96 POINTS
  • A bottle of Etude Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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2018 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

2018 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Rutherford750ml 14.6

The Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon was the first appellation wine to be introduced in our Cabernet series of very small bottlings dedicated to the benchland sub-appellations of Napa Valley.

The Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon was the first appellation wine to be introduced in our Cabernet series of very small bottlings dedicated to the benchland sub-appellations of Napa Valley.

$155.00
$155.00

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2018
  • Region: Napa Valley
  • Appelation: Rutherford
  • ABV: 14.6
  • Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes

Showing its Rutherford pedigree, this robust and nuanced Cabernet is a classic example of the best that Rutherford offers. Layered aromas and flavors of dark ripe berry fruit, including redcurrant, bright black cherry, and cassis, sit alongside hints of espresso, dark chocolate, and caramel, delicately interwoven with the well-integrated oak and earthy, velvety-rich cocoa-powder tannins, a signature of the “Rutherford Dust” profile. Notes of lifted violet also add an alluring perfume, leading to long, peppery-spiced finish, and creamy texture, that is pleasing now and a tribute to the age-worthy character of this beautiful Cabernet.

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Expert reviews

95 POINTS

“A soft and succulent Rutherford cabernet with currant, tile, and dust aromas and flavors. Very typical. Full and creamy with a long, focused finish. Chewy and creamy-textured at the same time. A little reserved now. Try after 2024.” - James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, December 6, 2021

96 POINTS

“My favorite of the Etude Cabs in this report is the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, sourced from the Gary Morisoli Vineyard. Featuring scents of dusty earth and red berries, those elements are followed by a full-bodied, wonderfully lush, richly textured palate, then cassis and dark chocolate notes on the finish. This epitomizes plush valley-floor fruit—drinkable now, with as much as two decades of enjoyment ahead.” - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, June 2022

Winemaker Jon Priest walking between rows of grapevines in a vineyard.

The Vineyard

Morisoli Vineyard

Fruit from the Morisoli Vineyard in the heart of the Rutherford Bench has been the sole source for this expression of Etude Cabernet since 2009. Currently under the watchful eye of fourth-generation grower Gary Morisoli, this pioneering vineyard with gravelly Bale clay loam soil and classic Rutherford dust produces some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in Napa Valley. Retained heat from the ground helps to concentrate the intense crushed berry character that defines Rutherford Cabernet as having an “iron fist in a velvet glove.”

Process

The 2018 vintage

  • Napa & Carneros

    A near perfect season was welcomed in 2018 after several tense vintages, beginning with abundant February rains followed by drying sun and weather that allowed for even flowering and bud break. The slightly later start was followed by consistently ideal weather, with harvest for Pinot Noir occurring in late August and early September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.

  • Sonoma Coast

    Hallberg sits in one of the coolest areas of Sonoma County. Cooler temperatures and moderate weather allowed grapes to ripen perfectly, developing deep complexity, intensity, ripeness and balance with a beautiful freshness that came naturally. There was little to no frost during the spring fruit set and no heat spikes throughout the growing season – all of which helped the grapes reach full maturity, with harvest occurring in mid-September. Generally normal to heavier fruit-set with great flavor intensity and complexity will be the hallmark of the season.

  • Willamette Valley

    The Yamhill-Carlton District of Willamette Valley experienced an almost return to normal vintage in 2018. The spring and summer were some of the warmest and driest on record, but with no heat spikes recorded, the season increased in length due to the cool autumn weather. That allowed grapes to hang and develop complex flavors on the vine, while retaining freshness and acidity. The characteristic of the vintage is rich Pinot Noir fruit, with fully developed flavors, and a richness of tannins that gave structure to the wines.

  • Santa Barbara

    What may be considered a ‘classic’ vintage, the wines from 2018 show tremendous intensity and complexity. Santa Barbara County provided a mild to warm summer, with a cooler autumn, allowing the grapes to remain on the vine until they reached ideal maturity. While the quality of the grapes was phenomenal, our overall yields were down slightly due to smaller berry size and clusters. The fruit was harvested in late September, yielding wines with beautifully balanced acidity, exceptional weight and texture, and complex varietal flavors.
Winemaker Jon Priest holding up harvested grapes near stainless steel fermentation tanks.

Crafted Excellence

Winemaking

The grapes were cold soaked for 3–5 days and fermented on their skins in open top fermenters. An extended maceration period followed fermentation to help modify the depth and mouthfeel of the wine, and to fully extract color, flavor, and aromatics.The young wine was then racked into small French oak barrels—using a selection of coopers and forests to accentuate the vineyard distinctions—where it aged for 20 months in 100% French oak (75% new). Each lot was kept separate until final blending. The resulting wine was returned to barrel for an