Then why not add in a pail of frozen juice or must from Wine Grapes Direct?
We’ve got premium frozen grape juice and must for sale year round that is proudly sourced from the finest wine growers on the West Coast. Knowing where your fruit comes from is an essential part of your wine’s story which is why we strive to connect you with the people and places that grow our grapes. So since you’ve already cleaned out your fermentors and carboys for your fresh Chilean Carmenere juice from M and M Wine grapes or your fresh Chilean Sauvignon Blanc juice from Presque Isle Wine Cellars, be sure to also make space for a batch of Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg or a Sonoma Merlot.
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Available now — shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA
ENT-685 · Block 04A
27.9° Brix · pH 3.80 · TA 3.7 g/L · YAN 87 mg/L
Our smallest-berry 2026 Napa Cabernet, with a darker, earthier and more savory expression.
Read the ENT-685 Winemaking Guide →
https://winegrapesdirect.com/blog/2026-rutherford-cabernet-sauvignon-ent-685-winemaking-guide
View the ENT-685 ETS Analysis →
https://winegrapesdirect.com/blog/2026-rutherford-cabernet-sauvignon-ent-685-winemaking-guide#ets-analysis
Clone 7 · Block 08B
25.8° Brix · pH 3.82 · TA 3.7 g/L · YAN 123 mg/L
Read the Clone 7 Winemaking Guide →
https://winegrapesdirect.com/blog/2026-rutherford-cabernet-sauvignon-clone-7-winemaking-guide
View the Clone 7 ETS Report & Analysis →
https://winegrapesdirect.com/blog/2026-rutherford-cabernet-sauvignon-clone-7-winemaking-guide#ets-analysis
ETS report excerpt available in photos, or click here. Results are listed separately for each clone.
Harvested and destemmed: October 5, 2026
2026 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
– Alsace Vineyard
Located in Rutherford, Napa Valley, Alsace Vineyard offers Cabernet Sauvignon from two established vineyard blocks, giving winemakers the unusual opportunity to work with two different Cabernet selections from the same Rutherford estate.
Block 04A is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon ENT685 on 101-14 rootstock, established in 2009, while Block 08B is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 7 on 3309C rootstock, established in 2010.
With more than fifteen growing seasons behind them by the 2026 harvest, these are mature, established Cabernet vines from an appellation that has built its worldwide reputation around this variety.
The opportunity becomes even more interesting because the two blocks do not have to be viewed in isolation. Each can be made separately, or the two can be fermented independently and brought together at the blending bench, allowing the winemaker to explore how different Cabernet clones, rootstocks, and vineyard blocks contribute to the finished wine.
For those who want to take that experiment even further, our 2026 Rutherford program also includes Clone 169 Cabernet Sauvignon from McGah Family Heritage Vineyard, planted in 2019. Working with all three selections creates the opportunity to build a custom Rutherford Cabernet from three different clones and multiple vine ages, blending for fruit, aromatics, structure, texture, and complexity.
Few home winemakers ever get the opportunity to approach Cabernet Sauvignon this way.
Flavor Profile & Winemaking Potential
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon is celebrated for combining concentration and power with elegance, balance, and age-worthy structure.
Expect a dark-fruited profile centered around cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and dark plum, with the potential for layers of violet, graphite, cocoa, cedar, tobacco, earth, and warm spice as the wines develop.
The real excitement here, however, is the ability to work with two distinct Cabernet Sauvignon selections from mature Rutherford vines.
Clone, rootstock, vine age, vineyard position, fermentation, extraction, and élevage can all influence how each lot ultimately expresses itself. Keeping the two blocks separate through fermentation gives the winemaker the opportunity to taste each component on its own before deciding whether—and in what proportion—to bring them together.
Bottle one independently. Blend the two. Or incorporate our younger Clone 169 Rutherford Cabernet and explore all three side by side.
For the ambitious winemaker, this creates something particularly compelling: the ability to build a Cabernet Sauvignon blend within the variety itself, using multiple Cabernet selections to develop layers of fruit, aroma, tannin, texture, and structure before another Bordeaux variety ever enters the equation.
And, of course, these wines can also serve as the foundation for a broader Bordeaux-style blend. Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, or Petit Verdot can each be used to take the finished wine in an entirely different direction.
Why Rutherford Matters
Although Rutherford is one of Napa Valley’s smaller American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), it has long been regarded as one of the world’s premier regions for Bordeaux varieties—and particularly Cabernet Sauvignon.
