The 2014 Cultivar Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc is a rich and classic Sauvignon Blanc to which our winemaker Julien Fayard brings a touch of great white Bordeaux characteristics. It is characterized by steely, green citric notes, gooseberry fruit, a grassy and herbaceous notes.  The neutral oak adds a depth and richness that is beautiful on the palate.

This vintage will be remembered for high quality, but low yields. The 2015 growing season in the Napa Valley started out with unseasonably warm temperatures in the late winter and early spring. This resulted in an early bud break and bloom. Colder temperatures in May--during the peak of bloom--caused uneven fruit set which ultimately resulted in a much smaller crop in 2015 compared in both average yields and in comparison the three abundant years that preceded it.

The harvest was one of the earliest on record in the Napa Valley, beginning on July 22 with the picking of grapes for sparkling wine, and concluding for most all vintners and growers in the valley by mid-October. While ongoing drought was of great concern to farmers around California, Napa Valley received 75% of normal rainfall for the water year, refreshing the vines and putting a smile on vintners’ faces.

A slight departure from our previous Rose, the grapes that make up the 2015 Rose are Graciano, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and a touch of Carignane and Mouvedre to round out the wine. Graciano is a Spanish varietal that is deep in color making it a perfect wine to build a rose wine, with nice structure and weight.  The 2015 Rose is a beautiful pink color with elegant strawberry and cranberry aromas with hues of roses that will capture your nose. On the palette you’ll taste cranberry and tart cherry fruit, with a little spice. The wine is bright and refreshing with a lingering finish. 

The 2013 growing season was a warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor and berry size and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set under sunny skies. With the exception of one heat spike in late June/early July, temperatures were consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity, resulting in notably healthy vines as fruit went through veraison and started ripening