Elevated Napa Valley Cabernets for the Season
Few things pair more naturally with summer's long evenings than a well-crafted Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. These three selections represent three distinct expressions of California mountain winemaking — an exciting debut from a world-class winemaker, a benchmark estate bottling from Mt. Veeder's most celebrated family winery, and a multi-generational Spring Mountain estate that has been perfecting its craft for over two decades. Each was chosen for the quality in the glass, the story behind the bottle, and the staying power it brings to your program.
RED WINES | NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2023 Mandet Wines STEREOGRAPH Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon | $80
Napa Valley, California | Small Parcels throughout the AVA
WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE
STEREOGRAPH is the debut label of Sally Johnson Blum — one of Napa Valley's most celebrated winemakers with nearly 30 vintages of experience and multiple 100-point scores from Robert Parker — and her husband Max Blum, a designer and creative force in the wine industry. Founded on the idea of duality — two distinct perspectives woven into a single vision — STEREOGRAPH launched its first releases in 2025 to immediate critical attention. The 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet earned 93 points from Wine Advocate and 92 points from James Suckling on its inaugural outing. The blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc is sourced from carefully selected small parcels across the AVA, produced in genuinely limited quantities. This is a debut vintage from a winemaker at the top of her craft — rare, independent, and worth the attention.
TASTING NOTES
Deep ruby and opaque, with an aromatic profile driven by dark fruit: blackberry, boysenberry, mulberry, cherry, and plum, underpinned by a floral thread of violets and lavender. Layers of espresso, mocha, dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, and old cedar box add complexity. On the palate, a sweetness of ripe dark fruit opens to a full, coating texture with lightly grainy, chalky tannins that track alongside the fruit all the way through the extended finish. Graceful, vivacious, and textural.
2019 Anthem Winery & Vineyards Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet Sauvignon | $130
Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley | 49-Acre Estate, 2,000+ ft. Elevation
WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE
Anthem was founded in 2009 when proprietors Julie and Justin Arbuckle acquired two parcels on Mt. Veeder totaling 49 acres. Rather than go the obvious route of hiring an overbooked Napa consultant, Julie interviewed more than 100 winemakers before landing on Jeff Ames — the very first candidate she had spoken to. The decision proved extraordinary: Ames carries a resume that includes Schrader, Maybach, and Outpost, and his winemaking pedigree is unimpeachable. The estate farms its mountain vineyard with a serious commitment to regenerative agriculture, deep root irrigation, renewable energy, and efficient water management. The 2019 vintage — broadly regarded as one of Napa's finest of the decade — earned 95 points from International Wine Report and 93 points from Wine Enthusiast. The Mt. Veeder terroir delivers concentration and structure that few valley-floor Cabernets can match, and this wine has been singled out by top on-premise accounts as their pour-by-the-glass choice. Drink now through 2036.
TASTING NOTES
Rich and powerful on the nose with black cherry, plum, currant, blueberries, violets, graphite, sweet baking spices, and subtle loam. The palate is opulent and full-bodied — expressive of the mountain terroir — with earthy undertones, mid-palate blackberry, and finishing notes of olive, bay leaf, and espresso. Fine-grained tannins, polished texture, and a generous, lengthy finish. A wine that rewards patience but drinks beautifully today.
2019 Schweiger Vineyards Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon | $89
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley | 2,000 ft. Estate
WHY WE CHOSE THIS WINE
Schweiger Vineyards is a multi-generational family operation perched at 2,000 feet on Spring Mountain — one of Napa Valley's most demanding and rewarding mountain AVAs. Founder Fred Schweiger and winemaker Andy Schweiger farm 35 planted acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Malbec, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay on terraces too steep for a tractor, where the elevation and drainage force the vines to struggle and produce small berries with concentrated flavors and thick skins. The 2019 is the winery's twenty-sixth bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon — a milestone that underscores decades of compounding expertise. The winery's entire operation, from growing to fermentation to bottling, is done on-site. For a guest who wants a mountain-grown Napa Cabernet with real provenance and a family story behind it, this is the bottle to open.
TASTING NOTES
Bright aromas of dark cherry, raspberry, blackberry, currants, and boysenberry preserves with a hint of nutmeg. The entry is velvety, with sweet oak framing richly layered fruit. Juicy acidity and lingering berry notes mesh with complex, structured tannins on the finish. Impeccably balanced and built for the long haul — enjoyable now but with 20 or more years ahead of it.
These wines are available in limited quantities. Please contact your sales representative to place an order or request samples.