Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Napa Valley 2005

96 points Robert Parker: "A nose of black raspberries interwoven with floral notes of blackcurrants and spice jump from the glass of this dense ruby/plum/purple wine. This famous vineyard at the northern end of Napa Valley, which in this era was owned by Bart and Daphne Araujo (today owned by François Pinault, the proprietor of Château Latour), can certainly make the argument that it’s one of the first growths of Napa Valley. Sweet, velvety tannin, medium to full body, and extraordinary complexity and elegance characterize this wine, which is seamless and drinking beautifully. While not one of their longest-lived vintages, the balance and purity suggest that, while it may be entering its fully mature stage, it certainly can keep going for another 10-15 years. The finish is easily 40 seconds-plus. (Jun 2015)"

96 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Drinking quite well, the wine is lushly textured, full bodied and concentrated with ripe, juicy, fleshy, blackberries, tobacco, wet earth and cherry tones. Fresh, vibrant, balanced and complex, this is really great for drinking for today. (Nov 2017)"

95 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "(91% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 2% merlot) Good full red-ruby color. Wonderful floral lift to the expressive aromas of blackcurrant, black raspberry, tobacco, graphite and nutty oak. Dense, thick and sweet but with perfectly integrated acidity framing the deep flavors of currant, tobacco, mocha and earth. Finishes broad, dusty and very long, with the tannins thoroughly buffered by the wine's mid-palate fruit. This boasts real density of extract without any undue heaviness and offers the balance and backbone for a long and positive evolution in bottle. Very long on personality. (May/Jun 2008)"

18.5/20 points Andrew Jefford (The World of Fine Wine): "Saturated black-red, with some bricking at the end. Dense, forest-like complexities over ripe plum-prune fruit. It does have a kind of Bordeaux-like resolution; most definitely in a secondary phase. Very fine weight on the palate; this is lasting well, and will continue to do so. Ample, soft, wonderfully ripe, great California ripeness. It has a kind of architectural quality to it and outstanding tannic support. Creamy, chocolaty finish, but not just that... It seems to remember the resins and forest air of the aroma, and pick up and run with those. A magnificent older wine; I count myself fortunate to have tasted it. (Issue #49; 2015)"

Stephen Brook (The Finest Wines of California): "Dense, brooding black-currant nose. Medium-bodied and discreet, supple, with sweetness on the mid-palate and fresh acidity on the finish. Poised and claretty. (2011)"

Wall Street Journal: "When I commented that this was a real princess of a wine, Bart Araujo said, 'Yes, but one with a career.' In other words, this has everything. A very voluptuous texture with rich mocha flavors as well as the structure to improve for decades. (9/11/10)"