Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Rutherford Road Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and brooding from the start, with aromas of classic creamy cassis, the blackest of cherries, cola, and pipe tobacco. In the mouth, flavors of blackberry, espresso, blueberries, and dark chocolate are carried by broad and creamy tannins. The lasting finish shows hints of nutmeg and vanilla.
Enjoy this stunning example of a classic Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with a BBQ'd New York steak served with charred asparagus and potatoes au gratin.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Michael Pozzan makes this wine in a plump, rich style. Oak aging has smoothed out the tannins, which have the juiciness of fresh-pressed cherry skins, but that time in wood has not diminished the violet scents or the tobacco notes of the fruit. Pour it with grilled sausages. Best Buy.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.