2016 Fisticuffs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

Up and down Highway 29, the thoroughfare that bisects Napa Valley’s most prestigious appellations, there’s one constant at the Michelin-starred restaurants, casual bistros, and nouvelle cuisine hotspots from downtown Napa to Calistoga: Fisticuffs Cabernet Sauvignon.

The rare Napa Cabernet that combines value and pedigree in equal measure for $34, it overflows from the glass with effusive, just-picked wild berry and plum flavors, accented with bursts of red flowers, baking spices, and cocoa character that have made it an in-the-know sommelier favorite.  

Its abundant, full body and firm tannins make Fisticuffs perfect on the table as part of the classic steak-and-Cab combination, yet its elegance and bright, persistent acidity makes this 100% Cab move effortlessly alongside inventive cuisine, like Master of Wine Vanessa Conlin’s favorite lamb rigatoni at TORC or Coqueta’s duck albóndigas.

The pedigree in the bottle is ringingly clear, yet doesn’t come with the luxe price tag we often expect in Napa Valley. Instead, winemaker Rob Lawson’s 2016 Fisticuffs packs everything we love in premier Cabernet into an everyman bottling that’s only $34.

Direct from Rob’s stronghold, we don’t expect this allocation of Fisticuffs to last. In years past, Wine Access Cab devotees have fallen for this red, filling our inboxes with reviews like “Love this wine!” and calling Fisticuffs “outstanding.” 

Rob stays out of the glossy pages of Wine Spectator, but within Napa Valley he’s a superstar known for helping some of the most important labels in Napa’s history, including Bryant and Pahlmeyer. 

But Rob’s passion doesn’t lie in exclusive, collector-only bottlings that command hundreds of dollars. As California sommeliers know, Rob is addicted to the thrill of a great wine deal, and spends most of his days tapping vineyards up and down Highway 29 to craft bold, opulent wines destined for by-the-glass placements at the Valley’s best restaurants. 

As a result, Rob has become one of the most sought-after and respected names in California wine over the past 15 years, because his value brands consistently (and deliciously) exceed the expectations set by their humble price tags. Today, we invite you to taste why.