RUDIUS IS BACK!!!

That’s right – the last time we were able to feature a killer deal on this Operative favorite was way back in February… of 2020. It was a difficult year. We were afraid we would never see their wines again.

BUT… like a phoenix from the ashes, this 96 Point Mountain Cab simply soars!

And for LESS THAN $50?! – Well OVER 60% OFF?!!

“Aw, yeah… Lush and soft.” quipped Agent Rhone when we poured it around the table at HQ. For those that know him, to say he is a man of few words is a dramatic overstatement! Deep purple to the core, it presents bold, crushed blackberries, black licorice, cocoa nibs, and exotic spice noes. Full but not too heavy, its lively backbone contrasts fine, plush tannins coat the mouth. A classic Howell Mountain Cab without sacrificing elegance.

We were overjoyed to see Rudius back. And in fine form!

You may remember, the brand was started by Jeff Ames, the gifted protégé of Thomas Rivers Brown. “Ames has become one of Napa’s rising stars.” raves Wine Spectator. He founded Rudius as his own label, based on Howell Mountain fruit and eventually expanding from there. It was an underground sensation, scoring heaps of critical praise. And yet, after fifteen years the trials and fires of vintage 2020 took their toll, and it seemed like we would never see a Rudius wine again.

Fast forward a bit, and Rudius has been reimagined – cut down to a few bottlings, all focused on mountain fruit, like this Howell Mountain Cabernet. Picking up the reigns is a true ringer, one of the few with the chops to take over, Chad Alexander! He’s been at it for a quarter century, helping put Robert Craig and Hess Collection, bastions of Mountain Cab, on the map. He actually started in wine production at Hess when he was a teenager, not even of drinking age!

His vast experience, not just in wine winemaking but specifically with Mountain fruit – its richness, concentration, full-bodies potential – is evident in this bottle. And at 96 Points, with a 95 to back it up, the press is sees it too.

We have been fans of Rudius for years, and if this wine is any indication, will be fans for years to come!

That said, at such a CRAZY LOW PRICE, this offer won’t stick around long.

96 Points – The Tasting Panel “Dusky and dense, with impactful notes of chocolate ganache, blackberries, and licorice. The wine’s graceful strength comes from within, a humming engine of glassy tannins.”

95 Points – Decanter “Dark fruits and loamy earth with cocoa powder and toasty oak spices. Plush, opulent, muddled blackberry fruit, espresso bean, robust tannins, and a full-bodied finish. 98% Cabernet Sauvignon with 2% Petite Verdot. Drink 2026-2036.”