“Always a great value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso might be the best yet.”- Jeb Dunnuck

It was an overcast day in Rutherford’s hillsides up against the Mayacamas range. The unmarked gate took a while to open, and the road was long and winding that leads to one of the most stunning wineries you’ll ever see. Dana Estates is not easy to find even if you’re able to get an appointment. Neither are their wines. They attained perfection starting with their third release back in 2007, earning a first 100-point review by Robert Parker. They have not skipped a beat since.

As the Wine Advocate recently explained, “These are rich, concentrated wines that impress for their structure and balance, particularly the 2021s. Quantities of the single-vineyard wines are limited and 75% are sold direct via the mailing list, so signing up is virtually a must if consumers are interested in trying these exemplary wines.”

Vaso has always stood separate from Dana’s single vineyard wines. A steppingstone to their icons that blends multiple vineyards to be deeply complex yet open and accessible upon release. Originally it was only available to friends and family. Now, Vaso is well recognized by collectors and critics (James Suckling blessed the 2021 with 96 points!). But it’s still hard to find…

To assure their pristine estate vineyards make the best wines possible, they created a special blend of younger vines. The production for Vaso remains TINY and highly allocated, incorporating fruit from their iconic estate vineyards and some of the best sites in Napa.

In a flight with its monster siblings - it’s cut from the same cloth but made to be more approachable for consumption now through the coming decade (or more). An unfathomable feat for $85 vs. the $800+ price tags of its brethren. All the single vineyards were stunning during a recent visit, but the 2021 Vaso truly stood out as an astonishing value.

The saturated plum / purple color fades to a much gentler ruby rim glowing with grace. The pedigreed perfume gathers around lead pencil, liqueur-like notes intermixed with sweet red and black currants, plums, cedar, and spice. A single whiff is all you need to know that you’re amongst the very elite of Napa Valley. Extremely elegant on the palate, a pleasant surprise given the nose, medium-bodied, with cherries, intense concentration, richness, and silky tannins. On the complex finish, hints of tobacco leaf, cedar, and nutmeg resonate long alongside extraordinary precision and purity.

While this wine is hefty enough to accompany lavishly grilled steaks, it also bears the elegance to enhance lighter dishes too. A perfect marriage of the new school and the old schools that define this classic, timeless place.

Dana (pronounced Dah-Nah) is the Sanskrit word for “spirit of generosity” – paying homage to the generosity of nature in their name as well as through their uncompromising quality standards and minimalist intervention. The winery itself is a shining example of this generosity of spirit – built into the shell of a ghost winery dating to the 1880’s, it is a concrete symbol of incorporating respect for history into the best of modern winemaking.

Founded by visionary Hi Sang Lee, with the help of Philippe Melka consulting an uber-talented winemaking team, they have created something truly special. “Once you step on his property… you can see his vision and precision. His winery is an amazing architectural achievement, the work of a famed architect-to-the-star-vintners, Howard Backen. The winery incorporates the old stone winery renovated by John and Diane Livingston and then extends that into a modern masterpiece,” explains Wine Spectator.

Under the close tutelage of Melka, with his proven track record at some of the very top wine estates in the world (Pétrus, Haut-Brion, Dominus, Bryant Family, Hundred Acre, to name a few), what winemaker Maura Johnson has crafted is outstanding!

Once Napa’s best kept secret, the truth has a way of getting out. But with production so small, there isn’t much to go around. And it is hands-down one of the best deals in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Let’s just say it. This MUST be the best value out there!

Seize the day! If you can afford to, this is best as a by the case buy. It’ll even give some of Napa’s top second wines, the Maidens, Matriarchs, or even Second Flights a run for the money, guaranteed as this is by far the best price of the select establishments that get an allocation!!!

96 Points – James Suckling “A juicy red with currant, earth, spice and walnut. Very juicy. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and an earthy, crushed stone and flavorful finish. Really excellent. Crunchy. Needs time. 10% new wood. Best after 2028.”

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Always a great value, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso might be the best yet. Coming from a mix of sites, it has a full-bodied, fleshy, layered profile as well as quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon notes of ripe black and blue fruits, graphite, spicy oak, and leafy herbs. This broad, concentrated, ripe, seamless beauty has the class to drink nicely today yet evolve gracefully for 15 years if well stored. Drink 2025 – 2040”