Frisson: Sudden strong feeling of excitement, a thrill.

We’ve got a frisson running through our veins today! Can you feel it? The air is charged with the buzzing excitement that only a ground-shaking deal like this can produce.

Last year we brought you their Proprietary Red, and it quickly became one of the most re-ordered wines in our long history. We loved it. You loved it. Everybody won.

Today we’re back with their Rutherford Cabernet that was once $125, now priced not at $50… or $40… try $38!! Did we make a mistake there? Maybe. Could we have sold it for more? Probably. But we sacrifice the extra few bucks because you NEED this in your life.

Something happens to many people who visit Napa. They get the bug. The winemaking bug… a select few that act on it. Terry was one of them. One night at a dinner he met winemaker Wayne Donaldson (of Moet Hennessey, Chandon, Martini…) and the two hit it off. Wayne told him he’d call him up if he came across some extra grapes - and soon after Terry had some prime Diamond Mountain grapes in his possession. Ever since he’s been cranking out some fantastic quality wines, like this one.

For this bottling, he sourced some even more venerable Beckstoffer Georges III fruit, which makes up 2/3 of the blend. The balance comes from the also Beckstoffer owned Melrose Vineyard and the result adds up to 110% satisfaction.

SO much going on here. The MINT - maybe eucalyptus? Spearmint? A little of both perhaps. It’s there in a big way. But so are the dusty plums, brambly blackberries, and juicy black currants. And a suggestion of raspberry sorbet along with fig preserve. A whisper of holiday baking spices. Mocha, espresso, cocoa powder. Altogether this is a wildly complex and fascinating wine with a finish that lingers for miles and miles. Should a prime rib dinner be lined up on the horizon, it won’t be complete without this.

This drinks so far, FAR above our price, it’s crazy. Through the grapevine, we heard that some big scores are on the way, but that’s expected with a track record of 93-95 points worth of praise: “great poise and good expression… lingering yet beautifully subtle” (for the 2015 by Wine Advocate) and “a big, broad-shouldered and impressive wine, made from the heart of the appellation in all its glory of rarefied dust” (for the 2013 by Wine Enthusiast). With 2019 as one of the finest Napa Valley harvests of the century thus far, you do the math.

And you’d be crazy to miss it if you enjoy premium Rutherford Cab. Of course, we’re counting the hours (minutes?) until it sells out… again, 70% OFF so move fast.