2014 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Member Pricing: $116 – $138

A true reflection of that signature Rutherford dust, this Cabernet Sauvignon embodies an old world meets new world style. The Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is hand crafted entirely from our Rutherford Estate, sourcing from the top blocks on the property. Exhibiting rich characteristics of dark complex fruits, minerality and balanced intensity, the layers of this wine truly reflect our vineyards terroir.

84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec  |  Aging: 19 months in 70% new tight grain French Oak

Tasting Notes

Dark fruit intrigues the taster with blackberry, cassis, and hints of lavender and bramble on the nose. On entry the fruit is crisp with lively acidity that brings a beautiful freshness. Loads of black cherry and raspberry come through on the rich, full mid-palate. Bright red berries lead in to a deeply complex and balanced finish with layers of rhubarb, pepper, roasted coffee and dark chocolate. From entry to finish, the wine builds texture and lingers on the palate with a historical nod to Rutherford dust.

Vineyard Notes

The 2014 harvest began and ended early with near-perfect weather. Heavy rains in late February and early March were well-timed and kicked off bud break soon after - the earliest in recent memory. Ripening was steady and rapid, and we began picking fruit some days earlier than any other previous vintage at Round Pond. Because of the drought, berry sizes were smaller, giving us more concentrated flavors and the potential for greater structure. Using traditional methods, we took only the ripe, juicy skin tannins and avoided extracting from the seeds, resulting in beautifully balanced wines. After a few rounds of barrel-by-barrel selection, our favorite lots were blended in early spring, giving them ample time to marry. After 18 months in barrel, we did another round of selections to ensure that each barrel fit the profile for our Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.

Technical Details

Type:

Red

Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon

Region:

California

Appellation:

Rutherford

Vintage:

2014