2022 Venge Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard Atlas Peak

2022 Venge Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard Atlas Peak

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Venge

Cabernet Sauvignon
Stagecoach Vineyard
Atlas Peak 2022

2022 Venge Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard Atlas Peak

From one of Napa’s most iconic mountain vineyards, the 2022 Venge Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass in tension and terroir. Sourced from the steep, volcanic F3 block and shaped by Kirk Venge’s precise winemaking, this wine delivers depth, minerality, and unapologetic power without sacrificing elegance.

The vineyard’s high-altitude terrain, with its red volcanic soils and dramatic temperature shifts, coaxes a remarkable balance between power and finesse. The 2022 vintage is composed of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Malbec, a marriage that adds dimension, aromatic lift, and a seamless mouthfeel that never overreaches.

The 2022 vintage is beautifully sculpted, dynamic, and unmistakably Stagecoach. From its inky concentration to its mineral backbone, this wine is a paragon of mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. For collectors and connoisseurs drawn to site-driven expression and cellar-worthy depth, this is a wine that delivers not just bold flavor but a vivid sense of place.

Venge
Cabernet Sauvignon
Stagecoach Vineyard
Atlas Peak 2022
Retails at: $110

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“Sourced from three blocks of Stagecoach Vineyard, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Clone 685, Clone 4, and Clone 337, aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Brimming with ripe cherry fruit, sweet spice, sandalwood nuances, and sagebrush character, this wine offers a medium- to full-bodied palate filled with a spectrum of crunchy red and blue fruit. While mountain tannins from this site are typically powerful and robust, they are beautifully balanced in 2022, making this incredibly approachable and ready to drink now and often. Nils Venge founded the brand in 1992 with the first vintage of Venge Vineyards. His son, Kirk Venge, began making the wines in 2003 and took over the brand in 2008.”

95 Points

2019 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley

2019 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtMt VeederNapaOakvilleRutherfordSpring MountainSt HelenaSt. HelenaUSA

Conn Creek

Cabernet Sauvignon
Special Selection
Napa Valley 2019

2019 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley

Conn Creek’s 2019 Special Selection delivers a commanding portrait of Napa Valley’s most grand terroirs: Rutherford, Oakville, Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain, Mt. Veeder, and St. Helena, each woven together with meticulous precision. This wine serves as a sweeping symphony of the valley’s finest, where each site contributes its voice to a blend that’s layered, pedigreed, and full of vitality.

Winemaker Elizabeth DeLouise-Gant, with experience at Beaulieu, Tamber Bey, and Stag’s Leap, brings a steady hand and sharp instinct to the blend. Her 2019 Special Selection, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon with precise touches of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, showcases her gift for balancing bold structure with lifted aromatics and polish.

The 2019 Special Selection is a culmination of Conn Creek’s deep relationships with Napa’s most esteemed growers, offering a blueprint of Napa’s greatness distilled through the winery’s decades-long commitment to meticulous vineyard selection. Every bottle captures a moment in time, layered with the legacy of sites that rarely share the same label.

Conn Creek
Cabernet Sauvignon
Special Selection
Napa Valley 2019
Retails at: $150

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“The Conn Creek ‘Special Selection’ is a blend of appellations that were among the original sources of the estate (established in 1973) and from sites around Napa Valley. The idea is to frame a classically fashioned snapshot of Napa Cabernet through the eyes of Elizabeth DeLouise-Gant, who has been making the wines since 2017. Previously, she worked at Beaulieu Vineyard, Tamber Bey, and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. This 2019 is over a classic vintage expression, with fruit from Mt. Veeder, Oakville, St. Helena, Howell Mountain, Rutherford, Atlas Peak, and Spring Mountain AVAs. Very pretty blackberry fruit aromas, nuanced by tobacco, cedarwood, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied with tobacco-laced blackberry fruit, Bing cherry, and spiced plums, with delicious vanilla-kissed sweet oak spices and an undercurrent of mocha with fine-grained tannins and a finish of chalky minerality.”

