Sullivan Rutherford Estate 2017 Coeur de Vigne

Napa’s Rutherford district was recognized by Gustav Niebaum, who planted roots in the region in the 1870s hoping to produce wines to rival Bordeaux. Most cabernet sauvignon has become predictable. What we look for then is the unpredictable, the interesting and unusual. The 2017 Coeur de Vigne (meaning “heart of the vine”) stands out among Napa cabernet, reflecting the characteristics that make the valley floor of Rutherford famous - namely the combination of alluvial fan soils, warm days, and cool nights. This is a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, and 3% malbec, and if you know Rutherford wines, this has that unmistakable dust to it. It is a velvety tactile wine that offers black cherry, boysenberry, blue berry and black berry, with moderate tannins and back notes of sage, anise and wild grasses. Aged with just under half new French oak barrels, this truly represents Rutherford.

1,941 cases
ORIGIN: Rutherford, Napa Valley
ALCOHOL: 14.8%
PRICE: $90 / 750 ml
SCORE: 92 POINTS

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California's Napa Valley is undoubtedly the most famous wine region in the United States. As you might expect from a California wine region, Napa exudes star quality. Even 25 years ago, the valley bustled with activity and attracted tourists from all over the country. Today Napa Valley is one of the world's flagship wine regions, with approximately 400 wineries and a reputation for top-quality wines. For many wine lovers, Napa Valley is synonymous with cabernet sauvignon. This late-ripening grape flourishes in Napa Valley's warm days and cool nights. While cabernet sauvignon grapes thrive all over the Napa Valley AVA, they do particularly well in the Rutherford and Oakville sub-regions, which are AVAs in themselves. (Napa Valley has 15 subregions, all of which are also AVAs.)

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Sullivan Rutherford Estate 2017 Coeur de Vigne

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