From the beautiful benchland vineyard in Rutherford, the vines for this wine were first planted in 1964 and 1965. under the consulting work of one of the most iconic and historic names in Napa Valley – André Tchelistcheff. More recently, the vineyard is managed by the super-viticulturalist David Abreu, and the wines have been made under the consulting brilliance of world-famous Michel Rolland ever since he first started consulting in 1999. The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is fresh and beautifully pure, with notes of blackcurrants and spice, a luscious, open and opulent texture, sweet tannin, and copious quantities of floral-infused blackcurrant fruit gently touched by new oak. Look for its lofty, heady alcohol (14.8%). It is elegant, pure and fresh. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. - RP

Black in color, glyceriney. Massive, deep, tremendous. Some will find it overpowering in New World extraction, but it's a real beauty in that style. Explodes in black currants, chocolate and new oak, almost overripe, with suggestions of raisins. Almost dessert-like, but stays dry and elegant. Defines modern Napa Valley cult Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Staglins were fortunate enough to find vineyards in Rutherford in the mid-1980s and worked with consultants such as Andre Tchelitscheff and Michel Rolland to win their wines recognition and critical approval. Quality has been steady, although there have been stylistic variations. The 2005 shows a little evolution now, with a light leathery tone, but it's still opulent and not tiring. The palate is robust and concentrated, but with ample flesh and texture, depth and weight, and a bracing bitter-chocolate finish. (Drink between 2019-2030)