95 Points

2022 Steps Barrel Select Reserve Napa Valley

2022 Steps Barrel Select Reserve Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCalistogaKevin VogtNapaOak KnollProprietary RedSaint HelenaUSA

Steps

Barrel Select Reserve
Napa Valley 2022

2022 Steps Barrel Select Reserve Napa Valley

The 2022 Steps Reserve Barrel Select embodies the exceptional artistry of Grant Long, Jr., a renowned winemaker celebrated for his work at Aonair, Reverie II, and James Joseph. Grant possesses a unique talent for crafting both approachable and elegant wines, transforming each barrel into a harmonious expression of texture, balance, and enduring appeal.

Sourced from premier vineyards across Napa Valley – Saint Helena, Oak Knoll, Atlas Peak, and Calistoga – the 2022 Steps Reserve showcases a captivating interplay of lush valley floor fruit and structured mountain grapes. This meticulously crafted blend, centered around Cabernet Sauvignon and interwoven with Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, exemplifies Grant’s ability to translate Napa Valley’s diverse terroir into a genuinely captivating wine.

After 18 months of careful aging in French oak, the 2022 Steps Reserve Barrel Select unfolds with layers of rich, penetrating flavors. Polished yet vibrant, this wine promises a journey of evolution, maturing gracefully into a paragon of sophistication over time.

Steps
Barrel Select Reserve
Napa Valley 2022

Your Price: $49.99

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“The Steps 2022 Reserve Barrel Select opens with supple fruit aromas of plums and black currants, accompanied by notes of sweet spices, chocolate fudge, graphite, new leather, and cedar. On the palate, the wine is penetrating and concentrated with flavors of blackberries, black plums, allspice, gingerbread, vanilla extract, and toasted hazelnuts. The wine has a sultry structure with silky tannins that glide into a long, smooth finish like a sunset slowly fading into twilight.”

95 Points

NV Boomslang Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

NV Boomslang Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAtlas PeakCabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

Boomslang

Cabernet Sauvignon
NV Napa Valley

NV Boomslang Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Innovation fuels the spirit of Thurlow Cellars, and their Boomslang Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold embodiment of this ethos. This dynamic, multi-vintage blend – artfully combining fruit from the 2019 to 2022 harvests – defies convention, earning an impressive 94-point rating and captivating wine enthusiasts with its exceptional quality at an accessible price. Decanter Magazine has lauded this groundbreaking approach, encouraging more wineries to explore the untapped potential of multi-vintage winemaking.

Guided by the visionary winemaker Kevin Morrisey, formerly of Ehlers Estate, Boomslang is a symphony of Napa Valley’s finest high-elevation vineyards. Grapes sourced from esteemed sites like Atlas Peak, Diamond Mountain, and Howell Mountain converge to showcase a captivating interplay of terroir and time. Embracing a minimalist, hands-off approach complemented by cutting-edge technology, the Thurlow Cellars team allows the vineyards to speak for themselves, preserving the unique character and complexity of each parcel.

Boomslang Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon invites you on a journey through Napa’s diverse landscapes and vintages, weaving together the essence of each growing season. This captivating blend entices you to savor the layers of innovation, terroir, and artistry, all offered at a compelling value.

Boomslang
Cabernet Sauvignon
NV Napa Valley
Retails at: $68

Your Price: $60

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“Boomslang is a multi-vintage blend of 2019, 2021, and 2022 fruit, and is crafted by Kevin Morrisey (formerly of Ehlers Estate). It’s an incredibly easy-drinking, smooth Cabernet with just enough fine-grained tannins to layer in a bit of grippy texture, but for the most part, it’s a pretty, red-fruited elegant Cabernet with good tension and energy. This makes me wish California wineries would do more non-vintage blends.”

94 Points

2021 Krupp Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon The Wheelman Napa Valley

2021 Krupp Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon The Wheelman Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Krupp Brothers

Cabernet Sauvignon
The Wheelman
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Krupp Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon The Wheelman Napa Valley

In the mid-1990s, the Krupp brothers were captivated by a rugged 750-acre parcel atop Atlas Peak. Despite its formidable challenges—water scarcity, isolation, and volcanic, rocky terrain—the brothers were determined to cultivate a vineyard. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to locate an underground water source, they succeeded with the unconventional aid of a water witch.

