Spies love to gamble. It’s in our DNA. A role model to live and die by, 007 always wins for a reason. We also LOVE numbers. And have insatiable curiosity. That’s why, while staring at the varietal, vintage, vineyard and price of this, it hit us hard. That’s when we went on Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate to search and calculate the average rating and cost of a 2016 Mt. Veeder Cabernet. And for all fellow statistics fans out there, that would be 94 points at $130 per bottle. No joke! And no surprise either, given Parker’s highest ever North Coast Cab vintage score for 2016 at 98 points.

Gorgeous deeper shades of red, with crimson highlights on the narrow rim bordering purple. A complex bouquet of black cherry, mulberry, bay leaf, cedar, garrigue and nutmeg nuances. Stunning elegance, grace, and balance with sneaky depth and richness with ultra-fine tannins. Blackberry, plum, cassis echo in harmony with earth, and toasty oak for easily over a minute. The supple softness here is ideal for a roasted tenderloin of pork with a wild mushroom pilaf.

Back in 2007, Random Ridge was one of the first wineries ever to be on The Wine Spies. If you’re new to Random Ridge and not amongst our Operatives who just can’t get enough every time we feature one, don’t let the snow-covered vineyard surfer Bill, or his playful names and labels fool you. We’re talking world-class winemaking here. Always Wine Spies Exclusives always destined to sell-out, and we also are always, after all those years, utterly puzzled by how these exemplary wines come with such incomprehensible deals. This CAN NOT be a random coincidence. Or is it? Well, with only 10 barrels made, enjoy it while the confusion lasts, because our allocation may not!

Mt. Veeder, located on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas range, has a climate that is cooler than the valley floor below. This climate and the more difficult (less fertile) volcanic mountain soil influence the flavors of the wines from this region. Best known for Cabernet Sauvignon, the region also produces Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. The premium vineyards of the Mt. Veeder appellation produce grapes of exceptional character, density, and intensity. With vineyards adorning labels from the likes of Lokoya, Mayacamas Vineyards or Lewis Cellars hailing from all over this appellation, it’s truly the home of some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon grown in all of Napa Valley.

While there’s no press on this particular vintage yet, why not use that to our advantage because not only would the pricing be so approachable, but the wine would be long gone if it already had received the big scores it deserves. Meanwhile, visit the winery website here for a long, long list of previous accolades, and if you scroll all the way to the bottom, you’ll even find a Wine Spies review from back when!