But when the team behind the bottle is Courtney Benham and 100-point star Keith Emerson, were scrambling to secure every bottle we can. Emerson told us the source for his 2019 Courtney Benham Rutherford Cab, but he was clear: We couldnt even name the farmer behind the siteit would give away too much.

So instead, well say this: Rutherford Cabernet with this winemaking and vineyard pedigreefrom a top vintage, no lessis a fantastic buy at the winerys $80 tariff. Thats the Courtney Benham M.O. At our best-in-the-nation $39 price, its one of the Cab deals of the year and a certain sell-out. Stock up while you can.

The grapes from this site are exactly what Benham and Emerson are searching for, but they only got enough to fill 16 barrels. Knowing where this comes from, it seems like a miracle they secured that muchRutherford Cabernet like this comes with a waiting list on the vineyard side as much as it does from the cult-caliber wineries it supplies.

In the stellar 2019 vintage, they waited until mid-October to pick the Cabernet, allowing it to get to luscious ripeness thats translated into velvety richness in the finished wine to match plenty of dark fruit on the palate and nose. Once the free-run juice drained and the grapes were pressed, they treated this to a luxurious 18-month stay in top-tier French oak, 45% of which was new for a polished sheen in the mouthfeel.

The Cab-lovers among usok, thats practically everyone in the officeare trying to put their names on full cases of this beauty. Given the jaw-dropping value, two cases might be in orderbut the orders have come from the top that our members get first dibs. Grab your cases before we can get our hands on it.