A longtime favorite is back with a library vintage - and more affordable than EVER.

Quad 92-pointer World’s End Crossfire, powered by the renowned Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard and throttled down to $38 from $150! A full 75% OFF?!

Jeb Dunnuck says World’s End is the Napa venture of Jonathan Maltus, probably best known for his Bordeaux estate Le Dôme… much of the fruit comes from superstar grower Andy Beckstoffer, which comes at a price, and the length of the relationship has a bearing on what fruit you have access to.”

Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper is one of the best. Alpha Omega, Carter Cellars, Purlieu, The Debate, Venge Family come to mind as other single vineyard versions out there seen in the $150-250 range. With neighbors like Vine Hill Ranch and Dominus that’s understandable. A Heritage site with an illustrious history, its namesake was a prominent landlady of 1870s Oakville, when it was planted.

And Maltus emerged as a leading visionary from the 1990s ‘garagiste’ period in St.-Émilion, where he pushed the limits and broke all the traditional rules to set new expectations for quality and price. He does it all, most notably across places like Le Dôme and Teyssier and other top Right Bank estates. World’s End is his Napa outfit, and he’s connected with all the right vineyards for sourcing.

Does sourcing get better than this? The truth is in the bottle. A pure representation of the valley floor - with wide open fruit, easy drinking, hedonistic enjoyment on display. Opulent, broad, and indulgent, powered by ultra-fine tannins that grip the palate, massive black cherries, blackberries, black pepper, dark chocolate, and exotic spices emanate their intense richness.

Basically, with the gorgeous roundness time in the cellar gave it, this is as good as ‘drink me now’ gets from a Beckstoffer source and remain somehow under $40.

Too bad these sell out. Quite fast.

92 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “World’s End is the Napa venture of peripatetic Englishman Jonathan Maltus, probably best known for his Bordeaux estates: Château Teyssier and Le Dôme. The 2008 vintage was Maltese’s first in Napa, and the wine has been made at different custom crush facilities over the years, which led to uneven results. The three vintages reviewed in this issue were made at Miocene Custom Crush, with forthcoming releases being done at Bin and Bottle with Adam Braunstein. Much of the fruit comes from superstar grower Andy Beckstoffer, which comes at a price, and the length of the relationship has a bearing on what fruit you have access to. The 2017 Crossfire Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard is big, rich and lush. With its super-dark notes of chocolate, clove and mocha, this full-bodied effort is savory-leaning, richly textured and long, with plummy fruit and plenty of spice. Drink 2022-2030.”

92 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “Coming from a great valley floor site in the southern part of Oakville, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Crossfire has a ripe, round, mouth-filling style as well as classic Hopper notes of darker currants, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate, and flowers. This complex, satisfying, balanced 2017 is drinking great today yet will keep for another decade at a minimum. Drink 2023-2033.”

92 Points – The Wine Independent “Deep garnet with a hint of purple, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Crossfire Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard leaps with vibrant black cherries, black raspberries, and warm cassis with hints of menthol, dark chocolate, and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, the palate delivers fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness to support the bright, crunchy fruit, finishing long and perfumed. 518 cases were made. Drink 2022-2035.”

92 Points – James Suckling “Aromas of black cherries and plums with sweet tobacco, mocha and dark earth. Full and chewy with velvety tannins and plush dark berry character. Lingering and opulent with a chalky, dark-fruited finish. Drink or hold.”