Napa Valley

Full

Cork

The J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot reflects a long-held confidence in Merlot’s potential at the estate. Recognising its suitability to site, select Cabernet Sauvignon blocks on the Rutherford estate were replanted to Merlot, complemented by an additional 2 hectares planted at a property off Soda Canyon Road in the Napa Valley AVA, near Coombsville. The wine is aged for up to 22 months in approximately 80% new French oak, including a portion of larger-format puncheons. A blend of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is crafted by winemaker Jeff Cole with longevity firmly in mind—a serious, age-worthy Merlot built for the table, particularly alongside a New York Strip. In 2023, the wine shows a striking freshness that runs through the core, framing a dense yet balanced fruit profile. Ripe plum and dark cherry notes mingle with sagebrush, perfumed rose and violet florals, dusty mineral, and crushed cocoa nib nuances, all anchored by a firm, dusty tannic backbone. There is real heft and concentration here, yet the hallmark freshness of the vintage keeps the wine light on its feet.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Sullivan Rutherford Estate, J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot, Napa Valley, Rutherford, California, USA, 2023

The J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Merlot reflects a long-held confidence in Merlot’s potential at the estate. Recognising its 

Sullivan Rutherford Estate, J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve

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