2022 Materra Right Bank Oak Knoll District Napa Valley 750 ml

When you’re looking for a Napa red that delivers genuine elegance and a compelling story, the 2022 Materra Right Bank checks every box—and then some.

The Barrett name is woven into the fabric of Napa Valley winemaking. Heidi Peterson Barrett is best known for putting Screaming Eagle on the map, with bottles from her era fetching up to half a million dollars at auction. Bo Barrett is the longtime winemaker at Chateau Montelena, one of Napa’s most legendary estates. Their daughter Chelsea grew up learning winemaking at their side, in some of Napa’s most famous and prestigious cellars, before earning her degree from UC Davis and taking a position at Opus One. She joined Materra as head winemaker in 2019—and this is what she’s made.

The Materra estate sits at the southern end of Napa Valley, where cool maritime air from San Pablo Bay keeps temperatures well below the upper valley on a summer day. That natural cool-climate character makes it one of the few places in Napa ideally suited to Merlot—and in 2022, the combination was particularly fortunate. The growing season was nearly perfect right up until a Labor Day heatwave sent temperatures soaring across the upper valley. Merlot ripens earlier than Cabernet, and Oak Knoll’s cool maritime climate meant the fruit had already built everything it needed—depth, freshness, and concentration—before the heat arrived.

The Right Bank blend is 93% Merlot at its center, with Cabernet Franc lending structure and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon adding backbone—a composition that honors the Pomerol tradition while staying firmly rooted in Napa. Fermented and aged with Chelsea Barrett’s characteristic precision, it is a wine of real panache and style.

In the glass: a deep ruby core, aromas of sun-warmed black cherry, blueberry, and violet threaded with pepper, mocha, and a whisper of vanilla. The palate is plush and focused, with a juicy core, well-knit tannins, and a finish that lingers long after the glass is empty.