Robb Report wine editors select J.O. Sullivan Founder's Reserve as Best American Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year
NAPA VALLEY, Calif., June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, wine editors of Robb Report, the leading voice of global luxury, have named the 2021 J.O. Sullivan Founder's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, "the best American Cabernet of the year" in the annual Best of the Best issue.
Situated in the heart of the Napa Valley, Sullivan Rutherford Estate has been Rutherford's Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot hideaway for over five decades. James O'Neil Sullivan founded the 26-acre estate in 1972, during the apex of the boutique winery movement. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines were first planted in 1978, with the encouragement of Rutherford's legendary winemaker, Andre Tchelistcheff. The estate is one of Rutherford's prime sites, due to deposits of well-drained gravel which run throughout the soil. In 2018, a family group led by Juan Pablo Torres Padilla purchased Sullivan. With the aim of building upon the Sullivan legacy and further elevating the estate's commitment to quality and purpose, Torres Padilla began assembling a world-class executive and viticultural team to work alongside long-time winemaker Jeff Cole. Torres Padilla has since been named as one of the "power players reshaping the future of Napa Valley wine" by San Francisco Chronicle.
"We are honored to have the 2021 J.O. Sullivan Founder's Reserve recognized as the best American Cabernet Sauvignon by Robb Report," said Joshua Lowell, General Manager of Sullivan. "This award is a testament to the incredible terroir of our Rutherford site, as well as the creative genius of our winemaker, Jeff Cole."
"[The 2021] vintage really highlights the character of our Rutherford estate," Cole said in an interview with Robb Report, "with its dark fruit, savory undertones, subtle dried herbs, and signature minerality that define both the site and the broader appellation."
This year marks 37 years of Robb Report's Best of the Best issue. In that time, the awards have grown into one of the premier accolades in luxury, recognized around the world, with 15 categories including fashion, cars, yachts, art, design, food, wine and philanthropy. A merit-based award, more than 300 wines were tasted blindly for the Cabernet Sauvignon selection.
For more information, visit Sullivan Rutherford Estate: www.sullivanwine.com.
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SOURCE Sullivan Rutherford Estate