2024 Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley750ml

The best thing about vintages this strong is the appellation wines they produce. Even the basest of lots was worthy of single vineyard consideration in 2024.  With that in mind, it proved a challenge to build this blend, but we knew it would be one of our best Napa bottlings to date.  Approachable from the first pour, this edition turns up the concentration and complexity, delivering a wine that performs well beyond its price point. An opaque, deep garnet complexion provides the first hint at the intensity within. An earthy richness rises from the glass, layered with redcurrants, wet gravel and the caramelized top of freshly torched crème brûlée. The palate is expansive yet finely composed, with velvet tannins enveloping rich, dark fruits, savory notes of tobacco leaf and cedar, and a subtle mineral lift. There is an almost deceptive power to the wine.  Its strength never overshadows its balance though, making for a Cabernet that is as graceful as it is commanding, something very rare at this price point.