2018 Wolfe Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Napa Valley 750 ml

The 2018 Wolfe Grade Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley’s Diamond Mountain is as bold and intense as the white-knuckle journey required to get to its rugged, remote, and stunning source. At $40, this powerhouse has all the incredible power of $350+ cult Cabernets for almost a tenth of the price collectors are willing to pay for legendary Diamond Mountain terroir. 

Grown atop decomposed volcanic ash, this classic Diamond Mountain Cabernet embodies its rugged terroir with every sip. Dusty, sun-kissed blueberry, savory boysenberry, and Morello cherry aromas are further heightened with a dash of white pepper. Velvety on entry, there’s a palpable alpine freshness to the midpalate thanks to the wine’s beautifully integrated acidity. The finish just doesn’t quit, sporting broad and racy tannins encased in layers and layers of rich dark fruit and chocolate. 

Few are willing to brave the precarious dirt road trek to get to this mountain site, making Diamond Mountain’s vineyards as scarce as its wines are rare. Navigating hairpin turns while trying to ignore the sheer cliffside drops, there is nothing more rewarding than finally reaching these impossibly steep plots. 

But the adrenaline rush doesn’t stop at the end of that vertigo-inducing road. The crisp mountain air alleviates any trace of car-sickness, as does the unobstructed sunlight. Though undeniably wild, this remote oasis is so tranquil that it’s hard to imagine the violent volcanic energy that carved these soils. The rustic minerality that pulsates in every sip of this 2018 Wolfe Grade Diamond Mountain Cabernet is a powerful reminder. This bottle might just be the only time this coveted terroir ever sees the light of day at this kind of NDA-inspired discount. 

The increasingly rare bottles from this iconic rocky terroir already demand a premium, making Wolfe Grade’s $40 price a true diamond in the rough.