2022 J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford Napa Valley

2022 J.O. Sullivan Founder’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2022 vintage showcases the precision and resilience of Sullivan Rutherford Estate. Harvested before Napa Valley’s September heatwave, this wine reveals dark forest fruits, spiced red fruit, graphite, and crushed bark, unfolding into plum, cocoa, and savory herbs on the palate. Full-bodied with tightly knit tannins and seamless acidity, it delivers both structure and restraint, embodying the estate’s unique terroir and long-lived style. A Cabernet of depth and detail, it offers profound presence today and the promise of graceful evolution for years to come.

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    Vintage Summary

    The 2022 growing season unfolded under mild conditions, setting the stage for what appeared to be a textbook harvest. But nature had a twist in store. In early September, Napa Valley faced a dramatic heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 110°F for over five consecutive days. Thanks to estate’s naturally lower yields, most of our blocks had already achieved optimal physiological ripeness as the heatwave approached. This timing proved pivotal, allowing us to act decisively and harvest 80% of the estate’s fruit before the extreme heat could compromise quality. The resulting wines are a testament to precision and resilience.

    Outdoor wine tasting table set at Sullivan Rutherford Estate in Rutherford, CaliforniaBottle of Sullivan Rutherford Estate red wine with glasses and decanters set for a tasting in Rutherford, California

    Winemaker Notes

    The 2022 Founder’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is layered and introspective, with a core that reveals itself slowly. Aromatically dense, it opens with dark forest fruits, spiced red fruit, graphite, and crushed bark. On the palate, it’s composed and full-bodied, with tightly knit tannins and acidity that carries without disruption. Notes of ripe plum, cocoa powder, minerality, and dry savory herbs create a layered, textured impression. This is a Cabernet built for the long arc, precise in its construction, expressive in its restraint, and rooted in the kind of detail that doesn’t happen by chance.

    Guest evaluating red wine during the Founder’s tasting at Sullivan Rutherford Estate in Rutherford, CaliforniaEvent 1

    Details

    • Appellation

      Rutherford, Napa Valley

    • Vineyard

      Sullivan Rutherford Estate

    • Varietals

      90% Cabernet Sauvignon
      10% Petit Verdot

    • Production

      500 cases

    • Winemaker

      Jeff Cole

    • Barrel Aging

      22 months
      80% New French Oak

    • Alcohol

      14.8%

    Event 3Grapes