Hendry Blocks 8, 16, 17 and 18 are located on bench lands west of the town of Napa.  The vines grow on thin stony soil between 150 and 300 feet above sea level.  Morning fog and strong afternoon breezes from San Pablo Bay moderate the climate.   The vines in Block 8 were planted in 1974 and are 35 years old.  They are spaced 8’ x 10’, cordon trained and spur pruned.  The clone is U.C.D. 7, grafted to St. George roots.  A seven-foot vertical trellis system supports the cordon and the canopy.  Average production is approximately 2 tons per acre.  Blocks 16, 17, and 18 were planted in 1996, 1996, and 1997.  They are also on St. George rootstock. They are grafted to U.C.D. clones 7 and 4, and 337/15.  Their inclusion in our Cabernet Sauvignon marks a milestone in the vines maturity.  At 12 and 13 years old, they have reached a significant level of depth and complexity. 

In 2005, the median bud break in Block 8 was March 31.  In Block 16 and 17, it was April 6, bloom, May 31 and veraison August 7.  In the younger blocks, bud break occurred April 2-4, bloom May 30 and veraison approximately August 4.  The harvest was October 13-18 in Block 8, and October 3-7 in the younger blocks.  Yields averaged 2.54 tons per acre throughout the Cabernet blocks.

Each year, George strives for a Cabernet with elegance and balance, and one which reflects the character of the vineyard and the vintage.  This is the last of our 2005 wines to release, and it follows the tendency of the wines from this vintage to have a lush, deep, forward palate and dense aromatics.  This young wine shows violets, licorice, chocolate, cigar box and cassis on the nose, with a full, velvety texture, dusty fine-grained tannins and a firm finish. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Drinkable now, with potential to cellar for 10+ years. Alcohol is 14.5%.