2014 Bernardus Marinus Vineyard Marinus Red Carmel Valley 750 ml

The day we talked to Bernardus’ longstanding winemaker Dean De Korth, the Monterey native had just received an uncanny email. “A customer literally wrote to us this morning about a magnum of the 1995 Marinus Vineyard Red,” Dean told us. “His exact words were, ‘You guys absolutely nailed this. After 25 years this was still delicious—still had blackberry and cassis up front, but with tons of leather and tobacco, even some chewy tannins! Damn good.’” 

Today’s 2014 is Dean’s latest release of this marathon-runner of a cuvée. Normally wines with the structure and stuffing to age this well cost over $100, and today we invite you to taste what all the fuss is about for less than half of that. Moody and dark, this Marinus cuvée exudes black fruit power at every turn, with layered earth and spice, seamlessly integrated oak, and a backbone of velour-like, fine-grained tannins built for the long haul.

Bernardus fans and Cabernet collectors should act quickly, as Marinus is already in short supply—the winery doesn’t have a single bottle left in its cellar. Our 28 cases are amongst the few still available; exclusively priced at $45—40% off—the best price in the nation. 

A few weeks before our call with Dean we had the chance to visit the Marinus Vineyard in person. Southeast of Monterey, 13 miles inland from the Pacific (and close enough to receive its influence), Marinus is an incredibly unique site. Its soils are a patchwork ranging from fine sandy loam to clay loam, shifting from block to block over 25 acres. To us, it seemed like a headache, but for Dean, who has been farming these vines for over 15 years, navigating the complexities of the vineyard is a challenge he wouldn’t do without. 

As he told us, “Each of the 15 blocks has its own signature, its own tendencies. While the micro-climate and the exposure are unifying characteristics, the soils provide an incredible range of complexity in the grapes.” When Dean makes the call to harvest—often as late as Thanksgiving, given the chilly micro-climate—the degree of depth, balance, and concentration present in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc is astounding. Pedigree and quality like this typically costs twice as much. 

Dean then uses his deft touch, perfected at Burgundy giants Leflaive, Lafon, and Morey, to weave together a seamless blend reflective of this kaleidoscopic terroir. The result is powerful and structured, reminiscent of a Bordeaux classified growth, marrying a range of rich dark fruit—blackberry, black cherry, black plum, and a hint of currant—with wonderful complexity from tobacco, leather, and allspice. 

Dean’s 2014, from a particularly dry vintage in Carmel Valley, is poised to match the 1995 in longevity and intensity. After six years of cellar slumber it has already emerged generous and plentiful—a striking answer to the bold reds of Napa—and will continue to do so for as long as we can all keep our hands off of it. Yes, we’re buying cases too. 47% off on a wine of this caliber is too good to miss.