2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Member Price: $72 – $86
“Elegant and gracious, with tons of class and lovely red fruit purity.” Antonio Galloni
A true reflection of the signature Rutherford dust, this Cabernet Sauvignon embodies an old world meets new world style. Our Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is hand crafted from our Rutherford Estate and Oakville vineyards. Exhibiting rich characteristics of dark complex fruits, minerality and balanced intensity, the layers of this wine truly reflect our vineyards terroir.
Accolades
From the winery’s Rutherford and Oakville vineyards, this sturdy 90% Cabernet Sauvignon (with Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cab Franc) showcases opulent black fruit and bright pomegranate. Espresso and a pop of black pepper weaves between the curvaceousness body. Jasmine-kissed cocoa pervades, leaving a continuous floral perfume and flavor. Aged 20 months in 65% new, tight-grain French oak.
-- 96 points, Tasting Panel
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is the first vintage that incorporates fruit from both the Round Pond Estate and a dollop from Mbar Ranch in Oakville. It is elegant and gracious, with tons of class and lovely red fruit purity. The Estate bottling replaces the Rutherford Cabernet in the range.
-- 91 points, Antonio Galloni
Tasting Notes
Our flagship Estate Cabernet Sauvignon bursts from the glass with alluring aromas of clean, bright fruit such as pomegranate and crushed raspberry. Creamy, rich, and generous, this wine shows essences of sweet spices and desert sage which marry well with hints of black peppercorn and cocoa. Lively with firm, chewy tannins, this wine follows through with rich black cherry, coffee and a pleasing granite-like finish reflecting the diverse flavors found on our Rutherford Estate and Oakville vineyards. This Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to be enjoyed now and will age gracefully over time. Varietals: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc Aging: 20 months in 65% new tight-grain French oak AVA: Rutherford and Oakville
Vineyard Notes
2018 vintage had a near-perfect growing season that began in late February. Spring was mild, with extended flowering yielding uniform grape clusters. Steady, warm temperatures made for a cool, unhurried harvest, and our healthy leaf canopies, allowed the fruit to hang longer and ripen very slowly on the vine. Harvest began with our Sauvignon Blanc in late August wrapped the first week of November with our Cabernet Sauvignon. The extended time on the vine and the temperate weather gave a fantastic concentration of ripe flavor and density to the grapes along with high acidity in the wines, resulting in a vintage with natural balance and finesse.
Technical Details
- Type:
- Red
- Varietal:
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Region:
- California
- Appellation:
- Napa Valley
- Vintage:
- 2018