2017 Pott Kaliholmanok Ballard Kicu’Ma Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District Napa 750 ml

Spring Mountain is one of Napa’s most hallowed appellations, known for wineries like Pride and Keenan, who made their names on dark, intense Cabernet with power and complexity to spare. But Aaron Pott’s Kaliholmanok Cab towers above its peers, very literally, from the highest vineyard on the mountain—the ne plus ultra of Spring Mountain, dramatic in its power and energy.

It’s a wine that commands your full attention, even in the lineup of Pott’s stellar Cabernets… which is saying something. A Food & Wine “Winemaker of the Year” with a bevy of 98-point scores to his name, he’s one of Napa’s true rockstars—and the Kaliholmanok is a pinnacle bottling.

He only makes six barrels of it, though, so it’s a good thing we’ve known Aaron since back in his days as Quintessa’s winemaker. Usually, something this rare would only make it into the cellars of the fortunate few who’ve secured a spot on Pott’s mailing list—but our connection has paid off, and today Wine Access members can cut the line.

Blind-tasting through a dozen Pott wines, the Kaliholmanok stood out as lightning in a bottle. The nose is the essence of Spring Mountain, with power and intensity allied to elegance in a way that few other places in Napa can pull off. Aromas of black and blueberries mingle with hints of exotic pepper, dusty chocolate, sandalwood, and hints of vanilla. The palate is magical as well, loaded with body and texture that deliver the dark fruit flavors with energy and drive, complemented by surprisingly supple yet firm tannins. 

We just had to offer this Cabernet to our members, and it turns out that we aren’t the only ones blown away by the bottling. Antonio Galloni called it “positively gorgeous,” “super impressive,” and “striking” in his review, exclaiming “What a wine!” Our feelings exactly.

If you know Aaron Pott, that sort of critical rapture isn’t surprising. He’s one of the best in Napa—trained by multi-100-point winemakers John Kongsgaard and Michel Rolland—and also one of the few Americans to have worked at the highest level in Bordeaux, as winemaker at Troplong Mondot and director at La Tour Figeac, both Grand Cru Classé estates in St.-Émilion. He was the winemaker at Rutherford icon Quintessa before starting his personal label.

The Kaliholmanok has a unique place in Aaron’s heart—he’s been in love with the vineyard ever since he helped plant it nearly two decades ago. It’s rare for a winemaker to have the chance to guide a vineyard in Napa from planting to the present, and that unique connection shows through with an extra bit of magic in the bottle.

This is quite the catch, but there’s no getting around the limited nature of the bottling. After selling to his wine club, only 10% of the total production of a mere six barrels remains, but we've managed to lock it down for you. It will go fast.