“The strongest effort I tasted from Grand Napa Vineyards this year…” – Wine Advocate

Anyone watch “Gold & Greed” on Netflix recently? It turns out you don’t need to head over to Wyoming to risk your life at finding the next box of hidden treasure.

All you need is to load a few of these into your Locker, kick back, and relax until it shows up on your doorstep.

With 94 points from The Wine Independent and 92 from Wine Advocate, and a near 70% discount layered in, this has all the look and feel of a solid gold nugget at a pyrite price.

The cheapest Mt. Veeder Cab we can find clocks in at around $70 from the eponymously named Mount Veeder Winery. Alternatively, you could invest $225 for a 93-point rated Hall from the same vintage or $135 for a Merryvale offering.

And this isn’t to knock those higher-priced offerings - they’re probably quite good.

But hear me out. You could get something very similar (dare we say, better even?) for $45 from us.

This comes to us from high on Mount Veeder, and while the 2022 vintage had its share of ups and downs, this sure signals a high point for Grand Napa. At nearly $100 off it’s also approaching the largest of discounts we come across.

Grand Napa has been churning out some rock-solid wines from their outpost in Rutherford, just on the edge of Inglenook Estate. With neighbors like Scarecrow, Quintessa, or Inglenook, you have a lot to live up to, and this makes a strong case that they’re moving on up.

In the glass, it’s medium to fuller bodied, although not wildly extracted or “opulent” as they come. There’s rich red and black fruit, with lifted aromatics and brightness that reflects the cool diurnal shifts at 1500’ elevation on the mountain. Currant, cassis, and blackberry mix with cacao nibs and vanilla into a soft and seamless gradient of flavor that carries into a nice long finish.

The only thing not GRAND about it is the production, 8 barrels only for the entire planet, act fast.

94 Points – The Wine Independent “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder starts with notes of dried Provence herbs, tilled soil, and fresh black plums slowly emerging from the glass, giving way to a core of red currant jelly, graphite, and Morello cherries. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly wound with crunchy red and black fruit layers, supported by grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with a cheeky herbal lift. Drink 2026-2042.”

92 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate “The strongest effort I tasted from Grand Napa Vineyards this year, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder features scents of crushed stone, black olives and pencil shavings. Overall a bit savory and Bordeaux-like on the nose, it’s medium to full-bodied in the mouth, adding black cherries and cassis notes. Supple and nearly creamy in feel, this is surprisingly easy to drink for a mountain wine, showing nice purity and ample length. Drink 2025-2035.”