Wine Access 20% Off Black Friday

Wine Access is offering 20% off select wines for Black Friday. One wine in stock (for now) that I highly recommend is:

2019 Yesterday Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley

15.1% Alcohol

$30/btl (before discounts)

This wine is in line with prior "Yesterday" Napa Cabs, which is to say: Boldly fruit forward with ample supporting toasty oak notes and absolutely delicious.

92/100 WWP: Outstanding

It's surprising they're pricing the Reserve bottling at just $30 (they've also got a "regular" bottling going for $35 and it's not part of the promo). This one will sell out soon and I can't imagine having too much on hand/regretting going in on some of this.

Free Shipping on $150+ and $50 off your first $150 order through referral:

Referral Link

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Fresh off the Truck: 2018 Editorial Reserve Napa Cab

A batch of Wine Access NDA Cabs arrived today. This Editorial Reserve was the one I was most looking forward to tasting. Let's get right into it...

Main clue:

The man who helped fashion a mega-hit Cab blend that won Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year Award (beating out landmark bottlings from Opus One and Robert Mondavi).

2018 Editorial Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

14.9% Alcohol

$37 (less in quantity)

Free shipping on $120+

First impression: High toned fruit and racy acidity. 80% opaque in an elegant ruby/magenta hue, it clings formidably to the glass.

Aromas of tart cherries and graphite give way to tightly wound but powerful fruit that triggers puckering when enjoyed without food.

Finishes pleasntly with fine, chewy tanins.

91/100 WWP: Outstanding

This wine is a departure from most of the Wine Access NDA wines that seem to favor round extraction over edgy acidity, which makes me think this wine in particular would benefit from aging.

Could the winemaker mentioned in the clue be Tod Mostero from this year's Wine Spectator Wine of the Year Dominus? Something about the style here paired with the way they say he helped fashion the Wine of the Year has me thinking in this direction even though it's perhaps too obvious with Dominus having won the honor so recently.

If you were targeted for the Wine Access $30 off $100 Amex Offer it's a good time to pair it with $50 off your first $150 order through referral.

If you can't decide what to get at the moment but want to lock in the Amex Offer, you can always buy Wine Access GCs. Throughout the month of Decmber 10% Of All Wine Access Gift Card Sales Donated to No Kid Hungry.

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So How Was that $1,000 Bottle of Wine?

The occassion finally arose to enjoy that bottle of '97 Harlan I mentioned a while back.

See: Grand Reserve World Mastercard Review

I'm pleased to report the wine was in good shape. More than anything I'd have been disappointed if we suspected cork taint, the cork dissolved as we were opening it, or it just plain wasn't showing well.

It was showing very well and it was a great experience tasting an aged benchmark Napa Cab like Harlan.

How Do You Go About Enjoying an Expensive Bottle Like This?

I thought about this a bit. I didn't want to just knock it back in some plastic cups outdoors, but at the same time I didn't want to make such a big deal out of it that it dominated the evening.

We enjoyed it with dear friends we haven't gathered with indoors with since the pandemic began. They're wine enthusiasts as well so we were all interested in experiencing how the wine showed relative to other bottles we've enjoyed.

1997 Harlan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet

14.5% Alcohol

$1,000/btl

100% opaque and clinging to the glass, this bottle showed very well 24 years post-vintage with lively aromas and flavors, supporting structure, and a luscious finish.

Aromas of ripe blackberries backed by subtle supporting oak influence. Hits the palate with a satisfying mid-weight presence and finishes with fine silty tannins.

It's a near flawless wine that's aged brilliantly into a well-balanced textbook Napa Cab.

97/100 WWP: Classic

Wine Advocate (RP): 100

Wine Spectator (JL): 97

Reading the tasting notes from the pros at the time of release (on KL Wines) it seems that it has mellowed nicely with time. Parker notes how it is "enormously-endowed, profoundly rich" and Tanzer cited "distinctly port-like notes."

I wouldn't describe it along those lines at all at this point in time. Although it was formidable visually it presented itself as a medium-full bodied wine with appealing aromatics, good mouthfeel, and a finish that indicates it's still got a ways to go. It was a delight to drink.

How Do The Wine Access NDA Wines Compare to Harlan?

A lot of these Wine Access NDA Napa Cabs make big claims about being associated with producers or vineyards like Harlan. Like this one.

The '97 Harlan drank more elegantly, less brawny than the Wine Access Yesterday Cab - which I consider among the better offerings among Wine Access NDA wines.

I cracked a bottle of 2018 Radio Silence tonight to compare and...no doubt the Harlan is superior. Which isn't surprising given that Harlan has 2nd labels they'd surely route to before dishing things off to an NDA wine.

But if I squint enough and look for it I can see Radio Silence being part of the same family. And more ready to go on release for sure.

