Crossroads by Rudd Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2018

The late Leslie Rudd, a native of Kansas, grew up in the wine business and eventually took over his father’s distribution company. While there, he learned all about the world’s great wine estates and fine dining restaurants and naturally became interested in food as well. He acquired the iconic New York luxury delicatessen Dean & Deluca, renovated the Oakville Grocery (the oldest continuously operated in California), and opened the mythic PRESS restaurant here in Saint Helena (which boasts one of the most comprehensive lists of Napa wines anywhere). But the icing on the cake was the estate to which he gave his name when he purchased it in 1996.

As you drive up or down the Silverado Trail, you know you’ve reached the storied heart of Oakville when you see the signature yellow stone walls that encircle the unmatched terroir of Rudd’s fifty-five organically-farmed estate vineyards. Boasting such incredible next-door neighbors as Screaming Eagle, Bond’s St. Eden, and Dalla Valle’s Maya vineyards, this is prime Oakville. Leslie’s widow, Susan, is responsible for the lush, eye-popping gardens surrounding the winery, and her daughter Samantha is diligently running the estate nowadays. The family also farms a tiny, coveted, exceptional seven-acre vineyard on Mt. Veeder, visible from the estate. Uber-talented winemaker Natalie Bath rounds out the women-led team at Rudd and is an alumna of Étude, Littorai, and Château Pétrus. She meticulously crafts each cuvée using only estate fruit.

A few years ago, Rudd introduced Crossroads, a lineup of wines at an approachable price point that serves as an introduction to the estate and are meant to be enjoyed upon release. Grown in the heart of Oakville from Rudd’s 20-year-old vines, the structure and tannins of this Cabernet Sauvignon are synonymous with the vineyards of this esteemed appellation.  The complex fruit profiles available in the vineyard and diverse sun exposure enable Rudd’s vineyard team to pick lots to specifically to make this gorgeous wine. A true expression of the terroir, the bright red fruit, dried herbs, and rosemary characteristics take the forefront and are framed by supple tannins.