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

2018 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

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.

Rutherford750ml 14.6

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$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

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.”

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

Crafted Excellence

Winemaking