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2017 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Rutherford750ml 14.8

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.

  • Alcohol 14%
Regular price $155.00
Regular price $155.00 Sale price

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Specifications

  • Vintage: 2017
  • Region: Napa Valley
  • Appelation: Rutherford
  • ABV: 14.8
  • Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes

A classic expression of Rutherford terroir, this wine will grab your attention with its round and rich aromas and flavors. Black fruit leads the way on the nose and is accompanied by purple floral notes and rich oak and clove spices. Well-integrated tannins create a plush, full mouthfeel. Expect a lingering, memorable finish that begs you to take another sip.

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Expert reviews

The Vineyard

Fruit from the 10.77 acre 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 the Napa Valley. Heat retained in the ground helps concentrate the intense crushed-berry character that defines Rutherford Cabernet as an “iron fist in a velvet glove.”

The Year in Review

  • Carneros

    In the micro-climate of the Carneros, cool weather during spring flowering impacted vine yields, but with lower yields quality generally increases, and that is the tale of this vintage. Ample winter rains continued to recharge aquifers and rebuild storage lost during drought years. Near perfect summer weather with traditional diurnal temperature swings averaging 25-40 degrees defined the sunny days, cool nights mantra. Where August cooled a bit, allowing for extended hang time and allowing flavors to more fully develop, a high-pressure system stalled and held cooling fog off the coast line as September arrived, leading to the earliest harvest experienced at Grace Benoist, finishing just after Labor Day.

  • Napa

    The 2017 vintage in the Napa Valley was smaller yielding but high in quality. The region enjoyed much needed rain during the winter months ending the drought. A short period of warmer than usual temperatures during Labor Day weekend accelerated harvest for early ripening grape varieties, resulting in an intense and, at times, unpredictable harvest. Though yields were lower than usual, the wines show exceptional flavor intensity and conditions were perfect for producing a wine with beautiful fruit as well as tremendous concentration of flavors, highly saturated color, and layers of complexity.

  • Willamette Valley

    Ample rain and winter snow continued with a wet spring, a bit on the cool side. Bud break was relatively normal in mid-April, but a heat spike followed in May, pushing flowering even as a cool June followed. Intermittent heat spikes continued through July and August, but a cool September led to a relatively late harvest.

  • Central Coast

    For many on the Central Coast, the 2017 vintage was challenging, but for Etude, the major weather impacts that arrived in September were post-harvest, since all fruit was harvested between August 30 and September 5. Just a bit later, in mid-September, the region saw hail, lightning and wind that got growers attention. Record-setting heat, with warm days and nights, impacted fruit. But Etude was spared. In springtime, during bloom, some cooler temperatures and a bit of wind created shatter, with fewer clusters on the vine. But less is more, since flavors were concentrated.

Crafted Excellence

Winemaking

For more than a decade Jon has fashioned Etude wines with a simple creed. Inspired winegrowing diminishes the need for a winemaker to intervene in the cellar. Whether sourcing from the estate Grace Benoist Ranch in Sonoma's Los Carneros, or vineyards like Fiddlestix and North Canyon in famed growing regions of California's Central Coast, his focus is on coaxing the very best from the vineyard. It shows in every glass of Etude.