2015 Pompier Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

High-End Napa Cab for Everyday Drinking

Even within Napa Valley, whose name is synonymous with some of the best wines produced anywhere in the world, some parts of the region grow more sought-after wines than others. From the rolling expanse of Oakville to the heights of Spring Mountain District and beyond, Napa offers a surprising tapestry of terroir, geology, and wine styles. One of our favorites—and one of the critics’ favorites, year after year—is St. Helena, home to such legendary producers as Spottswoode, Charles Krug, Quintessa Estate, Alpha Omega, and more. The only downside is that top-quality wines from St. Helena tend to cost a fortune.

But not this one. Today, we’re offering up the last few cases of this full-bodied Cab which bursts with blackberry, black cherry, and plum, and is joined by sweet pipe tobacco, and spice. Carried on a beam of fine-grained tannins, the 2015 Pompier Cabernet Sauvignon embodies everything that makes St. Helena such a standout AVA within Napa as a whole.

The only difference is that it’s possible to enjoy this one regularly, as opposed to just on special occasions. Put simply, this is a hamburger price-tag for a filet mignon of a wine.

Which is astounding, given the source of the fruit. And while we have taken a vow of vinous silence on this one, we can tell you that the benchland-based winery from which Pompier is sourced has received more than a dozen scores of 90 to 96 from Robert Parker, James Suckling, and Antonio Galloni in their reviews of the past five vintages.

The 2015 vintage itself has, since the wines were released, become something of a benchmark for how the top producers in Napa can craft wines of stunning balance even when the weather is a bit hotter. “Indeed, the 2015 vintage sets apart the most capable winemakers, who were able to make balanced and fresh if rich reds,” explained James Suckling. “They made the right decisions in the vineyards from canopy management to picking times as well as in the cellar with selections of the best grapes, and care in not pushing fermentations or macerations. They made very attractive wines.”

This rich yet elegant Cabernet embodies that idea perfectly.

The word Pompier is French for ‘firefighter,’ a reference to the brave men and women who fight the increasingly common infernos in the region. The passion and dedication that they bring to their work everyday is reflected in this incredible bottle. And it’s a reminder of the same qualities that the best winemakers bring to their work, too. The 2015 Pompier Cabernet Sauvignon is a world-class wine that embodies all of the best qualities that St. Helena offer, but without the stratospheric price tag that usually comes along with it.