2015 On Q Wines Appassionata Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

The 2015 On Q Appassionata is the “full and rich,” Cabernet that mesmerized Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate to the tune of 96 points. The maker is rising star Maayan Koschitzky, whose first job was at Screaming Eagle working hand-in-hand with Nick Gislason. After three years at Eagle, he left to join Philippe Melka at Atelier Melka where he rose from assistant winemaker to director of winemaking, helping to craft cult icons Lail, Moone Tsai, Fairchild, and Tusk. His own project, On Q, has risen to its own cult-status with a full mailing list—and long wait. 

When we first tasted Koschitzky’s On Q Cabernet, it was his “Cadence” label, the entry-level to the signature Appassionata wine—the Mercedes you buy before jumping into that Maserati you’ve been eyeing.

We spoke with Koschitzky about his tiny production passion project, On Q, the day after Auction Napa Valley: 

“I’m a very traditional winemaker,” Koschitzky told us. “My focus is on getting it right in the vineyard and picking when the grapes are perfectly ripe. For Appassionata, we focus on the cooler Coombsville appellation, and in 2015 we had a very small crop, which produced a very powerful wine. After 18-21 days of slow fermentation, I age the Cabernet for 27 months in fine French oak Hermitage and Taransaud barrels, then bottle it unfined and unfiltered.” 

The fruit was sourced from Lambert Family Vineyard (which provides the richness and density) and Massoumi (which is a hillside site with older vines, which contributes freshness and that subtle minty quality). Both sites are smack in Napa’s premier Coombsville sub-appellation, and Koschitzky’s meticulous farming keeps grape yields shockingly low, which, coupled with the region’s decomposed volcanic and rocky soils mean that vines have to struggle to find nutrients, quite effectively concentrating flavors. Cool winds from San Pablo Bay toughen grape skins while sunny Coombsville skies allow slow maturity, resulting in plenty of robust tannins and pure fruit flavors—hallmarks of age-worthy Cabernets. 

All in all, only 5 barrels of Appassionata were produced in 2015—an epic, if low-crop year which has been rated a 97-point vintage by Parker. The ‘15 bursts out of the glass with crushed violet and lilac floral aromas, complemented by dark roast espresso, and an herbal component redolent of mint and fresh tobacco. It is bold and richly layered with a dark core of fruit and perfectly integrated fine French oak spices atop firm tannins built to last.

On Q wine is a Napa insider steal, through and through: Hailing from one of Napa’s greatest vintages in memory, this 2015 beauty is classic for Napa Cabernet. If you can’t join us for a glass in the Valley, this is one bottle that will bring the Valley and all its bounty right to you.