Rutherford AVA
Many centuries ago, the mountainsides of Mount St. John, located in the Mayacamas above the historic Inglenook Winery, collapsed and tumbled down into the young Napa Valley. This natural disaster resulted in the formation of an auspicious geographical structure, a long and wide mound of gravelly soils known as an “alluvial fan.” This alluvial formation is situated in the widest area of this fertile valley, which is just on the warmer side of the valley’s climate scale, and is known as the Rutherford Bench. This serendipitous combination of soil and climate eventually culminated in the wines that would define and influence the Rutherford style – elegance coupled with distinctively grainy tannins, which are commonly associated with the term “Rutherford Dust.” In 1941, Georges de Latour released his 1936 Private Reserve from Rutherford, which brought the region to international recognition. It was the first Napa Valley wine to be considered a premier-cru level bottling, paving the way for Napa Valley to specialize in Bordeaux-style wines.
The 2021 vintage is a deep, dusty, robust Cabernet Sauvignon that unabashedly represents the terroir from which it was born.
“The nose is intensely perfumed and aromatic, with initial aromas of dark fruits and vanillin, gradually shifting to reveal more nuanced notes of dried herbs. Dried currants, figs, and succulent black plums all make their presence known, while the inclusion of espresso roast adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the palate. The wine’s signature Rutherford character is expressed through the subtle interplay of dusty tannins.”
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