2019 Guarachi Proprietary Red Wine G by Alex Guarachi Meadowrock Vineyard Atlas Peak Napa Valley 750 ml

There are few places in Napa where it is harder or more expensive to plant vines than the rugged slopes of Atlas Peak. 

Volcanic eruptions gave the soil its character and reddish hue. Volcanic rocks are porous, making the land well-draining but also low in fertility, stressing the vines and forcing them to struggle. That limits yields, resulting in the singular intensity of these wines, each note perfectly articulated. High elevations mean more direct sunlight, leading to deep, rich pigments and power. Drastic temperature changes and bruising winds make ripening slow, creating incredible complexity, with harvest often coming weeks after the valley floor.

While scaring off gentlemen farmers, these high-altitude, volcanic soils have bewitched mavericks like 100 point-winemaker and Screaming Eagle–alum Heidi Barrett and “The Judge” legend John Kongsgaard, who bought his property on the slopes back in 2004. 

Guarachi’s Meadowrock Estate is planted at an elevation of 1,400 to 1,760 feet, where you get sweeping views of the Napa Valley below.  Atlas Peak is NOT a hive of activity—there are just 21 local producers listed on the AVA’s website—and Guarachi’s closest neighbor is Antinori, the venerable Italian outfit that makes world-class Napa wines. 

Pricing usually limits Atlas Peak wines to the high-flying collector set: Barrett’s Au Sommet releases and Kongsgaard’s stunning Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignons run for $250 per bottle, minimum. But the 2019 Guarachi Proprietary Red Wine G by Alex Guarachi Meadowrock Vineyard captures Atlas Peak’s terroir—with its plush aromas of blackberries, black raspberry, and violets and backbone of dusty tannins—and one of the top Napa Valley vintages this century. 

It’s a towering Atlas Peak wine, without the towering price.