2005 Earthquake Cabernet Sauvignon Lodi

By Michael and David Phillips. Full props to the Phillips brothers who are arguably the leading makers of upscale wines from their Lodi location. Here, they do battle with Cabernet Sauvignon from this hot climate and nearly come out on top, yet, when all the votes are counted, it is the wine's excess ripeness and tendency to an extra measure of flesh that holds the wine back and makes it just less than compelling overall.