Wed taken it in stride when hed taken a thirty-minute detour to a Napa taco truck hed heard might be serving its last lengua burritos. One time, wed waited while he spent 40 minutes trailing a guy he was positive was the actor Chris Cooper (it wasnt).

But a straight-up no-show in the late morning? With no call, no text? If hes not here in another 20 minutes, we thought, we should consider starting to worry. But as we warmed up our coffee and dug back into the Sunday paper, Halpin breezed in.

Contrary to what Id like my creditors to believe, he said, settling in at our table, pulling off his dark glasses and putting down his dark roast. I have not expired. In fact, I happen to be inspired!

Halpin was in the precise condition we expected the morning after the WineaPAWlooza auction: raspy voice, five oclock shadow, untucked Hamilton shirt, and a seersucker jacket that looked like he used it as a pillow. We asked whether the night was as good as his appearance suggested.

Better, he said as he took a loud slurp. Then he smiled and produced from his inside jacket pocket a clear 375ml bottle of deep red wine. This is straight from the barrel of an estate you wouldnt freaking believe. So it was much, much better.

WineaPAWlooza is rife with winemaking talent: If youre there and not chatting with at least one 100-point winemaker, you must be trying to avoid them. Halpins in his element at such events, and it turns out he spent the waning hours of the evening sipping Montrachet with the vintner of one of the most decorated wineries on the North Coast.

He let slip that he had a few barrels grown mainly on his two prime sites in east Oakville, Halpin told us. You know the spots. EVERYBODY knows the spots. The guy wasnt even supposed to tell me, but it was a long night, and you know, in vino veritas. Anyway, he offered to Uber me to the winery and taste me on it then, but it was one in the morning and my palate was shot. So we met up this morning, which is why I was late even for me.

Halpin couldnt wait to taste us on the juice, so we walked the block from Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co. to Angle to prime our palates with a burger. He poured the wine, we inhaled the elegant, plush aromas, and as soon as our burgers arrived and we downed a few bites, we tasted. From the first sip, the wine is elegant, full-bodied, and well-balanced. Juicy acidity is backed by ripe, firm tannins and densely layered flavors of fresh blackberries, cassis, black currants, blueberries, a touch of pepper, and dark chocolate.

It conjured thoughts of the great sites of Napa Valley, and even knowing Halpins M.O.grabbing a deal on wine that should cost $100+, bottling it at more than half offwe still overshot on the price. Our guess was $55, and Halpin said he could do better. Much better.

Today, weve got this NDA-locked Napa Valley stunner for you at just $35. Five bottles ship free, and the price dips down to $32 when you buy eight bottles or more.