“…not just outstanding; it was captivating” said Lisa Perrotti-Brown about the previous vintage.

Well, guess what? It’s back!! This time with a fresh 94-point score from her that just dropped!

We hear other scores are on the way. Meanwhile, this is like getting a leaked earnings report before the bell at Wall Street and going before the stock goes to the moon - but in a totally legal way.

Harlan has The Maiden. Screaming Eagle, Second Flight.

You might think we’ve gone mad comparing this to such legendary wines. But screw all that. We’re putting our integrity on the line today.

Because Cervantes has Fair Chase. And you have it here, while it lasts, for $50. This is, without a doubt, one of the finest “second” wines we’ve tasted, and the best thing is almost nobody knows about it…

Yet.

They will soon, at least we hope - because both Agents Rhone and Noir will testify. under oath that this is one of the most compelling and downright screaming good Cabs we’ve tasted in recent memory.

Of course, it does have Screaming Eagle alumnus (2006-2011) Erickson behind it. Per Robb Report “When it comes to Napa Valley resumes, the ‘Winemaking Experience’ section of Andy Erickson’s reads like a fantasy lineup: Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Staglin, Dalla Valle, Ovid.”

You’ll shell out $100-$300 or much more for any of those other wines from Andy. Did you see that price?! When we first tasted this at PNV a back in March, we fell for it HARD. And this was amidst a sea of $300+ best-foot-forward efforts from Philippe Melka, Thomas Brown, and all. (Honorable mentions to Fairest Creature, Moon Tsai, etc.), mind you.

Then we all concurred at the weekly tasting that it was indeed on another level.

And while the rest of Cervantes’ wines fetch $200+, this seems to have nearly all the same guts for a fraction of the price. This is cut from the same cloth, through and through, at a price to make you blush with the first sip. Wine Advocate is 100% right when they say “Andy Erickson crafts rich, opulent wines for proprietor Xavier Cervantes.”

We could encourage you to clean us out. But he’d rather see it last long enough to drink all that’s left. We will be taking cases of it home for our own stash. Believe that.

(Oh, and we also have an exclusive on it, so dear competitors, if you’re reading this, you’re too late. The ship sailed, and you’re left in the wake. Our Ops are the chosen ones to enjoy this until it’s gone. Try ‘em next time!)

So, what exactly drew us to this beyond the stupefyingly good juice? It has some magic sauce in it. It’s massively concentrated and fresh at the same time, with a sumptuous core of cassis and cherry Jolly Rancher, minus the cloying sweet sugary part and red dye #40. A dusting of cardamom and baking spice sits between the layers, and the whole thing unfolds across your palate with intensity, suave richness, and layers of fruit that can only rival a kouign amann pastry.

The Wine Independent has the answer: “A few years ago, I sat with consultant winemaker Andy Erickson to taste one of his new projects. It came from Pope Valley. Huh. Not a lot of Napa Valley wines profess to come from this outlier area. Fruit from Pope Valley is usually a secret-sauce component for Napa Valley blends. I can count the number of superstar winemakers who claim to make wines from Pope Valley on two fingers. (Thomas Rivers Brown for one) But this Cabernet Sauvignon Erickson showed me was not just outstanding; it was captivating. Wanting to check out this vineyard, I was informed that the location and nature of the site made it a whole-day commitment.”

Part site, which is the final frontier of Napa Valley’s Vaca range peaks, part winemaking wizardry. The blend explains some, led by 75% Cabernet, of course, and the difference is split between Malbec and Petite Sirah. They make up this secret sauce, Malbec filling in blue notes and Petite Sirah providing the savory bramble, elevating the Cabernet core to new heights layer by layer. This may appear to be a “value” Cab to many, but it’s seriously complex and will evolve into fine, intellectual maturity too.

Time is fleeting. Invest in a case or more while it’s still here; you WILL be grateful.

94 Points – Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW “Deep garnet-purple colored. Comes bounding out of the glass with bold notes of juicy plums, baked blackberries, and dark chocolate, followed by nuances of menthol and star anise. Full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of juicy blackberry flavors, supported by grainy tannins and beautiful tension, finishing long and spicy. Drink 2026-2042.”