The Rutherford AVA in the Napa Valley is renowned by wine lovers everywhere for its Cabernet, as well as the other Bordeaux varieties grown in the area, and the folks at Foley Johnson Winery have captured that elegance and charm with their series of wines produced entirely from the region’s fruit.
Foley Johnson 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape(s): 96.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.9% Merlot, & 1.9% Malbec
Region: Rutherford, Napa Valley
Price: 70-75
Tasting Notes:
Blackberry, cherry, and raspberry aromas coalesce with nuances of fennel seed, minerals, and thyme on the nose. Flavors of currants, blackberries, and raspberries unfold into traces of anise, minerals, and mint on the palate. Supple and savory, with dusty tannins, pair it with your favorite steak. 657 cases were made.
Rating: 90
Foley Johnson 2011 Petit Verdot
Grape(s): 90% Petit Verdot & 10% Malbec
Region: Rutherford, Napa Valley
Price: 50-55
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of bramble fruits and cherries come together with floral, earthy, and herbaceous hints on the nose. With a sip, flavors of blackberry, cherry, and red plum emerge on the palate framed by nuances of dusty earth, rosemary, and cedar. A fairly robust wine with plentiful tannins and a nice acidity, it will match nicely with gamy, meaty dishes. 249 cases were made.
Rating: 92
Foley Johnson 2011 Meritage
Grape(s): 62.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32.5% Merlot, 2.9% Malbec, & 1.9% Petit Verdot
Region: Rutherford, Napa Valley
Price: 40-45
Tasting Notes:
Fragrances of blackberries, currants, and black cherries meld with hints of mocha, toasty oak, and mint on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of bramble fruit, cherry, and cassis that interweave with suggestions of cocoa, oak, and a few herbaceous notes. A rich, full-bodied wine, enjoy a bottle with a crimini mushroom risotto. 806 cases produced.
Rating: 89
Foley Johnson 2011 Merlot
Grape(s): 95% Merlot & 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Rutherford, Napa Valley
Price: 40-45
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of raspberries, cranberries, and cherries combine with notes of vanilla and Italian herbs on the nose. A sip offers flavors of raspberry, cherry, and blackberry wrapped around allusions of thyme and creamy oak. An elegant, fruit-driven wine with soft tannins, fans of silky reds ought to try this bottle. Drink now. 248 cases produced.
Rating: 91
Foley Johnson 2012 Sauvignon Blanc
Grape(s): 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Rutherford, Napa Valley
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of peach, apricot, citrus blossoms, and herbs greets the senses. The palate delivers flavors of apricot, white peach, and citrus accented by notes of lemon grass and minerals. A floral Sauvignon Blanc with a bright acidity, open a bottle on a warm spring evening. 254 cases produced.
Rating: 89