Mission Codename H & Arr
Near 50% OFF a 94 pointer from the undisputed Queen of Winemaking? The one, the only, HEIDI BARRETT graces our site once again!!
Sigh. Do we really need to remind everyone of her legacy again?
(feel free to skip to the good part if you already know)
Empress Heidi (aka. Agent H) and her lovely princess Remi (aka. Agent Arr) have once again gracefully collaborated with Wine Spies. We’re beyond lucky to have ANY of this top-secret deal because their wines are rarely available elsewhere - let alone at this price!
Heidi earned her street cred at Silver Oak, Franciscan, and Buehler Vineyards at the young age of 25. From there her career went into overdrive as she fashioned spectacular vintages at Screaming Eagle along with plenty of other timeless hits at Dalla Valle, Grace Family, Revana, David Arthur, Kenzo, Paradigm and on, and on… The Drinks Business recently lauded her own family project La Sirena as “some of California’s most lusted-after wines.”
So today, we collectively lust after the 2018 Studio Series. We scraped together a few cases - barely enough for an offer. At the release price of $150, it seems a fair shake given what her other wines can go for. But with our staggering discount of nearly 50% OFF?! Unbeatable. Untouchable. Unfathomable.
What did you expect though? That’s just how it goes when we forge tight relationships with some of the best players in the wine game. The catch? It’s very, very limited.
The two leading grapes are Cabernet and Syrah, with dollops of Petite Sirah and Cab Franc. Each vintage of this newcomer to the lineup features a label painted by Agent H herself.
What’s it like? To recite its creator, it’s got “open aromas of lush fruit - plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it’s quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long, delicious finish. A beautiful wine from an excellent vintage - complexity and elegance abound in this work of winemaking art. Delicious and approachable upon release, we expect it will be an age-worthy addition to your cellar as well.”
And what can we add to that today? It’s gotten silkier and smoother, drinking like a lucid dream. Looks like it’s going to be a chilly winter, so make sure you’ll have enough of this heart-warmer to warm your soul.
This crazy opportunity could be our one shot at it.
94 Points – The Wine Independent
“The 2018 Studio Series Red Blend is composed of 48% Syrah, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petite Sirah, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps with bold notions of juicy plums, boysenberries, and chocolate-covered cherries, backed up by suggestions of aniseed and tree bark. The rich, full-bodied palate packs a punch of black fruit and exotic spices layers, supported by ripe, rounded tannins, finishing with amazing length. Drink 2023-2038.”
93+ Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“A blend of 48% Syrah, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petite Sirah and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Studio Series Red Wine boasts bold aromas of black cherries, blackberries, blueberries and licorice. It’s full-bodied, ripe and rich yet harmonious, balanced and appealing from front to back, lingering in silky waves on the finish.”
93 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“Black fruits, tobacco, leafy herbs, and chocolate all emerge from the 2018 Red Blend Studio Series, a nicely balanced, medium to full-bodied blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Syrah, and tiny proportions of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc. Opening up nicely with time in the glass, I love its tannins, it has plenty of mid-palate depth, and outstanding length.”
What the Winery Says
2018 'Studio Series' Napa Valley Cabernet Blend
- Winemaker
- Heidi Peterson Barrett
- Varietals
- 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah, 2% Cabernet Franc
- Vintage
- 2018
- Alcohol
- 15.1%
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Total acidity
- 6.1 g/L
- pH
- 3.72
- Release date
- April 19, 2022
- Aging
- 22 months
- Barrels
- 45% new French oak