Its combination of warm afternoons, cool evenings, and exceptionally well-drained gravelly soils consistently produces fruit with remarkable concentration, natural balance, and refined structure.
The appellation is famous for Cabernet possessing both power and elegance—ripe fruit supported by vibrant acidity, structured tannins, and the distinctive mineral and savory complexity associated with Rutherford.
For Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford remains one of Napa Valley’s great benchmarks.
Highlights
• Vineyard: Alsace Vineyard
• Appellation: Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Block 04A: ENT685 · 101-14 rootstock · planted 2009
• Block 08B: Clone 7 · 3309C rootstock · planted 2010
• Vine Age: Established mature plantings with more than 15 growing seasons by the 2026 harvest
• Flavor Potential: Cassis, blackberry, black cherry, dark plum, violet, graphite, cocoa, cedar, tobacco, earth, warm spice, and a long, structured finish
• Winemaking Potential: Craft either Cabernet selection independently or ferment separately and create your own two-clone Rutherford Cabernet blend
• Three-Clone Opportunity: Combine with our McGah Family Heritage Vineyard Clone 169 Cabernet Sauvignon for an opportunity to work with three distinct Rutherford Cabernet selections
• Blending Potential: Excellent as varietal Cabernet Sauvignon or as the foundation for blends incorporating Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, or Petit Verdot
Farming Practices
Weed Management
☐ No herbicides used
☑ Limited herbicide use (typically one targeted application per season)
☐ Mechanical weed control only
☐ Information not available
A rare opportunity to craft Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon from Alsace Vineyard.
Availability & Shipping
The 2026 harvest is complete. This Cabernet Sauvignon is available now and ships weekly from our Oregon distribution center. See the announcement at the top of our website for current shipment dates and order deadlines.
For shipping options and current terms, visit https://winegrapesdirect.com/shipping-returns. Shipment dates are not arrival dates; transit time depends on your destination and service.
Provenance Note
This product is made from fruit sourced from Alsace Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley: ENT-685 from Block 04A and Clone 7 from Block 08B. The vineyard name identifies the origin of the fruit and does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with the vineyard owner.
Available now — shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA
Brix: 27.4 | pH: 3.92 | TA: 3.6 g/L | YAN: 84 mg/L
ETS report excerpt available in photos, or click here.
Full ETS Analysis: See the complete laboratory results and our analysis of the 2026 must chemistry. View the ETS report & analysis →
Harvested and destemmed: October 5, 2026
2026 Winemaking Guide: See our complete Clone 169 winemaking guide for water-back, acid adjustment, yeast selection, fermentation, oak and aging. Check out the guide →
2026 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
– McGah Family Heritage Vineyard
Situated on Rutherford’s prized eastern bench near the Silverado Trail, McGah Family Heritage Vineyard occupies one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated growing regions. Here, warm afternoon sun, cool evening temperatures, and the appellation’s famous red and brown gravelly loam soils create ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon with remarkable concentration, structure, and balance.
If there is one variety inseparably associated with Rutherford, it is Cabernet Sauvignon. Some of Napa Valley’s most celebrated and age-worthy Cabernets have emerged from this small appellation, where well-drained benchland soils and a long, even growing season have proven exceptionally well suited to the variety.
This Clone 169 Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 2019, placing the vines at an exciting stage of development for the 2026 harvest. With seven growing seasons behind them, these are established vines—not a newly planted vineyard—yet they remain young enough to offer the vibrant, fruit-driven character that can make Cabernet Sauvignon particularly expressive in its earlier years.
Rather than the tertiary complexity associated with genuinely old vines, the attraction here is purity and intensity of fruit: Cabernet with the potential for generous cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and dark plum, backed by the natural structure and concentration of Rutherford.
The vineyard is farmed by Garvey Vineyard Management, whose meticulous attention to detail and sustainable farming practices have helped establish the McGah family vineyards among Napa Valley’s premier sites. Wines produced from McGah family fruit have earned 100-point scores, reflecting the exceptional quality of both the terroir and the farming.
This is classic Rutherford territory, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon at an age that offers winemakers an exciting combination of established vines, expressive fruit, and serious winemaking potential.
Flavor Profile & Winemaking Potential
Expect a deeply colored Cabernet Sauvignon built around cassis, blackberry, black cherry, and dark plum, with the potential for layers of violet, graphite, cocoa, cedar, tobacco, and warm spice as the wine develops.
