Mission Codename Big gun
Second (and last) Pour…
We’ve had plenty of Beau Vigne wines come across our tasting table. But this? Their flagship effort? A first-time allocation for us. With a limited supply, 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck and most importantly - a breakneck price, it’s worthy of a Deep Cover to our most discriminating Operatives.
Praised as “one of my favorite wineries” and a “true gem of Napa Valley” by Robert Parker Beau Vigne never misses.
In this case, they connected right in the sweet spot and sent one clear out of the park.
With a who’s who of rockstar winemakers over the years - Dave Phinney, Kirk Venge, and now Julian Fayard, it’s been one greatest hit after another.
And this, the freshly released 2021 Signature Series Reserve Cabernet, with a much-deserved 96 POINTS, is arguably the best we’ve had from them yet. An absolute blockbuster, and with a mammoth $120+ discount off the $200 release price it’s a no-brainer for the discerning buyers.
When you turn Julian Fayard (Lafite Rothschild, Realm, Atelier Melka, Purlieu, and more) loose with a near-perfect vintage like 2021, great things happen. Raised for 20 months in 80% new French Oak, with a dollop of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in the mix, it has a showroom polish and a depth to rival the Kola Superdeep Borehole.
Fresh-out-the-oven mixed berry pie, warm crust, supple creme de cassis, and blueberry coulis fill the midpalate, while melted dark chocolate, sweet violets, and shaved graphite minerality frame it with added complexity. Supple, soft tannins and toasty sweet oak round out this wonderfully hedonistic experience.
Napa Cabs don’t get much more balanced with this level of extraction. A flamboyant style, executed to near perfection. Stacked with layers, lifted with beautiful aromatics, and smoothed over with an expansive mouthfeel. This is drinking as well or better than any young Napa Cab we’ve had in a long time and should have the stuffing to hold for a long, long time to come.
With little to go around, and a spectacular price over 60% OFF there’s only one thing left to do…
Move quick!
96 Points – Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature Series Reserve incorporates 95% Cabernet Sauvignon along with tiny amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc and spent 20 months in barrel. It’s another saturated purple-hued release delivering a monster bouquet of ripe blue fruits, cassis, liquid violets, charcoal, and graphite. It’s pure and has a lively, seamless, yet powerful, full-bodied mouthfeel, integrated yet substantial tannins, and a great finish. It’s a gorgeous bottle of wine that will also evolve for two decades if well-stored. Drink 2023-2043.”
What the Winery Says
2021 'Signature Series Reserve' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Julien Fayard
- Varietals
- 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
- Vintage
- 2021
- Alcohol
- 15.2%
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Bottling date
- June 2023
- Aging
- 18 months
- Barrels
- 85% new French oak