2013 Brookman Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Let me introduce you to Gary Brookman, owner of Brookman Winery, and the legendary winemaker who played a crucial role in planting the Stagecoach vineyard, along with Dr. Jan Krupp.

“Dr. Jan Krupp is a former internist who sold his practice in 1998 to pursue his dream of creating a great vineyard to rival that of Chateau Margaux and Ridge Montebello.” And guess what? He did it. He created the Stagecoach vineyard, a place that has become the go-to source of top-quality fruit for many prestigious wineries. Just think about it - Caymus, Paul Hobbs, Miner, Alpha Omega, Chappellet, Pride, Pahlmeyer, Palmaz... these are the big players, the crème de la crème, and they all source their fruit from the Stagecoach vineyard. And let me tell you, these wines don't come cheap. Most of them go for well over $100 per bottle.

For those who don’t know, the Stagecoach vineyard is simply iconic. Trust me when I say this place is like no other vineyard I've ever experienced; it's tucked away in a remote, off-the-grid location, giving it an air of mystery and adventure.

Now, here's where things get interesting. A significant portion of the Brookman Cabernet comes straight from Stagecoach, and once you taste it, you’ll understand what’s all the fuss is surrounding this celebrated vineyard. These are the type of wines that remind me why I love wine so much.

You see, Gary is more than just a talented winemaker - he's a true visionary. In fact, he was the largest buyer of the Stagecoach vineyard fruit when he spent over 25 years crafting the wines of Miner, and also during his trajectory in Grace Family. (by the way, those wines fetch prices of up to $200 per bottle…talk about winemaking skills!) 

And the vintage? Well, that's one for the books. It was awarded 98+ points by Vinous Media, who said: " A once-in-a-generation, modern-day classic for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky, vibrant, and structured, the wines possess remarkable concentration, with bright acidity and powerful tannins to back it all up. This is a vintage where the extremely high level of quality has raised all boats. Simply put, the 2013 Napa Cabernets are some of the most profound, riveting, young wines I have tasted anywhere in the world. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2013s are likely to age at a glacial pace."

22 Months, 50% New French Oak