Moone-Tsai Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750mL

The Napa Valley Cabernet is a study in how talented winemakers can create a memorable “Cabernet” that can achieve beguiling nuance through the masterful touches of notable Bordeaux-style varietals. Alluringly ruby red in the glass, the perfume of black fruit and rose petal is unmistakable. Fresh, focused, and direct, the wine bristles with an underlying tension that is both disarming and intriguing. Cassis, sweet oak, and a hint of cherry cola coalesce against a pleasing backdrop of medium acidity and silky tannins, made possible by 18 months aging in 50% new French oak. The wine finishes handsomely with a rhythmic undulation reminiscent of the backbeat present in Duke Ellington’s masterpiece “Caravan” brought to life in the closing scenes of the acclaimed psychological thriller, Whiplash, featuring a young Miles Teller, who plays his heart (and hands) out as a jazz-drummer-prodigy aspiring to become the next Buddy Rich. Pitted against the film’s nemesis, a maniacal instructor (played by the inimitable J.K. Simmons), the screenplay plays out brilliantly, leaving the viewer breathless until Nieman’s final performance signals victory, but at questionable personal sacrifice. Beyond this, we come to appreciate that appropriate accolades ensued, most notably, via the AMPAAS (Oscars), Golden Globes, et al.

The backbone of this remarkable Cabernet was sourced from Soda Canyon, an area located in southeast Napa Valley where soils are characterized by a blend of volcanic and granite-like subsoil. Adding to the wine’s remarkable layering and complexity are Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot sourced from a unique parcel located on a small sliver in the Yountville AVA, adjacent to Stags Leap. Grapes from this area enjoy both the structure characteristic of hillsides, and the rich flavors that mark valley floor fruit.