Today’s wine is the incredibly delicious Allen Estate 2013 Audacieux single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, which recently earned a stellar 97 points from Chris Sawyer. That’s a score that everyone can appreciate.

This wine is one of the best Napa Cabs we have ever tasted. It is extraordinary.

Just a week ago, this classic Napa Cab earned a stratospheric 97 point score from Sommelier to the Stars, Chris Sawyer. That is the sort of score that causes a wine to sell out.

So, how did I get my hands on some - before it was all gone? Well, it doesn’t hurt to be pals with the winemaker, Chris Taddei (SuperSonoman, Hensteeth, Geometry and others) who allowed me first access to this marvel of a wine - which he makes for the mailing list only winery, Allen Estate.

For such a young wine, this lush, richly layered wine is drinking beautifully. I can’t wait to see how it progresses through the next decade or longer.

Rich and layered, with bold, foreboding aromas of black cherry preserve, blackberry compote, black licorice, cassis, smoky black cherry, tobacco, dark spice, cured meat, baker’s chocolate and black pepper.

On the palate, this wine is bold and dark with serious flavors of black cherry preserve, smoked blueberry, tobacco leaf, spice box, cigar box, black licorice, dried meats, dark chocolate and black pepper.

This generous Cabernet is well worth its price, even at full retail. At 55% off, it’s a super QPR bargain!

Please enjoy today’s fantastic wine by the bottle or by the case… but reserve yours now before it’s all gone.

Spoil yourself… you deserve it.

~

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

97 points - “Sommelier to the Stars” Christopher Sawyer - “In French, “audacieux” means bold, courageous, and daring. This new release from Ron Allen and gifted winemaker Chris Taddei is all that and more! Made with premiere Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown on a rugged hillside of Oakville in Napa Valley, this young vibrant wine opens with seductive aromas of ripe berries, mountain herbs, chocolate ganache, and cedar.

The flavors are deep and robust briary blackberry, ripe blueberry, cassis, dark plum, fresh currants, sage, and a nice balance of fine French oak, chewy tannins, and rich, round mouthfeel lead to a long, lingering finish.

I’ll admit, I went back to taste the wine again days later and was impressed by the way it opened up once the cork was originally pulled. Point is, no matter if you are drinking this Cabernet Sauvignon when it’s young or after aging it for 7-10 years in the cellar, rest assured that there will be power and finesse waiting for you in each bottle of this fine limited production wine.

Food pairings: Hearty Italian cuisine, wild game, lamb shank, grilled steaks with blue cheese, or paired with fine cigars to end the evening.