A Singular Wine

Posted Jun 24, 2011 by NYIWA | Comments ( 0 ) | Filed in:

Hewitt Vineyards Winemaker Tom Rinaldi talks about the unique single-vineyard wine they’re so generously contributing to the New York International Wine Auction to support the Herkimer ARC. Rinaldi says the unique character of their Cabernet Sauvignon deserves full expression, and rather than create an ensemble with wines from other vineyards, Hewitt chose to “let it sing with its own unique voice.” The wine has deep black cherry and currant fruit complemented by classic Rutherford expression of cocoa, cedar and black olive.

The site that is now Hewitt Vineyard bordered Gustave Niebaum’s Inglenook, and was first planted to vines in 1880. In 1962, William A. Hewitt bought the vineyard and replanted it to Cabernet Sauvignon with the help of famed wine master André Tchelistcheff.

“We select only the best fruit to go into Hewitt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon,” says Rinaldi. “I get to select the exact rows I want from our spectacular vineyard.” Although the wine is usually 100-percent Cabernet Sauvignon, Hewitt Vineyard’s 58 acres deliver an exciting range of flavor and quality with a variety of clones, rootstocks and soil conditions. Rinaldi can blend from this one vineyard, bringing different elements to the wine and giving it great depth and intriguing personality.

Hewitt’s Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford has consistently received high scores and resoundingly favorable reviews. We’re definitely siding with the connoisseurs, and looking forward to receiving bids on this well-respected wine.