Ladies and Gents - this wine is as much a mystery to me as it'll be to you.
I picked this up recently from a high-end Napa Valley custom crush operation. The producer's name was withheld and the wine sold through the facility's licensing so, to be honest, I am not sure who actually made the wine.
I do suspect, however, the wine belongs to one of the facility owners because they are big growers in Yountville and, I am told, the bulk of the blend is Yountville fruit with smaller pieces of Oakville, Stags Leap, St. Helena, and Rutherford Cabernet.
And, that's all we know.
Obviously they know our operation and have seen the online discussions around our offerings; hence, I assume, the secrecy.
So be it and, really, who cares? The wine is fantastic and, at the end of the day, isn't that what matters most? It has soul, structure, excellent complexity and that quintessential lithe, sexy tannin structure that makes 2021 vintage so special.
Indeed, it's all here folks. I would not hesitate to say this is easily $80-$100/bottle quality Cabernet Sauvignon, on offer in the Bottle Shop for a mere $35/bottle!
Lot 397 shows deep ruby, almost opaque in the glass. Immediate with red fruits on the bouquet, but things shift darker as the wine opens showing blackberry and blackcurrant mixed with purple florals, dark chocolate, menthol, and seasoned-wood vanilla; with just a minute of air, the nose is incredibly expressive and gracefully refined. The entry is plush and immediately captivating; red-to-black fruits take the forefront accented by tobacco, leather, and red volcanics/claypot retronasals laid out over perfectly-balanced acidity and excellent palate weight and gobs of structure over polished, refined tannins. Woof! The finish is long and elegant; red fruit umami rides vanilla and barrel-flecked spices accented by a kiss of caramel.
I'm guessing about 40% new French oak, mostly medium and medium+ toast was used here. The alc. is what I would consider about picture perfect for the mid-southern Napa Valley at 14.3% - right up the middle.
Estimated 40% New French oak, medium and medium+ toast
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend of Yountville augmented with Oakville, Stags Leap, St. Helena, and Rutherford
14.3% alc.
