Lot 429 | 2021 Napa Valley Proprietary Red 750ml

Lot 429
2021 Napa Valley Proprietary Red

$100+/bottle under the original label

The source sells this wine out of their tasting room for north of $1,200/case, however another water-tight NDA saddled with knowledge of the online chatter around our program led to a strict "don't even name our price" clause. So, for this list it’s ridiculously value priced.

More approachable for a '21, but all the bones to age gracefully, black-to-blue fruit holds down the core of the open-knit nose with fresh cut vanilla bean, new soft leather, and plum sauce. Plush on entry with red-to-black fruit, eucalyptus, and granite-like minerality framed by polished, grippy tannins leading to an umami rich finish with great length uplifted by barrel spice, further vanilla and potting soils wrapped in blackberry coulis. An exceptionally structured wine ready to be laid down, but also worth a healthy decant for those who would enjoy it in the near-term.

Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 10 reviews.

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Review topics: [juice, wine, decant].

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Reviews

Really good. Love it.

"Quick decant. Smooth, tasty, no heat, balanced, medium + weight. Will probably get better but drinking just fine. Really good. Love it."

— Jim A. (5/5)

Winner

"What a great wine, wish that I had bought a second case! It’s got all the hallmarks of a fantastic Bordeaux from Napa, it checks all the boxes."

— John D. (5/5)

Great Napa driven Bordeaux styled red blend

"This is all out delicious red wine- Cabernet Sauv, accented with Merlot, CFranc, and Petit Verdot, where 88% is from high-elevation vineyards blend with around 12% of deep, plush valley floor. 100% French oak aged for at least 15 months (some barrels got the 18 months). 40% new oak. It's a big chewy red! Big blackberry jamminess, big bowl of blueberry pie filling, black cherry, cherry, cassis, bramble, lush tannins, chewing tobacco, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and a long lush finish! I still have a couple bottles left!!"

— Rew C. (5/5)

Tight, but good

"Still quite young, but great with a 24hr slow oxidation. On first pour I got a lovely red fruit, and a little bit of alcohol. Tight, tight, tight, with a bit of cranberry on finish."

— MRk (5/5)

Delicious!

"Quite young and fruity still. I think this one will develop into something special."

— Greg G. (5/5)

Unctuous

"Wow, exceeded expectations, rich, unctuous, silky. Paired perfectly with a rustic squash lasagna, would buy more if it was available"

— D b. (5/5)

Dry Creek Beauty

"We have enjoyed Lot 399 and its intense cherry flavor, but Lot 404 is a step up in quality. So happy that we purchased more of this! Great QPR."

— Kellie J. (5/5)

Good young wine

"Still very young but clearly high quality juice. Enjoyable today but will certainly improve over the next few years"

— Toby P. (5/5)

Great Juice

"One of my favorite DN. "Bright" out of the bottle, warm sunny Napa day from the beginning. Good aromas from cork pull, develops in the glass nicely. Great value."

— KEith K. (5/5)

Very good wine.

"It’s definitely a red blend (not a cab) but a good one. First bottle was right off the truck and delicious. I think it’s years away from its prime, but it’s really good with a good decant. Well worth the price paid in the mid twenties price tag."

— Luke N. (5/5)

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