If You Paid $1,000 For It, Would You Have Enjoyed It More? Less?

I'd say it was nice that we got it "for free" with credit card rewards. It wasn't really free since we passed on selecting on an assortment of wines totaling $600 for this one bottle worth $1,000.

But it was nice that there wasn't this pressure to "find $1,000 worth of enjoyment out of the bottle" and instead just enjoy the experience for what it was.

Would You Rather Have Ten $100 Bottles or One $1,000 Bottle?

Ten $100 bottles, no doubt. The cost per ounce on a $1,000 bottle of wine is just indefensible. This became strikingly evident since there was quite a bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle and I'm thinking, "That's $75 worth of wine down there." It's pretty ridiculous.

We followed up the bottle of Harlan with a $60 bottle of Quilceda Creek CVR (a $60 wine). You know what? That was pretty great too.

Does This Experience Make You More or Less Likely to Splurge on High End Bottles?

I still can't justify spending much more than $100/btl on wine. Maybe like $150 for a special occasion wine or a birthyear wine.

Like art or collectibles, you pay a lot more to be in that top 10% and it's almost impossible to consider the splurge a value play.

Can This Deal Be Replicated?

Not fully, because two things changed.

First, the welcome bonus on the credit card isn't as high as it was when I signed up (was 75,000 is now 50,000). And the per-point value for wines in "The Vault" are no longer any better than other wines (was 1 cpp is now 0.6 cpp).

Bottom Line

This was a fun opportunity to experience a high end bottle of wine with friends. It was a finishing touch on a great day with a good round of golf in the afternoon, conversation around a fire on a crisp autumn evening, and an amazing dinner.

I'd love it if I could sign up for more credit cards that kick off $1,000 bottles of wine, but alas opportunities like this don't come around very often.

As a guy who hasn't invested a lot of effort into aging wines, it gives me a datapoint for what Napa Cab can become. It makes me think I should lay a few more good bottles down like Ridge Monte Bello and the strong-showing Wine Access Yesterday NDA wines as well. But I don't think I'll be joining the Harlan mailing list any time soon.

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Fresh off the Truck: 2018 Wolfe Grade Napa Cab [$350 for $40?]

Wine Access has been releasing a lot of NDA Napa Cabs lately. I initially thought this was a re-release of a wine they offered earlier (that I really enjoyed) but this new wine is a 2018 whereas previously it was a 2017.

It's important to note that this is more than just a vintage change. With these Wine Access NDA wines one Wolfe Grade vintage might have nothing to do with another. Indeed, the rumored vineyard source of the 2017 is completely different from the 2018.

So if you liked the 2017 Wolfe Grade, will you like the 2018 Wolfe Grade? Possibly, but not necessarily because of the vineyard source.

Clue

Sometimes all it takes is one:

From the same 100-point source that Spectator described as “one of the most exciting new Cabernet projects in Napa,” this $40 powerhouse has all the terroir complexity of its perfect-scoring $350 big brother.

From this Wine Spectator article this Wolfe Grade wine appears to be associated with Kinsman Eades whose 2018s have gotten high marks:

I'm not sure where the $350 comparison point comes from exactly, but with these Wine Access NDA wines you've got to be okay with the notion of wines being loosely associated with a high end producer at a much lower price point. 

2018 Wolfe Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Napa Valley [affiliate link]

• $40 1-5 bottles
• $38 5% off 6-11 bottles
• $3513% off12 + bottles
• 15.2% Alcohol
• Free shipping on $120
• $50 off your first $150+ order through referral

75% opaque in an elegant ruby/garnet hue, this one starts off innocently enough with typical Napa Cab aromas. Perhaps a few Leuden's cherry cough drop notes in the background if you search for them.

I really like this wine with its round, satisfying weight on the palate and luscious tendencies.

The core of its appeal is on the finish, where velvet mouthfeel transitions to dazzling silty tannins reminiscent of flourless chocolate espresso cake.

92/100 WWP: Ouststanding

Bottom Line

Another winning Wine Access NDA Cab, this 2018 is pushes the price envelope at $40. You can get some pretty good known-brand wines for around $40 (thinking of maybe a Honig Napa Cab for just a little more).

But I'd say this Wolfe Grade carries its weight and then some, especially if you can use a referral or stack some discounts.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: Wine Access 2019 Yesterday Napa Cab [$350 for $37?]

Clues

"Normally $350, just $37 per bottle today from an estate that many know by a simple two-letter abbreviation. Famous for a “cult classic” beloved by the Hollywood A-list, this is Napa Cabernet at its finest."

The thought is this is associated with ZD and this article supports that.

The $350 comparison price point is puzzling to me though. Most of ZD's Cabs sell for less than $350. And their Abacus bottling (that A-Listers supposedly chase after) sells for $750/btl. You'd think they'd have cited a $750/btl comparison price point if possible.

