Welcome to EMH’s website and the release of “Black Cat” 2005!
The 2005 “Black Cat” Cabernet Sauvignon is our sixth vintage, continuing the line of wine produced from single-vineyard fruit grown right here on EMH’s property. In 2005, growers of Cabernet in Napa Valley generally harvested increased tonnage, particularly when compared to the modest yields of the preceding 2004 vintage. EMH‘s yields were up, and we were able to produce 160 cases of wine from our vineyard. For our tiny operation, which produces wine exclusively from grapes grown on our less-than-an-acre vineyard, this represents a dramatic increase – up from just 100 cases of the 2004 vintage. The quality you have come to expect is still there, but there is just more of it!

Increased Maximum Purchase
For the first time ever, our typical 6 bottle limit has been raised to 12 bottles, representing an excellent opportunity for those of you who continually ask if it is possible to order more. This year, the answer is yes! We appreciate those of you who buy year after year, and this is one year where your patronage can be rewarded with the opportunity to put more “Black Cat” in your cellar.

EMH 2005 “Black Cat” Tasting Notes
Jim Gallagher (Jim Gallagher’s Wine Seminars of San Francisco), EMH’s consultant, offers his notes on the 2005 “Black Cat” from his tasting in January of 2008:

“Dark, near opaque red ,with a brilliant purple edge– bouquet of rich raspberry, blueberry, chocolate, spice, nutmeg and sweet oak. On the palate a medium-light body, sumptuous fruit flavors, with a near perfect acid-tannin balance, pointing to the wine’s sustainable structure. Finally, an awesome finish, witnessed in a rich, long, luscious aftertaste. The 2005 ‘Black Cat’ Cabernet extends the stylistic consistency of flavors, structure and superior wine from this vineyard and vintner for the sixth successive vintage. The 2005 ‘Black Cat’ is drinking well at present, and while it will be hard to resist immediate consumption, it should improve steadily for the next several years, peaking between 2012 and 2015.”

For additional information, see detailed tasting notes in our Wine Section.

Notes on Previous Vintages
Many of you ask how the previous vintages are drinking, if we have current notes or comments on the older wines, and if we have any drink-or-hold recommendations on the earlier vintages. You can now access this information in the Wine Section of this website, beneath the original tasting note that was published upon release.

Looking Ahead – 2006 and 2007
Finally, looking ahead, we have just had our first tasting of the newly harvested 2007 vintage, and can report that it looks very, very promising. We expect to produce approximately 140 cases of the 2007 “Black Cat.” The 2006, at around 125 cases, will be bottled in early summer of 2008, and most certainly will not disappoint! Both future vintages are displaying the EMH “Black Cat” character you have come to appreciate in our classically-styled Cabernet Sauvignon.

So, welcome, or welcome back! We look forward to hearing from you.

Enjoy and cheers!

Merrill Lindquist, owner, EMH Vineyards

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