Caravina Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

My fourth time enjoying the 2005 vintage of Caravina and notes are consistent with pervious examples. Color is still deep and youthful however there is stunning amount of sediment. Generous dark fruits with tobacco, leather, mushrooms and spices. The tannins are well integrated and acid at a level to keep everything in balance. The finish is impressively long. My last bottle and not upset about drinking it now while it’s still delivering at such a high level. Drink now (possibly with a short decant for sediment) but will drink well through 2025.

This is the third time that I’ve had the pleasure of drinking the 2005 Caravina over the last year and it continues to be a stunner. It pours a dark garnet with no color variation however, this bottle was throwing an enormous amount of sediment. The bouquet is powerful with a lovely mix of dark fruits; currants and plums with sweet pipe tobacco, leather, and mushrooms. The palate is decadent with a very forward attack and layer upon layer of fruits, baking spices and earthier secondary characteristics. Finish is dry, long and super satisfying. Impeccable balance. Would be a deft pairing for most hearty meals but a winner on its own. I have to believe these are drinking at or near peak but if this bottle (and the previous two for that matter) is representative, that peak may last for many years to come. Hard to believe this isn’t their Grand Vin.

And they call this their “second” wine. After McHenry in Santa Cruz, Seavey was an absolute show stopper for me on our recent trip to wine country. We had the opportunity to try five different wines with three bonus pours from recent and library wines and I tell you: All 👏🏼 eight 👏🏼 were 👏🏼 bangers 👏🏼. From their Chardonnay (which was sprung on us the moment we arrived, was acid driven and had the most delightful spine of minerals that I could have sworn it was GC Chablis), to their Rosé (which is a Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend and bends what’s possible with the genre) to their Founder’s Reserve (which didn’t present much in the value dept. but was a killer wine nevertheless). Anyway, this 2005 Caravina is positively singing right now. Opulent amounts of plums, cassis, brambles, and sweet tobacco with secondary characteristics juuuuust starting to make their appearance: leather, truffle, and forest floor. Moderate acid. Firm tannins still! What a beauty...in a sort of masculine way. America!

The 2007 was so good I figured I would dig a little deeper, very good Cabernet

DSS Napa Seminar - showing both power and finesse, great texture. One of the stars of the night

Bright and young

Unbelievably yummy. Aromatic black currant, blackberry, and cocoa. A gem from the cellar.

May 16, 2020. SD dinner w/ Jack D. Purchased this at the vineyard March 1 following a library tasting. It was good then and I remember having a hard time deciding between this and another wine, they were all good. Last night, by itself I’m so glad I got this one. It is an EPIC wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Hints of dark fruit (cassis, black cherry), more smoke, tobacco, and a tinge if mint. So good.

Ready beautiful Cabernet

Tobacco, cassis, espresso, sandalwood, prune, earl grey tea. Great complexity, good balance, smooth well integrated tannins. Elegant, expressive. Very typical 2005 vintage in its best expression. Drinks very well now.