Clone 169 is a respected Cabernet Sauvignon selection capable of producing concentrated, structured wines with excellent color and dark-fruit character. Combined with Rutherford’s warm days, cool evenings, and well-drained benchland soils, this fruit offers the raw material for a Cabernet that emphasizes ripe fruit, concentration, freshness, and structure.
Made on its own, it has the potential to produce a beautifully fruit-driven Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with the tannin and balance necessary for development in the cellar.
It also opens up tremendous possibilities at the blending bench.
Merlot can add softness and breadth. Malbec can contribute plush dark fruit and floral character. Tannat offers another level of fruit expression, aromatics, color, and structure, while Petit Verdot can bring additional depth, spice, color, and tannin.
For winemakers interested in exploring Cabernet itself, this Clone 169 can also be blended with Cabernet Sauvignon from other nearby plantings and different clones, including older vines. Combining Cabernet from different clones and vine ages offers an opportunity to build additional layers of aroma, fruit, structure, and complexity while still keeping Cabernet Sauvignon at the center of the finished wine.
Whether bottled as a single-clone Rutherford Cabernet, incorporated into a Bordeaux-style blend, or combined with other Cabernet selections to create a custom cuvée, this fruit gives the winemaker an exceptional foundation to work from.
Why Rutherford Matters
Although Rutherford is one of Napa Valley’s smaller American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), it has long been regarded as one of the world’s premier regions for Bordeaux varieties. Its combination of warm afternoons, cool evenings, and exceptionally well-drained gravelly bench soils consistently produces fruit with remarkable concentration, natural balance, and refined structure.
The appellation is famous for wines possessing both power and elegance—ripe fruit supported by vibrant acidity, silky tannins, and the distinctive mineral complexity often associated with Rutherford’s historic bench vineyards.
Finding Tannat grown in this pedigree is exceptionally rare.
Highlights
• Vineyard: McGah Family Heritage Vineyard
• Appellation: Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Clone: 169
• Rootstock: 039-16
• Planted: 2019
• Vine Age at 2026 Harvest: Seven growing seasons
• Farming: Sustainably farmed by Garvey Vineyard Management
• Flavor Potential: Cassis, blackberry, black cherry, dark plum, violet, graphite, cocoa, cedar, tobacco, warm spice, and a long, structured finish
• Winemaking Potential: Excellent as a fruit-driven varietal Cabernet, the foundation of a Bordeaux-style blend, or as a component in a multi-clone Cabernet Sauvignon cuvée
• Blending Potential: Particularly compelling alongside Merlot, Malbec, Tannat, Petit Verdot, or Cabernet Sauvignon from other clones and vine ages
• Vineyard Pedigree: Wines produced from McGah Family vineyards have earned 100-point scores
Farming Practices
Weed Management
☐ No herbicides used
☑ Limited herbicide use (typically one targeted application per season)
☐ Mechanical weed control only
☐ Information not available
Extremely limited. A rare opportunity to craft Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Napa Valley’s most respected family vineyard estates.
Shipping & availability
Available now and shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center. See our current shipping and delivery details for order cutoffs and delivery options.
Provenance Note
This product is made from fruit sourced from McGah Family Heritage Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The vineyard name is used solely to identify the factual origin of the fruit and does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with the vineyard owner.
Available now — shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA
Brix: 33.6 | pH: 3.75 | TA: 4.5 g/L | YAN: 96 mg/L
ETS report available in photos, or click here.
Full ETS Analysis: See the complete 2026 laboratory results and our breakdown of the Tannat’s Brix, pH, TA, YAN, potassium and other key chemistry. View the ETS report & analysis →
Harvested and destemmed: October 6, 2026
2026 Winemaking Guide: This Tannat came in at an extraordinary 33.6° Brix, giving you several interesting directions—from a powerful dry red to naturally sweet or Port-style wine. Our full guide covers water-back, acid adjustment, yeast, nutrients, extraction, oak, aging and more. Read the full Tannat winemaking guide →
2026 Rutherford Tannat - McGah Family Heritage Vineyard
Situated on Rutherford’s prized eastern bench near the Silverado Trail, McGah Family Heritage Vineyard occupies one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated growing regions. Here, warm afternoon sun, cool evening temperatures, and the appellation’s famous red and brown gravelly loam soils create ideal conditions for producing fruit with remarkable concentration, structure, and balance.
