2021 Brendel Cooper’s Reed Cabernet Sauvignon

From the brilliant new regime at the historic Heitz Cellars: with celebrity wine director Colt McKoy and his outstanding, award-winning winemaker Brittany Sherwood.

But two things make this one truly special:

1.)  The vineyards, of course. As the San Francisco Chronicle said:

Brendel likes to say that they have a secret ingredient: dirt. Their range of wines are made from some of the best sites in Napa’s most renowned regions, including the eastern side of Rutherford (the main component here), the highest elevations of Howell Mountain, two diverse sites in St. Helena, and a steep plot in Oak Knoll. Each vineyard is chosen for its quality and unique aptitude, with soil types ranging from volcanic to clay to bring out the best in each grape in their array of wines. It’s, as they put it, good dirt.

In this 2021 vintage, they also added in some from top Sonoma Mountain sites, giving it a bit more complexity and power. What’s more, like the fancy Heitz wines, these vineyards are all biodynamically farmed, hand-picked at night for greater freshness and carefully sorted for quality.

Which is why so many critics have singled this out as an outstanding bargain at $50!

2.)  The unique (and very old school) winemaking style.

This is actually almost a throwback to the old (and famous, and often extraordinary) Inglenook Cask Cabernets. This Cabernet is actually raised in very large, upright oak fudres, which are sealed with reeds. (Hence the name “Cooper’s Reed.”) The result is a very old-school Cabernet of unusual complexity and class. And one that’s great with food.

Aside from being organic and biodynamic, this wine has none of the additives or other “unnecessary ingredients” that plague so many California Cabernets at this price (or any price.) It’s all about purity and authenticity.

The winery sells this for $50, and the only store that may now have this 2021 (in NC) sells it for $39.99. And the only store anywhere to list the lesser 2020 vintage (in Virginia) is also at $39.99.