2019 Kinfolk Red Blend Napa Valley 750 ml

We’ve been able to offer wines from some high-profile Napa vineyards, but the source behind the 2019 Kinfolk Red Blend is one we’ve been after for years. 

The renowned estate farms a gorgeous plot on the “morning side” of Howell Mountain, where the elevation and generous sunshine produce grapes with phenomenal density and concentration and an age-worthy backbone. The winery typically keeps those grapes for their own bottles, which go to their loyal fans for around $120. They almost never sell their stellar Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon to other labels.

But 2019 opened the door. It was a dream vintage for growers—a long summer of cool mornings and steady afternoon temperatures that led to incredible quality and bountiful yields. Vinous founder Antonio Galloni called it “stunning… the likes of which I have never seen,” and it made for extraordinarily rich and balanced mountain wines.

When a friend told us this particular estate had far more fruit than they could use, we didn’t hesitate. Winemakers were flooding into the Valley with a gold-rush mentality, claiming all the blue-chip grapes they could find, but we focused on locking down this source. 

In 2019, the vineyards’ eastern exposure and warm afternoon winds gave wonderfully plump and fresh Bordeaux varieties. After 18 months in oak barrels, the finished wine is alive with aromas of black fruit, mocha, clove, and bay, which preview a complex palate with red cherry and berry giving way to hints of chocolate, tobacco, and spice.