2017 Raymond Vineyards Generations Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

We were surrounded by trapeze artists, Brazilian carnival-clad servers, melted-chocolate bathing pools, and sword swallowers—but nothing could distract us from the “brilliant” 96-point 2017 Raymond Vineyards Generations Cabernet in my glass.

Raymond has always been a Napa Valley icon, and its owner Jean-Charles Boisset is a man who simply doesn’t do boring. Scoring an invite to his 50th birthday party last year was akin to getting a ticket to the Met Gala—and sure enough, everyone who’s anyone in Napa showed up.  

Deep and layered with both commanding power and tantalizing elegance, we recall the feeling that we had found the ultimate Napa Valley Cabernet. Trust us when we say that the next best thing to experiencing the 2017 Raymond Generations at Napa’s party of the century was securing it for the best price in the country. 

After our first sip, the concert-like roar of the party fell away, as our senses were consumed with the 2017’s wild aromas of fresh-picked purple flowers, dark berry compote, and spice. Mountains of black cherry and cassis erupted with dark chocolate notes on entry, generously cascading down mineral graphite slopes through the mid-palate. Full-bodied and decadent, this wine is like cashmere on the palate, revealing more depth and complexity with every sip.

As enthralling as the mise en scène whirling around us, the structural nuance of this Cabernet kept us more intrigued, and we mulled over its rich tannins and lengthy finish well after spotting Cabernet legends Heidi Barrett and Philippe Melka in line for a second pour. 

Raymond is one of the first wineries we urge first-time Napa visitors to experience, because it is (even on an average day) a breathtaking scene. But the “Corridor of Senses,” the Red Room tasting lounge, and the French-made Baccarat chandeliers are just ornaments on the winery’s real draw: it’s meticulously tended wines. Because, all opulence and theater aside, Raymond makes some of the most soulful, high-quality, and cellar-worthy Cabernet in California. 

With winegrowing origins that date back to 1933, the Raymond family is considered one of the founding families of Napa Valley. In 1970, they established a 90-acre estate in Rutherford that now consists of 300 certified-biodynamic acres in Rutherford, St. Helena, and Jameson Canyon.

When the Raymond family was ready to hand over the reins, Burgundy-born Jean-Charles Boisset was there, and he made it his mission to preserve the estate vineyards and iconic wine. His first moves were to hire the fiercely talented winemaker Stephanie Putnam from Far Niente, and have Philippe Melka add his Midas touch in the blending room. Together they’ve elevated the epic vineyard lots into terroir-driven beauties, like this 2017 Generations. 

Perhaps that’s why this Cabernet is so impressively reminiscent of Melka’s $200+ reds, and perhaps why Melka was going in for seconds of his very own wine. 

Go to any Jean-Charles Boisset party, and you’re bound to see some memorable things. But as we took one last, glorious sip of the 2017 Generations Cabernet, we knew that this incredible wine was what would make the longest-lasting impression on me. We're thrilled to bring it to you at the best price anywhere, and know it will bring you an experience you’ll never forget.