2013 Chad Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain Reserve 750 ml

“Over 95pts from Wine Advocate”:  The Ulitmate CHAD Reserve

“Over the past five years,” Chad said, after the waitress set down three plates of Farmstead’s fried chicken and mashed potatoes, “I’ve bottled 27 Cabernet Sauvignons, each made by one of the top wineries in the valley. Just four of those wines were labeled ‘Reserve.’ A lot of wineries use that term frivolously. But I’m Old School, and I don’t. While, by agreement, I can never divulge the names of my winery clients or their winemakers, I have told you that each of those four were estate-grown and -bottled wines. I purchased all in lots of just 6-12 barrels — 75-100% of which were new.”

Chad poured three ounces of Cabernet Sauvignon into the three crystal stems. The color was brilliant purple-black. He continued, “I can tell you this, as well: Every vintage of CHAD Reserve was made by a winery that had earned, or would go on to earn, at least a 95-point rating from Parker or Wine Spectator. All of those wines were sold for $150-$500/bottle. Am I implying that the CHAD Reserves were identical to the winery’s Cabernet? No. But I can say UNEQUIVOCALLY that all of my CHAD Reserves were components of the 95- to 100-pointers.”

Chad gnawed on a drumstick, then went right for the pile of mashed potatoes. “I’ll tell you just a little bit about the wine, but nothing more.. It was drawn from an incredible vineyard near the top of Spring Mountain. Farming is all done by hand. Bonsai City. The winemaker? A Napa Valley icon. 98- to 100-pointers galore.” Chad wiped gravy off his chin. “Gentleman, I’ve been at this for six years. I’ve been fortunate to ferret out some terrific Cabernet Sauvignons, four of which are true Reserves. This is the fifth — and, in my humble opinion, this is the Ultimate Reserve. It puts even the Oakville and Pritchard Hill Reserves to shame!”

No kidding.

The 2013 CHAD Spring Mountain Reserve, like Harlan Estate, Bond, Bryant Family, Pride, and Colgin, reminds us why Napa Valley’s greatest Cabernets are now fetching prices equivalent to Bordeaux’s Second Growths. Jet purple-black. Ultra-plush aromas of crushed black fruits, violets, graphite, and tobacco, braced by a heavy dose of medium-toast, new-barrel cedar. Massively concentrated, dense and polished, filled with blackberry and mountain blueberry preserves, a healthy splash of crème de cassis, lavender, and sweet spice. This is truly a gentle monster, a mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that is almost too delicious out of the gate, but like all the Cabernets from this superstar winemaker, will age effortlessly for the next 15-20 years.

As compared to $175/bottle (and 95+ points from Wine Advocate!) under the winery label. Just $39 today. Shipping included on 4. Our last 240 bottles are now up for grabs.