Reveling in Rutherford!

Here’s another stand-out wine from the 2013 SWE conference…

Stunner #3: Quintessa 2009 Red Wine [Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Verdot] ($145.00)

If you’ve got an expense account or need a Special Occasion wine, this one is a knockout (like the price).  Bright red fruit up front with a rich, gorgeous palate.  There’s oak but it’s in check; the wine is beautifully balanced and simply gorgeous. Long finish with milk chocolate, dark berries and cassis.  No wonder the critics often have very nice things to say about this one…

Time to Geek Out – The Rutherford Roundup:  Rutherford is a sub-region (or AVA), as well as the “historic heart,” of California’s Napa Valley.  Many of the big-deal wineries of Napa Valley that helped put Napa on the map as far back as the 1800’s (names like Inglenook, Beaulieu Vineyard, Louis M. Martini, Charles Krug Winery…) were – or still are – in Rutherford.  Justifiably famous for its gorgeous Cabernets with a touch of herbaceousness, this is your spot if you love a big Cab and are willing to pay for it.  In very general terms, these are wines that will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Wine Folly’s great map of the Napa Valley; Rutherford is right in the middle