2023 Stay Home Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

We'll never forget the phone call. It was halfway into harvest in 2023—late into fall, with the buzz around Napa already deafening. It was clear this was going to be a vintage for the ages.

“You'll never believe what I've got my hands on!” were the first words we heard. The winemaker on the other end is one of the sharpest minds in the game: impeccable CV, an incredible touch with grapes, a long list of fancy wineries on the consulting books, and a track record dotted with some of the most popular Cabernets in Wine Access history. So when they were this excited—no “hello,” no “how's it going?”—we knew to pay attention.

“I can get a couple tons of Cab from [REDACTED],” they raved, “prime spot, not far from where [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] make their 100-point [stuff].”

Our eyebrows shot up. This wasn't just any old vineyard. It was one of southern Napa's premier sites—incredibly rocky, with a late-ripening personality that produces wines of power, rich fruit, and just enough elegance to keep it together. Multiple perfect wines have come from those slopes.

“But there's an issue.” Of course there was—there was no other reason for the call. “You know I'd normally buy the fruit for my personal label, or even for one of my clients, but we're all tapped out. I can't say no—if I buy grapes this year, I'll get to the top of the waitlist for next vintage.”

We knew what was coming, and we couldn't wait to hear it. “So how about I make a few barrels for y'all—you buy the grapes, pay my fee, and get [REDACTED] for a song—and I'll get to jump the line next year. It's a win-win.”

It was. What landed in the glass is dark ruby, with black cherry, licorice, and violets on the nose, cassis and dark chocolate filling in behind. The palate is lush and textured, carrying a juicy core of dark fruit, silky tannins, and a finish that lingers.