The Stagecoach Vineyard, a testament to the Krupps’ perseverance and vision, has become one of Napa Valley’s most iconic properties. It produces bold, penetrating wines with extraordinary structure. The Wheelman, a limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon, is renowned for its exceptional quality, robustness, and volcanic minerality. Aged 22 months in 70% new French oak, the 2021 release is approachable now but promises to evolve gracefully for years to come.

Embrace the legacy of the Stagecoach Vineyard by experiencing the extraordinary Wheelman Cabernet Sauvignon.

Krupp Brothers
Cabernet Sauvignon
The Wheelman
Napa Valley 2021

Your Price: $99.99

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“The Krupps Brothers The Wheelman Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is loaded with enticing dark fruit and spice, delivering a complex and elegant experience. The nose is initially brooding, revealing rich notes of black plums, ripe Bing cherries, and a touch of chocolate-covered espresso beans. Indian spices and a subtle hint of fresh lavender add complexity, while rocky mineral nuances provide an earthy element. The wine is supple and silky on the palate, with a concentrated yet elegant structure. Pure and linear, the distinctive flavors of sweet red and black berries and vanilla spice dance across the tongue, creating a vibrant, complex tapestry. The finish is lingering, leaving a lasting impression of the wine’s great depth and character. Drink or cellar until 2036.”

93 Points

2021 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend

2021 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend

with No Comment $30 and underAtlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VISTA

ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
RED BLEND 2021

2021 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend

Back and better than ever before, Vista’s 2021 Atlas Peak Reserve Red Blend is another paradigm-shifter for superior quality, value-priced Mountain wines. This stunner has the concentration, depth, complexity, and balance you’d expect from an exceptional $50+ Napa wine, but at $25, it’s almost unfathomable how great it is for this low price.

Harvested at 2,000 feet elevation on Atlas Peak, Vista’s 2021 Reserve Blend was wrought from the rocky red Aiken soils that perfectly display the deep, concentrated flavors that make this region famous.

Predominately Cabernet Sauvignon at 61%, balanced with Merlot and Malbec, the 2021 vintage has the power of a thoroughbred, tamed by the skilled hand of winemaker Grant Long Jr, whom you might know from Aonair, Reverie II, Steps, and James Joseph. If you’re looking for a fabulous wine that tastes like it should be double or triple the price, look no further.

VISTA
ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
RED BLEND 2021

Your Price: $25

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“Unparalleled in their ability to create rich, powerful, high-quality Napa Valley wines at an exceptionally low price, Vista continues to raise the bar with the release of their 2021 Reserve Atlas Peak Red Blend. This beautiful creation begins with a vibrant nose, including crushed Blackberries, blueberry cobbler, lavender, and hints of wood spice. The powerful palate continues with concentrated red currants, mixed berry compote, Bing cherries, pipe tobacco, saline minerality, and cocoa powder. The firm volcanic mountain structure beautifully balances the intense fruit with a style, grace, and energy, leading to a long finish that simply satisfies.”

95 Points

2018 Acumen Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak

2018 Acumen Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak

with No Comment $90-$100Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

ACUMEN

PEAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 ATLAS PEAK

2018 Acumen Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak
Acumen Estate consists of 116 organically certified acres of vines on Atlas Peak, spread across two vineyards from which a small portfolio of estate-grown wines is born. The winery bases their sought-after style of Cabernet Sauvignon on the great Cabernets of the 1960s and 70s, which helped secure Napa on the international wine map.
 
Acumen sells a large portion of their mountain-grown fruit to other fine wineries in Napa Valley, allowing Chappellet’s 30-year veteran winemaker Philip Titus to focus on his favorite small vineyard blocks. The 2018 vintage is graceful with an exquisite yet powerful structure due to a cooler than average summer with zero heat spikes, allowing the grapes to slowly develop full physiological maturity, depth of aromas and flavors, and an incredible overall balance between fruit, earth, and minerality.
 
