Drinking Napa Cab is cool and all, but like, have you had one from Mendocino, man?

The region might be more known for growing Cannabis Sativa more than Vitis Vinifera, but this will give you the same mind-altering type of experience.

Especially when you realize you paid under $30 for a 94-point single vineyard Cab by a master who’s got Lafite and Ridge under his belt, that is bound to elevate your weeknight wine experience.

We first offered Dashe back in 2009(!) and then somehow went a decade without them. But since 2020, we’ve rolled out one after another, and this Cabernet sits right up there with the best we’ve had.

The proprietors have an all-star background: Mike worked the legendary 1989 vintage as an intern at Château Lafite-Rothschild and did stints at Cloudy Bay, Schramsberg, and Far Niente, before settling in at Ridge Vineyards where he worked side by side with the legendary Paul Draper. Anne interned at Château La Dominique in Bordeaux and Chappellet Winery in Napa, before making brandy for Remy Martin. Since 1996, Dashe Cellars has adorned the finest wine lists around the world, at most of the top restaurants in the US, including The French Laundry, Chez Panisse, and Per Se.

At a reasonable 13.9% this won’t blow your top off, and it also doesn’t come in hot and heavy. But it does bring plenty of power and finesse, with crushed blackberry, savory pie crust, sweet violet, a dusting of cocoa powder and a kiss of spiced oak. It’s a medium to full-bodied effort that goes down the hatch easily and it will put a smile on the face of just about any Napa Cab lover.

When a Cab like this crosses our path, we don’t put up a fight. Accept a few bottles into your life and when they’re empty, be happy you paid $29 - not sad that they’re gone.

94 Points – Wine Enthusiast

“A great offering from a producer known for Zinfandel. The region is one to watch as well. This opulent wine offers aromas of blackberry, black plum, violets and spice on the nose. Flavors on the palate of dark cherry, sarsaparilla and orange zest wrap around dried tobacco leaf, malt chocolate and toasted vanilla, with a long, supple finish. Hold or drink until 2034”