Lot 554 | 2023 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

Our Spring Series has introduced some truly stellar valley floor offerings, but as you know, Napa’s mountain appellations are home to equally incredible wines. Case in point: a dynamite Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon from the apex 2023 vintage.High above the fog line, Atlas Peak sits up to 2600 feet over the valley. Home to some of the most coveted grapes in the entire region, the lineup of high-end producers sourcing grapes here is basically an exclusive invitation list featuring a who’s who of Napa Valley. It’s a particularly dry AVA, with arid volcanic soils producing tight clusters of thick-skinned grapes that boast inimitable minerality and robust tannins, cooled by San Pablo Bay breezes that help them retain perfect acidity – a recipe for true mountain backbone and cellar-worthy elegance. No wonder these wines are a favorite of collectors.Lot 554 is a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the appellation’s most rugged sites, perched high in the Vaca Mountains. Harnessing the innate power of the mountain fruit, our source’s winemaker has crafted a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with tremendous sense of place. However, like so many other top-flight producers feeling increasingly jittery after seeing their recent balance sheets, products that were previously off limits are now quietly being offered out the side door (with hush-hush terms, of course). We’re obviously not letting a rare opportunity for a beauty like this pass us by – sold for well north of $125/bottle direct from the winery, one of the premier Atlas Peak releases on the market today is yours for a spectacular price:$36/bottle!The vineyard’s position above the fog line provides it with more sun than most, and that high-elevation exposure helps create remarkably thick-skinned grapes, along with lower night temperatures to encourage even ripening. In 2023, consistently cool weather lengthened the growing season, allowing phenolics and tannins to fully develop alongside ample acidity (augmenting the mountain fruit’s already immense intensity). The wine is handcrafted from tip to tail – bunches were hand-harvested, sorted by hand, and gently destemmed before fermenting in barrel. Following an extended maceration for maximum extraction, it was settled into top-tier French oak barrels (70% new and 30% second pass) for 16 months.Opening with a nose of dark cherries and a dried herbs, the bouquet deepens with air, unveiling aromas of cassis, violet, and new leather. On the palate, concentrated black cherry is interwoven with iodine, clay pot, and thyme in an almost meaty presentation, accented by iris florals, medium-plus acidity, and firm, grippy tannins. The finish is long and resinous, with gobs of barrel character wrapped around a core of dark fruit and crushed white blossoms. Break out a well-seasoned tomahawk on the grill for this one.15% alc