2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

History is littered with things found, admired, and still not fully understood.

The Anthikythera mechanism. The meaning of the Voynich manuscript and location of Jimmy Hoffa’s grave might never be fully resolved.

In some ways the unknown parts makes these stories and enigmas more enchanting. 

“Enchantment” might be a good name, but for Release 001, we dubbed it “Liftoff” .

We’re wheels up, and if you’re reading this, you’re getting a one way ticket to value town. Where the town is like Dubai and the value is a $99/night penthouse suite.

It sets a high standard out the gate. With 94 points from Decanter and the equivalent wine fetching north of $150 from the winery? That makes this a MASSIVE no-brainer.

When we set to work months ago, we laid out dozens of samples from the much anticipated 2023 vintage. There were some clear standouts, including this wine.

It’s a damn fine example from one of my favorite producers on Howell Mountain. And worth every penny at its $150+ release price from the winery.

We can’t full open the kimono, but here’s what we can tell you.

We secured four barrels straight from one of the pre-eminent family wineries on Howell Mountain. Where the wines routinely score 97+ points, and fetch upward of $195+ per bottle. While it carries a “Napa Valley” designation, fruit comes entirely from one legendary vineyard near the base of Howell Mountain. A pre-prohibition era hillside site, planted in the 1880s, where the eastern slopes offer a little respite from the warm days and create a perfect pocket to nestle Cabernet into a heavyweight knockout. Hint hint.

Raised in 40% new, medium-toast French oak (Darnajou, Taransaud), it has huge structure, grippy mountain tannins, and seriously deep and dark core of black fruit. Spices and violets, blackberry and black cherry preserves, cassis, and dusty old leather seamless meld together into one blockbuster wine. The 2023 vintage is one for the history books, and will surely reveal some incredible wines. But very few at this price.

You could, in theory, drink this now. But patience will reward on this release. For those who want more immediate gratification, our second release will offer more of that lush, forward, open-knit and hedonistic style.

With just over 50 cases available, this flash in the pan release will not last.