Cabernet Sauvignon Tonella Vineyard Rutherford
Rutherford
The Tonella Vineyard, a cornerstone of Rutherford’s development as the preeminent terroir for Cabernet in Napa Valley, traces its roots to 1922. It was then that J.J. Ponti purchased the land, alongside Georges de Latour’s acquisition of the adjacent property (now the legendary Beckstoffer Georges III vineyard). Ponti’s legacy, knowledge and respect for the land was passed to his ward Louis Tonella, and then to Louis’ son, Raymond. In 2006, eyeing retirement, Raymond entrusted the vineyard to Sequoia Grove and its then-viticulturalist Steve Allen (brother of the winery’s founder), himself a pioneering Napa Valley viticulturist and colleague of André Tchelistcheff. Since then, the winery has carefully stewarded the vineyard, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc to micro blocks that continue to express the deep and ‘dusty’ complexity of its prime Rutherford terroir.
Bold and powerful aromas of dried rose petals and dark black fruit jump from the glass, evolving into notes of forest floor, toasted vanilla, and graham cracker. The palate is rich and full, with dense, balanced, mouthcoating-tannins leading to flavors of red fruit, white clay, hibiscus, dark cherry, plum, anis, and sweet tobacco. The long and even finish has mouthwatering flavors of black raspberry, dark chocolate, wild mushroom and espresso.
- Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the crown jewel of Sequoia Grove’s estate properties: the Tonella Vineyard in Rutherford
- Located on the far eastern side of Rutherford directly beneath the Vaca mountains, with a combination of alluvial and volcanic soils
- A benchmark Rutherford property, neighboring Beckstoffer Georges III to the north and Oakville’s Accendo, Groth, and Plumpjack to the south
