90 Points - 2004 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Here's a well made, young Cab that's sturdy in tannins, so if you open now, decant for hours, and serve with some big richly fatty cut of meat. It should age for up to a decade, though, to judge from the overall balance and the rich core of black cherry fruit.
- by Steve Heimoff
  7/1/2007

92 Points - 2004 Rutherford Hill Syrah Napa Valley
Well-integrated aromas of dusty mixed berries, crushed stone and mocha are very Northern Rhône-like. Ripe, intense, superbly balanced flavors of blackberry, espresso and bittersweet chocolate. Tingly, fruit-strewn close.
  June/July 2007

91 Points - 2005 Rutherford Hill Chardonnay Napa Valley
Subtle floral aromas of lemon peel, green grape and butter. Intense, minerally, almost briny flavors of apricot pit, hazelnut and butter. Creamy close.
  June/July 2007

90 Points - 2004 Rutherford Hill Merlot Napa Valley
Cedary scents of blackberry, cherry soda, coffee bean and black tea. Concentrated, brambly flavors of mixed berries, cherry and pencil shavings. Lingering finish heightened by mocha notes.
  June/July 2007

90 Points - 2004 Rutherford Hill Merlot Reserve Napa Valley
Warm, plummy aromas of black fruit, damp earth, cedar, tobacco and brown sugar. Silky flavors of blackberry, citrus, bittersweet chocolate and dust have an inky, syrupy texture. Long, lush close.
  June/July 2007

91 Points - 2004 Rutherford Hill Merlot Reserve Napa Valley
Rutherford Hill, a true Merlot pioneer, understands the variety like few others, and when they put their mind to it in a low-production wine like this one, they rock. This Merlot is terrific. It's rich, soft and opulent, with ripe cherry, cassis, milk chocolate, vanilla and new oak flavors. It's at its best now.
  July 2007

90 Points - 2004 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Here's a well made, young Cab that's sturdy in tannins, so if you open now, decant for hours, and serve with some big richly fatty cut of meat. It should age for up to a decade, though, to judge from the overall balance and the rich core of black cherry fruit.
  July 2007

90 Points - 2003 Rutherford Hill Merlot Reserve Napa Valley
Rutherford Hill has a great history with this variety, and it seems like they are making a statement here. The wine is very dry, quite tannic and not showing much flavor now. Doesn't seem like a cellar candidate, but may be.
  11/15/2006

90 Points - 2003 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Bright aromas of plum and cedar with a dusting of cocoa powder. Smooth, well-grounded flavors of mixed berries and minerals. Long, seamless finish encompasses fruit and spice notes.
- 9/1/2006

95 Points - 2003 Rutherford Hill Merlot Napa Valley
A light-night, jazz club, smoky aroma, with a strong, peppery after taste. Available at Jensen's, Sam's Club, Costco and Old Town Cellar.
- by Norman Mark
  8/1/2006

91 Points - 2002 Rutherford Hill Merlot Napa Valley
An extra measure of fruit concentration makes this especially tasty. Has lots of delicious dark cherry and blackberry accented by assertive cinnamon and cedar notes. Smooth tannins make it velvety.
- by Jim Gordon
  4/24/2006

100 Points - 2003 Rutherford Hill Malbec Napa Valley
A delightful, almost playful wine that delivers a hint of pepper in the taste. Rutherford Hill is a cleansing wine to the pallet and is perfection. So smooth, so easy, yet so complex, this wine is like Ray Charles at his smokiest.
- by Norman Mark
  4/1/2006

92 Points - 2003 Rutherford Hill Merlot Reserve Napa Valley
What a beautiful wine. It has Merlot's fleshy softness, but with a firm structure of finely ground tannins. Flavorwise, it packs cherry, blackberry, plum, coffee and cocoa flavors, with oak contributing a rich overlay of sweet vanilla and char. Drink now in its exuberant youth. Editors' Choice.
- by Steve Heimoff
  11/1/2005

