2021 Good Decisions Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

We made a new acquaintance at a Sunday morning bike ride in Napa—and it led to the phenomenal 2021 Good Decisions Red. 

We didn’t know it when we helped him fix a flat, but our new friend is an assistant winemaker at one of Napa Valley’s most sterling wineries—a stately collector-darling with two-dozen 98+ scores from Wine Advocate, Dunnuck, and Vinous and nary a bottle that goes for under $200. The gorgeous 2021 season was good to them—a little too good, he confessed, considering that after all the blends were finalized, there were still a decent number of barrels in the cellar.  

We thought of the winery’s prime vineyard in eastern Oakville and the other top-flight spots they tap every year. “Did we mention that we do private label?” we asked.

We ditched our bike at home and met him in the cellar that afternoon. We tasted through six barrels of excellent ‘21s, committing to four on the spot. You’re a fool to rely on dibs in Napa Valley, so we slapped cash on the barrelhead the next day. Our winemaker Britt Nichols was blending by the end of the week. 

The resulting wine, the 2021 Good Decisions Napa Valley, is staggeringly good: Deep ruby in appearance, with effusive, decadent aromas of blueberry, ripe red plum, blackberry, fresh vanilla bean, tobacco leaf, and dark chocolate. Densely fruited, silky-smooth, and elegant on the palate, it’s the perfect Napa Cab to accompany a mushroom swiss burger, roasted kale, or grilled squab. 

Grabbing a bottle from this estate will normally cost you multiple Benjamins. That’s what makes the 2021 Good Decision a great move.