We secured four barrels straight from one of the pre-eminent family wineries on Howell Mountain. Where the wines routinely score 97+ points, and fetch upward of $195+ per bottle. While it carries a “Napa Valley” designation, fruit comes entirely from one legendary vineyard near the base of Howell Mountain. A pre-prohibition era hillside site, planted in the 1880s, where the eastern slopes offer a little respite from the warm days and create a perfect pocket to nestle Cabernet into a heavyweight knockout. Hint hint.

Raised in 40% new, medium-toast French oak (Darnajou, Taransaud), it has huge structure, grippy mountain tannins, and seriously deep and dark core of black fruit. Spices and violets, blackberry and black cherry preserves, cassis, and dusty old leather seamless meld together into one blockbuster wine. The 2023 vintage is one for the history books, and will surely reveal some incredible wines.