2017 The Vice Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District 750 ml

Diamond Mountain is one of Napa’s extremely high-rent districts, where iconic wineries source difficult-to-farm Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to produce real Napa rarities. Some names may be familiar—Constant, Hall, and Lokoya, which sell their Diamond Mountain Cabs for $180, $299, and $375, respectively. 

And while those wines are hard to come by, we managed to secure a monumental rarity that tops them all. In keeping with our promise to deliver a cache of exclusive offers, this 2017 The Vice Cabernet Sauvignon is the under-$50 veritable diamond we surfaced from more than 1,700 ft. up the rough and rugged terrain of Diamond Mountain—practically the top of Napa Valley. 

This is an insider label that mostly sells to restaurants, and what little is left goes to a thirsty mailing list—save for the few cases we snagged just for you. Although the grape-source is shrouded in secrecy (we did sign a three-page NDA), we can tell you that Diamond Creek Vineyards and Reverie are a proverbial stone’s throw from these coveted vines. 

As expected, this is a lively wine with grit, muscle, and high-elevation finesse—a trio of complexities possible because of the extremely high elevation and well-draining volcanic soils. The talented crafter of this decadent bottle is winemaker Vance Rose, whose resume includes stints with iconic estates including Rosemount in Australia, Donum in Carneros, Ehlers in St. Helena, and Grieve Family Winery and Double Eagle in the Napa Valley.

The Vice has earned rave reviews from Forbes, USA Today, and Jetsetter, and that praise has not fallen on deaf ears. Most of the folks hoping to catch Rose on the phone are the major players—big buyers of big-time restaurants looking for an allocation. 

The 2017 The Vice is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 24 months in 100% French oak barrels, of which roughly one-third is new, bottled unfined and unfiltered. Many cases of this blockbuster mountain Cab are already earmarked for the cellars of New York City staples Il Mulino Gramercy, The Capitale Grille Wall Street, and Old Homestead Steakhouse. So, while diners will have no choice but to fork out triple-digit prices for a bottle, you get to enjoy your private stash right at home—alongside perhaps a perfectly-seasoned New York Strip with roasted potatoes.