2005 Titus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Codename: Clash of the Titus

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Acquire the 2005 vintage of Titus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Titus Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Phillip Titus

Backgrounder:

If 2004 was a good year in Napa Valley, then 2005 is turning out to be stellar. Recently rated 95 points by Wine Enthusiast (recommending a hold, but this wine is ready to go now), this exceptional example from Titus Vineyards demonstrates the point. Titus Vineyards is based in the Saint Helena AVA, which was established in 1995 but Titus’ history in the region dates back to 1967.

If you are not familiar with Titus, then this is an excellent opportunity to taste a wine that people will be raving about for years to come.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark purple and almost black with a dark inky core that lighten to deep garnet edges. Long slow thin legs creep down the side of the glass when swirled.

Smell – Immediately upon opening the bottle you are hit by a beautiful suave aromas of ripe black and red fruit complemented by earthy notes and hints of floral violet and a little toast.

Feel – If anything is most notable of this exceptional wine, it is the mouth-feel. smooth and velvety with soft medium tannins and easy acidity. Almost creamy in texture and just a joy to swish around in your mouth.

Taste – Extremely well integrated flavors of blackberry and black cherry layered over a mild earthy component and hints of chocolate, mocha coffee, spice and easy toasted oak.

Finish – This wine finishes elegantly with smooth flavors of fruit and mocha.

Conclusion – In this wine, Titus Vineyards hits a home run. This is truly an exceptional wine with smooth rich flavors and everything lovers of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon long for. While there is no question that this wine will improve with age, its hard not to be extremely impressed with how it is showing now. Ready to drink upon opening, it only improves as it breathes.

Mission Report:

Agent Red had returned from Titus Vineyards with a handful of samples and that signature grin on his face. That grim, is a combination of a mischievous child, or perhaps better described as the cat with the parakeets feathers sticking out of its mouth on top of perhaps too much good wine.

Agent Sparkle was concerned that he had been drugged or perhaps otherwise compromised and asked me to covertly verify that the wines had not been tampered with. Our initial tasting revealed wines of remarkable elegance and finesse.

But how to infiltrate the winery. The folks at Titus knew us, and yet, this operation required the big guns and a bit of subtly. After pondering for a while, it hit me, call in the big guns. The operative we needed had to be a lion in a kitty cat’s clothes. Someone who knew Cabernet and had been around the wine block. But also someone who would arouse suspicion. Someone’s who’s temperament was calm, cool and collected, but could be unleashed like a bag full of rattlesnakes.

The perfect person, you ask? My mother… She directed the technical analysis and found that the wine was indeed pure 2005 Napa Cabernet. No lingering trace of tampering could be found. It was only after she conducted a thorough tasting that Agent Red’s grin could be explained… When I walked into the lab, the tough-as-nails person had the same grin as Agent Red.

It was simply exceptional wine. If you haven’t yet tasted this Titan from Titus Vineyard, now is your chance. Trust me, and my mom, this is a wine you wont soon forget…

Vintage Note:

The 2005 vintage of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was rated 95 Points by Wine Enthusiast. After tasting this wine, you’ll know why.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Titus Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.