$90/bottle under the original label
94-POINTS, PLATINUM MEDAL
2021 SOMMELIERS CHALLENGE WINE COMPETITION
Sourced from a Howell Mountain producer famous for their dedication to only producing Cabernet from high-elevation, hillside sites, this Atlas Peak Cabernet is number three of the four we acquired. I suspect they were loathe to part with these as they were offered a good month after the others and, well, they are fabulous (and yes, I paid a bit more for these). Intended to be the inaugural launch of a new appellation Cabernet to add to their $90+/bottle hillside Cabernet collection, they have since decided now is not the time to launch an addition to their lineup.
Dark and inky in the glass (actual wine in the picture), you can smell the mineral and structure here. Chaparral, fresh-turned earth and black fruits are haloed by toasty, cedary oak and crushed red rock notes. Remarkably supple and refined on entry with palate-coating, grainy yet fine tannins slathered in red rock and cassis in a long (though admittedly shy due to bottle shock at this point) finish. This is a magnificent Cabernet, chock full of power and structure yet ultra-refined and well-mannered at the same time. A true talent is at the helm here. At $35/bottle, this is an incredible opportunity to own world-class hillside Cabernet.
75% new French oak
400 cases available
14.9% alc.
Bottled August 12th, 2020
