2015 Sueno Profundo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

Extraordinary Napa Cabernet

By now, you know about all Ry Richards: by day he works alongside the legendary Phil Titus at Chappellet making blockbuster Cabernets like the 97-point 2015 Pritchard Hill bottling. During his “free time” Richards makes Sueno Profundo, or what Wine Access clients know as extraordinary value Cabernets. Ry uses his deep connections in Napa to source grapes from vineyards that most winemakers could only dream of working with, then employs his Chappellet-learned touch to craft stunningly rich, black-fruited and beautifully balanced offerings that drink well above their pay grades. The 2015 Sueno Profundo Napa Valley, Ry’s first 2015 release, was sourced from one of Rutherford’s household names, a winery whose Cabernets routinely sell for $80 and more, while earning high marks from Robert Parker and Antonio Galloni. Richards’ estate-grown 2015, which displays plush red-berry fruit, sweet spice and marvelously lush tannins, easily stands up in quality, but at a fraction of the price. Just 85 cases are available at an incredible price — exclusively on Wine Access.

This past July, on a day when Ry was bottling this very 2015 Sueno Profundo, I made the trek up valley to partake in the bottling (and of course to taste the young Sueno). We had a great day, breaking for a classic bottling-day lunch of Taco truck carnitas burritos before pushing in the last cork of the tiny production just a few hours later. Tasting his own wine, Ry maintains a cool facade, but I was beyond excited — this is a special wine because of the near-perfect growing season and low yields, which produced beautiful concentration but also offered up more supple, drink-now tannins.

The 2015 harvest ushered in good news for winemakers, “capping off a growing season that produced clean, health grapes,” as reported by Wine Spectator. However, it was short growing season marked by low yields due to another year of drought conditions, and many winemakers — including Ry — had harvested all their Cabernet by October, some as early as August.

That day, working the bottling line, Ry reminded me of some advice Phil Titus had given him. “‘Don’t expand too quickly, and remember who your friends are,’” Ry said quoting Titus. Ry’s production started small and remains so and Sueno Profundo has a growing cult reputation. While the 2015 Sueno could easily fetch $80 or even more, Ry continues to offer Wine Access clients the exclusive price — even as his reputation grows.   

Cheers,
Jonathan Cristaldi
Editor-in-Chief

Cristaldi has worked in the wine industry for nearly a decade as a professional writer, critic, and educator. His published work has appeared in national print and online outlets including Food & Wine, Los Angeles Magazine, SOMM Journal, and many others.