2020 Star Treatment Cabernet Franc Napa Valley 750 ml

We never thought of this wine as a secret, per se. 

That’s because the estate, nestled on a secluded mountaintop in St. Helena, has a huge reputation. They’ve received ecstatic 99-point reviews from Robert Parker, Antonio Galloni, and Jeb Dunnuck. Their magisterial Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet Francs, crafted by a Screaming Eagle alum, sell out quickly, despite their three-digit price tags.

The estate’s opulent Cabernet Franc commands as much as $350, but sometimes, once the official barrel-selection is made, there’s a bit left over that doesn’t quite fit in a given year’s blend. In the 2020 vintage, we made finding a home for that Cabernet Franc extremely easy for the estate’s winemaker, who is perennially pressed for space. We took the barrels and signed an NDA, which gave him the room he needed in the cellar.

Pouring like liquid silk, this is a sexy and ultra-refined expression of Napa Cabernet Franc. If we could share the winery name, you’d be starstruck—but the acid-laced power in the glass says it all.

When an early harvest caught the winemaker by surprise, he had limited time to make room for next season’s wine. With handpicked grapes sitting in crates under the sun, he needed to move the remaining wine from 2020—and there’s just a handful of people that elite winemakers trust with juice this good. When the call came, we dropped everything and headed over.

Blended with a splash of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, this Cabernet Franc-dominant blend suited up in 25% new French oak for 20 months, followed by a little extra bottle-aging in our cellar. The warm, rich nose and the palate scream luxury—but our price spells out a one-of-a-kind bargain.