Although it’s taken a substantial amount of time—one year and eight months to be exact—Napa Wine Co has returned with what’s bound to be yet another monumental offer! Today, we’re in possession of the final 15 cases of their breathtakingly classic 1998 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine produced by grape-growing pioneers and aged in complete darkness without movement since it was bottled 20 years ago.
Somewhat of an undercover superstar, Napa Wine Company is a deeply influential operation that’s (1) continuously farmed and sold organic grapes for 117 consecutive years, and (2) provided a space at their custom crush facility for eager winemakers over the last few decades. Accordingly, they’ve given life to a number of start-up labels, many of which have blossomed into international sensations commanding triple-digit prices: In 1997, three of
Wine Spectator’s “Top Ten Wines of the Year” were produced at Napa Wine Company! Ask any prominent winemaker in the valley and they’ll know someone who does/has done business with this storied enterprise, but only a few will have tasted their incredibly special, small-production library releases. Here’s why: In 1998, instead of selling off their entire crop, Napa Wine Co decided to hold back a scant percentage and craft their own bottling, making this a rare look into what naturally farmed, ultra-classic Napa Cabernet tastes like when fully formed and realized. They crafted fewer than 10 vintages before halting production and starting a new label, and you won’t find this retailing anywhere else ( this is all that’s left!), so today is your one and only shot. Along with the ‘96 we offered back in early 2019, these mature Cabernets are perhaps the greatest price-to-quality you’ll ever see from Napa. Don’t miss out!
Although Napa Wine Co has launched new brands (Ghost Block, most notably) and undergone expansion and administrative changes, their deep-reaching roots remain largely unchanged. As of today, the Napa Wine Company is the only remaining single-digit bonded winery in all of California—just let that sink in for a moment! What’s more, they are still family-owned, they still lend their crush facility to burgeoning winemakers, and they still farm every acre of their cherished Oakville and Yountville vines organically.
And then there’s the origin of this family, which begins like something out of a fairytale. In 1902, Joseph Pelissa left Liguria, Italy and emigrated to San Francisco. Shortly after, Joseph purchased 35 acres of land in Calistoga with a $10 gold coin, thus starting the grape-growing legacy that still thrives today. It was Joseph’s great-grandson, Andrew Hoxsey, who massively expanded vineyard acquisitions and ultimately helped facilitate the purchase of Napa Wine Company (est. 1877) in 1993. Andy, along with the Pelissa family, then began a complete renovation in order to establish the custom crush facility that is currently operating today. After speaking in-depth with Andrew (Andy) Hoxsey and his daughter last year, it was immediately clear the man is an encyclopedia brimming with decades of farm experience. He’s walked every row, dirtied his fingernails, and studied every aspect of biodiversity, organics, and viticulture to ensure his crop is always of the utmost quality. If we hadn’t been limited on time, we would’ve listened to him tell stories into the early hours of the morning.
For today’s 1998 bottling, a tiny percentage of their organic Cabernet crop from the highly sought-after “Rock Cairn” vineyard in Oakville was set aside for their own personal bottling. Under the expert guidance of longtime winemaker Randy Mason, the wine was raised in a combination of new and used oak for approximately 20 months. Upon release, these wines flew out of their cellar, but they wisely held onto a small portion for further cellaring. Today’s offer represents the very last of that tranche, and it hasn’t moved from their cellars since bottling. We must reiterate: Since launching their Ghost Block label in 2006, there are no more of these old ‘Napa Wine Company’ bottles on the market—this is your only chance to secure today’s vinous relic!
This wine hasn’t been disturbed for over two decades, and that perfect preservation shows upon tasting it. While the color does indicate its maturity, the nose and palate is everything we want from Napa’s finest Cabernets made in the classic ‘70s-‘80s style. A style, of course, that resulted in global recognition and enduring fame. After gently extracting the cork on today’s 1998 single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and serving in large Bordeaux stems, allow the wine to open up for 5-10 minutes before diving in. With just a bit of air, it begins releasing some profoundly classic notes of dried cherry, currants, plum skin, licorice, vintage leather, cedar, wet stone, damp earth, cigar wrapper, cloves, bay leaf, loose tobacco, and various other baking spices. It’s the epitome of cool-vintage, elegant Napa Cabernet that reads like high-end Bordeaux. The palate is graceful and expansive, unfolding with layers of dried forest fruit and crushed earth minerality that leaves a deep, lasting imprint. This is what you want, but oftentimes don’t get, from mature Cabernet Sauvignon. And to think you can taste a perfect example for under $100? This is one for the books! Enjoy over an evening and store your remaining bottles in a dark, cool place for consumption over the next 2-5 years. Cheers!
