Gobsmacked. Definition: utterly astonished; astounded.

Yup. This wine came in like a wrecking ball and absolutely FLOORED us in the most positive sense of the word. And that was BEFORE we earned who made it. Then we saw the price, and every one of our value-seeking antennae lit up like Clark Griswold’s house during Christmas.

$22?

The disbelief approaches Carol-Baskin-didn’t-kill-her-husband levels…

Let’s start with the winemaker, Kevin Morrissey. The guy brings serious experience, starting his career at THE Château Pétrus of all places, before moving to Stags’ Leap Winery and then spending another nine years with Ehlers Estate (side note, you must try Ehlers if you have not). He’s connected, too, and sources fruit from prime vineyards around Napa Valley. Bonus points for his dedication to heart disease research, where he donated profits for all of Ehlers’ wines.

So, what’s it like? Well, it tastes exactly like a $60-70 Cabernet blend from Napa should. The blend of 50% Cabernet, 40% Zinfandel, and 10% Merlot may be unconventional but man, it works! The deep, polished fruit. The stout structure. The complexity! Ahhh… it’s all there. Black fruits at the core, plum, and boysenberry, with loads of savory secondary notes like leather, nutmeg, sweet herbs, and pepper and a smidge of chocolate and vanilla from the oak. The dusty tannins frame a muscular structure. Incredibly enjoyable now but should hold up well for years to come.

You could taste HUNDREDS of other Napa reds, costing upwards of $100+, and come up short on nearly every single one. After all, that’s precisely what we do. This will positively crush your conception of what a premium Napa red can be for $22. Get much as you can. You won’t regret it!