The dense plum/purple-tinged 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford is a more tannic, harder style of wine revealing notes of toasty oak, white chocolate, roasted herbs, dusty, loamy soil, kirsch and black currants. The tannins are gripping in the back, so this cuvee will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring. It should drink well for 15 or more years. Tony Soter has sold Etude to the Beringer Group and is now ensconced in Oregon’s Willamette Valley where he is turning out a bevy of beautiful wines. (His rose sparkling wine from there is exquisite.) He still consults for these projects. Etude’s Pinot Noirs tend to spend 12-14 months in French oak according to the vintage and the quality of the fruit. Etude’s three 2007 Cabernet Sauvignons showcase the generic Napa appellations and single AVAs such as Rutherford and Oakville. Tel. (707) 257-5300; Fax (707) 257-6022