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You’ve found ME’s The Flag – HIGHLY LIMITED FLAGSHIP!

If today’s feature offers QPR at the entry level, this high end counterpart does so at the opposite end. Double down on the raw power, polish and depth and you end up with something like this. And the price? At $210 from the winery, it’s designed to compete in the big leagues.

After shedding $100+ from the price? The competition becomes scarce.

The bottle alone hints at what’s to come - weighing in at around 5 lbs, it’s the thickest glass we’ve seen. With enough wax to melt into a candle enclosing it, and a beautiful silkscreen label.

A sexy package might entice us, but what’s inside is all that matters. AND OH BABY! Those 95-96 point reviews hint at what’s inside, but this beast is A LOT more wine than that.

Before we completely gush about this, let’s rewind. First, we learned that the name actually goes back to co-founder Ames Morison’s great-great-grandfather, who was behind the local “Russian River Flag” newspaper back in the 1800s. Such legacy. Such pride. Such pedigree.

Of course, like all the ME gems, it’s overseen by consultant extraordinaire Jean Hoefliger, whose magic is so in demand that he comes with his own (tech sheet!) worth a read if you want to see just how prolific his span of work is.

Per Medlock Ames’ brilliant day-to-day winemaker Abby Watt, The Flag is “a rich, tannic, and bold statement of Bell Mountain Vineyard,” so you’d be wise to jump on it.

It’s not a wildly extracted fruit bomb bruiser but rather an insanely complex future classic. Think Vérité La Joie, from a vineyard that’s practically next door - but the going rate for one of those is in the $500s. ’Nuff said.

Get it in your Lockers quickly… only 10 barrels made!

96 Points – James Suckling “This is a complex and full-bodied wine, named for a local newspaper that ran in the Russian River Valley in the mid-1800s. Youthful tannins are chewy and grip with force, densely layering over bolts of blackberry, compost and a twist of dairy earthiness. The oak helps tell a complete story and this wine will do well in the cellar. Enjoy best from 2029-2034.”

95 Points – The Wine Independent “The 2021 The Flag Cabernet Sauvignon, with 3% Malbec in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, it bursts with bold notions of creme de cassis, fresh juicy plums, and black raspberries plus touches of garrigue, cedar chest, and tar. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut and muscular with firm, ripe, fine-grained tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing with great length and purity. Drink 2025-2045.”

94 Points - Decanter - “The 2021 rendition of this flagship wine from Medlock Ames includes just 3% Malbec, with the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. A spectacular display of dark-toned fruits nuanced by toffee, caramel, and scorched sagebrush notes. Medium to full-bodied, with intense earthy notes and angular tannins that mellow with aeration. Fresh, bright herbs and a cocoa nib freshness mark the finish. ‘The Flag’ is a name that references Ames’ great-great-grandfather, John Gilson Howell, who wrote for the Russian River Flag newspaper in the 1860s and 1870s.”