2013 Luna Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml

Shawna Miller’s Call to Paso Robles … and the NDA

In late 2013, every head in Napa Valley turned toward the South. Wine Enthusiast proclaimed Paso Robles as its “2013 Wine Region of the Year,” elating Central Coast winemakers. The news did not surprise those of us who have been following the region’s rise.

Wine Enthusiast dismissed the “regrettable tendency for wine writers to repeat conventional wisdoms not necessarily grounded in truth” — namely, that Paso is too hot for Cabernet. Instead, the blame lay squarely with a scarcity of “vintners willing or able to exploit Paso’s varied terroirs.”

We know that, like us, many WineAccess members have a number of bottles from the cream of Paso’s crop — Justin Winery’s “Isosceles” and J. Lohr’s Pauillac-inspired “Cuvée PAU” — stashed in the cellar. So why all the fuss over Paso Robles today? Here’s why:

Today we are offering of our best deals of the year for BARGAIN Cabernet lovers. The 2013 Luna Cabernet Sauvignon blends select fruit from St. Helena (65%) and Paso Robles (35%). Luna’s winemaker, Shawna Miller, wasn’t waiting for Wine Enthusiast’s approval to follow her instincts to source fruit from Paso to round out her Cabernet. The icing on the cake came from Wine Spectator, which rated Paso’s 2013 vintage 92-95 points.

Founder Michael Moone knew Luna had to expand beyond Italian varieties; it was beginning to look odd that Luna was the only winery just off Silverado Trail NOT making a Cabernet or Chardonnay. In order to enter the market with an exceptional Cabernet at a good price point, Moone knew Luna’s options were limited. Rather than compromise quality, he told Miller to find the best fruit — at the best price — that she could manage.

Having worked harvests in both hemispheres and in the hallowed cellars of Beaulieu Vineyards and Rombauer, Miller’s mentors have been some of the greats: Tom Peterson, Philippe Melka, Julien Fayard, Rob Lloyd, and Rob Mann. And with great mentors, come great connections.

Miller had secured as much fruit as she could from one of St. Helena’s pristine vineyards for Luna’s first-ever Cabernet. She jumped in her pickup and called a friend — one of Paso’s “visionary” vintners. Four and a half hours later, and thanks to her connections, she struck a deal to buy some of the best Cabernet fruit growing in Paso Robles at a STEAL. But it came with a caveat: She was asked to sign an NDA. And even though we can’t tell you who’s growing the Cabernet, we CAN tell you that it’s a powerhouse, prominent wine producer in Paso, and chances are you’ve enjoyed their wine.

Miller further negotiated to have the grapes crushed in Luna’s Paso facility, rather than having them trucked, which creates the risk of bruising and an overall degradation in quality. And given that 2013 was a MONSTER vintage, with huge yields and massive, age-worthy tannins, the best Paso producers knew to pick at night, when temperatures are 20-30 degrees cooler than daytime highs. Then these night-picked berries were treated to extended maceration and aging in oak barrels for close to 18 months.

The 2013 Luna Cabernet Sauvignon strikes a dazzling combination of structured austere St. Helena fruit, with generous warmth and velvety texture from Paso grapes. Deep ruby-red in color, just fading at the edges, lavish aromas of bright, fresh raspberries, and hints of cassis abound. Entirely fruit-dominated, this medium- to full-bodied beauty floods the palate with soft, warm, red-berry fruit preserves, giving way to brighter darker-berry flavors. Velvety tannins are buttressed by ample acidity and the finish reveals a modicum of sweet and savory spices, hinting at clove and mocha.

Today, only for WineAccess members, we’ve got the last 50 cases straight from the Luna cellars for just $14.99/bottle. This is a case-buy!