Rutherford 2019: top Cabernets from this Napa AVA
Centred around the town of the same name, the Rutherford AVA has a unique terroir that brings out a distinct 'dust' quality in its wines, typically through grainy tannins. Decanter's Napa correspondent Jonathan Cristaldi highlights its standout Cabernets from the 2019 vintage.
QUICK LINK 2019 Napa Cabernet: full vintage report and top-scoring wines
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown on the benchlands and ancient riverbeds of this AVA show a hallmark ‘Rutherford dust’ quality, often evident on the nose and appearing on the palate as grainy or dusty tannins.
Scroll down for the top-scoring Rutherford 2019 Cabernets
In 2019, those tannins ‘achieved good ripeness, so they will drink well young but also age nicely’, says winemaker Kristy Melton of Freemark Abbey.
Inglenook’s Chris Phelps said Rutherford enjoyed ‘warm, moderate weather’ for the 2019 growing season, which ‘gave us ideal conditions for slow, gradual maturation’.
A cool spring delayed budbreak until mid April, and there was no frost danger. ’Tannins are plush, super fine-grained and somehow both elegant and very generous,’ says Phelps. ‘They provide great depth to the wines.’
Rutherford 2019: the top-performing producers
- Foley Johnson
- Alpha Omega
- Round Pond
- Inglenook
- Quintessa
- Bella Oaks
Cristaldi’s value picks
95 points Round Pond, Louis Bovet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley 2019
94 points De Negoce, Lot 250 Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley 2019
93 points Foley Johnson, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley 2019
QUICK LINKS
Napa Cabernet 2019 – individual analysis by AVA:
Calistoga | Coombsville | Howell Mountain | Oakville | Spring Mountain | St Helena | Stags Leap District | Other Napa Valley AVAs
PLUS: Top-value Napa Cabernet 2019 – the best to buy
Rutherford 2019: the top-scoring Cabernets
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Bella Oaks, Proprietary Red Wine, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
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Inglenook, Rubicon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Seductive crushed cocoa nibs, dark coffee beans, blackberry and boysenberry. Fabulously full. Layered with a wealth of silken red and black-toned fruit flavours, fully supported...
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Quintessa, Estate Red, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Dark chocolate, violets and blackcurrants on the nose. Sticky, sweet, full, plush and ripe, fruit is dark - blackcurrant, black cherry and plum with lots...
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Alpha Omega, Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Lavish aromas of ripe blackberry, fig, hickory, cigar box, cinnamon and sweet cedar. Plush, silky and ripe palate full of blackberry, cassis, liquorice and spiced...
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Amici Cellars, Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
A powerful, heady red with hints of coffee beans, toffee and raspberry liqueur, plus lavish oak spices. Satiny fruit on entry glides across the palate,...
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Freemark Abbey, Cabernet Bosché, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
From Freemark Abbey's Bosché vineyard, which sits on a gravelly bench. Enticing aromas of mulberry, thyme, earth smokey minerals and cedar. Full and rich with...
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Freemark Abbey, Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Kristy Melton has coaxed out hallmark freshness in her single-vineyard Cabernets. Heady oak spices rise from the glass mingling with chocolate-tinged red berry fruit and...
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Round Pond, Louis Bovet Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Alluring red fruit, candied violets and brown spices on the a dusty mineral nose. Rich, juicy, full-bodied and layered with blueberry and black cherry and...
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SR Tonella, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Tasted with winemaker Jean Hoefliger. The palate is plush and silken with alluring notes of capsicum and sagebrush. Full, round and layered, with granular tannins...
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Beaulieu Vineyard, Winemaker's Selection Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Enticing aromas of black cherry, blueberry, black liquorice, coffee and dried herbs with cedar freshness. Broad and expansive palate with the same flavours as the...
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De Negoce, Lot 250 Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
This label from Cameron Hughes aims to maximize his longtime wine-country connections in the négociant model. Rich aromas of black cherry, cedar, purple florals, graphite...
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Foley Johnson, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Bright red berry aromas meld with dusty mineral notes and flourishes of cedar. Ripe, sweet fruit on the palate is richly concentrated with hints of...
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Swanson Vineyards, Rutherford Neighbors Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Lofty aromas of red berry fruit, cedar and sweet sage. Medium to full bodied with a plethora of ripe sweet red and black fruits, a...
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Peju, Stained Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2019
Behind the striking label, this sustainably farmed wine was matured in 65% new French oak for 18 months. The enigmatic red berry fruit nose is...
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