Rutherford
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Around harvest time, everyone's car is covered with a fine powder. It's annoying if you like clean automobiles. But wine people love it. After all, it's Rutherford dust.
It’s yet to be proven whether it's physical dust collecting on the grapes, getting into fermentation tanks, and flavoring wines. Regardless, Rutherford wines have this "dusty" quality to them and it's one of the highlights of this sub-region of Napa Valley.
Rutherford wines to know
Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford seems to have a little bit of everything. It's fruity, sweet, smoky, leathery, and uniquely "dusty." Like you walked into a study and dusted off an old leather book.
You'll certainly find Cabernet Sauvignon and the other Bordeaux red varieties here including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. But that's not all!
Rutherford also makes some really complex Sauvignon Blanc and even rarer Sauvignon Gris. The volcanic-based soils give these white wines a distinct schist-like texture. Occasionally, the winemaker will blend stainless steel-aged and oak-aged Sauvignon to create a rich, textured, and creamy wine. Well worth seeking out.
Another oddity that pops up in Rutherford is Muscat Canelli. This super aromatic white wine is often reserved for dessert wine blends.
Around harvest time, everyone's car is covered with a fine powder. It's annoying if you like clean automobiles. But wine people love it. After all, it's Rutherford dust.
It’s yet to be proven whether it's physical dust collecting on the grapes, getting into fermentation tanks, and flavoring wines. Regardless, Rutherford wines have this "dusty" quality to them and it's one of the highlights of this sub-region of Napa Valley.
Rutherford wines to know
Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford seems to have a little bit of everything. It's fruity, sweet, smoky, leathery, and uniquely "dusty." Like you walked into a study and dusted off an old leather book.
You'll certainly find Cabernet Sauvignon and the other Bordeaux red varieties here including Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. But that's not all!
Rutherford also makes some really complex Sauvignon Blanc and even rarer Sauvignon Gris. The volcanic-based soils give these white wines a distinct schist-like texture. Occasionally, the winemaker will blend stainless steel-aged and oak-aged Sauvignon to create a rich, textured, and creamy wine. Well worth seeking out.
Another oddity that pops up in Rutherford is Muscat Canelli. This super aromatic white wine is often reserved for dessert wine blends.
