Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley 2021

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is going to romance your palate with the pure, unadulterated deliciousness of the crispiest, gooiest blueberry pancakes with a secret pinch of cardamom and a smudge of real vanilla bean in the batter. It's as indulgent as nectar, but not shameless. Plenty serious,  but not stern or ponderous. As the Cornerstone team says: “We’ve seen trends come and go. We’ve seen nature do exactly what it wants to do. We’re still here. We love what we do.” 

Their 2021 gets a stellar 94 points from Decanter, and we say amen! Winemaker Kari Auringer has made these underappreciated treasures for almost a decade – actually longer, if you count her time as assistant winemaker under two huge Napa talents: Celia Welch (Scarecrow, Corra) and Charles Thomas (Cardinale, Lokoya, Mondavi Reserve, Quintessa). All that education comes through, and our price is a coup.

Back to how this tastes… an elderflower note follows the sappy blue and purple fruits into the palate, where polished red currant surges against river rock while roasted red pepper brings that sensuous, earthy heat. This is thick and assertively ripe, which works really well in the cool and steady 2021 growing season, locking in a lovely freshness. The finish is toned and tightened by cedar and, as Decanter noted, “pressed wildflower notes.” We can’t get enough of those dusty Rutherford AVA tannins, and we think you’re going to have the base of your glass pointed at the sky so you can drink every last drop of this. This is a guaranteed treat and a polished crowd-pleaser you’ll feel great about sharing over smash burgers with aged cheddar – or how about pulled pork sliders?!