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Just south of Stag’s Leap, nestled in the Mt. George Foothills on the eastern side of Napa Alley, is Robert Craig’s volcanic, stony-soiled La Londe Vineyard. This is one of the important Cabernets in the winery’s portfolio, and arguably one of the important Cabernets of Napa, which is saying something considering Napa is the Cabernet capital of the U.S.

Bob Craig bought the winery that now bears his name in 1990, after a long and storied career in wine at The Hess Collection on Mount Veeder in the 1980s. A few years later, he released three Cabernets from the 1993 vintage, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Affinity. He still produces those three standard bearing Napa Cabs today.

The 2023 Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon is a game-changer for Robert Craig Winery. For the first time, this iconic Napa Cabernet is built from mountain vineyards, with fruit sourced from the steep slopes of Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Moon Mountain. These high-elevation sites have given the wine an intense concentration and freshness that’s hard to beat. The tiny, tight clusters grown at these altitudes bring a depth of flavor and structure, making this one of the most complex and exciting Affinity releases to date.

Robert Craig Winery has always been a place where quality comes first, and this 2023 vintage is a perfect example of that philosophy in action. With a cool start to the season and a lingering fall, this vintage had all the right conditions to let the wine’s dark floral aromas and deep, earthy character really shine. The 2023 Affinity is a reflection of the winery’s dedication to producing wines that feel both powerful and approachable—a perfect balance that makes it enjoyable now, yet age-worthy for the future.

Aging: 18 months French oak; 65% new. Unfiltered & unfined.

81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, and graphite, with hints of dark plum and minerality. On the palate, ripe dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry are balanced by firm tannins and a subtle touch of toasted oak. The wine’s structure and freshness reflect the high-elevation mountain vineyards, delivering a powerful yet supple finish with lingering earthy and graphite notes.

**NYR**

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