While Rutherford has earned its worldwide reputation through Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat is an extraordinarily unusual find in this appellation. Most Rutherford acreage is devoted to Cabernet and other established Bordeaux varieties, making this Clone 01.1 Tannat, planted in 2022 on 039-16 rootstock, a rare opportunity for winemakers looking to create something genuinely different from Napa Valley fruit.
The vineyard is farmed by Garvey Vineyard Management, whose meticulous attention to detail and sustainable farming practices have helped establish the McGah family vineyards among Napa Valley’s premier sites. Wines produced from McGah family fruit have earned 100-point scores, reflecting the exceptional quality of both the terroir and the farming.
But what makes this fruit particularly exciting is what Tannat can bring to the cellar.
Tannat is intensely expressive—deeply colored, highly aromatic, fruit-driven, and naturally structured. It can produce a compelling varietal wine on its own, but it may be even more exciting in the hands of a winemaker looking for a powerful blending component.
Have you ever finished a Bordeaux-style blend and wished it had just a little more fruit? More aroma? More color? More presence in the glass? Tannat may be the missing piece.
Flavor Profile & Winemaking Potential
Tannat is a grape of remarkable intensity. It naturally delivers deep color, concentrated fruit, pronounced aromatics, and substantial tannin, giving winemakers an unusually broad palette to work with.
Expect a dark-fruited profile built around blackberry, black cherry, black plum, blueberry, and dark raspberry, accompanied by floral and savory notes that can develop toward violet, cocoa, spice, graphite, and earth as the wine matures.
Its natural structure makes Tannat capable of producing a serious, age-worthy varietal wine. But its blending potential is where things get especially interesting.
For Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends, Tannat can provide an infusion of ripe fruit, aromatic intensity, color, texture, and structure. A wine that feels slightly restrained aromatically can gain another dimension. A Cabernet-dominant blend that needs more fruit expression can gain richness and generosity. And its extraordinary pigment can deepen the visual intensity of the finished wine.
In other words, Tannat gives a winemaker another lever to pull.
It can complement Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and other structured reds, allowing the winemaker to experiment at blending trials and determine exactly how much additional fruit, aroma, color, and structure the finished wine needs.
And from Rutherford, the possibilities become particularly compelling. Warm Napa Valley days encourage generous fruit development, while cool evenings and well-drained benchland soils help preserve balance and structure.
Make it entirely on its own. Put a portion into your favorite Bordeaux blend. Or keep a few gallons separate until blending day and see what happens.
For winemakers who love experimenting at the blending bench, Tannat is an exceptionally interesting tool to have in the cellar.
Why Rutherford Matters
Although Rutherford is one of Napa Valley’s smaller American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), it has long been regarded as one of the world’s premier regions for Bordeaux varieties. Its combination of warm afternoons, cool evenings, and exceptionally well-drained gravelly bench soils consistently produces fruit with remarkable concentration, natural balance, and refined structure.
The appellation is famous for wines possessing both power and elegance—ripe fruit supported by vibrant acidity, silky tannins, and the distinctive mineral complexity often associated with Rutherford’s historic bench vineyards.
Finding Tannat grown in this pedigree is exceptionally rare.
Highlights
• Vineyard: McGah Family Heritage Vineyard
• Appellation: Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
• Varietal: Tannat
• Clone: 01.1
• Planted: 2022
• Rootstock: 039-16
• Farming: Sustainably farmed by Garvey Vineyard Management
• Flavor Potential: Blackberry, black cherry, black plum, blueberry, dark raspberry, violet, cocoa, graphite, earth, spice, deep color, and pronounced aromatics
• Winemaking Potential: Exceptional stand-alone varietal or blending component for adding fruit expression, aromatics, color, texture, and structure to Bordeaux-style and other red blends
• Vineyard Pedigree: Wines produced from McGah Family vineyards have earned 100-point scores
Farming Practices
Weed Management
☐ No herbicides used
☑ Limited herbicide use (typically one targeted application per season)
☐ Mechanical weed control only
☐ Information not available
Extremely limited. A rare opportunity to craft Rutherford Tannat from one of Napa Valley’s most respected family vineyard estates.
Shipping & availability
Available now and shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center. See our current shipping and delivery details for order cutoffs and delivery options.
Provenance Note
This product is made from fruit sourced from McGah Family Heritage Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The vineyard name is used solely to identify the factual origin of the fruit and does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with the vineyard owner.
