2013 Chad Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve 750 ml

Parker’s Greatest Napa Valley Vintage in 37 Years — CHAD’s Iron Fist in Velvet Glove

A month ago, when Chad recounted the story of the “8-page NDA,” our winemaker friend was on edge. He confessed to having shed more than a few pounds in the preceding two weeks. At this meeting, however, as he spooned foam off the top of a cappuccino at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company in St. Helena, the 42-year-old redhead was perfectly relaxed, grinning ear to ear.

“Since I launched CHAD, I’ve had some great luck with the greatest wineries in Napa Valley. A couple on Howell Mountain. One on Pritchard Hill. Most recently, one of the top names in Stags Leap. But when it came to the cream of Rutherford and Oakville, as much as I tried, I kept striking out. How come? Even when the economy was in the crapper, if the winery’s name was Caymus, PlumpJack, Rubicon, or Opus One, it was like the Great Recession never happened. So what? They sold out in three months instead of two!”

Then Chad reached into his leather carrying case, pulled out a bottle and set it gently on the table. “Now they tell us the economy is strong. But how strong? Strong enough for wineries to sell all of their 2012s — one of the best but also the largest harvest in Napa Valley history? Yes. But strong enough to then sell all the 2013 — an equally large harvest, but even better quality? Almost … but NOT QUITE.”

There are two portions of the Rutherford AVA that consistently give birth to the highest-scoring and most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignons. To the east, close to the Silverado Trail, you find Caymus, Round Pond, and Frog’s Leap. Then all the way to the west, intersecting or to the west of Highway 29, sit Staglin and Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon.

In the phenomenal 2013 vintage, one Robert Parker suggested is the very best since he first visited Napa Valley 37 years ago, the crème de la crème of Rutherford turned out some of the richest and surely the most age-worthy estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignons of our lifetimes, wines of incredible density, structure, and “dusty” complexity. But despite the superb quality, as Chad explained at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company, one of Rutherford’s superstars simply brought in more 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon than they had barrels to house it.

The mystery winery’s first call went to Chad. They wouldn’t have to make another.

The CHAD Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve is a classic example of the 2013 vintage —the iron fist in a velvet glove. Opaque purple. Big, bold, and extravagant aromatically, infused with a decadent mix of black raspberry, blackberry, and mountain blueberry with hints of violets, smoke, and stony minerality. Explosive on the attack, filled with black-fruit preserves and black currant. Despite all the opulence, perfectly honed and restrained, slowly peeling away layer upon black-fruit layer, finishing with the dusty tannin backbone for which Rutherford is so well-known. Drink now — ONLY if you must — until 2028.

As compared to $85/bottle under the winery’s own label. Just $29/bottle today behind CHAD. You make the call. 300 bottles. Sorry in advance.