ACUMEN
PEAK CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 ATLAS PEAK
Retails at: $115
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Peak showed nicely, with beautiful blue fruits, scorched earth, licorice, and violet aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, it stays tight and compact on the palate, with a fresh, Bordeaux-like style in its tannins and acidity. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age but should age nicely on its purity and elegance.”
95 Points
 
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Peak charges out of the gate with energetic scents of red and black currants, fresh blackberries and boysenberries with suggestions of camphor, cardamom, tar and new leather plus a waft of pencil shavings. Full-bodied, concentrated and decadent in the mouth, the palate has a solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and lively freshness to support, finishing long with a pleasantly surprising floral perfume coming through at the end.”
94+ Points
2019 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn's Reserve

2019 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn’s Reserve

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonCalistogaHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

JAMES JOSEPH

CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
2019 KATHRYN’S RESERVE

2019 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn's Reserve
For decades, James Joseph built a reputation for crafting age-worthy Cabernets that are powerfully elegant and profoundly hedonistic. The 2019 release embodies the brand’s fingerprint conveyed with Howell Mountain Cabernet’s concentration, Atlas Peak fruit’s depth, and Calistoga’s signature minerality. 
 
The 2019 vintage combines 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, aged 20 months in barrel and crafted in a concentrated and showy style ladened with dark fruits, assorted chocolates, and rocky minerals. With just four barrels produced, don’t hesitate to secure this release.
 
JAMES JOSEPH
CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
2019 KATHRYN’S RESERVE
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Balance is one of the most important aspects of wine because when all the components are in balance, the wine effortlessly draws attention and acclaim. The 2019 James Joseph does just that, beginning with a nose of ripe cherry and blackberry fruit enveloped in sweet baking spices and cocoa, like a blueberry pie that your grandmother just took out of the oven. This rich and round wine finishes with velvety tannins that make it approachable in its youth, but the depth and concentration of flavors mean that this wine can also lay down for another ten years and develop further complexity.”
96 Points
2018 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Proprietary Red

2018 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underAtlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VISTA

ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
2018 PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Proprietary Red
Cementing its spot on my top 5 list in 2020, Vista’s 2018 Atlas Peak Red is the single most extraordinary $23 wine that I’ve tasted. The wine has the concentration, depth, complexity, and balance that you’d expect from a remarkable $50 bottle of high-elevation Napa wine, but at $23, it’s hard to wrap your head around how it can be that good, for the modest price.
 
At 2,000 feet elevation on Atlas Peak, Vista’s 2018 Reserve Blend was wrought from the rocky red Aiken soils and perfectly shows off the deep, concentrated flavors that make this region famous. Predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, if you’re looking for a wine that tastes like it should be at least double or triple the price, this is it.
 
VISTA
ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
2018 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $23
2018 Acumen Mountainside Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2018 Acumen Mountainside Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Atlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary Red

ACUMEN

2018 MOUNTAINSIDE
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Acumen Mountainside Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Acumen wines have a definitive style similar to Napa Valley’s great Cabernets from the 1960s and 1970s. They craft classically structured, balanced wines marked by complexity and ageability under renowned winemaker Phillip Titus, winemaker at Chappellet for nearly 30 years. At $40, Acumen’s Mountainside Red embodies the soul of their Estate vineyard, their team’s talent, and their proprietor’s drive, offering immeasurable value. 
 
At around 1500 feet elevation on Atlas Peak, Acumen’s Mountainside Blend was wrought from the rocky, volcanic soils and relatively cool climate, perfectly depicting the deep, concentrated flavors that make this region famous.
 
Acumen sells most of their fruit, allowing Phillip Titus to focus on his favorite blocks for Acumen’s estate wines. Phillip created this wine around a core of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Merlot and Petit Verdot for soft, supple characteristics, balancing the power of Mountain Cabernet.
 
ACUMEN
2018 MOUNTAINSIDE
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“This full-bodied wine starts with fragrant aromas of ripe blackberries, potpourri, freshly turned earth, and Chambord. On the palate, we find mouth-coating flavors of blueberries, Santa Rosa plums, and baking spices with a pleasant grip of ripe tannins coupled with notes of toffee, rhubarb compote, fresh sage and cigar box on the long and pleasant finish.”