Ruston Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Sweet, blessed Napa-cab juice for the blinding price of LESS than $35…this is practically unheard of in these parts (or any parts), but we’re fully on board with this brand of madness! A micro-production (we’re talkin’ just 298 cases made), esteemed vineyards, and elite winemaking result in a winning wine at a loony price! Throw in for three bottles to unlock the lowest pricing we could swing ($34.95 per), PLUS free shipping. Music to our ever-loving ears.

You may or may not have heard of John Ruston, the long-standing Napa grower and third-generation farmer with a prized plot of vines snuggled into the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains in St. Helena. Not a stone’s throw from his 3.6-acre parcel are the likes of Spottswoode, Andy Beckstoffer’s Las Piedras, David Abreu’s Capella and Madrona Ranch, and Hayne Vineyard – many of these generous neighbors providing clippings of clones to plant and harvest on Ruston’s land today. So, while his plot may be little, its mighty fruit stands up to some of the greatest estates in the nearby regions.

We’re major fans of Ruston over here – have been for years – but this 2019 cab has to be the best we’ve tasted from them. Winemaker Robbie Meyer (of Peter Michael, Lewis Cellars, Jericho Canyon, and his own label, Pierson-Meyer) has crafted something really special here, blending 96% cabernet sauvignon with 4% cabernet franc, plus a handful of Oakville and Rutherford grapes tossed into the mix to round things out. What do you get? Something that should be well and above $35, for one. This is a Napa cab that easily holds up to regional heavy hitters that go for triple the price. It’s a complex, extravagant expression of cabernet sauvignon with bright and lean fruits of red currant, raspberry, blueberry, and boysenberry. Starting juicy and big, its aromas are filled with violets, lilacs, and crushed granite with structured, powerful tannins and round toastiness from aging time on oak. A velvet-smooth finish mixing in a spiced, roasted-herbaceous kick, thanks to the dash of cab franc, simply seals this cabernet with a kiss.

Tons and tons to LOVE about this one – in flavor, yes, and in price, double-yes! A truly special, off-the-beaten-path wine from a producer we think you’ll come to love and pay close attention to here on out. Don’t miss the chance to stock up on these beauties and fill your cellar with a no-nonsense, outstanding $35 Napa cab!