Rutherford Hill, Merlot, Napa Valley

Rutherford Hill · California › Napa Valley › United States of America

Red · Merlot

Critics

89 /100

Reviews

professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

Community Reviews

Reviews

89.2

Avg Score

Highest

Drinking as well as its going to from 1.75 Still fruity too.

2009 vintage

Surprisingly well balanced moderately priced wine with some life left to it. Enjoy

2009 vintage

Shows the '11 vintage, but still is pretty darn fun drinking.

2011 vintage

Fruit and spices well balanced.

2011 vintage

Rasberry dark leather sloe berry. Yet a light intensity. Caramel vanilla. Nice balance on acids and tanins. Just a nice overall merlot.

2011 vintage

Doesn't show any of the '11 vintage greeness. Big, black fruited, plush on the mid-palate with lots of guts. That's pretty darn good stuff.

2011 vintage

Very smooth. Needed some swirling in the glass to open up. Very fruity easy to drink.

2011 vintage

Very easy to drink. Might be lighter body for a really fatty steak, but carries good balance of body and flavor. Brad rates it 93, Belle 89.

2009 vintage

Surprising good wine, not heavy, medium bodied, nice fruit and acid but maybe a bit too much oak,drank with rib eye steak, would drink again, lower alcohol than I expected.

2009 vintage

Very light bodied. Almost looks like a pinot noir in the glass. Not much to it. Feels a little tannic at first contact, though it's probably from oak treatment. No mid palate, depth, or darkness of fruit. I don't drink this regularly so to be kind I'll mark this up to a poor vintage. Not unpleasant, but not particularly pleasant.

2011 vintage

second note. This is a splendid balanced blend and a great representation of American Merlot. nose of ripe fruit, cherry, blueberry, and pomegranate. honeyed oak and cooling menthol. medium body with tangy bright red and blue fruit, and citrus peel. The french oak adds a sweet honeyed texture without dominating or adding weight. sweet berries persist on the finish. This offers a ripe and American in style while maintaining a beautiful balance that is well worth the ~$20 price point. …

2009 vintage

We received this 1.5L from the wine club a few years ago. I thought Thanksgiving dinner with 5 adults would be a good time to open it. We were somewhat disappointed. This bottle had less depth and was overall less interesting that a typical Rutherford Merlot. Maybe we should have opened it 2 tears earlier.

2009 vintage

Dusty cherry, red currant, black raspberry, and hibiscus notes layered over elements of oak, carob, and cocoa powder. Mid-to-full bodied, with good fruit sweetness up front and enough of a spine to give it personality. Light finish. Not a quaffer but certainly an easy drinker.

2011 vintage

still drinking great! medium bodied with great balance. given the syrah, cab, and cab franc included, this drinks more like a merlot meritage. lively cherry, plum, and sweet spices on the entry, with tobacco, and a hint of mint and coffee on the finish. still plenty of acid, and round juicy tannin. as others have stated, the selling point here is Balance. not overly extracted or jammy. complex and versatile at ~$20

2009 vintage

Cherry fruit up front but turns a bit sour and has short finish. Not one I would buy sgain.

2009 vintage

Another great effort by Rutherford Hill, they know how to make a fabulous Merlot at a great price. Hints of berry pie, toffee, and mocha. Superbly smooth finish, and medium tannins. Thoroughly enjoyed this bottle, will have to grab some more.

2009 vintage

Outstanding after I let it air for about 15 minutes

2009 vintage

Excellent- balanced and smooth

2009 vintage

Mixed berry, cherry soda coffee bean and mocha. Really smooth with super balance. Outstanding. 91

2009 vintage