2016 Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Kairos Vineyard Napa Valley 750 ml

Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Cardinale, Lokoya, Verité, and Quintessa. The producers on winemaker Charles Thomas’s résumé are the marquee names of California Cabernet, and his role at these powerhouses has earned him unqualified praise from the world’s most influential critics: Robert Parker calls Thomas “brilliant” and a “star winemaker,” and Wine Spectator simply calls him “one of California’s best winemakers.” At Cornerstone, Thomas has joined forces with 100-point winemaker Kari Auringer, and together they form one of the most formidable duos in Napa.

Like Charles, many winemakers believe that winemaking begins in the vineyard. But few can back it up as he can, with experience at nearly every conceivable step between terroir and bottling. Thomas worked his way up the ladder at Robert Mondavi, eventually serving as assistant winemaker, where he was instrumental in the conception and execution of an exclusive project called “Napamedoc” which, after a 1982 name change, became known the world over as Opus One. After 12 vintages at the legendary estate, Thomas’s contributions at Cardinale, Rudd, and Quintessa have cemented his place in the pantheon of Napa’s transformative winemakers.

Cornerstone is a Wine Access member favorite, having amassed over 300 top reviews, and this is their pinnacle bottling—pristine grapes hand-picked from Block 4 of Napa’s famed Kairos Vineyard. Chimney Rock’s past Kairos Cabernets average $148, and Flora Springs’ goes for $135. Released at $95, Cornerstone’s Block 4 doesn’t get any better than our price.

We cannot say it loud enough or frequently enough, so we’ll let Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate say it for us. After a recent tasting of iconic Napa labels, the Advocate wrote that the 2016 vintage in Napa is “an exceptional year that will give lovers of Napa Valley wines a lot of pleasure for many years to come.” They could have been writing specifically about today’s 2016 Cornerstone Cellars Kairos Vineyard Cabernet.

Abutting the Oak Knoll and Coombsville appellations, the 33-acre Kairos Vineyard is Napa Green Certified Sustainable, and one of the cooler vineyards in the region, treated to maritime breezes that funnel inland through the San Pablo Bay. The grapes—98% Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 4 and a splash of Merlot—are hand-harvested and aged in 60% new French oak. The result is a ripe and expressive Cabernet, featuring a mélange of blackberry, blueberry, and currant fruit. It’s got underpinnings of pie spice, vanilla, and clove atop a richly fruited-core with a fine balance of fresh acidity and dense, satiny tannins—classic Cornerstone power and grace, capable of long-term aging, but drinking beautifully today.