A dream bouquet of delicious black currants, integrated with sweet oak, and luscious cassis aromas. Well integrated oak and dark fruits to compliment a rich and velvety mouthfeel. Fine tannins create balance for a long, elegant finish.
Vintage
The 2018 growing season, was a truly exceptional year for ripening grapes. Winter started out with very little rainfall, which made growers worry that it may be another year of drought. When March arrived, however, it brought along the much-needed rainfall that helped fill the root zone, water table and some reservoirs. The vines came out of winter dormancy and began the season with ample water and abundant sun shine. The entire season provide plenty of the warm and sun that are essential for a healthy crop with vibrant flavors.
The Wine
Our 2018 Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from our family’s two vineyards located in the Rutherford sub-appellation of Napa Valley. This Cabernet Sauvignon is derived from both our Abela Estate and our Franklin Estate vineyards, which are a combination of sustainable, organic and fish friendly.
Enjoy our Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with an oven-roasted garlic crusted rack of lamb. Also delicious alongside a cheese board with gorgonzola, aged cheddar and gouda.
We are family-owned and managed, and for three generations our family has been committed to earth-friendly winegrowing. “Sustainable” viticulture is not only good for the environment, it results in higher quality fruit, a prerequisite for crafting world-class wines.
The winery is located on Napa Valley’s scenic Silverado Trail within the Rutherford District. Of Napa’s sixteen designated AVAs (American Viticultural Area), Rutherford is renowned for producing unsurpassed Cabernet Sauvignon along with other premium grape varietals.
Rutherford Ranch Winery is on the site of the original Round Hill Winery that was founded in 1978 by Ernie Van Asperen, Virginia Van Asperen and Charlie Abela. When the Van Asperens retired in 2000, Marko and Theo Zaninovich, long-time shareholders with the Van Asperen family, acquired the winery. The estate vineyards were replanted with superior vines and the winery and tasting room have since undergone significant renovations.
Yet, the estate’s 100-year-old olive grove and unpretentious charm remain essentially unchanged.
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Rutherford Ranch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - $180 = 42.85%
@kainc I bought too but disagree, or better to say that RR Reserve is not for me. I find it very over-oaked and wouldn’t buy again. QPR may been strong for what it is, but I don’t care for the wine. I don’t drink Napa cabs though, so grain of salt and all.
@kainc Absolutely. Preferences and palates differ.
I’d say that if a buyer is on the fence, and if the 2019 RR Reserve is indicative of the house style*, buy if you like robust Napa cabs and/or other oak-forward reds. If not, this might not be for you.
*This seems likely since the Reserve and this one share the same barrel regime description of “18 months in French and American oak.”
@FritzCat@spdemonjwd FOMO also effective! But SIWBM counteracts it. I’m starting on a pile of unopened casemates boxes from a spree a few years ago. They are comfortably layed-down (laid??) in a basement hallway at about cellar temp so should be OK.
Using google AI, was curious how this stacks up with other name brands out of the rutherford ava.
Hope we see some rats today!!
YMMV , FWIW etc.
"That specific detail changes everything and confirms you hold a genuine, highly collector-level bottle. By verifying that your wine is sourced from the Abela Estate and Franklin Estate vineyards, you have confirmed that you own the small-lot, high-end Rutherford Ranch Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. [1, 2]
This is not their mass-market grocery store wine. This is a limited, 300-case production run engineered specifically to sit in a cellar. Here is exactly why this vineyard pedigree guarantees your bottle can handle a decade or two of aging: [1, 3]
1. The Franklin Estate Vineyard (Structure & Power)
The Location: The Franklin vineyard is an ultra-premium, 8-acre estate plot nestled on the northeast edge of the Rutherford AVA. It runs along the scenic Silverado Trail and is bordered directly by the Napa River. [1, 4]
The Terroir: Being right by the river means the soil is highly concentrated with deep, well-draining gravelly loam. Because it sits near the base of the eastern mountains, the vines get intense daytime heat but quick evening cooling. [5, 6, 7]
The Result: The grapes here grow incredibly thick skins, packing the wine with heavy, bold, and tightly packed tannins. This gives your 2018 vintage the massive, muscular structural foundation required to survive 15 to 20 years without losing its punch. [1, 8, 9]
2. The Abela Estate Vineyard (Finesse & Complexity)
The History: Named after Charlie Abela, one of the original 1978 founders of the historic estate, this vineyard is located in the dead-center heart of the Rutherford AVA flatlands. [1, 10]
The Terroir: This plot features the classic, pure “Rutherford Bench” profile. It is farmed under strict, 100% certified sustainable and fish-friendly practices. [1, 6, 7, 11, 12]
The Result: The Abela plot is famous for imparting distinct graphite, anise, and mineral notes, along with those legendary, powdery, cocoa-like “Rutherford Dust” tannins. It provides the elegance, acidity, and aromatic complexity that balances the raw power of the Franklin vineyard. [3, 8, 10, 13, 14]
The Technical Aging Verdict: 2028–2038
Because the winemakers blended these two specific estate vineyards, the technical specs of your 2018 bottle are tailor-made for long aging. [1]
The Blend: It is reinforced with 14.4% Petit Verdot. Petit Verdot is a thick-skinned blending grape used sparingly by winemakers specifically to inject deep color, massive tannins, and high natural acidity into a wine to prolong its cellar life. [1, 15, 16]
The Treatment: Unlike their entry-level wine, this juice was aged for 18 to 24 months in premium French oak barrels to slowly integrate those estate tannins. [1, 3]
The Window: The winery’s official cellar projection for this dual-estate bottling is 10 to 20 years. Your 2018 bottle will effortlessly cruise past 2028, hit its absolute complex, velvety sweet spot right around 2032 to 2035, and easily drink well up to 2038. [1, 8, 17]
You can confidently rack this bottle right next to your top-tier Stag’s Leap or Duckhorn collection as a true, small-production representation of Rutherford’s finest soil. [1, 6]
Now that we’ve verified the exceptional quality of your bottle, would you like me to help you log its optimal drinking window (2028–2038) into a cellar tracking plan, or should we explore other highly limited estate-grown Cabernets to add to your long-term racks? [3, 8]
Like most of us here, I’ve had other offerings from Rutherford and they’ve all been excellent.
