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. We welcome guests to visit and experience our award-winning wines that we craft with care and tremendous pride.
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.
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.
Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Rich and vibrant with classic Rutherford Cabernet tannins, dark cherry mingled with toasty oak, sweet oak and sweet sage lingering on the palate.
The base for our Reserve Cabernet is from the world-renowned Rutherford appellation, which is home to our Abela and Franklin estate vineyards. Perfect climatic conditions and the region’s deep, loamy, well-drained soils produce dark, intensely flavored Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Our rich soil sets the foundation for an exquisite, cellar-ready wine that will evolve in character and quality for years to come.
This Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful complement to ribeye steak, rack of lamb or mushroom risotto.
Review:
A flint and gunpowder nose leads to bold graphite, blueberry and tobacco flavors in this full-bodied wine that is laced with a high level of fine-grained tannins. This wine is meant for aging, being so tightly packed with fruits and minerals and having the structure to keep it fresh while more complex flavors develop over time. Best from 2028–2038.
-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Jean-Claude et Nicolas Fayolle Hermitage Rouge Donnieres is made from 100% Syrah.
Made from 40-year-old vines planted on granitic and rocky soils in the Lieu dit "Les Donnieres" at the bottom of the Hermitage's hill.
Intense inky ruby red color.
The wine has plenty to offer with red and black fruit aromas, as well as a good minerality.
The finish is very long, clean and juicy and offers a great spicy mouthfeel.
Soil is clay, silica and round pebbles.
Hand harvested in small crates. The grapes are then pumped into tanks (full cluster, not destemmed).
It will stay in this tank for 15 days for the skin contact maceration and the Alcoholic fermentation.
Tey will also use the "rack and return" technique (delestage).
Then the wine is transfered into neutral French Oak barrels where the wine will complete the Malo-Lactic fermentation.
Delicious with grilled red meat such as venison or lamb and most cheeses.