Rubias 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet has all of the gravitas and sex appeal youd expect from that kind of provenance. Antonio Galloni agreed, calling it a boisterous, heady wine loaded with character and personality.

Fayards years working with Philippe Melka and consulting for top-tier wineries helped him cement relationships with A-list growers. Now, Fayards Rolodex includes the elite and the iconic, such as Beckstoffer To Kalon, Missouri Hopper, Georges III, and Sugarloaf. He works with the best terroir and nothing less, no matter who hes consulting for.

The structured, bright, Howell Mountain portion of this Cabernet comes from Olivian, a 1-acre postage stamp of a vineyard near CADE, and the rich, heady Calistoga personality comes from Jones Family, a vineyard planted by superstar David Abreu, once owned by the Araujos, and managed by the highly regarded Jim Barbour. Both sites are as good as it gets.

While his California consulting work has unlocked some incredible sources, Fayards winemaking philosophy follows the lessons he learned during his time working at Chteau Lafite-Rothschild and Chteau Smith Haut Lafitte: hyper-focused attention to detail and restraint in the cellar. In his hands, this 2019 is simply flawless, with an intense array of aromas including cracked graphite, ripe black cherries, fresh vanilla compote, rose petals, licorice, and layers of exotic spices. The wine is a knockout. Each bottle in your case will develop beautifully for a decade or more.