Available now — shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA
Brix: 30.5 | pH: 4.07 | TA: 3.9 g/L | YAN: 155 mg/L
ETS report excerpts available in photos, or click here. Both sections are included to show all Malbec results.
Harvested and destemmed: October 6, 2026
2026 Rutherford Malbec - McGah Family Heritage Vineyard
Situated on Rutherford’s prized eastern bench near the Silverado Trail, McGah Family Heritage Vineyard occupies one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated growing regions. Here, warm afternoon sun, cool evening temperatures, and the appellation’s famous red and brown gravelly loam soils create ideal conditions for producing fruit with remarkable concentration, structure, and balance.
While Rutherford has earned its worldwide reputation through Cabernet Sauvignon, exceptional Malbec from this appellation is remarkably uncommon. Most growers dedicate nearly every available acre to Cabernet because of its extraordinary value, making this Clone 9 Malbec, planted in 2020 on 039-16 rootstock, a rare opportunity to craft a truly distinctive Napa Valley wine.
The vineyard is farmed by Garvey Vineyard Management, whose meticulous attention to detail and sustainable farming practices have helped establish the McGah family vineyards among Napa Valley’s premier sites. Wines produced from McGah family fruit have earned 100-point scores, reflecting the exceptional quality of both the terroir and the farming.
This is Rutherford through the lens of Malbec—a combination seldom offered to home winemakers.
Flavor Profile & Winemaking Potential
Malbec naturally produces deeply colored wines with generous fruit, rich texture, and impressive aging potential. Combined with Rutherford’s warm days, cool nights, and well-drained benchland soils, this fruit has the potential to produce wines of remarkable depth, elegance, and longevity.
Expect expressive aromas and flavors of blackberry, black plum, black cherry, ripe blueberry, and dark raspberry, layered with notes of violet, cocoa, espresso, graphite, warm baking spice, and subtle earth. The vineyard’s gravelly Rutherford soils contribute beautifully refined tannins, natural structure, and a lingering mineral character that carries through the finish.
Compared with Malbec from cooler regions, Rutherford fruit tends to deliver greater richness and concentration while maintaining freshness and balance. The resulting wine should be deeply colored with a luxurious mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a finish that continues to evolve in the glass.
Whether crafted as a varietal wine or incorporated into a Bordeaux-style blend, this fruit offers exceptional versatility. As a stand-alone Malbec, it promises richness, complexity, and age-worthy structure. In blends, it contributes vibrant color, plush texture, floral aromatics, and concentrated dark fruit.
Why Rutherford Matters
Although Rutherford is one of Napa Valley’s smaller American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), it has long been regarded as one of the world’s premier regions for Bordeaux varieties. Its combination of warm afternoons, cool evenings, and exceptionally well-drained gravelly bench soils consistently produces fruit with remarkable concentration, natural balance, and refined structure.
The appellation is famous for wines possessing both power and elegance—ripe fruit supported by vibrant acidity, silky tannins, and the distinctive mineral complexity often associated with Rutherford’s historic bench vineyards.
Finding Malbec grown in this pedigree is exceptionally rare.
Highlights
Vineyard: McGah Family Heritage Vineyard
Appellation: Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
Varietal: Malbec
Clone: 9
Planted: 2020
Rootstock: 039-16
Farming: Sustainably farmed by Garvey Vineyard Management
Flavor Potential: Blackberry, black plum, black cherry, blueberry, dark raspberry, violet, cocoa, espresso, graphite, earth, warm spice, and a long, fine-tannin finish
Retail Comparison: Wines produced from McGah Family vineyards have earned 100-point scores
Farming Practices
Weed Management
☐ No herbicides used
☑ Limited herbicide use (typically one targeted application per season)
☐ Mechanical weed control only
☐ Information not available
Extremely limited. A rare opportunity to craft Rutherford Malbec from one of Napa Valley’s most respected family vineyard estates.
Shipping & availability
Available now and shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center. See our current shipping and delivery details for order cutoffs and delivery options.
Provenance Note
This product is made from fruit sourced from McGah Family Heritage Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The vineyard name is used solely to identify the factual origin of the fruit and does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with the vineyard owner.
Available now — shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA
Brix: 27.0 , pH: 3.64 , TA: 3.5 , YAN: 99 mg/L
(Full ETS Lab Report in photos)
Harvested and destemmed: October 13th, 2025
Want to know exactly how to make this Merlot? From yeast choice to nutrients, oak, and fermentation tips, we’ve put together a step-by-step winemaker’s guide.Read the full guide here.
