Aileron Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Alright…time for flight school. “Aileron” is that little wing that steers a plane. There. Back to the matter at hand. 95 POINTS! (Plus a totally solid 94-96 review from Jeb Dunnuck.) Oh BABY! In the realm of CULTY, NEW Cabernet Projects in our little valley – this tiny production of a single vineyard Atlas Peak cabernet sauvignon might be one of Napa’s best! From proprietor Shannon O’Shaughnessy – yes, as in the Howell Mountain stalwart for decades, O’Shaughnessy – comes the bound-to-fly Aileron Estates. They make one white, and one red, only a tiny amount of each, and like, super-duper rare. Seriously, I can only find two other shops in the USA that have this at the moment…and let’s just say…be glad you can get access to OUR PRICE! Seriously. 

Anywho. Forget about the 43% OFF for a second. Sure, an extra $76 in your pocket is cool, but I want to do that thing where I shamelessly name-drop for like two seconds. Maayan Koschitzky. Philippe Melka. Mike Wolf. BOOM! That’s two…TWO…nigh-on INFALLIBLE winemakers, with TONS of 100-point scores between them who turn out CULT NAPA CABS the way I turn out perfectly gooey grilled cheese sandwiches at midnight. And then there’s maybe the very best vineyard manager in Napa history (Harlan, Bond, Scarecrow, Vine Hill Ranch, Beckstoffer…and soooo many more,) Mike Wolf. I mean, c’mon! Talk about an embarrassment of riches! Ok, I gotta speed up… we don’t have much, and will sell out…QUICK! 

Deep, rich, TOASTY, and soooo entrancing…this just sucks you into the glass with alluring power and roasted chocolate and coffee sensations. Elegant blue fruits – some cassis, some blueberry – accompanied by lilacs and candied violets, too. That first sip is straight FIRE! Liquid cashmere, buttery smooth, with a powerful kirsch sensation, then blackberry jam, graphite, toasted black peppercorns, vanilla creme brulee…DANG! Wave after wave hits (apologies to all my SoCal peeps for the trigger), and this just radiates with a warm, elegant, comforting happiness at every turn. This just tastes…well, expensive! And normally…it is! But for the fastest among you? NOT TODAY! $76 below retail…go get it, CAB LOVERS!

** I was fortunate enough to taste early samples of this fruit when Shannon first acquired the vineyard. It was fantastic even then, long before Maayan and Philippe came on board…glad to see it’s tasting even better several years in!!! **