2023 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

Benoit Touquette’s Napa Cabs are normally some of the most expensive you can buy in California. The ones he makes for Realm, including Moonracer and The Absurd, can go for well over $1,500—per bottle. Even his reasonably priced Fait-Main Cabs cost $200+ (and are worth every dime). He has well-on twenty eight 100-point scores to his name.

But Teeter-Totter, Benoit’s other personal label, delivers his profound expertise and premium vineyard sources—and his seductive, opulent style—at a more-than-reasonable price. That’s why Jeb Dunnuck said it can “easily compete with wine that costs 3–4 times its going rate.” Vinous’s Antonio Galloni has called Teeter-Totter “just about as good as it gets” for Napa value.

Teeter-Totter Cabernet is an undisputed Wine Access favorite, and it’s easy to see why: At this price, it brings all of Benoit Touquette’s talents to bear—in the cellar, yes, but also in sourcing grapes from top Napa Valley sites. That combination has made Benoit one of the most in-demand winemakers in California, with a pile of 100-point scores to his credit

That also reflects his winemaking training: When Benoit Touquette left his home in Bordeaux for California’s Cabernet epicenter, he aimed for the top—so he positioned himself deftly alongside Andy Erickson at Ovid and Screaming Eagle. He also chose a stellar mentor in Michel Rolland, the world-famous consulting winemaker whose name is on 100-pointers by Harlan, Bond, and Araujo. Touquette and Rolland remain close to this day, and the latter’s influence shows in the high scores Touquette’s wines garner—and in this edition of Teeter-Totter.

The 2023 edition benefited from a long, cool growing season with absolutely perfect fall weather—which meant long hang-times and perfectly ripe flavors that also show incredible precision. Blackberry, cassis, and ripe black cherry rise from the glass, layered with notes of cocoa powder, cedar, graphite, and a hint of violet. The palate is rich and full-bodied, offering generous dark fruit wrapped in velvety tannins and balanced by fresh acidity. Subtle nuances of espresso, baking spice, and dark chocolate emerge on the long, seamless finish.