Oh well. Let's crack it open and see how it tastes...

2019 Yesterday Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [affiliate link]

• $37 1-5 bottles
• $35 5% off 6-11 bottles
• $32 14% off 12 + bottles
• Free shipping on $120+
• $50 off first $150+ order through referral

Weighty visually, this one clings to the glass. About 60% opaque.

Oak dominates supporting bright fruit on the nose. A bit of distracting woodsy, herbal off-note in the background.

Grippy little tannins.

Very much a study in constituent parts at this point. 

But will it come together?

88/100 WWP: Very Good

This was the most unimpressive Yestserday bottling I've tasted.

Sure, it's just two years old and "fresh off the truck." But others seemed to have more presence, more stuffing, more potential, and - most importantly - were just more enjoyable to drink.

Oh well. On to the next one. 

Coming soon:

2018 Wolfe Grade Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Napa Valley

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: Wine Access 2019 The Ringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [$250 for $35?]

Wine Access has released a flurry of NDA wines lately. One arrived today and it's a winner. Not necessarily textbook Napa Cab but a beautiful unique wine in its own right...

Clues

• "Think of some of the greatest Napa Cabernets of the 2010s—a decade of monumental releases from Screaming Eagle, Lail, Chappellet, and the like. Take away the marketing, the scores, the labels (and the three-digit prices), and you’re left with first-class Napa juice in a bottle—an unadorned expression of world-class terroir."
  
  We're looking for a less than famous producer...
• "Today’s deal was triggered by a call from a fourth-generation winemaker whose Irish ancestors were among the original pioneers to uncover the greatness of Howell Mountain’s rich, red soils."
  
  The second I heard this I thought: O'Shaughnessy.
  But I don't think that's it.
  
  My next thought was "Who was that guy pouring high end Napa Cab at the Boston Wine Expo back in 2011? Was it William Cole?" Amazingly, I think that's it.
• "Last year, he and his son started a new, luxury-level label dedicated to Cabernet grapes grown on a single seven-acre mountainside vineyard. Total production is less than 300 cases, and mostly allocated to a cadre of Napa power players.."
  
  This really sounds like Predecessor Estate.

2019 The Ringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [affiliate link]

• 14.9% Alcohol
• $35 1-5 bottles
• $33 6% off 6-11 bottles
• $30 14% off 12 + bottles
• Free shipping on $120+
• Get $50 off your first $150+ order through referral

This doesn't drink like a typical Wine Access NDA Napa Cab, but depending on your preferences that may be a good thing.

Most of their NDA Cabs are dark and brooding with a formidable wall of round tannins that are enjoyable now but suggest some aging. 

This wine is lighter than I'd expect for the category - about 40% opaque. It's ready to go aromatically - but with ripe strawberries over dusty briar patch and a hint of cinnamon stick rather than the brawnier notes you'd typically find in Cabernet. It's satisfyingly full bodied on the palate and finishes clean and luscious inviting another sip.

It drinks more like a high end new world Grenache than a Napa Cab. You know what it reminds me of? The 2007 Betts & Scholl Grenache "The OG".

Pretty wild. The kind of wine that's fun comparing notes with friends while tasting, and infinitely enjoyable.

92/100 WWP: Outstanding

Next up: A bottle of 2019 Yesterday Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. Check back soon for thoughts on that.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2017 The Phoenix Cabernet [100 Point $500/btl Estate wine for $45?]

This is a wine that Wine Access has offered before but is back for a return engagement.

$45/btl is pushing the limits of what a mystery/NDA wine can fetch. The prose is quite striking and the price per bottle from the associated winery is astronomical. Let's see if we can figure out who this one is from...

Clues

Food & Wine has profiled as “one of the valley’s most exquisite small gems.”

This article supports this as being Dana Estate (pronounced Dah-nah).

We’ve celebrated birthdays in the grand, raftered dining room

(source)

and sipped wines at the long oak table

(source)

Sounds like this could be Dana Estate.

2017 The Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [affiliate link]

14.8% Alcohol

$45 1-5 bottles
$43 4% off 6-11 bottles
$40 11% off 12 + bottles

Free shipping on $120+

$50 off first $150+ order through referral

Medium to full-bodied visually. About 70% opaque.

An array of ample ripe fruits dominate the aromatic profile. Melted red licorice, poached plums, and just a hint of eucalyptus in the background.

Satisfying weight on the palate.  Pleasantly brooding with formiddable but ultra-plush velvety tannins with the slightest bit of grip.

Not an off note in the bottle.

93/100 WWP: Outstanding

No doubt about it, this wine is a joy to drink. I would have rated it higher if it had more acidity, more structure. It's a "drink now" kind of wine for better or worse which is surprising given the lofty price points of the associated winery.

