2013 Jones Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon The Sisters Napa Valley 750 ml

In the rarefied world of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, some of the hardest wines to acquire are those crafted by superstar winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, whose current trophy case boasts more than 25 perfect 100-point wines and uber-cult clients like Maybach, Seaver, and, most notably, Schrader Cellars. 

“Jones Family Vineyards has been consistently producing truly great Cabernet Sauvignon since their inaugural 1996 vintage,” explains Kelli A. White in her book Napa Valley Then & Now. “These rich, luxurious wines have much in common with the ‘cult’ labels of Napa Valley with one critical exception: the price. For lovers of impactful Napa Valley Cabernet, there are few greater values available than Jones.”

Working closely over the years with famed growers David Abreu and Jim Barbour, Brown has helped launch wineries into the cult wine stratosphere. But via Brown and Barbour’s collaboration with Jones Family Vineyards of Calistoga, this 2013 Jones The Sisters Cabernet Sauvignon delivers Brown’s cult wine quality for only $50—a fraction of the price of his other clients’ bottlings. Together, they have crafted an accessible blockbuster, a cellar-worthy Napa Valley Cabernet that won’t break any collector’s bank.

“They’re great folks,” Brown said in a 2015 interview, after several years of partnering with Rick Jones and his family. “It’s been a pleasure working with those guys. It’s always quality first.”

To maximize the quality of Jones Family fruit grown at the base of Howell Mountain, Brown and Barbour work closely together to limit yields across the 10-acre hillside estate proprietor Rick Jones began planting in the early 90s. Three unique blocks comprise the rocky, volcanic estate, with the younger Cabernet vines reserved for The Sisters. 

Made in a forward, red-fruited style, the 2013 The Sisters charmed James Suckling, who called it “very pretty and complex,“ while Antonio Galloni praised its “rich, juicy and accessible” profile that “captures the energy of the vintage in spades.” Our advice: This is one of your best opportunities to sample Brown’s expertise at an under-$100 price point. At half of that, we don’t expect these bottles to last.