Levy & McClellan Red 2005

Levy & McClellan Red 2005 is a cult Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by winemaking legends Bob Levy and Martha McClellan from their estate vineyard on volcanic mountain slopes near Calistoga, California.

Robert Parker The Wine Advocate (95/100)

"A limited production of a very powerful and massive wine from two of California’s most famous winemaking gurus, Bob Levy and Martha McClellan, this wine remains primordial and backward, especially for a 2005. Loads of graphite notes interwoven with cassis, new saddle leather, blackberry and earth are impressive. It may sound unusual, but what came to mind is tasting some of the more recent vintages of Château Montrose in St.-Estèphe in Bordeaux. This wine still needs another 5-6 years of cellaring easily. This masculine, vigorous, bigger-than-life, full-throttle wine will evolve for another 25-30 years." - Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Tasting Profile

Opaque ruby/purple hue with aromas of roasted coffee, melted chocolate, creme de cassis, burning embers, camphor, and cedar. The full-bodied palate combines massive substance, power, black currant, blackberry, gamy meaty notes, and an incredibly long finish.

Key Traits

• Body: Full-throttle yet harmonious with perfect balance and elegant extract after 26 months in mostly new Taransaud oak.

• Aging: Just beginning accessibility with 4-5+ years more cellaring for peak through 2035+ (95+ points); pairs with prime rib, venison, or truffled dishes.

• Terroir: Close-spaced mountain vines at 500-600 feet yield vivid concentration and slow evolution.