For what it's worth Dana Estate wines really do retail for $500+ a bottle and the scores from Spectator, while impressive, don't exactly convey value.

Commentary

It's worth keeping in mind that a lot of these Wine Access NDA wineries and vineyards also have second labels of their own.

I think that's a more reasonable comparison point than to the flagship wine.

Dana Estate has a second label in VASO which Wine Access has offered before and I was similarly impressed with. But at a price point of $85/btl there's still relative value to be had in this Phoenix NDA wine.

It's in stock and ships quickly in the northeast. 

The Phoenix label could use some improvement but I'd say it's worth a try if you, like me, appreciate a fruit-forward Napa Cab that's ready to go.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2019 Moundsman St. Helena Cab [$200+ for $36 or less before discounts]

After a bit of a dry spell, Wine Access is back with some compelling known offerings and some NDA Cabs as well. 

This 2019 is not to be confused with other Moundsman offerings like this one from Rutherford. Or this one from St Helena.

Let's get right into it...

Clues

• Called "drop dead gorgeous" by Vinous
  Antonio Galloni referred to Joseph Phelps and their St. Helena estate using that phrase here. 
• Called "just about perfect" by Jeb Dunnuck
  Jeb Dunnuck called Schrader Beckstoffer To Kalon this way here.
• "tiny-production $200+ wines"
  That description would seem to apply more to Schrader than Joseph Phelps. But could this really be grapes from a vineyard otherwise allocated to Schrader? One of the very few Napa Cabs to earn a 100 point score from Spectator? Seems hard to believe. Let's try to debunk or support the Schrader theory keeping in mind that we're talking about a vineyard source more than anything...
• Galloni uses this phrase quite a bit, but I can't seem to find a situation where he directly referred to Schrader as "drop dead gorgeous" by way of Google searches.
• I get the feeling this one winds up as "lofty rumored vineyard source, different winemaker, is it good?" Let's find out...

2019 Moundsman Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Napa Valley [affiliate link]

• $36 1-5 bottles
• $33 8% off 6-11 bottles
• $30 17% off 12 + bottles
• Free shipping on $120+
• $50 off your first $150 through referral

Jammy and effusive, this wine is ready to go.

80% opaque, it clings to the glass with authority. Chocolate covered cherries, strawberry preserves, and milk chocolate. It's both forbidable and refreshing at the same time. Luscious. An impressive combination.

A quickly emptied bottle says it all...

93/100 WWP: Outstanding

This wine is in stock and ships quickly in New England, so maybe elsewhere as well? If you're seeing slow delivery maybe try excluding other wines that have a longer lead time.

High temperatures are a concern in the summer but temps look moderate in the Northeast for the coming week.

The wine arrived after a short journey with an ice pack and styrofoam. I'm comfortable ordering for immediate shipment under these conditions.

Check back later this week as I'll try some other new offerings from Wine Access...

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2019 Echoes in the Canyon Oakville Cab [$185 vineyard source for $30/btl before discounts]

Wine Access is back with another NDA Napa Cab, this time an Oakville red blend from a $185 vineyard source:

• Cabernet Sauvignon 58%
• Cabernet Franc 22%
• Merlot 17%
• Tannat 3%

Clues

David Crow on Wine Berserkers was quick to identify this one as likely being sourced from Peter Michael Au Paradis vineyard and I think he nailed it.

• Jeb Dunnuck has called their wines “borderline perfection,” (he uses this phrase in his 99 point review of Peter Michael Au Paradis)
• Wine Spectator said they’re at “the pinnacle of California,”with multiple placements near the top of their Top 100 lists. (this Spectator Top 100 article uses that phrase)
• At 500 to 600 feet in elevation, the vines are caressed by cool breezes and warmed by the sun (the Peter Michael website lists the elevation of the Au Paradis vineyard at exactly 500-600 feet)

One thing that doesn't quite line up is the $185 comparison price since Peter Michael Au Paradis goes for $225/btl these days. Perhaps that was the going price when the protagonist in the story first moved to Napa.

2019 Echoes in the Canyon Oakville Red Blend [affiliate link]

• $30 1-5 bottles
• $28 7% off 6-11 bottles
• $25 17% off 12 + bottles
• 14.9% Alcohol

Elegance conveys here from beginning to end.

At just 2 years post-vintage and fresh off the truck, this shows impressive polish.

Not particularly aromatic at this point, even with some time to evolve. But what it does show is well aligned with the experience on the palate...

...where it really shines. Rich, ripe red fruit for days. Perfect oak regiment for my taste that imparts a well-balanced hint of vanilla. Completely devoid of green or any "off" notes. Well balanced with a touch of acidity and just a hint of tannic grip.

A long pleasant finish invites another sip.

