2018 BLACKSMITH Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Rutherford Napa Valley

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BLACKSMITH Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Rutherford Napa Valley

¥8,800 (incl. tax)

Midway up the Napa Valley, just below St. Helena, the valley opens up to its widest point, and a carpet of vineyards stretches from the Mayacamas range to the Vacas. This is the Rutherford AVA, named for an unremarkable outpost along the highway but home to historic wineries such as Inglenook and Beaulieu, whose Georges de Latour Cabernet may have been Napa’s first cult wine. What wineries have and do find remarkable are the excellent climate and soils of the region, the famed “Rutherford Dust,” well-draining soil, rich in gravel, loam, sand, volcanic deposits, and marine sediments that is believed to contribute to the character of the wines produced here. Blacksmith Rutherford Reserve Cabernet offers concentrated plum and black cherry aromas with refreshing notes of cedar. The rich, fruity palate is given complexity with notes of bay leaves and herbs. It is well-balanced with bright, charming acidity and silky tannins.

Winery


Winery Description

Blacksmith Cellars is a 1,500 case winery that rests upon the vision, dedication and hard work of one man, Matt Smith. Passionate about both the science and art of wine, he approaches his craft in ways that seem simultaneously systematic and inspired. He makes his wines in a warehouse located on the grounds of the former Naval Air Station in Alameda - across the bay from San Francisco. Because he doesn’t own a patch of vineyard, he’ll make wine from whatever comes through his network of growers - or even the spot market. As a result, he’s sourced grapes from Mendocino, Alexander Valley, Oakville, Stags’ Leap, Lodi, and Monterey and has worked with a range of varieties - from the well-known (Cabernet, Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache) to the underrated  (Barbera, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc) to the obscure (Torrontes, Malvasia Blanca, Verdelho).

Originally from Virginia, Smith was studying Chemistry at Sonoma State University in the early 19990s when he was hit by the winemaking bug. A stint at Beaulieu Vineyards was followed by an enology degree at Fresno State and then being hired as assistant winemaker to Sam Dashe, a fellow “urban winemaker” who became an important mentor. Smith struck out on his own in 2004 with an Alexander Valley Cabernet. With that first wine, Sam established his method of doing all the jobs himself: tending the vines, picking, sorting, crushing, pressing, punching down, blending and bottling. From the start, Blacksmith Cellars has received critical accolades and plenty of fans, but the need to maintain control of his process and vision has restrained any temptation to grow the winery to beyond what Smith can do solo. Happily for us, he has also resisted the temptation to raise prices. From Blacksmith Cellars we can get an artisan product - delicious, well-made wine from top appellations at an affordable price.

 

About this Wine


Country USA
Region California
Appellation(s) Napa Valley
Sub-Ava Rutherford
Winery Blacksmith
Vintage 2018
Color Red
Varietal(s) Cabernet Sauvignon
Closure Cork
Volume 750ml
Bottle Size 8.0 x 30.0
Case Size 32.0 x 24.0 x 31.0
Alcohol 14.3%
Product Code BS18RUT
UPC 891269000470

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