Nat Komes’ grandfather, Jerry Komes, always said there were three keys to living life to the fullest. What the three keys were, however, he’d never say, no matter how much his eight grandchildren tried to coax it out of him. Was it “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” “Love, Kindness and a Sense of Humor?” Though he never passed on the secret, Nat pays tribute to him with this wine, sourced from his family’s sustainably farmed Komes and Windfall Vineyards in Rutherford.

Aging in small French oak barrels introduces notes of toasted marshmallow and vanilla to the palate, along with attractive hints of cedar and brown spice. This is a full-bodied wine with a soft, glycerin-like mouthfeel and smooth tannins that lengthen the warm and satisfying finish. Sip on this while contemplating the keys to living life to the fullest. Flavors of black cherry, red plum, and kirsch form the core of this plush, concentrated Cabernet, accompanied by notes of licorice, sweet basil, and a hint of menthol.