Top Picks from the 2011 vintage at the Rutherford Dust Tasting

Hewitt 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Powerful wine with expressive aromas of dark berry, cola, cinnamon and savory spices. Deep, rich flavors of blackberry, cassis, plum, dark cherry, mineral and roasted black fig; gritty tannins smoothed out with silk texture; long finish. Young, dense and mysterious. www.hewittvineyard.com

Beaulieu Vineyard 2011 George de Latour Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Stately new release with entrancing aromas of mocha, plum, raspberry, earth, tobacco and black walnut. On the palate, the dimensions of the wine expands with notes of cherry, black raspberry, mineral mint, dark chocolate and well-integrated oak. In my opinion, joel aikenone of the top ageworthy wines from 2011 vintage in the Rutherford AVA. www.bvwines.com

12C 2011 Beckstoffer Vineyard George III Cabernet Sauvignon: Complex wine with aromas of roasted fig, wild herbs, black fruits, smoke and cedar. Flavors of cassis, blackberry and tart cherry; chewy tannins; and a burst of bright acidity on the finish. www.12cwines.com

Frank Family 2011 Winston Hill Red Wine: Pretty aromas of red fruit, allspice, mineral, chaparral and roasted meats. Flavors of wild berries, ripe cranberry, capers, black pepper and savory spices; chewy fruit-based tannins; and strong finish with nuances of vanilla and cedar. www.frankfamilyvineyards.com

Quintessa 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon: Elegant wine with alluring floral aromas and deep flavors of ripe plum, cherry, blueberry, cocoa and a hint of sea salt; vibrant acidity; elegant tannins; and long engaging finish. Drinking nice now but has enough of structure to go the distance as well as any of the other wines poured from the 2011 vintage. www.quintessa.com

Freemark Abbey 2011 Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon: One of the more intriguing Cabernets of the tasting. Fairly closed aromas at first, but after a few minutes the wine opens up with notes of dried red fruits, tobacco, rosemary, bay laurel and cedar. Flavors of dusty briary blackberry, dark cherry, wild herbs, blood orange and shaved bittersweet chocolate on the finish. www.freemarkabbey.com

McGah Family Cellars 2011 Scarlett Cabernet Sauvignon: Impressed wine with the fragrant aromas of fresh violet and tobacco and lively flavors of raspberry, plum and cassis. Very sexy and extremely food friendly with daintier styles of cuisine. www.mcgcellars.com

Wm. Harrison 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Pretty wine with lifted bouquet driven by lofty nuances of roasted chestnuts, cocoa, mint, cloves, cigar box and ripe red fruits. Tranquil, refined and elegant. www.whwines.com

Flora Springs 2011 Hillside Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon: Elegant and sophisticated style of cabernet Sauvignon made with fruit from the top blocks on the Flora Springs Estate Vineyard in Rutherford. Aromas of ripe berries, spice and seasoned meats. Flavors of raspberry, cherry, plum, wild sage, dark chocolate and vibrant acidity from start to finish. www.florasprings.com

Aiken 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon: Made exclusively with fruit from the famed Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford, this food-friendly Cabernet features spicy aromas with hints of vanilla, licorice and dark cherry. The flavors open up with notes of ripe berries, cherry, plum, heirloom tomatoes and black olive. The finish is long, spicy and generous. www.aikenwines.com

Classic Rutherford style in the Chaix 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Classic Rutherford style in the Chaix 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chaix 2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: In the old days, most of the fruit from the Chaix Vineyard was sold to Beaulieu Vineyard. But today, the family and winemaker Sam Baxter work together to craft its own signature style of Cabernet Sauvignon. From the 2011 vintage, the wine features deep flavors of black raspberry, plum, mocha and earth. Overall, one of the few examples that stood out as having the classic Rutherford Dust flavors of mocha and shaved chocolate. www.chaixwines.com

Riboli Family Vineyard 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon: One of the newest producers in the Rutherford AVA. This fantastic medium to full bodied wine features elegant flavors of ripe berries, violet, cherry, mineral, roasted walnut, black pepper, and lively savory notes on the finish. Definitely a great brand to watch for in 2014 and beyond. www.sanantoniowinery.com

 

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