully rich, balanced wine that showcases the depth of Washington Cabernet Sauvignon as well as Stillwater Creek's distinct terroir.

Vintage
Without exception, winemakers around the state agree the 2005 vintage was a classic Columbia Valley growing season.  Temperatures were warm in July and August, and then the heat backed off just enough in September to ripen fruit without rushing physiological maturity.  The resulting wines are notable for their deep color, wonderful aromatics and delicious, complex flavors.

Vineyard
Novelty Hill’s estate vineyard, Stillwater Creek, is a steep, south-facing site on the Royal Slope of the Frenchman Hills in Washington State’s Columbia Valley. With the goal of growing world-class wine grapes through careful vineyard management and innovative clonal selection, the vineyard is recognized for its unique collection of premium varietal clones, predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

Winemaking
• Hand-picked and fermented in small lot
• Gentle pumpovers during fermentation helped extract generous color and flavor while producing soft, supple tannins
• Gravity racked every three months to soften and clarify the wine
• Aged 20 months in predominately French oak barrels, half new, half one-year-old

Blend - 94% Cabernet Sauvignon; 6% Merlot

Case Production - 442 cases

Alcohol - 14.2%

pH - 3.50

Total Acidity - 0.50 g/100 ml


Mike Januik, Winemaker