92/100 WWP: Outstanding

Discussion

This wine is a winner, and I especially appreciate the price point here. When mystery wines get over $40/btl it starts to beg the question whether you could do better head-on with a known brand.

I've never tasted Peter Michael wines, though I've wanted to. It's worth keeping in mind that the "compare at" price of $185/btl here is just the vineyard source and not the finished wine.

All that said this one is a great deal. It ships quickly so it's possible to get a few bottles out to see if you want to go large on a case.

Free shipping on $120+

$50 off first $150 your first order

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Fresh Off the Truck: 2018 Halpin Reserve Napa Cab

The 2018 Halpin Reserve Napa Cab I wrote about recently arrived and I cracked a bottle open to compare it to the highly regarded 2018 Yesterday Reserve Napa Cab it was alluded to be equivalent to.

Is This 2018 Halpin Reserve the same as the 2018 Yesterday Reserve?

I thought pictures might be useful here since tasting notes and ratings are so subjective. And you can tell a lot from photos. The opacity of the wine in the glass, how stained the cork ends are, how the wine clings to the glass...

Visually, I think these wines look absolutely the same.

Do They Taste the Same?

Looking back, here is my tasting note on the 2018 Yesterday Reserve:

2018 Yesterday Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [currently sold out, affiliate link]

Decanted for two hours.

80% opaque in an appealing ruby hue that thins on the edges.

Serious and subdued aromatically with cedar notes dominant over supporting fruit.

The experience improves dramatically on the palate.

Lands with mouth-filling authority and dazzles with vibrant appeal.

Gives way to energetic silty tannins and a long satisfying finish.

Impressive.

94/100 WWP: Outstanding

Here's what I think about the Halpin:

2018 Halpin Reseve Napa Cab [currently sold out, affiliate link]

Pop and pour, but tasted over the course of four hours.

Aromas of ripe plums, dark cherries, and a hint of savory green herbal mint in the background.

On the palate it envelopes and delights with a blanket of luscious and weighty velvet liquid.

The tannins in these NDA wines are consistently notable. This one, like others, displays almost chewy/sweet lipid molecules of tannins that dissolve in your mouth. I can't wait to see how they evolve and integrate over time. But for now they provide an interesting finish and invite another sip.

These wines are young but you can tell a lot about a wine by how it shows the next day. By this standard, this wine shows very well with gorgeous milk chocolate and black currant preserves the next night. Almost Insignia-like.

92 the first night, 94 the second.

92-94/100 WWP: Outstanding

Bottom Line

For what it's worth, the 2018 Yesterday Reserve comparison bottle I opened alongside the Halpin trended exactly the same: Better on the second day than the first with strikingly similar tendencies along the way.

I really think the Halpin is the same wine as the Yesterday Reserve. Unfortunately both are currently sold out.

Looking for another outstanding Wine Access NDA Napa Cab that's still in stock? Check out this one from St. Helena.

Read more...

A Roundabout Chance at Wine Access Yesterday Oakville Reserve? [$500 for $42]

2018 Halpin Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [affiliate link]

• $42 1-5 bottles
• $39 7% off 6-11 bottles
• $36 14% off 12 + bottles
• 15.2% alcohol

The write up from Wine Access implies this wine is similar to Yesterday Oakville Reserve. The Yesterday line has been, in my experience and opinion, the best of the Wine Access NDA wines. 

That they're labeling this one as Halpin is a bit circuitous. Kind of an NDA wine (Halpin) hinted to be a well-regarded prior NDA wine (Yesterday) that's hinted to be a well-regarded Napa producer (Harlan).

Here's a summary of the 2018 Yesterday wines offered so far... 

2018 Yesterday Oakville

• Suspected source: Harlan
• My rating: 93 points

2018 Yesterday Oakville Reserve

• Suspected source: Also Harlan
• My rating: 94 points

2018 Yesterday Howell Mountain

• Suspected source: Dana Estates Hershey Vineyard
• My rating: 95 points

Deal Discussion

On one hand $42/btl is pushing it for a mystery wine. On the other, a friend messaged me the other day fr my thoughts on a $59 sleeper offering. With the discounts you can potentially stack on Wine Access and free shipping I can still see my way to these Wine Access NDA wines being a good deal.

• $50 off $150 for new customers
• A targeted Amex Offer for $50 off $150
• Free shipping on $120+

Bottom Line

I've had a good experience with all of the Yesterday wines I've bought so far.

I'm in for 3 bottles. Wine is in-stock and arrives quickly.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck Review: 2018 Moundsman *St. Helena* Napa Cab [as low as $30/btl, compare at $145]

I almost missed this one since Wine Access already offered a 2018 Moundsman. I mistakenly thought it was a re-release.

The difference here vs the prior offer is that the prior wine was a Moundsman Rutherford (suspected to be from the Beckstoffer Georges III Vinyeard) whereas this one is a Moundsman St. Helena Cab.

