2018 TOR Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Roja Vineyard Oakville Napa Valley 750 ml

Tor Kenward is one of the most revered cult Cabernet maestros in California, working only with sought-after Napa Valley terroirs like To Kalon, Vine Hill Ranch, and Melanson. But no site shines brighter in his (and winemaker Jeff Ames’) hands than the Tierra Roja Vineyard in eastern Oakville. 

“Drive the Oakville Cross Road to the Silverado Trail then look directly forward and up and you see Tierra Roja,” Tor explained to us, about one of the prime places in the Napa Valley to grow classically structured, perfumed Cabernet Sauvignon. “We have great neighbors—Backus, Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, and Rudd. The vineyard is dotted with big rocks, and the soil is definitely roja (very red). You might expect the wines to be massive, but they are very perfumed, dark, and complex,” he said, likening their style to the early, red-fruit-driven Cabernets of Screaming Eagle.

No one knows proprietor Linda Neal’s Tierra Roja Vineyard like Tor and Jeff—that’s because they’re the only two winemakers with the honor of working with Tierra Roja fruit. It took Tor years of knocking on Neal’s door to get access to this incredible Cabernet, and today he holds the lone contract. The only other place this coveted Cabernet ends up is in Jeff famed Rudius wines, most notably his Wine Access member-favorite Kaley Elizabeth bottling.