2025 Alsace Vineyard Merlot
A Rare Expression from Rutherford’s Alsace Vineyard
Just north of Oakville and bordering the Silverado Trail, Alsace Vineyard lies within one of Rutherford’s most prized corridors of red and brown gravelly loam. These well-drained soils and optimal sun exposure yield fruit that balances power with precision — the hallmark of this legendary AVA.
Under the meticulous care of Garvey Vineyard Management, the 2019-planted Clone 15 Merlot ripens evenly, developing deep tones of plum, blackberry, and earthy spice while maintaining freshness and structure. The result is a modern, poised expression of Rutherford Merlot — rich in character yet refined in texture.
Renowned among Napa insiders, Alsace Vineyard has produced wines earning up to 99 points (Wine Spectator) and 97 points (Robert Parker), cementing its reputation as one of the region’s elite sites. Here, warm afternoon sun, cool nighttime air, and the area’s distinctive “dusty” minerality converge to craft fruit with depth, elegance, and unmistakable Rutherford pedigree.
Flavor Profile & Winemaking Potential
The berries are loaded with dark fruit and plum, blackberry, and black cherry flavors, supported by classic earth and spice notes. For Merlot, the fruit shows an unusually vivid, spicy character that adds complexity without losing balance.
Expect excellent tannic structure and enough natural acidity to produce wines with richness, grip, and age-worthy depth — ideal for winemakers seeking a bold yet refined Rutherford Merlot.
Highlights
Vineyard: Alsace Vineyard, Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
Varietal: Merlot (Clone 15)
Planted: 2019
Soils: Red and brown gravelly loam with excellent drainage
Farming: Sustainable and fish-friendly, managed by Garvey Vineyard Management
Flavor potential: Plum, blackberry, spice, herbs, earth, and long fine-tannin finish
Retail comparison: Finished wines from this vineyard have earned up to 99 points (Wine Spectator) and 97 points (Robert Parker)
Extremely limited. Singular to Rutherford.
Provenance Note: This product is made from fruit sourced from Alsace Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The vineyard name is used here for factual origin reference only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA
Brix: 25.2 , pH: 3.81 , TA: 3.6 , YAN: 100 mg/L
(Full ETS Lab Report in photos or CLICK HERE)
Harvested and destemmed: October 13th
Want to know exactly how to make this Petite Verdot? From yeast choice to nutrients, oak, and fermentation tips, we’ve put together a step-by-step winemaker’s guide.Read the full guide here.
2025 Alsace Vineyard Petit Verdot
A Rare Expression from Rutherford’s Alsace Vineyard
From Rutherford’s acclaimed Alsace Vineyard — where wines have earned up to 99 points from Wine Spectator and 97 from Robert Parker — this limited release offers a rare opportunity to work with fruit from one of Napa Valley’s most distinguished vineyards.
The Vineyard
Nestled along the eastern side of Napa Valley just north of Oakville and bordering the Silverado Trail, Alsace Vineyard stands as a cornerstone of Rutherford’s legendary terroir.
Here, red and brown gravelly loam soils with excellent drainage meet warm afternoon sun and cool nighttime air, yielding small, intensely flavored berries with remarkable concentration and balance. The result: fruit that captures Rutherford’s hallmark “dusty” elegance and polished texture vintage after vintage.
Farming & Clone
Planted in 2009 and managed by Garvey Vineyard Management under sustainable, fish-friendly practices, the ENT400 Petit Verdot clone thrives in this site’s ideal microclimate. Loose, open clusters and small, thick-skinned berries deliver exceptional color density and layered aromatics.
Precise canopy management ensures even ripening and vibrant natural acidity, while balanced sunlight exposure creates structure without harshness — a hallmark of expertly farmed Rutherford fruit.
Flavor Profile
This Rutherford Petit Verdot produces a deeply saturated, dark-hued must with compelling aromatic intensity. Expect primary notes of dark cherry and dark chocolate, framed by a vivid violet tone distinctive to the ENT400 clone.
Firm yet polished tannins and bright acidity provide the backbone for wines that are complex, concentrated, and elegant — suitable for blending or as a powerful standalone expression.
Subtle graphite and classic Rutherford dust linger on the finish, uniting fruit, spice, and minerality in a seamless expression of place.
