Winemaker's comments
The Galitzine Vineyard is a partnership between our family and the Holmes family of the acclaimed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard on Red Mountain. Galitzine Vineyard is a high-density, 17.5 acre vineyard adjacent to Ceil du Cheval. It was planted in 2001 and 2002 with Cabernet Sauvignon on wind blown Hezel over Warden soil. These deep, consistent, sandy loam soils are ideal for root development, vine health and vineyard uniformity. It is showing us remarkable consistency in its ability to produce truly great Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2005 Galitzine Vineyard Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (95.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4.5% Merlot) is a spectacular follow-up to last year's offering. (The 2004 Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon debuted with a 97 point rating from The Wine Advocate.) The 2005 Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is packed full of juicy blackberry and blueberry fruit with complex notes of smoked meat, coffee, roasted herbs, vanilla bean and minerals. Its body, purity, focus and delineation are second to none. Aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months, this wine showcases the wonderful terroir of the Galitzine Vineyard. This wine will drink beautifully for the next 30 years.

Wine Advocate Review

"The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes from the fifth leaf of this estate vineyard and in this vintage contains 4.5% Merlot. The wine was aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, its distinctive aromatics leap from the glass. Toasty oak, scorched earth, a hint of truffle, black cherry, black raspberry, and blackberry liqueur aromas are quite mesmerizing. On the palate, this sizable effort is firm, full-bodied, and structured, demanding 6-8 years of cellaring. It falls a bit short of the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon in terms of complexity but bear in mind that this is still a very young vineyard. It should be hitting its stride by 2015 and remain at that level through 2035.
Score: 97

Jay Miller, Wine Advocate, June 2008