Lot 569
2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well over $200/bottle under the original label

Lot 569 hails from an all-time Napa winery’s absolute force of a flagship program. Their mastery from vineyard to bottle is second to none, and has been consistent for over half a century. Farming is how they started, so it’s no surprise that the grapes are estate-grown in prime valley floor and mountain sites. Only the best juice goes into this program, and it receives extended oak aging. The big Cab lovers among you are going to love this.

Dark on the pour with a deep ruby core, the wine opens with nose that’s expansive and concentrated: black cherries and currants are underpinned by blackberries, accented by wet gravel. Secondary notes of tobacco, cedar, and cocoa nib emerge with air, haloed by a subtle thread of menthol and peppercorn. The palate is broad and powerful, driven by currant and black fruit framed by new soft leather, firm structure, and a vein of minerality that makes way for refined, grippy tannins and spice. The finish is long, dry, and resonant, with baking spice up front that dances into black cherry and crushed violets before waves upon waves of vanilla. If there was ever a wine to save for a great steak, this is the one.