Mission Codename Caput Lupinum
Have you ever wanted to bring a knockout Cabernet to impress your serious wine pals, but hate the idea of paying $100+ a bottle to do so?
We got you. Today’s offering has all the hallmarks of a primetime, big ballin’, shot-callin’ Napa Cabernet - a Rockstar winemaker, primo fruit from Calistoga, exquisite packaging - while without the stomach-churning triple-digit price tag.
In fact, already a fairly good deal at $65, a Cab this boutique is downright silly with our 43% break. Now put your speed reading into use as inventory is already moving fast, like a dachshund race.
Many of you know Hundred Acre, the cult favorite, $400/bottle, almost-always-100-point Cabernet by Jayson Woodbridge. Well, “clearly winemaking talent runs in the Woodbridge family” as Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate attests, his brother Cameron also makes bad-ass wine in that full throttle, all-or-nothing style.
Cameron worked alongside Jayson and Philippe Melka, who consulted for Hundred Acre at the time, starting in 2005. He honed his skills and broke out on his own to make a comparably opulent, hedonistic, high scoring Cabernet. Maybe you snagged some of his Stormy Weather we sold out of last year. If so, you know the style he puts out.
Jeb Dunnuck remarks that these wines “tastes like it cost 2-3 times its listed price”. The same holds true here. In his raving review of the 2015 he called it “sweetly fruited” touting it “offers an extroverted style”. Again, we totes agree with Jeb. Honestly, we could spit out some tasting notes, but can’t say it any better - “an extroverted style in its sweet spice, cedarwood, candle wax, and vanilla tinged red and black fruits. This beauty is medium to full-bodied, has no hard edges, sweet tannins, and is simply delicious Napa Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the coming decade or more.”
You can spend a lot more on a Cabernet and still come up short of what’s offered here. And your friends will never need to know you paid a lot less than the already reasonable $65 retail.
Oh, last but not least, if you like Port, check out the secret little sweet surprise also from Wolf’s Head in our Store today!
If you’re still reading this, you need to move fast because a sell-out is inevitable.
93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Clearly winemaking talent runs in the Woodbridge family. Cameron Woodbridge is the brother of Hundred Acre’s infamous genius, Jayson Woodbridge. Sourcing fruit from Calistoga and Oakville AVAs in Napa Valley, like Jayson, Cameron micro-ferments in oak barrels. And yet his style is clearly his own, producing wines with compelling precision and poise and with just enough unbridled decadence to make you wonder. Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 30 months in 20% new French oak and an additional five months in bottle, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wolf’s Head is medium garnet-purple in color and gives up warm plums, cassis and Black Forest cake with menthol, earth and tobacco. The palate is full, rich and firmly structured with great freshness and firm, velvety tannins, finishing very long and layered. Drink 2018-2033.”
93 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“These wines are made by Cameron Woodbridge, who’s also behind the terrific Stormy Weather wines, also reviewed in this report. More sweetly fruited and forward, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wolf’s Head offers an extroverted style in its sweet spice, cedarwood, candle wax, and vanilla tinged red and black fruits. This beauty is medium to full-bodied, has no hard edges, sweet tannins, and is simply delicious Napa Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the coming decade or more. Maturity 2019-2034.”
What the Winery Says
2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Cameron Woodbridge
- Varietal
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage
- 2015
- Alcohol
- 15.1%
- Appellation
- Calistoga, Napa Valley
- Aging
- 30 months
- Barrels:
- 28% new French oak