Consider this. Just over three barrels are made of today’s wine. The vineyard is surrounded by Oakville titans – Rudd, Dalla Valle, Phelp’s Backus Vineyard, Garguilo* –

The wine is sold exclusively to their mailing list. And one restaurant placement: The French Laundry!

… Until today!

Our Top-Secret price? Shhhhh… go ahead and tuck a Benjamin and then some back in your pocket!

Oozing with black fruit, spice, and dark chocolate notes gripped by firm tannins, this beauty is well worth the full SRP!

Sylvie Estate may not be a household name. But that’s just because there isn’t enough of it to go around. It is an ultra-rare Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the best land in Oakville. But their vineyard is less than an acre in size!

“With less than 100 cases produced each vintage, I suspect direct from the winery will be the only option to acquire it.” explains the Wine Advocate. “The property is in a very special part of Napa Valley – slightly elevated and on the eastern side Oakville. Like many of their neighbors, the soils are iron rich and orange/red in color with plenty of rocks. This is a premium vineyard neighborhood; nearby wineries or vineyard neighbors include Dalla Valle, Rudd Estate, Joseph Phelps’ Backus Vineyard and Gargiulo Vineyards.” the Napa Valley Wine Project elaborates.

It is the epitome of top-tier passion-project micro-production estate wine. You see, the Lopez family first planted their vineyard in 1989, inspired by their famous neighbors. For years they supplied premium Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to iconic wineries such as Caymus, Lewis, and Cardinale. But since 2010 they have kept everything for themselves.

Naming the label Sylvie, they brought on a dream team to oversee the production. Winemaker Kurt Niznik is not a flashy guy, but his resumé is – after working with consultant Philippe Melka at Caldwell Vineyards to produce wine for nineteen clients, he went on to make wine for the Mondavi Family, helping them build Continuum and transition from purchased to estate fruit.

To oversee growing at the Lopez Family Vineyard, he brought on Kendall Smith, who was then vineyard manager for one of Napa’s first cult classics, Grace Family Vineyards.

The result? This Cabernet drips with blackberry, currant, and blueberry fruit, with complex elements of wild herbs, cracked pepper, dark chocolate, toast, and earth. It’s muscular but elegant, with a firm tannic grip and savory finish. Time has treated this well, and the pair of 93s sound like a faint echo of what it’s become today. Drink it now or hold for up to a decade with confidence.

There are a lot of wineries in Napa Valley. But the number that produce less than 100 cases a year is miniscule. We can only think of a couple, and their prices are stratospheric. Fueled by passion and the love of their terroir, you just don’t find wines like Sylvie…

At over 60% off? Doesn’t happen. Act fast. Because there really isn’t that much to go around.

93 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is cut from the same cloth but shows the fresher, more elegant style of the 2018 vintage. Blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, gravelly earth, and subtle iron notes all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It lacks the mid-palate density of the 2019 and will be accessible with just a few more years of bottle age. It’s impressive.”

93 Points – The Wine Independent “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon has 4% Petit Verdot in the blend. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed plums, and boysenberry preserves, plus hints of black pepper, dark chocolate, and licorice with a waft of dried sage. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a firm, chewy texture and just enough freshness to support the muscular black fruits, finishing with loads of savory nuances. Drink 2023 – 2036”