The 2001 vintage was ideal for the inaugural release. June was very hot followed by ideal months of warm weather. Due to these perfect conditions, the grapes had thicker skins, smaller berries and explosive flavors. Since all the Hewitt grapes were picked from a single block, the oldest in the vineyard, we were able to harvest all in one day at peak maturity. We used our best French barrels, racked quarterly and let the wine age  for  18 months before bottling. The classic "Rutherford Dust" aromas and flavors of chocolate, dried herbs and mocha are joined by Hewitt Vineyard's signature clove, vanilla and black cherry. Overall flavors of cassis and cocoa are unmistakable, and the silky, black fruit finish goes on forever.

Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon 

Barrel Aging: 18 months in 100% French oak of which 70% was new

Alcohol: I4.5%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi

Wine Spectator 93 points

“Sleek, rich and concentrated, with a purity of flavors that are tight and focused, with tiers of currant, blackberry, cedar, anise and fresh loamy earth, finishing with a long, complex, persistent aftertaste and ripe integrated tannins. “ - Wine Spectator James Laube

The 2002 vintage in Rutherford was ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. Mild summer weather was consistent with warm days and cool nights. Heat spikes in August and September accelerated ripening and produced smaller berries, concentrating flavors. Extra hangtime allowed us to pick at optimal ripeness.

Our 2002 Hewitt Vineyard wine comes from the vineyard's oldest plantings. There is more   intensity of fruit than the previous vintage, showcasing Hewitt Vineyard's signature clove, vanilla and black cherry aromas combined with that classic "Rutherford Dust" in a bright and snappy version. Exotic plum and layers of cassis go on for a long, satisfying finish.

Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon 

Barrel Aging: 19 months in 100% French oak

Alcohol: I4.9%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi

Wine Enthusiast – 92 points:

Sumptuously intense fruit, fine toasted oak, and lush, smooth tannins all come together in this dramatic wine. It’s a wonder of modern Napa Valley, offering delicious cassis, chocolate, and cherry flavors, with enough acidity for balance.

The 2003 vintage started out with warm weather in March, which was followed by rainy and cold weather in April. Warm weather accelerated the earliest part of harvest, but the Cabernet Sauvignon ripened slowly with lovely mature flavors.

This vintage comes from the vineyard's oldest plantings. This wine is a beautiful deep ruby-red color.  Juniper berry, sandalwood, sweet maple, and spice enhance initial aromas of black olive and pomegranate. They open to concentrated chocolate fudge, rum raisin, butterscotch and cedar. Fine-grained tannins in the mouth combine with cassis, toffee and plum-pie flavors interspersed with rosemary and lavender. The finish is long and luxurious.

Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon 

Barrel Aging: 18 months in 60% new oak of which 90% was French and 10% Hungarian

Alcohol: I4.9%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi

Wine Enthusiast 91 points

Ripe, soft, and polished, this is one of those Cabernets that feels fancy and upscale in the mouth. Mainly that comes from the quality of the tannins, which are refined and sweet, and the flavors, which are a combination of blackberry, ripe grapes, and new oak.

The 2004 season got off to an early start, with no spring frost. Due to the previous year's rains, crop load was reduced-this is very positive for grape quality. An extended heat spell in August compacted the harvest, producing perfectly ripe grapes.  The 2004 shows classic "Rutherford Dust" flavors of milk chocolate and cocoa powder with maple, toffee and cigar box aromas. The wine is fruit-driven with lush black-cherry and blackberry jam notes.   This lovely wine is unique in that this vintage represents the entire Hewitt Vineyard, not just one or two blocks.

Varietal Composition :  99 % Cabernet Sauvignon I % Petit Verdot

Barrel Aging:  18 months in 60% new oak of which 50% was French, 8% Hungarian and 2 % American

Alcohol: I5.3%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi

Wine Spectator 93 points

"Tight, firm, concentrated and well-focused, with a complex range of earthy currant, herb, anise, sage and cedary oak. The finish pulls it all together, with a wonderful aftertaste that homes in on the fruit and tannins.

The extraordinarily long hangtime of the 2005 vintage developed fully mature Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, with balanced acidity and supple tannins. Heavy winter rains during vine dormancy gave way to a dry, mild March.  Significant rains returned in April and May, delaying bloom and berry set. Summer temperatures were desirably mild, with few heat spikes.  Deep black-cherry, blackberry and plum character is richly layered with nuances of black licorice, dark chocolate, clove spice and cedar forest.

 The complex, expansive flavors are framed by cocoa powder tannins (classic Rutherford Dust) that give a plush, yet muscular, structure. The smooth, graceful finish lingers with hints of toffee and espresso.

Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Barrel Aging:  22 months in 54 % new French oak  

Alcohol: I5.3%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi

Wine Spectator 94 points

“Intense and concentrated, big and expressive, with layers of ripe currant, plum, sage, pencil lead and black cherry, all flowing rather seamlessly.  Tightly focused, this is rich without being heavy, ending with a long, persistent finish.” -Wine Spectator James Laube’s Top-Scoring California Cabernets

The long and rewarding 2006 harvest is considered one of the best of the decade. The ideal vine balance (leaf-to-fruit ratio) promoted slow, even fruit ripening and a relaxed harvest. Berry size was smaller than average in Rutherford, leading to intense, highly structured wines. Even in the early stages of development, this Cabernet Sauvignon shows amazing depth, flavor concentration and velvety tannins.  With intense layers of dark fruit, bitter­ sweet chocolate, black licorice, clove spice, mineral and cedar, this is one of Napa Valley's most voluptuous Cabernet Sauvignons.  The palate is rich and complex, packed with sweet black cherry, plum and blackberry character that tones down the muscular entry. Malted cocoa powder tannins (classic Rutherford Dust) frame the expansive flavors, enhancing the wine's plush, opulent texture. The elegant, fruit-imbued finish lingers with espresso, toffee and nutmeg.

Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Barrel Aging:   I9 months in Ioo% French oak, 50% new

Alcohol:  I4.8%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi

Wine Spectator 92 points

“Intense and full-blown, rich and concentrated, with a rustic, earthy edge to the dried currant, sage and underbrush notes. The depth and dimension of the flavors are cloaked in chewy tannins, requiring time to unfold.” - Wine Spectator

The 2007 vintage gave our Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon an explosive fruit expression of ripe berry, black cherry and juicy plum character that is awesome," says Winemaker Tom Rinaldi. Dark fruit, mineral and floral notes meld with bittersweet chocolate and toffee from oak aging. The enticing violet note, which we don't see in other Rutherford vineyards, is part of Hewitt Vineyard's unique personality. The muscular tannins carry the flavors through a long finish, while balanced acidity gives a vibrancy that is sometimes lacking in powerful Cabs.

Varietal Composition :  100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol: I4.8%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi 

Wine Spectator 92 points

 Offers ripe, supple plum and currant flavors, with notes of smoky oak, crushed rock, graphite and loamy earth and touches of tobacco and cedar. Full-bodied, with a layered finish. – James Laube

Our 2008 Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon brims with sumptuous layers of crème de cassis, brambly olallieberry, black cherry and satsuma plum. Nuances of black licorice, chocolate, rum raisin, mineral and sweet vanilla-oak and clove spices weave through the dark-fruit expression of the aromas and then persist on the rich, long black-cherry finish. “This wine’s dynamic tannins are built for distance,” says Winemaker Tom Rinaldi. “We fermented part of the wine in new French oak barrels to produce plusher, more integrated tannins, while keeping its great structure and aging potential.”  Tom selected rows of his favorite vines within Hewitt Vineyard to make this single-vineyard bottling.

Varietal Composition:   100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Barrel Aging:   20 months, 100% French oak, 71% new barrels

Alcohol: 14.8%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi 

Wine Spectator 93 points

Firm mineral, cedar and dusty earth notes frame the ripe currant, plum and blackberry scents. Full-bodied, intense, and concentrated, gaining depth and nuance on the long, potent finish. – James Laube

Intense and expressive, the 2009 Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon reveals lush olallieberry, satsuma plum, crème de cassis and ripe Rainier cherry character. Nuances of bittersweet chocolate, violet, mountain sage, nutmeg and toffee complete the multilayered aromas and flavors. “This wine’s complexity of flavors and graceful balance reflect the delightful 2009 vintage,” says Winemaker Tom Rinaldi. “The mouth-coating, fine-grained tannins provide vibrancy to the flavors midpalate and then turn plush on the expansive finish, inviting another sip.”

Varietal Composition :   96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot

Barrel Aging:  23 months, 100% French oak, 82% new barrels

Alcohol:  14.8%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi 

Wine Spectator 92  points

"Firm, dense and chewy, this is a big style that will require some patience, but there’s a wonderful core of blackberry, currant and black cherry that’s extracted and persistent." – James Laube

Napa Valley’s 2010 vintage will be remembered as having a notably cool growing season, with the latest onset to harvest in several decades. Summer’s cold nights, dipping to the 40s and 50s, really set the grapes’ deep colors, flavors and balance. Mother Nature surprised us with heat spells to boost the grapes’ flavors and sugar levels. The Winemaker reported that the grapes’ quality was “as good as it gets.”

Fabulous layers of ripe blackberry-and- black currant jam, dark Bing cherry and satsuma plum saturate the aromas and flavors. Nuances of bittersweet chocolate, rum-raisin (a classic Hewitt terroir expression) and violet (from Petit Verdot) add complexity.

