{"product_id":"lot-553-2022-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-750ml","title":"Lot 553 | 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eIt’s time to turn this Spring Series up a notch – on offer today is a Cabernet from one of the most legendary vineyards in Napa Valley.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThere are vineyards, and then there are \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003evineyards\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e. For over fifty years, this site has been entrusted by the crème de la crème producers in Napa as the source for their super high-end reserve Cab programs. Impressive scores come with the territory (a long list of high 90s and more than its fair share of 100-pointers), but what really anchors the respect of critics and the rest of the industry is the downright ridiculous consistency of quality, even in more challenging vintages like 2011 (or even ’98). Obviously, world-class \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eterroir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e helps, but it’s mostly due to the masterful stewardship of our source – this family is simply one of the best growers in Napa. With a devotion to farming that is close to peerless, great wine naturally follows.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eLot 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. However, like so many top producers in the valley these days, folks are hedging their bets and are more open than ever to securing cash in hand to get ahead of the game. It goes without saying that the wine far surpassed our expectations, and 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). NDA terms prohibit mention of the winery’s price as well, but a quick search on the secondary market reveals multiple sources well over $250\/bottle \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003ebefore\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e shipping.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eOur price: $34\/bottle!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe 2022 vintage was all about timing, and being one of the best in the business, our source played it perfectly by picking their Cabernet Sauvignon before the historic early-September heat wave. Until that point, the season had showcased everything exceptional about a warm, dry Napa vintage – it marked the fourth consecutive year of below-average rainfall in the vineyard, resulting in dry soils and a naturally reduced fruit set. Grapes gained concentration through a warm and sunny summer, interrupted only by two brief heat spikes. By late August, they'd developed remarkable intensity and phenolic maturity. Hand-picked and meticulously sorted, the clusters underwent a gentle cold-soak to maximize extraction. Following a gentle pressing, the juice settled into 100% French oak of the finest cooperage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e14.6% alc\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"de Négoce","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301109092518,"sku":"BTL.OG0553","price":34.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0338\/3299\/2908\/files\/Lot553-22CabernetSauvignonNapaValley.png?v=1744742584","url":"https:\/\/www.denegoce.com\/products\/lot-553-2022-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-750ml","provider":"de Négoce","version":"1.0","type":"link"}