The top cuvée at Ruston is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon La Maestra (The Teacher), named for John Ruston's mother, who continues to teach English as a second language to this day. A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot, all of the property, it boasts knockout aromas of violets and blueberries with overtones of cedar and vanilla. It's full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with a velvety texture on the palate, yet it retains a vivid sense of freshness on the lingering finish. 94+ This small family estate, nestled back into the St. Helena hills behind Spottswoode, has only 3.9 acres under vine. Owner John Ruston's grandfather—an inventor—purchased the property in 1941 as a summer place, when it was a prune orchard. Ruston's mother returned to the property in the 1980s and planted the estate's vines.