Clues

HT: This post on Wine Berserkers

• "wines that have been called 'over-delivering' and 'world-class' by Robert Parker" (sounds like Lewelling)
• "one of the oldest continuously-owned family vineyards in Napa, dating back to the 1860s" (from the Lewelling site "Our family is proud to present this wine that celebrates over 150 years as one of the oldest continuously owned and farmed vineyards in the Napa Valley. Established 1864.")
• "Smack at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains" (I remember visiting there and the Lewelling vineyards were right at the base of the mountains)

See: A little research pays off: A visit to Lewelling Vineyards

One thing that doesn't quite make sense is the $145 comparison price point for some wine made from grapes from this vineyard. Lewelling's own wines don't sell for that much so the reference is for some other winery producing grapes from Lewelling fruit.

XTANT made a $175 Lewelling Cab back in 2010. Not sure what it goes for now. But I'd think Wine Access would have picked the highest comparable price point possible. Hmm...

This may be what the offer is referring to: Charles Hendricks Wines made a 2014 Lewelling Cab for $145/btl.

2018 Moundsman Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Napa Valley [affiliate link]

$36/btl

$33/btl on 6+

$30/btl on 12+

14.9% Alcohol

Free Shipping on $120+

Plum and graphite on the nose.

Powerful and the palate with good supporting acidity and a classic "serious" Napa Cab flavor profile.

Soft, chewy tannins here in its youth with a long finish.

91/100 WWP: Outstanding

Deals to Stack

• $50 off $150 for new customers
• A targeted Amex Offer for $50 off $150
• Free shipping on $120+

Bottom Line

I didn't like this one quite as much as the Moundsman Rutherford. But the Rutherford sold out a while back and this is a solid follow-up offer. It's shipping quickly (mine arrived in a couple days) so you could order a few assorted bottles to try and see what you'd like to buy more of before it sells out.

At $30/btl before discounts this is a solid value.

Read more...

New Wine Access Spring Mountain NDA Cab: $160 for $35?

2018 Color & Sound Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District Napa Valley [affiliate link]

14.9% Alcohol

$29-$35/btl

The Clues

• "poured at the White House" (link)
• "The estate’s 96-point, $160 Cabernets are canonical Spring Mountain District releases" (link)

It's pretty clear what this one is associated with. Hat tip to this post on Wine Berserkers for pointing us in the right direction.

Update: An equally compelling case could be made for another winery.

One thing that throws me is the alcohol level. 14.9% with the Color & Sound, and both of the suspects normally produce lower alcohol wines. The second suspect's 2018 is 14.5%. The first suspect hasn't released their 2018 yet but prior vintages are 14.2%.

Recommended Wine Access NDA Wines Still in Stock

• Moundsman
• 2015 Editorial

New customers get $50 off $150 through referral.

Or 20% off if you're a returning customer.

I'll orders some and get a Fresh Off the Truck review out when it arrives...

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2015 Editorial Napa Cab [$121 for $35]

2015 Editorial Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [affiliate link]

$30-$35/btl (before discounts)
14.9% Alcohol

90% opaque with seductive ruby hues around the edges.

With a chance to breathe it leaps from the glass aromatically with baking spices, ripe black cherries, leather, and pipe tobacco. Weighty but vibrant and luscious on the palate.

Tannins are beginning to integrate but for now support the entire package brilliantly.

A spectacular offering.

94/100 WWP: Oustanding

Commentary and Clues

I hadn't given this one a serious look because I'm a bit overloaded with NDA Napa Cabs from Wine Access at the moment. They've mostly delivered but I was confused on whether this 2015 Editorial was from the same as the 2018 Editorial I'd purchased previously?

It sounds like: No. From the Wine Access write-up, it sounds like their "Editorial" series are wines their friend at the newspaper turned them on to. They're not necessarily from the same producer.

This is also the case with their Yesterday Reserve Napa Valley and Yesterday Howell Mountain: Different sites and different producers.

It was when I read this comment on Wine Berserkers that I sat upright and paid attention: The suspected producer here is Honig and the $121 "compare at" price is perfectly aligned with the retail price of Honig's single vineyard Cabs.

I adore Honig's Cabernets. Just like Sojourn is my favorite reliably outstanding California Pinot Noir producer, Honig is my favorite Napa Cab in the $40 range. But that's the price of their appellation wine. Here we're talking about the asking price of their single vineyard wines.

Deals to Stack

If you don't have a Wine Access account:

• Shop through a portal
• Get $50 off $150 with first-time order through referral
• Free shipping on $120+
• New customers get a $100 credit after spending $1,000 in the first year

If you do have a Wine Access account get 20% off with this offer.

Or this one for 21% off (source)

If you've already used those, try this link for 15% off your next 3 orders.

