2006 Sterling Vineyards Cellar Club Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Sterling Vineyards in Calistoga was founded in 1964 by Peter Newton, an English businessman and journalist. The first commercial vintage was the 1969 Merlot. Ric Forman was the winemaker for the early vintages, which were made in a Bordeaux style. In 1977 the estate was sold to Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and in 1983 it was purchased by Seagram. Today the estate owns more than 700 acres and makes a large portfolio of wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Riesling and Pinot Grigio.

Rutherford AVA is just north of the Oakville AVA in the heart of Napa Valley, and it is equally distinguished. It is home to Beaulieu Vineyard and inglenook, arguably Napa Valley’s most historically influential wineries. Inglenook started making in wine in the late 19th century, and Beaulieu Vineyards was producing by the first years of the 20th century. BV founder Georges de Latour is particularly esteemed for having recruited Andre Tchelistcheff, a renowned research oenologist, to move from France to Napa Valley in 1938 and run BV’s winemaking. The legendary Tchelistcheff brought European winemaking techniques to Napa Valley and vastly improved wine quality. Other Rutherford winemakers followed his lead. Today there are 5,000 vineyard acres in Rutherford and many acclaimed producers. The famous Silverado Trail with its exclusive, limited production wineries, runs partly through Rutherford AVA. Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignons are characterized by supple tannins, richness, notes of cherry and plum, depth and the ability to age for several decades. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon the AVA also grows Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel. It received its AVA designation in 1994.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.