2005 Hess Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon. May be entering its drinking window now, although further bottle age would be quite appropriate. Tannins are beginning to soften. Rather restrained wine...this is not a "fruit bomb." Some oak on the nose and palate, but not too obtrusive. On the palate, all about the black currant mountain fruit; some argued that it could use more fruit, but I like the restrained character. John Chandler said that one thing he liked about the wine is that it "tastes like a cabernet" rather than the generic-flavored "red wine" that some Napa producers sell.
In light of that comment, I also get quite a whiff of herbaceousness-green pepper even, but not obtrusively so and others did not find this so evident. definitely some structure, but softening to drinkability now. Quite impressive long, savory finish. Overall, a very fine-drinking Napa Mountain cab that is beginning to show its stuff. I would rate it 90 points right now. We might try to do this as a vertical with a 2002, 2003, and 2004 from my cellar.