When the Wine Team attended the James Suckling Great Wines of the World Tasting in San Francisco, massive lines naturally formed for Napa’s most iconic Cabernet giants like Beaulieu, Beringer, Quintessa, and Schrader. Yet, the true insiders gravitated toward an unbelievable find perched high along the Mayacamas Mountain Range overlooking Sonoma Valley: the 2023 Far Mountain Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon.

This captivating release marks a monumental intersection of a historic grand cru site and an emerging powerhouse winemaking team. Originally planted in the 1880s, the fabled Monte Rosso Vineyard boasts a serious pedigree of 80+ year-old Cabernet vines. Harnessing this ancient raw material is the Chilean dynamic duo of Mai Errazuriz—born into 150 years of South American winemaking royalty—and head winemaker Rodrigo Soto, a renowned pioneer of organic viticulture who formerly directed Quintessa. Their meteoric rise earned them the ultimate accolade from Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media, who named Far Mountain his "Emerging Producer to Watch" as part of the Year in Review 2025 and anointed this spectacular 2023 with a towering 97-point score, backed by a stellar 96 points from James Suckling.

Tasting Note

This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby and fills the room with intense aromas of crushed blackberries, cassis, iron ore, and fresh mountain sage. The palate is brilliantly chiseled and explosive, driving compact layers of dark blue fruit, damp earth, and graphite across a bed of powerful, finely pixelated tannins. It delivers a classical, perfectly balanced profile reminiscent of the great 1970s and 1980s California Cabernets, echoing the structured mountain signatures of Randy Dunn’s Howell Mountain estate and the iconic volcanic soils of Diamond Creek's Volcanic Hill. It turns gorgeous and voluptuous after a 60 to 90-minute decant, but remains poised to cellar beautifully for another 10 to 12 years.

Critical Acclaim:

97 Points, Vinous Media:

“The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Rosso is superb. Black-toned fruit, graphite, spice, lavender and chocolate are all amplified. Time in the glass opens the layers in an effortless, captivating Cabernet Sauvignon of the highest level. This potent, explosive wine delivers the goods, and then some. It's a stunning, riveting wine from Mai Errazuriz and Rodrigo Soto. Don't miss it.” - Antonio Galloni, February 2026

96 Points, James Suckling:

“There’s so much perfume and fresh fruit purity, with aromas of purple flowers, dried herbs, graphite and exotic spices. The palate is so refined and pure, with a core of fruit that flows across the palate, mouthwatering tannins and bright acidity that leads to a harmonious finish. This is such a pure and complete wine. Delicious. Drink or hold.”