BigHammerWines.com

Lewis Cellars is Napa royalty. Founded in 1992 by former IndyCar driver Randy Lewis and his wife Debbie, the family winery built its reputation on a simple idea: make wines that are unapologetically bold, deeply expressive, and worthy of the best table in the house. Over three decades, they've become one of the most respected names in the valley, earning a cult following for their Cabernet, Syrah, and Chardonnay - with multiple Wine Spectator Top 100 placements along the way.

The Big Blend is Lewis Cellars at their most playful and powerful. Unlike most Napa blends that lean on Cabernet Sauvignon, this one is anchored by Syrah - which gives it a whole different personality. Think less black-tie Cabernet and more leather-jacket red: darker, spicier, more hedonistic.

The 2022 is built from 48% Syrah, 21% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petite Sirah. It's the only wine in the Lewis portfolio aged in both French and American oak (19 months total, 90/10 split, 75% new), and that combination is what gives The Big Blend its signature richness - French oak for structure and spice, American oak for that chocolatey, vanilla-kissed roundness.

If you love big, full-throttle Napa reds - the kind that fill the glass and the room - this is exactly that.

Chocolate, ripe kirsch-infused cherry, brisket-like smoke, and dark earth all show up on the palate with serious concentration; it's unapologetically bold, but the structure keeps it in balance.