Lot 553
2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well over $250/bottle under the original label

Lot 553 is a single-vineyard, block-select, estate Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Napa Valley’s Grand Cru sites. Until now, the only place it’s found outside the winery's allocation list is at a select few of Napa’s toniest restaurants. We were more than willing to keep mum on the vineyard name and leave the sub-appellation off the label in order to close the deal on this kind of prestige (though well-trained palates will recognize its Oakville origins).

The nose opens with a fine interplay of dark cherries and clay dust, and another swirl reveals cocoa nib, raspberry sauce, and freshly-turned soil. On entry, plums and dark cherries are front and center, with dark chocolate and dried leaves in tow, elegantly presented with medium acidity and polished, velvety tannins. The finish is long and dry, with resonant fruit and a thread of vanilla that will only continue to develop with bottle aging. If you must pop a bottle in the near term, make sure to give it a generous decant, and your effort will be rewarded with a prime companion to your favorite cut of steak.