Seeded by the collection of the late founder Leslie Rudd, managed by Master Sommelier and MICHELIN guide Somm of the Year Vincent Morrow, the 2,700-selection cellar is the worlds largest collection of Napa Valley wines. From a 1965 Heitz to a $10,000 Screaming Eagle, theres next to nothing that they dont have.

Theres also nothing Vincent cant get. And the top-end Cabernet he chooses to pour by the glass is the 2018 Anthem Estate from Mt. Veeder.

Weve poured the Estate Cabernet by the glass for seven or eight months now, he told us. The balance of regional expression of Mt. Veeder, along with the fruit and structure, is what really stood out to me.

If the Anthem name doesnt grab you, the names behind it will. Jeff Ames, the supreme talent behind TOR and Rudius (who also has a little winery called Schrader on his resum) is the winemaker. He works with Mount Veeder grapes estate-raised by John Truchard of one of Napas top winegrowing families.

A 95-point Cellar Selection grown in the flawless 2018 vintage, aged in 100% new Darnajou, Ermitage, and Taransaud barrels and THEN rested over two years in bottle, this wine will leave you no doubt why its the top-end Cabernet pour at the most respected wine restaurant in Napa Valley.

Anthem proprietors Julie and Justin Arbuckle founded Anthem winery in 2009, after purchasing two Mount Veeder parcels totaling 49 acres. Their six acres of vines sit at about 400 feet of elevationone of the lower sites in the Mount Veeder AVA. In their spot, they get plenty of cooling air off of San Pablo Bay, which leads to a beautifully long growing season.

Julie interviewed over 100 local winemaking candidates for the Anthem job. She and Justin wanted a well-connected professional with an established pedigreebut NOT an overbooked consultant who was spread too thinand they kept coming back to Jeff Ames, the very first winemaker theyd spoken to.

If theres an elite winemaker who does his talking with quality over quantity, its Ames. He worked alongside Thomas Rivers Brown at Schrader, Maybach, and Outpost. Now hes the winemaker at TOR as well as his own label, Rudius, and he continually racks up top-scoring wines under both labels.

One sip tells the story here. The 2018 Anthem is full of aromas of cassis, blackberry preserves, licorice, new leather, violets, toasted oak, vanilla bean, and a touch of bay leaf. A powerful palate, filled with chocolate dipped blueberries, sage, dried purple flowers, lavender, and warmed baking spice, is carried on rigid yet poised tannins.

We encourage you to grab a glass if you ever make it to PRESSbut nothing will be more satisfying than popping this bottle straight out of your own cellar.