Raymond Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Front Label
Raymond Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The grapes for the Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon come from our family's original Rutherford estate property purchased in 1970. The vineyard has a Lyre trellis system pruned to quadrilateral cordons with vines spaced eight feet apart and ten feet between each row. The maturity of the vines contribute to the concentrated Cabernet flavors and the rich Rutherford soils, with their good drainage, are an essential component in high quality grape growing.

Nose: Ripe fruit aromas of blueberry, blackberry and currant followed by earth, spice and mocha notes.

Palate: Full-bodied with a rich mouth feel and silky smooth flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, blueberry, black pepper, spicy earth, cassis and cocoa. Well structured with nicely integrated tannins and a long, lingering finish.

Food Pairing: A classic Cabernet to pair with grilled filet mignon or rib eye with wild mushrooms, roast duck, braised beef short ribs, herb roasted rack of lamb, wild game, Portobello mushrooms with a blue cheese cream sauce, hearty winter stews like Cassoulet and smoke roasted sage crusted pork loin.

Professional Ratings

  • 91
    Here's a beautifully structured young Cabernet. It brims with currant, herb and cedar flavors that finish in a swirl of spices. The tannins are pronounced. Very finely ground, they give the wine the ability to age for a decade.
Raymond Vineyard

Raymond Vineyard

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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.

WWH116341_2005 Item# 103473