Highlights
• Vineyard: Alsace Vineyard, Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
• Varietal: Petit Verdot (Clone ENT400)
• Planted: 2009
• Soils: Red and brown gravelly loam with excellent drainage
• Farming: Sustainable and fish-friendly, managed by Garvey Vineyard Management
• Critical pedigree: Wines from this vineyard have earned up to 99 points (Wine Spectator) and 97 points (Robert Parker)
• Retail comparison: Finished wines from this vineyard retail for $64/bottle
Extremely limited. Singular to Rutherford.
Provenance Note: This product is made from fruit sourced from Alsace Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The vineyard name is used here for factual origin reference only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Calistoga AVA, Napa Valley, CA
Clone 7:
Brix: 23.5 , pH: 3.95 , TA: 2.8 , YAN: 66 mg/L
Clone 337:
Brix: 23.3 , pH: 3.83 , TA: 2.9 , YAN: 60 mg/L
(Full ETS Lab Report in photos)
Harvested October 13th, 2025
Want to know exactly how to make this Cabernet Sauvignon? From yeast choice to nutrients, oak, and fermentation tips, we’ve put together a step-by-step winemaker’s guide. Read the full guide here.
A Hidden Gem of Northern Napa
Known to insiders as “The Calistoga,” this single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a confidential northern Napa site whose fruit is prized by leading wineries, with finished bottles retailing for up to $170 each. Its reputation for a dark, layered Cabernet with Calistoga power and a mineral spine has made it one of the most sought-after vineyard sources in the valley.
Climate & Vintage Character
Planted in early 2000s on volcanic benchland soils, this vineyard rises between close to 600 feet in elevation. The gravelly and cobbly loam terrain provides perfect drainage while holding a whisper of subsurface moisture from the nearby hills. The result is fruit of remarkable concentration, depth, and natural balance.
Clonal Composition
Two limited blocks are offered this year, each expressing a different facet of the site’s character:
Clone 7 (CS7)
→ Delivers the classic Napa backbone: deep color, cassis, and firm, age-worthy tannins.
Clone 337 (CS337)
→ Brings perfume and precision: violet, plum, graphite, and silky texture.
Together, they form a Cabernet that marries power with finesse, showing dark fruit, cocoa, and a lingering mineral finish emblematic of northern Napa’s volcanic benchlands.
Highlights
Calistoga AVA volcanic benchland terroir
Sustainable, fish-friendly farming practices
Balanced blend of Clone 7 and Clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon
Cool 2025 vintage with lifted aromatics and refined structure
Single-vineyard Napa fruit sourced from a confidential, world-class site
Photos coming soon — we’re working directly with the vineyard team to provide approved imagery.
Extremely limited. Singular to Calistoga.
Each pail includes 5.25 gallons of grape juice
Product will arrive partially frozen
Sonoma Coast AVA, Sonoma Valley, CA
Brix: 24.1 , pH: 3.68 , TA: 4.8 g/L , YAN: 215 mg/L
(Full ETS Lab Report in photos or simply CLICK HERE)
Harvest September 26th, 2025
Durell Vineyard - Planted 1980-1990
Durell Vineyard is one of the crown jewels of Sonoma Chardonnay, where the borders of Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Valley, and Carneros meet. First planted in 1979, the vineyard’s 160 acres of vines draw from a rich mosaic of soils — gravelly Los Robles in the flats, cobbly Tuscan and Goulding loams on the slopes, with pockets of Clear Lake clay in between. Winds from the Pacific and San Pablo Bay temper the valley warmth, stretching the season and creating fruit of both richness and lift.
This release is a true dual expression of Durell Chardonnay, composed in equal parts from Clone 95 and the rare Rued selection. The two were harvested at different ripeness levels — one at higher Brix, one at lower — layering ripe, concentrated flavors over fresh, vibrant tones. Clone 95 contributes depth and texture, with fig, dried fruit, and a broad mouthfeel accented by flinty minerality. Rued brings an aromatic lift of floral notes, stone fruit, and subtle muscat-like tropicality. Grown on contrasting soils, elevations, and sun exposures, the two clones come together to produce a wine that is at once powerful and precise: ripe yet bright, complex yet balanced, finishing with energy and elegance.
