“…the hidden gem in this range…” – Vinous

Ahem. Our first Classified of the year raises the bar. We’ll have a hard time topping this, if we’re completely honest.

This is the definition of a showstopper. Reserve bottling. $110 release price. Clocking in with at least EIGHT mid-to-high 90s scores from the professionals, topping out at 96 POINTS from Jeb Dunnuck for one, who speaks of a Cabernet “perfectly balanced” with “terrific perfume” and on, and on… Unanimously adored on CellarTracker, too, with raves ranging from “always an amazing QPR, in every vintage” to “would buy more” and even “great value if at $100…”

That price? How about at a full HALF OFF?!

You cannot find this bottle for less than $100 anywhere. You can find it for up to $180, though. Which makes our price today an unfathomable and unprecedented deal.

And finally, Agent Rhone tossed his first Agent Pick of the year onto this. It’s the definition of a “no-brainer” and a must-have at the price.

This young release from the stunning 2021 vintage comes from an elite Napa name located in the heart of Oakville, just a hop, skip, and jump from famous vineyards, and the fruit that goes into this Reserve is from a couple of their single vineyard sources on the east side, a stone’s throw from Screaming Eagle, Tench, PlumpJack, Groth, Harbison, basically on a throne with the royalty of Oakville.

This is a name you’ll instantly recognize when you pull it out of the box. It hails from a near-perfect vintage, and like the value of gold and silver, we’re super sold on the future of this collectible. It’s already soft, lush, and incredibly appealing, but it’s just starting to enter a perfect drinking window for the next 10+ years.

It’s what you’d expect from a winemaker who’s been there as long as Wine Spies has been around. He has numerous 100-pointers under his belt and goes back 4 generations in the valley. Enough clues! We can’t say more, otherwise we’ll get in trouble.

In the glass, it’s as luxurious and sexy as you could hope for in a prime Napa Cab. It pops with candied violets, black currants, blackberry coulis, and sweet creme de cassis. Structured, juicy, and saturating across the palate from the front to back and side to side. With a long drawl of a finish and an absolutely bonkers price, this offers a crushing value proposition. We’re pretty sure it’s going to be a favorite from the first sip you take, and you’ll have ZERO REGRETS at getting some.

You might, however, regret not getting enough… trust your Agents of Wine, this might be the best Classified we ever offered. Lock it down!