2011 Rudd Oakville Estate Red

Although an infant, the 2011 Proprietary Red Rudd Estate has many of the same qualities of the 2010. Grilled herbs, blackberries and tar are some of the notes that take shape in the glass. The tannins are those of the vintage, as is the wine's mid-weight personality, but at the end of the day, this is a great site and the resulting wine is striking in its beauty. Exactly how striking exactly it will be should be much clearer in another year or two. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. (Not yet released) Leslie Rudd has spared no expense in trying to get the most of his superb vineyards in Oakville, but there is little question this is a multi-year project. In 2006 Rudd brought in David Abreu and his team to manage the vineyards. One of the priorities has been replanting a number of parcels and increasing the amount of Cabernet Franc on the property. In 2008, the estate replaced most of its heavy vineyard equipment in favor of lighter tractors that are gentler on the soils. Since then the Rudd team, headed by Patrick Sullivan, has crafted a number of terrific wines. Still, my sense is that the best is yet to come, especially with regards to the estate's top reds. Tel. (707) 944-8577