90 Points - 2002 Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Nuanced aromas of black currant, mocha and touches of herbs and cedar. Chalky flavors of brambly blueberry, minerals and mocha. Plush Finish.
- 10/1/2005

90 Points - 2002 Rutherford Hill Merlot Napa Valley
Medium garnet hue. Earthy aromas of brambly raspberry, cedar, minerals and an intriguing truffle note. Juicy flavors of mixed berries, cherry candy, chocolate and vanillin oak. Cherry and mocha heighten the close..
- 6/30/2005

92 Points - 2001 Rutherford Hill Merlot Reserve Napa Valley
Only 928 cases were made of this world-class wine. The wine is ultra-rich and lush with flavors, and thick in texture with layers of red and black fruits, cherries and black plums mixed nicely with notes of chocolate, cedar, tobacco, and creamy vanilla. I suggest you call Rutherford Hill Winery and get a few!
- 4/8/2005

90 Points - 2003 Rutherford Hill Chardonnay Napa Valley
Gentle and generous in texture, this soft Chardonnay lasts with flavors of wheat and chamomile, fresh apple and toasted lees. It’s integrated and smooth, ready for shellfish or white meats served in a cream sauce.
- 4/1/2005

90 Points - 2002 Rutherford Hill Merlot Napa Valley
Medium ruby hue. Admirably restrained scents of red currant, smoke, earth and cedar. Balanced, lively flavors of red berry, leather and an oak char note. Lean finish.
- 4/1/2005

94 Points - 2001 Rutherford Hill Merlot Reserve Napa Valley
Back in the ‘70s, this winery specialized in Merlot and helped put it on the fine wine map. This wine, in a thick, heavy bottle, is elegant and complex, fairly tannic, but possesses a molten core of cherry and mocha fruit and a lilting balance that bode well for the future. Drink now through 2010.
- 4/1/2005

94 Points - 2002 Rutherford Hill Chardonnay
Smart Buy - White, Sparkling & Rose.
- 12/31/2004

Top 100 Wines 2004 - 2001 Rutherford Hill Merlot
Ripe and juicy berry aromas and flavors gain complexity from notes of black pepper, coffee, tar and earth. Round body, full tannins and coating oak.
- 12/5/2004

90 Points - 2002 Rutherford Hill Chardonnay
Emphasizing fresh fruit, this wine fulfills relatively modest ambitions with integrity. The sweet richness of the tropical flavors gets absorbed into a leesy structure, so it ends up feeling firm and tasting clean. The fruit only grows more generous with air, showing its ripeness in fresh nectarine flavors, a New World chardonnay for grilled fish.
- 12/1/2004

91 points - Rutherford Hill 2001 Merlot
Admirably restrained scents of red currant, smoke, earth and cedar. Balanced lively flavors of red berry, leather and an oak char note.
- 8/4/2004

90 Points - 2002 Rutherford Hill Chardonnay
A lean, focused style with spicy pear, green apple and lemon meringue touches, and a flinty edge, finishing with lively acidity, a burst of citrusy flavors and a dash of toasty oak.
- 6/15/2004

91 Points - Exceptional - 2001 Rutherford Hill Merlot
A straightforward, precise merlot with full-on blackberry and black cherry flavor And it's even more lovely tasted a day later, the pure black cherry flavor taking on spice. Buy a case to serve over the next several years, whenever beef is on the menu.
- Josh Greene
  6/15/2004

91 Points - 2001 Rutherford Hill Merlot Napa Valley
Highly Distinctive Wine - The newsletter’s tasters sampled 88 Merlots, primarily from the 2001 vintage. The 2001 Rutherford Hill Merlot ranked fourth among the 88 wines, and received two stars, signifying a “highly distinctive wine, likely to be memorable.”
- 5/01/2004

Rutherford Hill 2001 Merlot Reserve
Very good. Nose is a bit closed, but shows raspberry, cherry, spice and lots of oak; silky black cherry, blueberry, mocha, and mineral flavors; long elegant finish; good balance.
- 2/24/2004