Happy Saturday, Ops!!

We are on a serious vibe today - BottleRock is in town, the long weekend is upon us, and the sun is shining. Mimosas are flowing, and MOST IMPORTANTLY we have a smokin’ good RESERVE Napa Cab to serve up at a LARGE, nearly 60% discount.

Was $85, now $35!

This beauty comes from the legendary duo of Mondavi alum Paul Segas and Silver Oak alum Dave Cofran. This dynamic duo arrived at their Highlands partnership via golden career paths. Dave studied viticulture and winemaking at UC Davis, with a star-studded list of classmates like Nils Venge of Saddleback, Justin Meyer of Silver Oak, and Ric Forman. Meanwhile, Segas was an executive at IBM daydreaming of Napa Valley. A Napa veteran, he acquired top vineyards in the 1970s, and they earned him a roster of A-list winery clients like Joseph Phelps, Chateau Montelena, Robert Mondavi…

This 100% Cabernet delivers exactly what you want. An inky black, blue, and purple with a deep crimson glow on the rim. The nose offers up a mashup of blackberry, cherry, and plum, with some red whips, vanilla, cocoa with a sprinkling of savory spices, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak. The smooth, soft, and creamy mouthfeel at such a young age, and even a little “baby fat” make it immensely drinkable now, while the tremendous buildup towards the long finish shows that this will age for a good 10+ years, no problem. While the morning coffee is brewing, throw some dry-rubbed ribs into the Big Green Egg low and slow, and make sure you decant this all day.

Too new for the press to catch up with this one. But we do have HUGE raves on yet another stellar Napa Cab vintage - in fact, 2019 may triumph all, as time will tell. Early impressions all confirm extraordinary results, Vinous’ Antonio Galloni just reported that “the 2019s I have tasted so far are fabulous. The wines feel like they have a little more energy, power, and depth than the 2018s… wines that are both rich and energetic. In some ways, 2019 reminds me of 2010…” with 2018 scoring a firm 97 points, doing the math leaves no reason to wait for a final verdict really.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate echoes the praise, with a quote worth borrowing; “There’s a little more richness to 2019,” said Opus One’s winemaker, Michael Silacci, “2018 is elegant—and that’s not in the excuse for being lighter. I like the intensity of the 2018s, but 2019 is a bit above it.”

Highlands always crushes it in the quality department, and this price is frankly, quite ridiculous. Their Howell Mountain Cabernet we sold last time vanished in hours. No doubt a race to the bottom of our inventory on this one has already started. Treat yourself while you can.