2005 Ackerman Family Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

One 750ml bottle

I sampled the newly released 2005 Ackerman Cabernet along side its older siblings, not really knowing what to expect. While this may be the youngster in the group, it’s also the biggest, richest and most immediately impressive wine in the bunch. This is what wine aficionados look for in a Napa Valley Cabernet – ripe blackerries, sweet cherries, dark plums and chocolate! Nonetheless, it isn’t one-dimensional or over-the-top as many Napa Cabs can be. I’m not a big fan of over-ripe Cabs, however this beauty manages to retain its elegance and finesse while delivering big, powerful fruit flavors. I had a hard time putting my glass down. I have no idea how this wine manages to so deftly balance extraction and grace, but you’ll love discussing its yin and yang as much as you will drinking it. My guess it will age at least a decade or more, but there’s no harm in popping the cork now. -- Peter Marks, MW 

Blackberry, ripe plum and sweet anise flavors