Access to fruit of this caliber is a rarity. Durell supplies some of California’s most prestigious Chardonnay producers — names like Three Sticks, DeLoach, Kistler, Sojourn, Scribe, Dunstan, La Crema, Banshee, and Auteur — whose wines from this vineyard retail from $50 to $180 per bottle. To secure frozen juice from Durell is to step directly into that lineage, if only for a brief season. Extremely limited. Singular to Durell.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Contra Costa County, California
Brix: 24.6 , pH: 3.80 , TA: 3.3 g/L , YAN: NA mg/L
(Just click through photos for ETS Lab Report or CLICK HERE)
Harvested September 11th, 2025
Planted in 2005
Sandy Lane Vineyard is renowned for its ancient vines—own-rooted, head-trained, and dry-farmed plantings that date back to 1888. These historic vines grow in forty-foot-deep granitic beach sand along the Sacramento River Delta, where steady Delta breezes shape wines of purity, depth, and a true sense of place.
The Grenache block offered here is the one exception. Rather than being from the 1880s, it was replanted in 2005 after yield declines in the original vines. Even so, it shares the same soils, exposure, and dry-farming practices as the old blocks. The result is Grenache that carries Sandy Lane’s unmistakable character—fine-grained tannins, brightness, and concentration—expressed through the vigor of younger vines.
Expect lifted aromatics and flavors of wild strawberry, red plum, white pepper, dried herbs, and subtle earthiness. The sandy soils bring a transparent structure, while the younger vine age adds freshness and approachability. It’s not “ancient vine” in age, but it’s very much Sandy Lane in spirit.
Sandy Lane borders the famed Evangelho Vineyard (now farmed by Bedrock Wine Co.) and has supplied fruit to Ridge Vineyards and other top producers. This Grenache represents a rare opportunity to explore a newer planting within a legendary vineyard.
Quantities are extremely limited.
Available now — shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center.
Each pail includes 5 gallons of grape must
Product will arrive partially frozen.
Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA
Brix: 28.9 | pH: 3.87 | TA: 3.7 g/L | YAN: 91 mg/L
ETS report excerpt available in photos, or click here.
Harvested and destemmed: October 6, 2026
2026 Alsace Vineyard Merlot
A Rare Expression from Rutherford’s Alsace Vineyard
Just north of Oakville and bordering the Silverado Trail, Alsace Vineyard lies within one of Rutherford’s most prized corridors of red and brown gravelly loam. These well-drained soils and optimal sun exposure yield fruit that balances power with precision — the hallmark of this legendary AVA.
Under the meticulous care of Garvey Vineyard Management, the 2019-planted Clone 15 Merlot ripens evenly, developing deep tones of plum, blackberry, and earthy spice while maintaining freshness and structure. The result is a modern, poised expression of Rutherford Merlot — rich in character yet refined in texture.
Renowned among Napa insiders, Alsace Vineyard has produced wines earning up to 99 points (Wine Spectator) and 97 points (Robert Parker), cementing its reputation as one of the region’s elite sites. Here, warm afternoon sun, cool nighttime air, and the area’s distinctive “dusty” minerality converge to craft fruit with depth, elegance, and unmistakable Rutherford pedigree.
Flavor Profile & Winemaking Potential
The berries are loaded with dark fruit and plum, blackberry, and black cherry flavors, supported by classic earth and spice notes. For Merlot, the fruit shows an unusually vivid, spicy character that adds complexity without losing balance.
Expect excellent tannic structure and enough natural acidity to produce wines with richness, grip, and age-worthy depth — ideal for winemakers seeking a bold yet refined Rutherford Merlot.
Highlights
Vineyard: Alsace Vineyard, Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley
Varietal: Merlot (Clone 15)
Planted: 2019
Soils: Red and brown gravelly loam with excellent drainage
Farming: Sustainable and fish-friendly, managed by Garvey Vineyard Management
Flavor potential: Plum, blackberry, spice, herbs, earth, and long fine-tannin finish
Retail comparison: Finished wines from this vineyard have earned up to 99 points (Wine Spectator) and 97 points (Robert Parker)
Extremely limited. Singular to Rutherford.
Farming Practices
Weed Management
☐ No herbicides used
☑ Limited herbicide use (typically one targeted application per season)
☐ Mechanical weed control only
☐ Information not available
Shipping & availability
Available now and shipping weekly from our Oregon distribution center. See our current shipping and delivery details for order cutoffs and delivery options.
Provenance Note: This product is made from fruit sourced from Alsace Vineyard in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The vineyard name is used here for factual origin reference only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation.