Winemaker Notes
This inaugural 2018 Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is the epitome of the finest expression of the western Rutherford bench-land terroir, exhibiting an intense saturation of color, aromas and flavors. The expressive perfumed bouquet leaps from the glass with exuberant dark berry fruits. Notes of blackberry, black currant, black forest cake and Crème de cassis sit alongside floral violet, rose petal, rosemary and bay laurel, while lifted baking spice notes from the well-integrated oak barrel character, shows nuances of cedar, cinnamon, clove and caramel. On the palate, there is juicy, saturated black cherry, macerated red raspberry, supported by darker hints of espresso, mocha and bittersweet chocolate. The structured "Rutherford dust" tannins are full of grip and plushness, showcasing the signature cocoa powder texture and expansive mouthfeel. Rich, with depth and balance, leading to a generous velvety-smooth textured persistent finish, showing concentration and refinement. A classic example of the very best from the Rutherford appellation.
Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot
Critical Acclaim
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The Rutherford sub-region of Napa Valley centers on the town of Rutherford and covers some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyard real estate, spanning from the Mayacamas in the west, to the Vaca Mountains on the other side of the valley.
Inside of the Rutherford AVA, bordering the Mayacamas, is a stretch of uplands called the Rutherford Bench. (These bench lands technically run the length of Oakville as well). Mountain runoff creates deep, well-drained, alluvial soils on the bench, giving vine roots plenty of reason to permeate deep into the ground. The result is wine with great structure and complexity.
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvingons and Bordeaux Blends garner substantial attention for their enticing fragrances of dusty earth and dried herbs, broad and juicy mid-palates and lush and fine-grained tannins. The sub-appellation claims some of the valley’s most prized vineyards today, namely Caymus, Rubicon and Beckstoffer Georges III.
It is also home to Napa’s most influential and historic personalities. Thomas Rutherford, responsible for the appellation's name, made serious investments here in grape growing and wine production between the years of 1850 to 1880. Gustave Niebaum purchased a large swath of land and completed his winery in 1887, calling it “Inglenook.” Today this remains the oldest bonded winery in California. Georges Latour founded Beaulieu Vineyard in 1900, making it the oldest continuous winery in the state. Latour also hired the famous enologist, André Tchelistcheff, a man credited for single-handedly defining the modern Napa winemaking style.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.