Rougiste

Napa Valley Red Wine

"Are you seeing red yet?"

This offering is for the Cabernet Franc lovers and downright fans of kick-ass red wine that is guaranteed to alter your perception of the bold, the seductive, the enigmatic color red.

Decades ago, we were inspired to create Amuse Bouche in order to dispel the notion that Napa Valley could not produce a world class Merlot. Similarly, our mission for Rougiste is to showcase the beauty of balanced Cabernet Franc-dominant blends, such as Cheval Blanc...an incredible wine, responsible for one of my true "aha" moments. To express our reverence for miracles that come in red, our label depicts perhaps the very first such marvel, the parting of the Red Sea.

Winemaker Notes

2022 Rougiste (‘roo sheeste’) is a Cabernet Franc-based blend, roughly equal parts mountain fruit and valley floor fruit. Dark and layered, with terrific depth, the 2022 offers up copious dark fruit, leather, spice, menthol, licorice and dried herbs. Pretty floral top notes lift the finish. Drinking window: 2024-2030.

Please download and complete the order form to purchase your 6-bottle allocation of Rougiste 2022.

95 points

2023 Vintage

"The 2023 Rougiste is a gorgeous Cabernet-Franc-based wine. Inky red fruit, mocha, espresso, rose petal, lavender and dried herbs build effortlessly through the mid-palate and into the finish. It offers notable depth and power, not to mention tons of personality."
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
November 2025

95 points

2023 Vintage

"A Bordeaux-style red blend that goes heavy on the cabernet franc, delivering a robust, powerful and firmly textured expression. Iron, black-olive, black-pepper, grilled-beef, black-cherry and espresso flavors. Drinkable now and best from 2030."
Jim Gordon, Executive Editor, James Suckling
August 2025

95 points

2023 Vintage

"The 2023 Rougiste is deep garnet-purple in color, a blend of 70% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It spills from the glass with vibrant notes of red currant jelly, black raspberries. and wild blueberries, plus hints of pencil shavings, black olives, lavender, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is tightly wound with red and blue fruit flavors and minerally accents, framed by firm, chewy tannins and a lively line, finishing long and savory."
Lisa Perrotti-Brown M.W., The Wine Palate
January 2026

93+ points

2023 Vintage

"Combining fruit from Atlas Peak and Calistoga, the 2023 Red Wine Rougiste is a blend of 70% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, fashioned by winemaker Kent Jarman. Gentle leafy nuances, cherries, raspberries and a hint of mocha all appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is ripe, supple and approachable. Somewhere between velvety and silky in feel, this isn't overdone, but rather nicely balanced, with at least a decade of potential improvement ahead of it."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
October 2025

94 points

2022 Vintage

"Powerful, full-bodied and drenched in black fruit, this Bordeaux-style wine is appropriately tannic, firm and deep. Black cherries, blackcurrants, black olives and hints of savory herbs and bay leaves. Second vintage of this bottling. 68% cabernet franc, 25% merlot and 7% cabernet sauvignon. Drink now or hold."
James Suckling
August 2024

93 points

2022 Vintage

"John Schwartz and Kent Jarman up the ante with their 2022 Red Wine Rougiste, a blend of 68% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourced from Atlas Peak and Calistoga, it features a subtle, delicate leafiness married to riper notions of black cherries and bass notes of loamy earth. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, silky textured and shows ample concentration, finishing long and elegant, with attractive whispers of black tea leaves."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
October 2024

94 points

2021 Vintage

"The 2021 Rougiste (Cabernet Franc) is another hugely promising wine from John Schwartz. Red-toned fruit, herbs and lifted floral top notes all grace this aromatically expressive, bright Franc. A touch of California sunshine adds texture."
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
February 2023

94-95 points

2021 Vintage

"Aromas of orange peel, currant, flower, and cedar. Full-bodied with velvety texture and chewy tannins. Flavorful and fresh with a thoughtful finish. Hints of mushroom and forest flower. A blend of fruit from Atlas Peak and Calistoga. 65% cabernet franc and 35% merlot."
James Suckling
November 2022

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