And if you've used that 15% try this one.

Bottom Line

This really does present itself like a $121 wine for as little as $30 before discounts.

I'd put this in the top strata of Wine Access NDA wines, on par with their Yesterday wines.

This really does taste like Honig Cabernet, and at this price for a single vineyard wine it's less than I can find the Honig's Napa Valley bottling.

I bought six and could see my way to another six if not a case.

Read more...

Fresh Off The Truck: 2018 Yesterday Reserve Napa Cab [Wine Access $600 for $42?]

The Yesterday Reserve I wrote about last week arrived. This is a highly anticipated offering so let's get right into it.

2018 Yesterday Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [now sold out in most regions, affiliate link]
15.2%Alcohol
$42/btl
$39/btl (if you buy 6)
$36/btl (if you buy 12)
Free Shipping on $120+

Decanted for two hours.

80% opaque in an appealing ruby hue that thins on the edges.

Serious and subdued aromatically with cedar notes dominant over supporting fruit.

The experience improves dramatically on the palate.

Lands with mouth-filling authority and dazzles with vibrant appeal.

Gives way to energetic silty tannins and a long satisfying finish.

Impressive.

94/100 WWP: Oustanding

Deals to Stack

If you don't have a Wine Access account:

• Shop through a portal
• Get $50 off $150 with first-time order through referral
• New customers get a $100 credit after spending $1,000 in the first year.
• Check out this Amex Offer (expires 2/28/2021, try purchasing a gift card to see if that triggers the offer if you're running out of time?)

If you do have a Wine Access account get 20% off with this offer.

Or this one for 21% off (source)

Bottom Line

This is another strong Wine Access NDA wine. I rated the Yesterday Howell Mountain 95 points, but it's hard to say which is better. I think they're both terrific.

I'll do a head to head tasting soon.

I don't know how they decide which wines to label Yesterday vs some other label, but this solidifies for me that when they call something Yesterday it's worth paying attention to.

Next Steps

This one may be sold out, but there's always another deal right around the corner.

• The Ringer is en route and up next
• And I thought the Moundsman was outstanding, affordable, and still available
• Radio Silence was fantastic as well

If you don't like the uncertainty of these NDA wines check out these recommendations.

Read more...

2018 Wine Access The Ringer Napa Cab [$650+ for as little as $30 w/free shipping?]

2018 Wine Access The Ringer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [affiliate link]
$35/btl

$30/btl (6+ btls)

15.2% Alcohol

Free shipping on $120+

Clues

• Robert Parker crowned this multiple 100-point icon “one of the wines that redefines greatness in Cabernet Sauvignon” (sounds like Bryant - source)
• Vinous called it “one of Napa Valley’s most fashionable and expensive cult wines” (again Bryant - source)

Related Reading: Court Crushes Bryant Winery Lawsuit

Comparison Point

Wine Access says: "The $500+ winery source for The Ringer is among the cult titans of Napa Valley"

It's non-trivial to pin down the release price of some of these high flying wineries, but the $500 claim aligning with Bryant seems reasonable.

Here are Wine Spectator ratings for recent Bryant releases:

What I thought was interesting was exploring the "lesser bottlings" from a winery like Bryant Family.

When Wine Access says we're talking about a $30-$35 wine we're really/effectively comparing it against the price of the source winery's lowest rung bottling. In this case the $95 (in 2013 dollars) DB4 bottling.

Sure, $30-$35 is still a lot less than $95. But it's a more realistic comparison point than $650+.

Bottom Line

This one sounds exactly like the 2018 Wine Access Commission bottling that was one of my least favorite Wine Access NDA wines.

I may try to work one of these into the mix of a $120+ order of more known commodities for free shipping, just to get a taste.

Read more...

Fresh Off The Truck: 2018 Wine Access Moundsman Rutherford Napa Cab

The Moundsman I posted about last week arrived yesterday.

I cracked a bottle of Lachini Willamette Valley Pinot Noir last night (that was a great one, went so fast I didn't have time to post about it here) but got a chance to try the Moundsman tonight.

Let's get right into it...

2018 Moundsman Rutherford Napa Cab [affiliate link]

14.9% Alcohol
$36/btl
$33/btl (6+)
$30/btl (12+)
Free Shipping on $120+

Luscious and fruit forward. Bold, confident and elegant. This is an appealing crowd-pleasing wine. Silty slightly-sweet tannins on the finish.

I'd place this on par/perhaps just behind the Yesterday series as one of the better Wine Access "NDA" wines. More drinkable in its youth (less formidable tannins) but try to hold off for 4 years post-vintage and this will be singing.

93/100 WWP: Outstanding

If you don't have a Wine Access account:

• Shop through a portal
• Get $50 off $150 with first-time order through referral
• Check out this Amex Offer

If you do have a Wine Access account get 20% off with this offer.

