This wine is not for the faint at heart so if your ticker is not up to the challenge – go check out things in our store instead. No chest grabbers on our watch- you have been warned!

“No hard edges, and just flawless balance.” Says Jeb Dunnuck. “…it soars out of the glass…” says Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. “The palate is velvety, ample, powerful and very balanced.” Says James Suckling and probably our favorite quote out of all the critic reviews, Connoisseurs’ Guide calls it, “Nothing less than a tour de force… It is that good!”

And we’ve got the best price. Hands down!

Chances are good if you are a Napa Cab head, you know the background of Lail Vineyards. Great grandniece of Captain Gustave Niebaum (of Inglenook fame), Robin Lail is considered Napa royalty. Her father, John Daniel, Jr actually mentored Robert Mondavi and in return Mondavi mentored Lail. She fostered more esteemed partnerships by launching the first Auction Napa Valley in 1981. She then co-founded Dominus with Christian Moueix and then Merryvale Vineayrd with Bill Harlan.

Legendary Winemaker Philippe Melka said of Lail, “If you meet Robin, the wines make sense. They have power, finesse, charm and class.”

Establishing Lail Vineyards in 1995 continued her family’s legacy and now, they celebrate over 140 years of winemaking tradition and 6 generations that have been touched by the winemaking passion.

We are honored to be able to offer this wine and there is NOT MUCH TO BE HAD.

With a perfect 100 points from Jeb Dunnuck and a near perfect, 99 points from Wine Advocate, we’re lucky we got any!

The wine itself is heavenly. Deep red fruits, subtle floral, fresh espresso, and wafts of cherrywood on the nose flow into black currants, blueberry preserves, baking spices and Mexican mole sauce on the palette. Tannins wrap brilliantly around weightless, almost bouncy texture, giving it structure and a finish that will leave you dreaming of Napa for days. Absolutely flawless!

Seriously, do not delay. You will NOT find this wine anywhere for less if you can find it at all!

100 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee comes from a mix of terroirs (Howell Mountain, Stags Leap, Oakville, Calistoga) and is brought up in 75% new French oak. Heavenly notes of red and black currants, dried tobacco, sandalwood, flowers, and spice give way to a full-bodied, concentrated, yet weightless texture that carries awesome tannins, no hard edges, and just flawless balance. This majestic, regal wine is going to drink brilliantly for 25 years or more.

99 points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, 75% new. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with seductive notes of crème de cassis, blueberry preserves and Black Forest cake, followed by suggestions of espresso, yeast extract, black truffles and charcoal plus a fragrant waft of violets. Full-bodied, rich and opulently fruited in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, earthy nuances and savory sparks, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

96 Points – James Suckling

Complex and full-bodied, this shows notes of blackberries, plums, chocolate, herbs and minerals. The palate is velvety, ample, powerful and very balanced. Terrific finish that develops and lasts. Very structured and focused. This needs at least two to four years of bottle age. Try after 2023.

96 Points – Connoisseurs’ Guide

Nothing less than a tour de force, the Lail 2018 J. Daniel Cuvée is a Cabernet of soaring beauty and fruity depth that combines amazing richness with an altogether remarkable degree of real sophistication. It offers layer upon layer of blackcurrant fruit, creamy oak, black olives and loam, and, although it is a wine of considerable concentration and muscle, it is also uncannily wellpolished for a wine that is as young and muscular as it is. We do not use the term “classic” lightly, but classic it is, and, while we have yet to see a great many of the top Cabernet Sauvignons from what is a heralded vintage, it sets a high standard that will be hard to beat. It is that good!