June 2007 Wine Tasting Notes.
2004 Five Rivers Cabernet sauvignon, Paso Robles.
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This wine is a purplish garnet color with very good clarity. The nose offers medium intensity plum with light aromas of caramel and vanilla and notes of coffee. In the mouth, medium intensity plum is accented by coffee notes. Medium bodied, with well-restrained alcohol, fine, soft tannins and appropriate acids this Cabernet is smooth and lush. A medium length finish offers generous plum. |
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13.8% Alcohol $10.99 Retail (from winery); 34,000 cases produced |
This is a nice, affordable cab with lots of plumy flavors and ample oak influences. Its deceptively sweet nose leads to amore streamlined plate. Generally soft without being a gobby fruit bomb, this should be a good everyday wine to pair with red meats for up to 5 more years. BOTTOM LINE: Good, with appealing characteristics. Recommended. |
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| Supplemental/Repeat tasting: None. | ||
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More Five Rivers reviews. More on the Paso Robles AVA |
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Detail: Production | Producer | Vintage | Grapes | Vineyard
Made from 90% Cabernet sauvignon, 7% Cabernet franc, 1.5% Syrah, 1% Malbec, 0.51% Petite verdot from Five Rivers organic vineyard, Robert Hall, Dino Boneso the Steinbeck vineyards. The wine undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation and is aged in American oak barrels.
Part of the Brown-Forman portfolio, Five Rivers Winery, has been making wine since the 1999 vintage. The name refers to the fiver rivers flowing through the Central Coast: the San Benito, Salinas, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez and Sisquoc Rivers. The labels is focused on producing wines from all parts of the Central Coast, including the 600-acre property in Paso Robles. Steve Peck, is Head Winemaker at Five Rivers. The self-proclaimed former wild child and surfer was turned on to wine (and Pinot noir, in particular) when living in Santa Cruz. While he spends a lot of time in the vineyard tasting the fruit, he delegates more in the cellar until it is time to blend. All Five Rivers wines are closed with synthetic closures. Read More
Often called the "King of wines" and one of the 'big five' of Bordeaux reds, Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted among the five and, with over 40,000 acres planted in the state, it is the most successful red wine in California. With its reputation for longevity and aging, California winemakers began to take example from their Bordeaux counterparts and blend it with other varietals. Soon, the Meritage Association was formed to foster this movement. It usually usually shows black currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors backed by cedar characteristics. (read more)
DNA analysis shows Cabernet franc is, along with Sauvignon blanc, the “parent” of Cabernet sauvignon. It is one of the five main Bordeaux grapes used for making red wines. Although it tends to display more fruit and less tannins than Cabernet sauvignon, it may become more herbal depending on vineyard management practices. It is much more often used as part of a blend – most traditionally in Bordeaux or Meritage blends as well as unconventional blends with Rhône varieties, Cal-Itals and Super Tuscans. Cabernet franc displays raspberry, cherry, plum, strawberry, floral notes of violet and sometimes spice. With bottle aging, it takes on aromas of cedar, olive, cigar box, musk, mushroom, earth and leather. (read more)
Syrah is an ancient variety proven by DNA analysis (in part at U.C. Davis) to be a native of the northern Rhône region of France. Prior to this evidence, its origin was disputed between the Rhône region and that around the Persian city of Shiraz – hence the two names for the grape. Syrah is very tannic, rich, chewy and textured and is typified by high alcohol and a spice-over-fruit character. The latter tends to be more accentuated in cooler climates where the grapes develop a higher skin-to-pulp ratio. Syrah typically shows pepper, licorice, clove, thyme and bay leaf as part of its spice component. The dark fruit typically expressed are blueberries, black currants and blackberries. Syrah may also show cedar or sandalwood notes. As with just about all wines, bottle age brings out terroir and cedar, tobacco, earth and leathery notes. (read more)
One of the traditional "big five” of Bordeaux, Malbec has lost in standing to merlot. Currently, Malbec thrives, and is most extensively cultivated, in Argentina where it is the dominant variety and spelled “Malbeck”. In California, Malbec is a relatively minor and relatively new player. It’s presence may be credited to the Meritage movement. Malbec’s character has been described as intermediate between Cabernet sauvignon and Merlot. Its most distinct characteristics are deep color, low acids and high tannin content. Aromas and flavors include: anise, black currants, cherries, plums and a floral characteristic often described as “violets”. Framing and vinification choices as well cooperage can bring in coffee, chocolate, leather and vanilla. (read more)
Petit verdot is a lesser known member of Bordeaux’s five noble black varieties. It has long been used as a supportive player in Bordeaux and Meritage red blends. Petit verdot’s contribution to red blends is its tannin structure. It typically constitutes anywhere from 1% to 5% of a blend, although on occasion, it can make for up to 10%. On its own, it is deeply colored – often purple - with high extract of floral and spice aromatics and bold alcohol levels. This is when the grapes are able to fully mature. The beauty of Petit verdot lies in its evolution. In youth, it exhibits aromas that resemble pencil shavings. Some writers also describe a banana-like scent. Violet and leathery aromas evolve with age. Spice and firm tannins are also definitive of this variety. (read more)
The 600-acre Fiver Rivers Ranch property in Paso Robles is certified organic and is located just north of the town of Paso Robles. Planted initially in 2201, to Cabernet sauvignon (160 acres), the vineyard was expanded in 2002 with 80 more acres of Cabernet sauvignon, 140 acres of Merlot, 60 acres of Syrah and an additional 20 acres of other, unspecified, specialty varieties. The first harvest from this ranch was in 2003.
