Martellotto Cabernet Sauvignon Bar None Stag's Leap Napa Valley 2023
Cabernet Sauvignon | US
We’re about halfway sold through Martellotto’s phenomenal ‘Bar None’ Stag's Leap Cabernet – and the winery is now sold out – so we suggest you move soon to snag it for a scintillating 73% off. Shipping kicks in on three or more.
Worth the winery’s $150 price tag? Oh yes – this tastes like a floor-puddled Rubelli velvet curtain moving to the untamed rhythm of a strong summer breeze. Would we charge anywhere close to that? Not when we can get away with $39.95!
The winery’s namesake founder, Greg Martellotto, is bound by NDA – but we can divulge that the 2023 ‘Bar None’ is from a sought-after vineyard in eastern Napa’s Stag’s Leap District. Scores haven’t come in yet, but two of Martellotto’s other 2023 Cabs have earned 95 points from Decanter, and this one feels promising.
That said, we don’t need to see a big score. It’s blowing us away with X factor – every inch a kinetic example of the deeply collectible, elegant 2023 growing season. The nose is immediate and immersive, with a contrast of warm and cool tones like sun on your back and cellar air in front of you. Black and purple fruits soar with espresso, dark chocolate, cracked pepper, and violets. All of this carries into the thick fabric of the palate, which pulls in blackberry, plum, clove, tobacco leaf, and roasted fennel. There’s a whiff of waffle cone and old-fashioned strawberry phosphate. A dusting of firm graphite drives us into a terrific, sticky finish of black currant, licorice, and so much chocolate. Hedonistic? Absolutely, but also super refined. As we’ve said before, it has the loose, jazzy rhythm and electric lift of the beautiful art on the label. A very complete wine. Under $40?! It’s really hard to do better.
A word from Greg to close: “I’m constantly looking for wines that jump out of the glass and surprise me. I’m not easily surprised. Balanced alcohol, oak tannins, and zippy acidity that make my lips smack are qualities I find appealing. I believe great wine complements life. … Personally, I’m fastidious about what I ingest, and attentive to every meal.” How about venison, broccolini, and a few twirls of tagliatelle with this!
About the Producer
Martellotto Winery was founded by Greg Martellotto in 2005. The label focuses on Bordeaux varietals sourced from Happy Canyon in Santa Barbara, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills, and – when a great opportunity arises – Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley.
Greg has casual family roots in wine, but took a circuitous path to making it his profession. His grandfather emigrated from Italy and made wine in a Bronx basement during Prohibition, and home winemaking became something of a family tradition. But Greg’s focus was naturally elsewhere. From childhood through college, he was a serious soccer player, and went to Stanford on a sports scholarship. While studying biology with the intention of going to medical school, he franchised a house painting company in Palo Alto. After graduation, pro soccer dreams behind him, he went on to earn a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Texas. Pivoting to wine, he immersed himself in – and continues to work in – all three tiers: production, wholesale, and restaurants. Greg tastes about 4,000 wines per year, so his philosophy is firm: “I would rather have a wine that represents a vintage and shows variety, than a wine that is uniform, bland or painted by numbers. Wine is art and science, romantic and intimate.”
- WinemakerGreg Martellotto
- CountryUS
- RegionCalifornia
- Sub-RegionNorth Coast
- AppellationNapa Valley
- Alcohol14.5%
You Might Also Like...
Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Fountain Grove Sonoma County 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon | US
Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon AVA Series Probst Vineyard Atlas Peak Napa Valley 2015
Cabernet Sauvignon | US
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2023 (1 Liter)
Cabernet Sauvignon | US