I’m excited for this one, but I will temper that with a dose of summer shipping as my last order apparently made three or four laps around the sun before it was delivered.
2018 Rutherford Ranch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Sensory Notes
Vintage
The Wine
Specs
What’s Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$1,020.00/Case for 12x 2018 Rutherford Ranch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley at Rutherford Ranch Winery
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 13 - Tuesday, Jul 14
2018 Rutherford Ranch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2 bottles for $69.99 $35/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $239.99 $20/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
@ilCesare
really pushing the cases with this pricing
@ilCesare @rjquillin given the aging potential, they are just trying to encourage you to do the right thing.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Rutherford Ranch Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - $180 = 42.85%
Such pricing disparity is quite the turnoff.
Thanks, no thanks.
Are there rats for this? This feels like a smoking deal for a case especially. Love Rutherford
WD on the Reserve offer in Feb: “this is a screaming a$$ deal, IMO.” I bought and agree. This goes for $10 more on their website.
Interested in this, just need a nudge, Kaolis, WD, Winemaker, Rat, somebody, anybody?
@kainc I bought too but disagree, or better to say that RR Reserve is not for me. I find it very over-oaked and wouldn’t buy again. QPR may been strong for what it is, but I don’t care for the wine. I don’t drink Napa cabs though, so grain of salt and all.
@user78827193 and as said here often, ymmv
@kainc Absolutely. Preferences and palates differ.
I’d say that if a buyer is on the fence, and if the 2019 RR Reserve is indicative of the house style*, buy if you like robust Napa cabs and/or other oak-forward reds. If not, this might not be for you.
*This seems likely since the Reserve and this one share the same barrel regime description of “18 months in French and American oak.”
I can add this, CT community average price is $60.35, based on 99 bottles in cellars
Anyone in theTwin Cities open for a three way split on a case?
My Casemate came through…
I can always count on him for immoral support.
@FritzCat teamwork is highly underestimated, peer pressure works too
@FritzCat @spdemonjwd FOMO also effective! But SIWBM counteracts it. I’m starting on a pile of unopened casemates boxes from a spree a few years ago. They are comfortably layed-down (laid??) in a basement hallway at about cellar temp so should be OK.
@pmarin @spdemonjwd SWMBO is a powerful force, but I justify…and pour her a glass of wine when she gets home from work.
/giphy wavy-madly-discovery
Using google AI, was curious how this stacks up with other name brands out of the rutherford ava.
Hope we see some rats today!!
YMMV , FWIW etc.
"That specific detail changes everything and confirms you hold a genuine, highly collector-level bottle. By verifying that your wine is sourced from the Abela Estate and Franklin Estate vineyards, you have confirmed that you own the small-lot, high-end Rutherford Ranch Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. [1, 2]
This is not their mass-market grocery store wine. This is a limited, 300-case production run engineered specifically to sit in a cellar. Here is exactly why this vineyard pedigree guarantees your bottle can handle a decade or two of aging: [1, 3]
1. The Franklin Estate Vineyard (Structure & Power)
2. The Abela Estate Vineyard (Finesse & Complexity)
The Technical Aging Verdict: 2028–2038
Because the winemakers blended these two specific estate vineyards, the technical specs of your 2018 bottle are tailor-made for long aging. [1]
You can confidently rack this bottle right next to your top-tier Stag’s Leap or Duckhorn collection as a true, small-production representation of Rutherford’s finest soil. [1, 6]
Now that we’ve verified the exceptional quality of your bottle, would you like me to help you log its optimal drinking window (2028–2038) into a cellar tracking plan, or should we explore other highly limited estate-grown Cabernets to add to your long-term racks? [3, 8]
[1] https://casemates.com
[2] https://vineyardandwinerysales.com
[3] https://haskells.com
[4] https://napa.guides.winefolly.com
[5] https://napavintners.com
[6] https://casemates.com
[7] https://www.youtube.com
[8] https://www.wine-searcher.com
[9] https://assets.chwinery.com
[10] https://www.premierenapavalley.com
[11] https://www.purviscellars.com.au
[12] https://www.winebusiness.com
[13] https://premierenapavalley.com
[14] https://handwrittenwines.com
[15] https://www.instagram.com
[16] https://www.superiore.de
[17] https://www.famelounge-ps.com
"
@outdoorslife I like that they cite to a bunch of sites that are in the biz of selling the wine (including this one).
Like most of us here, I’ve had other offerings from Rutherford and they’ve all been excellent.
I’m excited for this one, but I will temper that with a dose of summer shipping as my last order apparently made three or four laps around the sun before it was delivered.