The 79-acre Dino Boneso vineyards, is east of Highway 101 and Paso Robles proper, in warmer East Paso Robles, just south of Highway 46 and east of Huerhuero Creek. This location receives some of the cooling marine effect that makes it through the Templeton Gap of the Santa Lucia Mountains. As a result, the vines experience a longer (by several weeks) growing season of the warmer part of the huge Paso Robles AVA. Although there are 45 different soil types identified in Paso Robles, they all share the general traits of being moderately deep, slightly alkaline and calcareous with shale underlying sandy loam, limestone, clay, gravel and chalky elements. This vineyard grows Viognier, Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Mourvèdre and Zinfandel.
Robert and Margaret Hall founded Robert Hall Winery in 1995 and planted their vineyards soon thereafter. Located on the south side of Highway 46, east of the city of Paso Robles and east of Huerhuero Creek, the property sits on fertile, mixed soils and enjoys warm to hot daytime temperatures. There is still some of the cooling marine effect particularly at night. This comes from the Templeton Gap of the Santa Lucia Mountains to the west. The days are warm, but not as hot as in the vineyards to the east of the AVA – near Shandon, at the foot of the Diablo and Temblor mountain ranges. The soils in this area are nutrient-rich, moderately deep, slightly alkaline and calcareous with shale underlying sandy loam, limestone, clay, gravel and chalky elements. There are several named vineyards on the 300-acre property: Bell Tower, Bench, Estrella Linda, Home, Red-Tail and Terrace. A large wine growing and wine making team works to reduce yields and manage irrigation. The now 12 year old vines on the estate grow 17 varieties on the property are: Cabernet franc, Cabernet sauvignon, Carignane, Cinsault, Counoise, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Orange Muscat, Picpoul blanc, Roussanne, Sauvignon blanc, Souzao, Syrah, Tinta cão, Touriga, Viognier and Zinfandel.
Steinbeck Vineyards is a 500-acre property between Union Road and Highway 46, east of Huerhuero Creek, Highway 101 and the city of Paso Robles. It has been in the Steinbeck family (no indication of connection to the Author) hands and farmed since 1880s. It was first planted to wine grapes in 1982. That initial 50-acre planting of Cabernet sauvignon continues to provide old vine fruit to several area wineries. The soils in the vineyard are deep, composed of a mixture of sandy loam and clay and silt with good drainage. Ranging from flat to low, gently rolling hills the site enjoys warm to hot days and cool nights. A day-to-night (diurnal) variation of 50 degrees Fahrenheit is attributable to a marine influence which makes its way from the Templeton Gap to the west. The vineyard is managed with sustainable practices, with canopy and crop management intended to keep yields in the 3 to 5 ton per acre range and offering flexibility to suit a winemaker’s requirements. Currently, the varieties in the vineyard are: Barbera, Cabernet sauvignon, Carignane, Merlot, Muscat cannelli, Petite syrah, Primitivo, Roussanne, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Touriga, Viognier and Zinfandel.
The hot 2004 growing season was one of the shortest in the history of the state. Harvest came two to three weeks earlier than usual, at the start of August. While this "crop of crops" was lauded as producing highly extracted fruit, some wines have been rather unbalanced while others were stunning an memorable. Each offering from this vintage should be judged individually and not by virtue of vintage alone since the shortened growing season affected different varietals in different AVAs and even vineyards. Read More
Rating
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Color |
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Nose |
3 points |
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Palate |
2 points |
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Finish |
3 points |
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Tannins |
5 points |
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Acidity |
5 points |
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Alcohol |
5 points |
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Aging potential |
2 points |
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Overall quality |
8 points |
(10 points max) |
Cumulative Score: 88
Rating System & Scoring Criteria explained
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