Bottom Line

This wine is still available in most regions. Worth giving a try if you've been on the fence about these NDA wines.

See: Another Chance at an Even Better Wine Access Yesterday Napa Cab?

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Another Chance at an Even Better Wine Access Yesterday Napa Cab?

Wine Access is back with another Yesterday Napa Cab, this time a Reserve bottling based on the Yesterday Oakville (as opposed to the Howell Mountain) wine they offered last year.

2018 Yesterday Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [this is an affiliate link]

15.2%Alcohol

$42/btl

$39/btl (if you buy 6)

$36/btl (if you buy 12)

Free Shipping on $120+

Thoughts

These Yesterday bottlings have been the best of the NDA wines I've bought from Wine Access.

I'm not sure why they decided to market the Oakville and Howell Mountain wines under the Yesterday label, because I believe them to be sourced from completely different producers. That said, they do drink strikingly similar.

My best guess on the source of the original Oakville Napa Cab was Harlan. This Yesterday Reserve is said to be from the same vineyard, just with more time in barrel and in bottle making it richer, smoother, and more elegant. 

Sounds great to me, as the original Yesterday Napa Cab was an amazing wine but a bit rough around the edges when consumed entirely too young.

Discounts Available

If you don't have a Wine Access account:

• Get $50 off $150 with first-time order through referral
• Check out this Amex Offer

If you do have a Wine Access account get 20% off with this offer.

Bottom Line

Although it's a pre-arrival it looks to ship quickly. We should have a feel for it late next week.

It's hard to say how long this will last. Other recently-released NDA wines north of $40 are still available. But this is Yesterday so you never know.

I'm in for 6.

Wine Access has some other great wines in stock at the moment. I'll follow-up later this week with some recommendations, but poke around in categories that interest you and see what you find.

Read more...

Fresh Off the Truck: 2016 VASO by Dana Estates Napa Cab

I received a shipment of some recently released Wine Access wines today. I wasted no time cracking the more intriguing options open. Let's get right into it...

2016 VASO by Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Direct Link

15.3% Alcohol

$85/btl

Almost entirely opaque, the wine leaps from the glass aromatically.

Strikes serious yet approachable notes both aromatically and on the palate. Both experiences are consistent, and it conveys on the finish. Jammy and generous but with serious backbone. Amazingly well balanced. This is terrific stuff from beginning to end.

93/100 WWP: Outstanding

If this is a predictor of what the 2018 Yesterday Howell Mountain Napa Cab is going to be like in a couple years (and based on the clues I think it will be) we're in for a treat.

Deals to Stack

• $50 off $150 with first-time order through referral
• Amex Offer
• Shop through a portal on your first order

Read more...

Fresh off the Truck: Wine Access 2018 Commission Napa Cab [$650 for $35?]

4 bottles of the 2018 Commission Cab arrived today and I wasted no time cracking a bottle open. Does it drink more like the $650 grape source it came from -or- the $30-$35 price tag it carries?

2018 Wine Access Commission Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Direct Link [now sold out in many regions]

$30-$35/btl

15.2% Alcohol

The markings of prior Wine Access NDA bottlings are here. A generic "2018" cork. The 15.2% alcohol level. Pleasant-but-reserved-at-this-point aromatics. Insanely high density [that's difficult to emulate at this price point] with mouth-filling tannins you can literally chew on. Yet the finish is just a bit hollow with a strangely/slightly bitter aftertaste not present in the Yesterday Cabs.

89/100 WWP: Very Good

I've had a few bottles of both the Yesterday Cabs and I'd say they're a cut above this one. It's not a regretful buy at $35, but I'm probably not going to buy any more.

It's not highly advisable to open wines until a few weeks after they've shipped. That said, great wines tend to show well no matter what they've been put through.

Here's hoping the 2018 Commission settles down and becomes more integrated. The clipped/bitter finish is the most disconcerting for long-term greatness.

What Comes Next?

2019 Cristom Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

$30

Last vintage, I ended up ordering this unknowingly from Garagiste as a "mystery wine" as well as Wine Access. It's wild how two completed different retail models can result in the same exact wine at my house at the end of it. The 2018 is outstanding and I'd be up for more.

2018 Schrader RBS Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Oakville

$400 

Schrader is the only Napa Cab producer Wine Spectator has rated 100 points blind (Bryant Family, the suspected association for the Commission mentioned above got 99 points blind once for their 1996, but Spectator bumped it up to 100 in a subsequent non-blind tasting). Here's a chance to cut the line on their mailing list where it retails for $225 last I checked.

Bottom Line

With Wine Access, don't forget to stack the still-active Amex Offer with a $50 off $150 referral or $50 off $200 or 20% off if you're an existing customer.

Read more...