"The 2005 vintage was a cooler vintage starting with delayed budbreak, but with even keel weather in May enabling Cabernet to have a good set and cluster count. Summer weather was mild with average temperatures, but August was cooler making the clusters and berry weights greater. Thus, we had to do lots of cluster thinning during veraison to get the yields within reason. We gambled on warmer October weather and it happened the 3rd week. Therefore, we picked most of the Cabernet from late October to early November, dancing around the rains and getting full color and tannin maturity."