2010 Byrd Vineyard Byrdeaux Estate Grown Mendocino 750 ml

No one comes here by accident or on their way to somewhere else.

Bob Byrd’s remote eight-acre vineyard in the northern end of the Mayacamas Mountains sits at 2400 feet of elevation, ringed by an almost impenetrable forest of madrone, scrub, and oak trees.

It’s a vinicultural Fortress of Solitude, and it turned out what could be our greatest value EVER on a back-vintage California wine: a terrifically complex, exquisitely structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend aged TWELVE years in the cellar.

On a tip that Byrd’s cellar contained numerous hidden treasures, our Master Sommelier, Sur Lucero, made the long, winding journey to a mountain vineyard so isolated it can’t even be seen from main roads. With monastic devotion, Byrd runs the place as practically a one-man operation, doing all farming by hand.

The mix of 100% estate-grown mountain fruit and the tertiary complexity from its long slumber make for a wine that is absolutely dreamy. Deep notes of dark fruit, bay leaf, pipe tobacco, rocky soil, crushed pine needle, and worn leather fill out the richly appointed nose, and the palate’s structure is clearly in its prime. Chiseled tannins with a rounded patina show the bottle’s evolution, leading up to a fine-grained, totally sophisticated finish.

At this elevation, things happen to grapes faster: What might take 180 days at the bottom of the mountains takes just 150 up here. The vines see more intense sun for longer periods, accelerating ripening. Acids are firmer, the tannins more sculptural. Berries are smaller and more packed with flavor, though cooler air keeps the concentration proportional.

With wines of this extraordinary quality at this price, Bob Byrd might someday get some neighbors.