TN: 2004 Rockledge Cabernet Sauvignon The Rocks

WINE TALK
1

Pitch black and brooding color with purple/magenta tinged edges. The nose is all black fruits. Nice.The palate reveals some sweet black fruits of cassis, black cherries with some cola, mocha and dusty chewy tannins. A wonderfully balanced cab with lots of full fledged cab stuffing. Very full bodied and plush mouths feel, this had a long elegant finish. Very nice wine albeit slightly four square and a bit clumsy this time around the edges. A few years will tame but surely enjoyable now.

I look forward to meeting the winemaker Mike Hirby when he visits and has dinner with my tasting group CLONYC later this year.

2

Thanks for the note Mike.

I don’t think Mike Hirby had his hand fully in this wine. His first full year at Rockledge was 2005 if I’m not mistaken.

You are in for a real treat with the 2006 and 2007. The 2007 is off the charts. It’s hard to find a better deal in Napa.

Mike is as nice a guy as you will ever meet and one hell of a winemaker.

3

Phillip, IIRC, Michael became winemaker in early '04, so he likely made the '04, and even may have finished the '03s. Previous w/m was John Gibson.

4

that’s the info I had as well.