Napa Valley Cabernet: Best Rutherford 2018 wines
Rutherford is home to some of Napa's leading producers, but as Matthew Luczy discovers, wines across the AVA can vary greatly. Here he selects his top Cabernets from the 2018 vintage.
Rutherford lends its name to two famous Napa terms: ‘Rutherford Dust’ and ‘The Rutherford Bench’.
The former was allegedly coined by André Tchelistcheff, although its meaning to this day is nebulous. It is uncertain if he was generally encapsulating the x-factor of the region, or describing the powdery tannins common in the best examples.
Scroll down for the top-scoring Rutherford 2018 wines
The Rutherford Bench is an unofficially-defined subsection of the valley floor and western hillsides.
Its delineation is somewhat confusing when mapping it on to current AVA borders, but it is essentially the portions of Oakville, Rutherford and the southern tip of St Helena that are west of Highway 29.
Napa Valley Cabernet: Full 2018 vintage report
As with Oakville, there is considerable east-to-west variance. The wines are generally softer and less forward than those of Oakville, although no shortage of high-octane wines are produced.
Vineyard Manager for Frog’s Leap Winery Rory Williams says of 2018: ‘It was an epic vintage, and it felt like a reward for the extremes of the prior year.
‘The Cabernet ripened slowly over the course of the autumn, with the weather in Rutherford sitting at a happy medium of cool mornings and warm afternoons. That classic balance led to the development of both great density and complexity in the wines, and hopefully a vintage that we’ll be enjoying for a long time to come.’
Quick links
Individual AVA analysis and top-scoring wines coming soon:
Calistoga, Coombsville, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, Oakville, St Helena, Stags Leap District
Inglenook (especially the Rubicon bottling) and SR Tonella are classic examples, with Scarecrow and Staglin producing a riper, more modern profile.
Frog’s Leap is a genuinely impressive value proposition.
See the top-scoring Rutherford 2018 wines
See also
Decanter Premium Collector’s Guide: Napa Valley
The rise of US urban wineries
California Cabernet 2016: Panel tasting results
Inglenook, Rubicon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
A lovely enticing nose filled with rich plum, fig and blackcurrant fruits - heady and opulent. The palate is precise with a distinct texture, certainly...
2018
InglenookNapa Valley
Mathew Bruno, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
From a site in Eastern Rutherford that supplied Beaulieu Vineyard during the 'Second Golden Age' of the 60s and 70s. A wonderfully fragrant nose of...
2018
Mathew BrunoNapa Valley
SR Tonella, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
An alluring, beautiful nose of black fruits, river rocks and orchard fruit blossoms. The palate has a lovely, refined char that surrounds ripe, glossy black...
2018
SR TonellaNapa Valley
Scattered Peaks, Morisoli Vineyard, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
Pine needles, charcoal embers and cracked black pepper aromas. As with the Sage Ridge Cabernet, this achieves a modern-Napa opulence without losing sight of authenticity...
2018
Scattered PeaksNapa Valley
Inglenook, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
The nose here is attractively mellow, bringing the taster in rather than jumping out and making itself known. Soft blue fruits, clay and anise aromas....
2018
InglenookNapa Valley
Castello di Amorosa, Morisoli-Borges Vineyard, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
Sourced from Western Rutherford. A fresh nose of purple flowers, wet clay and blackberry. The palate feels very classic by modern standards, with a weighty...
2018
Castello di AmorosaNapa Valley
Frog's Leap, Estate Grown, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
Beaming and pure, with aromas of fragrant red fruits, fresh flowers and a pleasant hint of ash. Elegant and bright on the palate, with a...
2018
Frog's LeapNapa Valley
SR Tonella, Reserve, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
As with many Napa Valley 'Reserve' bottlings, the concentration, intensity and treatment-driven notes are elevated here. The nose enters blue-fruited, noticeably-oaked territory, and is monotone...
2018
SR TonellaNapa Valley
Inglenook, 1882, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
Inglenook’s entry-level Cabernet is delightfully graceful and balanced on the nose, combining ripe red fruits, burning charcoal embers and potpourri aromas. The palate has a...
2018
InglenookNapa Valley
Grgich Hills Estate, Miljenko's Selection, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
A charming, svelte nose of old leather, cranberry and black liquorice. Just polished enough and just rugged enough to accurately convey its Rutherford origins. Should...
2018
Grgich Hills EstateNapa Valley
William Harrison, Reserve, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2018
A similarity distinctive nose to the regular Rutherford bottling, albeit noticeably more elegant and refined. The same goes for the palate, which delivers richness with...
2018
William HarrisonNapa Valley
