“I’ve always heard the old folks say that if you don’t know how to enjoy good luck when it comes, you shouldn’t complain if it passes you by.” – Sancho Panza, Don Quixote

It’s the 29th of February, and that can mean only one thing around here – LEAP DAY SPECIAL!

Naturally, there’s one AVA qualified to make an appearance on this extra day - Stags Leap! Home to some of Napa’s very best Cabs. And that’s exactly what we have here.

This once-every-four-years chance WILL pass you by. The only question is, will you take advantage of the luck sitting before you? A stupendous, near-50%-OFF opportunity!

Today’s feature comes from one of the coolest spots in the appellation: Quixote.

Wine Advocate has the story, “Quixote was founded by Carl Doumani after he sold Stags’ Leap Winery to Beringer in 1997 for more than $20 million. He had retained some of the property for this project and hired eccentric Austrian artist-turned architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser to build a rather unique winery, one of very few to earn an architectural review in The New York Times. There are currently 27 acres planted to vines on the property, with winemaking overseen by Robert Smith and Philippe Melka.”

A longstanding fixture in Napa, with a whimsical, “tipsy”, Dr. Seuss-like vibe to their design, all over the bottle and the winery. They’re nestled on the eastern hillside of Stags Leap District, right between Shafer and Stags’ Leap Winery. And unless you’re on the mailing list or visit them in person, you don’t really see their wines in the wild, originally elevated by yet another highly acclaimed winemaker, Aaron Pott. They focus on three varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. That’s it. They picked a lane and went all in. You’ll see what we mean when you taste it.

They’ve had a rotating cast of great winemakers over the years, and today they have one of the best, Phillipe Melka, who serves as their consulting winemaker alongside Robert Smith. Fleshy and round, it serves up a mouthful of steeped cherries, roasted plum, fresh tobacco, sugared pie crust and toasty oak, with vanilla and cocoa-laced accents. It leans into the inky, intense side of the spectrum without going full Kool-Aid on the candied sweet confection style. Just Stags Leap Cab at its best.

Only so much time left in the day until we say sayonara to this one. The clock is ticking!

92 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

“The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that’s all from estate vineyards in Stags Leap. Aged 19 months in 50% new French oak, it has classic notes of red and black currants, toasted bread, violets, and white chocolate. These give way to a medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant wine that has no hard edges, notable balance, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade. Drink 2020-2030.”