2017 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

The 2017 Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley won’t last long. Crafted by 100-point master Nils Venge, Keenan Cabs regularly sell out among Wine Access members, who have given the winery a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating over 25+ releases.

Perched on the jagged peaks of Spring Mountain in northwest Napa Valley, Keenan occupies some elite terroir. From their sun-blanketed vineyards well above the fog line, they put out an intense, bold-fruited 2017 Cabernet—the exact type of wine that inspired Robert Parker to extol Keenan’s bottles as “some of the finest wines of Napa Valley,” and Wine & Spirits to name them as a Top 100 Winery seven times.

Keenan has been listed as a “Reference Cabernet” for Spring Mountain by Wine Spectator, and sits right next to Lokoya, whose Spring Mountain Cabs rarely see prices below $250. Keenan's 2017 harnesses similarly esteemed terroir, and we've got it for about a fifth of that.

This Cab continues the estate’s long tradition of excellence, displaying classic mountain power and complexity. Some have called Nils Venge the “King of Cabernet,” and the nickname rings true in this wine’s majestic and luxurious palate, rich with black fruit and spice notes that coalesce into what Vinous praised as “a very pretty and enjoyable wine.”  

Spring Mountain experiences some of the coldest and wettest weather in Napa Valley. Grapes struggle on these rocky hillsides, developing rich concentration. Sunny days without fog gave this wine its powerful black fruit, while cool nights preserved its line of acidity. 

Keenan’s intense, black-fruited Napa Cabernet follows the same script each vintage: Their estate grapes bring impeccable mountain character and tannin to the blend, while Cabernet from Pope Valley contributes aromatic complexity, a balanced mid-palate, and blue-black fruit purity. The result is the kind of elegant Napa Cab that competes with wines twice the price. 

A mountain Cabernet rested at the winery for 20 months in 33% new oak, the 2017 is now blossoming with aromas of blackberry preserves, cassis, and espresso. Integrating nicely and boasting an elegant mouthfeel that speaks of its high-altitude origins, it’s full of complex dark fruit accented by touches of spice on a long and satisfying finish.