Varietal Composition: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot
Barrel Aging:  22 months, 100% French oak, 77% new barrels
Alcohol: I5.3%
Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi

Wine Spectator 96 points

"Ranked #4 on Top 100 Wines of 2013, Highly Recommended. Deliciously pure, rich and deep, featuring tiers of spicy red berry, blackberry and red and black licorice flavors, with pretty wilted rose scents and a long seamless finish that slowly reveals an underlying tannic grip. Drink now through 2026.”  – James Laube

The persistently cool 2011 vintage decreased yields in Napa Valley, but the remaining grapes ripened slowly, achieving delicious flavors and ripe tannins from the long hangtime. While produced in small quantity, our Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon proves that this temperate vintage produced many exceptional wines with excellent structure and flavor complexity. The wine’s dense core of blackberry, Satsuma plum, black Bing cherry and cassis reveals gorgeous notes of bittersweet chocolate, violet, sarsaparilla and forest earthiness. The firm entry turns plush on the expansive midpalate, while balanced acidity brightens the intense dark-fruit flavors. Warm caramel and mocha notes from new French oak barrels permeate the inviting aromas, richly textured flavors and lengthy finish. The long hangtime of 2011 slowly ripened and softened the grape tannins, making this wine marvelously approachable, yet cellar worthy.

Varietal Composition:  92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot

Barrel Aging: 23 months, 100% French oak, 70% new barrels

Alcohol: 14.9%

Winemaker:  Tom Rinaldi 

Wine Spectator 88 points

A dense, sturdy effort, firmly tannic, richly extracted and built around dark berry, currant, smoke, cedar and tobacco flavors. Ends with crushed rock-laced tannins. – James Laube

The relaxed, high-quality 2012 harvest was a winemaker’s dream. The ideal growing season—well-timed rains, no frost during budbreak, and perfect weather for bloom, berry-set and ripening—was textbook Napa Valley. Long stretches of sunny days coupled with foggy nights gave our 2012 wines exceptionally rich, expressive flavors and impeccable balance.  Reflecting the fabulous 2012 vintage, Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon offers abundant, complex dark-fruit expression; ripe tannins and impeccable balance. Its yin-yang qualities of being powerful—yet refined, soft and approachable—speak to the terroir of Hewitt Vineyard and gentle winemaking. The wine’s dense core of blackberry, Satsuma plum, black Bing cherry and cassis reveals gorgeous notes of bittersweet chocolate, violet and sarsaparilla. The firm entry turns plush on the expansive midpalate, while focused acidity brightens the intense dark-fruit flavors. Warm ginger, hazelnut and mocha notes from new French oak barrels permeate the seductive aromas, opulently textured flavors and broad, lingering fruit finish.

Varietal Composition:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Barrel Aging:    21 months 100% French oak   70% new barrels
Alcohol: 14.9 %

Winemaker:  Trevor Durling

Wine Spectator 94 points

Combines power with finesse, offering a rich core of dark berry, mocha, chocolate, dusty oak and loamy earth. Gains depth and refinement on the finish, where the flavors linger pleasantly.

Napa Valley’s 2013 vintage surpassed even the highly touted 2012 vintage in grape quality. A winter with very low rainfall was followed by a dry, warm spring and summer. These factors resulted in balanced vine canopies, good fruit set and small, concentrated grapes. Perfect weather throughout harvest fostered intense, beautifully balanced and expressive wines. “I believe Napa Valley’s 2013 vintage is the best of the past 10 years,” says Winemaker Trevor Durling.  “Our 2013 Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful and muscular, with great texture and density on the palate.” The expansive aromas and flavors exude sumptuous blackberry, Satsuma plum, black cherry and cassis expression, layered with nuances of bittersweet chocolate, rum raisin, roasted espresso bean and sun-warmed rose. There is also an elusive chaparral note that reminds us of an August hike in the golden California hills. This is truly a wine that speaks to both the personality of Hewitt Vineyard and the outstanding, warm and dry 2013 vintage. Hewitt Cabernet Sauvignon is very age-worthy, however, if you can’t wait to drink it, we suggest decanting to allow the favors to evolve and reveal their great complexity and elegance.

Varietal Composition:  98% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Petit Verdot
Barrel Aging:  21 months 100% French oak 85% new barrels
Alcohol:   15.3%

Winemaker:  Trevor Durling

95 Points - Robert Parker's, the Wine Advocate

This is a brilliant wine from this well-placed vineyard in Rutherford, sitting right on the so-called Rutherford Bench, with a history of vines having been planted there as far back as 1880. It is a big wine but shows no heat or hotness whatsoever. Dense purple to the rim, it offers a stunning nose of loamy soil, scorched earth, blackberry and black cherry with some allspice, clove and subtle oak. Hitting the palate, it’s clear the wine has great intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, superb richness and moderate tannin. A classic 2013 as well as a classic wine from Rutherford, it should be given 4-5 years of cellaring and drunk over the following 30 years.