Run Wild with Our Single Vineyard Cabernet
Rapp Ranch is our single vineyard Cabernet from the Coombsville AVA. The wine is inky purple in color, with an imposing structure that frames a mouthful of savory spices, blackberries, and wild herbs. The tannins are silky and smooth, leading to a remarkable impression of black fruits and lingering flavors on the palate. The wine is expected to age nicely and cellar from 15-25 years.
Located in the heart of the Coombsville AVA, Rapp Ranch has long been established as a premier horse ranch in the rural countryside of southern Napa Valley. The Coombsville AVA is one of the fastest growing Cabernet Sauvignon producers in Napa Valley. Having received its AVA designation in 2011, Coombsville is set to be Napa Valley’s next great Cabernet Sauvignon appellation. The defining characteristics of Coombsville, are the long, cool growing seasons that reward patient winemakers with intensely concentrated and complex wines.
Located just east of the city of Napa, the appellation varies from sea level all the way up to 1,900 feet on the Vaca Mountain Range. The cooling effects of the nearby San Pablo bay provide daily fog, which causes more constant temperatures. This allows us to have a long, slow ripening period as our vines bud early and our grapes are typically among the last to be harvested. Coombsville itself is a bowl-shaped depression, cradled by a crescent-shaped section of the Vacas Mountain Range.
Rapp Ranch in The Coombsville AVA
Long established as a premier horse ranch in the rural countryside of southern Napa Valley. The history of Rapp Ranch is rich in horses. Originally known as the premier breeding & training grounds for quarter horses in the Napa Valley, became world renown throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Utilizing a variety of barns, riding arenas and outdoor spaces, Rapp Ranch produced some of the top award winning international competitors. Continuing on to present day, the name Rapp Ranch has became synonymous with outstanding quality.
The property eventually sold to a businessman who removed some of the horse facilities and planted 12 of the 25 acres of ultra premium Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. When the opportunity presented itself, the Alkossers purchased the property in February 2016. Thoroughly enchanted by the beauty and significance of this place, they saw the potential in combining the history of the horse ranch, the premium vineyards and the state-of- the-art winery into the ultimate destination for wine connoisseurs and adventuring travelers.
When the opportunity presented itself, we were thrilled about partnering long-term with Rapp Ranch. Our winemakers Brooks Painter & Peter Velleno are proud to carry on the tradition of ultra premium Cabernet Sauvignon. We look forward to producing incredible vintages of Rapp Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon for years to come.
Past Awards & Accolades
Explore our past awards and accolades for our Rapp Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON RAPP RANCH 2021:
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent (95 Points) – Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch Vineyard needs a swirl or two to bring out fragrant notions of Morello cherries, black raspberries, blackcurrant pastilles, and licorice followed by hints of cedar and graphite. The full-bodied palate has a firm, grainy texture and a refreshing line to support the tightly wound black and red berry layers, finishing long and lifted.
- James Suckling (94 Points) – Aromas of blackcurrants and blueberries with hints of violets, cardamom, black tea and black olives. Beautiful texture with balance and freshness to the fruit. Polished and super-fine tannins with medium to full body and a long, even finish. Better after 2025.
- Jeb Dunnuck (95+) – The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch Vineyard comes from a site in Coombsville and spent 20 months in barrel. It has a cooler, more lifted style in its red and blue fruits as well as sappy herbs, flowers, and sagebrush-like aromas and flavors. With medium to full body, ripe, present, fine-grained tannins, and a great finish, it’s another remarkably pure, impressive wine in the lineup that will keep for two decades or more.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON RAPP RANCH 2021:
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent (95 Points) – Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch Vineyard needs a swirl or two to bring out fragrant notions of Morello cherries, black raspberries, blackcurrant pastilles, and licorice followed by hints of cedar and graphite. The full-bodied palate has a firm, grainy texture and a refreshing line to support the tightly wound black and red berry layers, finishing long and lifted.
- James Suckling (94 Points) – Aromas of blackcurrants and blueberries with hints of violets, cardamom, black tea and black olives. Beautiful texture with balance and freshness to the fruit. Polished and super-fine tannins with medium to full body and a long, even finish. Better after 2025.
- Jeb Dunnuck (95+) – The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch Vineyard comes from a site in Coombsville and spent 20 months in barrel. It has a cooler, more lifted style in its red and blue fruits as well as sappy herbs, flowers, and sagebrush-like aromas and flavors. With medium to full body, ripe, present, fine-grained tannins, and a great finish, it’s another remarkably pure, impressive wine in the lineup that will keep for two decades or more.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON RAPP RANCH 2018:
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown (93 Points) – The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color. Stewed plums, black cherry compote, and raspberry preserves notes spring from the glass, plus suggestions of coffee grounds, Sichuan pepper, and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a sturdy frame of chewy tannins and just enough freshness to support the muscular fruit, finishing earthy.
- Antonio Galloni, Vinous (94 Points) – The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch is an opulent, heady wine. Dark cherry jam, bay leaf, cedar, tobacco and crushed flowers are all laced together. The Rapp Ranch is marked by a very pretty floral/savory quality that adds character. Drink it over the next 15 years or so.
- James Suckling (93 Points) – A fresh, juicy red with aromas of blackcurrant, chili jam, walnut and cocoa. It’s medium-bodied with succulent tannins. So drinkable. Drink or hold.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON RAPP RANCH 2017:
- James Suckling (93 Points) – Amorosa’s Rapp Ranch cabernet bottling has a very suave, cedary nose with regal, dark-berry aromas, typical of cabernet, as well as hints of fresh leather. The palate is so succulent and juicy with very fresh and attractively detailed tannins carrying good length. Fresh finish. Drink or hold.
- James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (92 Points) – Vivid plum, blueberry and açaí berry flavors stream through, flanked with graphite and inlaid with subtle alder and bay accents. Ripe and dense, but racy in feel, with a mineral thread at the very end that brings you back for more. Drink now through 2029. 185 cases made.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON RAPP RANCH 2016:
- Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast (90 Points) – A 100% varietal wine from one site, this red is earthy and wild, with thick, concentrated blackberry and rich vanilla. The tannins are intensely structured and powerfully smooth.
- James Suckling (95 Points) – A very deep and intense wine with a gorgeous core of ripe fruit and velvety tannins and a beautiful finish. Full-bodied and flavorful. Energetic finish. Reserved. Better in 2020.
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (93+)- Deep purple-black in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch displays subtle black raspberries, black and red cherries and black currants with hints of wild thyme, damp soil and tree bark. Medium to full-bodied, firmly textured with plenty of youthful, crunchy fruit, it has a pleasantly chewy finish.
- Wine Advocate (93+ Points) – Deep purple-black in color, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Rapp Ranch displays subtle black raspberries, black and red cherries and black currants with hints of wild thyme, damp soil and tree bark. Medium to full-bodied, firmly textured and with plenty of youthful, crunchy fruit, it has a pleasantly chewy finish.
