2013 Anarchist The Philosopher Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

Channeling California’s Marquee Red Blend

Sitting on a blind judging panel at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, our man Eduardo Dingler swirled an opaque ruby wine, then took in its massive aroma: dark cherry mingled with fresh bramble, cocoa, and espresso tones. It had all the telltales of one of the blockbuster names of California, a monster of a BBQ wine whose name has become shorthand for opulent and dense red blends. But it couldn’t be, could it? At a competition in 2019, had someone actually entered…

No way, Eduardo thought, as he took a sip. But there it was: black fruit wrapped around a powerful juicy core, finishing with super-smooth, velvety tannins. If this wasn’t the iconic red with the gothic label, it was a dead ringer—and a wine that Wine Access members would absolutely flip for.

Only when Eduardo and the panel were having a cocktail in the hotel bar—after they had endorsed the wine with a staggering 98 points and a Double Gold Medal—did one of the other panelists speak up: “Man, that one super-deep red?” he said, as he sipped a scotch on the rocks. “For a second, I thought that was The Pr-“

“Me too!” Eduardo interrupted. Turns out that the whole panel had been thinking the same thing about the 2013 Anarchist Wine Co.’s The Philosopher—even the name reminded them of the iconic wine. Since Eduardo was wearing his judge’s hat that weekend, he didn’t pursue the opulent red wine. But as soon as the competition was over, he made it his mission to procure an allocation of The Philosopher for Wine Access members.  

Since you’re reading this, you know Eduardo delivered. He tracked down the Anarchist Wine Co. just south of downtown Napa, and inquired how much of their tiny 418-case production of 2013’s The Philosopher there might be left. Not much, they said at first. But when Eduardo told them that he represented Wine Access… well, let’s just say that a tall stack of cases quickly materialized. 

Now softened by a few years in the bottle, The Philosopher packs all the fruit of a robust Cabernet-dominant blend—the other grapes are Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Syrah—with a texture even silkier than the one associated with its big-name doppelganger. This is what wine lovers think of when they think “Napa Valley Red Blend.” It’s a an opaque ruby color with tons of dark fruit, deep notes of chocolate and coffee, and a tinge of lavender. The tannins can stand up to any red meat off the grill, but are smooth enough to make this the perfect wine for the California Cabernet lover whose favorite red-wine pairing is a second glass.  

Most Napa wineries are tapped out of the 2013 vintage (or claim to be), which stands as one of the greatest in North Coast history, so a find like this one is rare. Discovering one that impressed an impartial panel is all but unheard of, and, at under $40, is the kind of deal that never lasts long around here. Think of your summer plans, and think of how much better they’ll be with a glass—or a case—of The Philosopher close at hand