There are only 250 cases of the 2005 Taptiel Vineyard, sourced from a site planted in 1985, and which yielded only 1.2 tons of fruit per acre in this superb vintage. The wine is made up of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. Purple-colored, it exhibits an enticing perfume of wood smoke, tobacco, clove, cinnamon, and black currants. This leads to a full-bodied wine with layers of spicy flavors, a sense of elegance, and a long, pure, fruit-filled finish. It should deliver peak drinking between 2012 and 2025.
The Cadence winery, located in a warehouse in the South Park region of Seattle, is owned and operated by husband and wife team Ben Smith and Gaye McNutt. All of their wine is produced from Red Mountain fruit selected from several of the most prestigious vineyards. They are all blends of the Bordeaux varieties. In 2006 the winery produced 2300 cases. Cadence is high on the 2005 vintage, calling it “the finest vintage Washington State has seen to date. Period.” The vineyard designates are aged in 40% new French oak typically for 18 months
Tel. (206) 381-9507; www.cadencewinery.com
