2023 Typhon Estates 'Ignis' Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak

Typhon Estates isn’t just another name in Napa—it’s a multigenerational legacy rooted in the rugged slopes of Oakville and Atlas Peak.

It emerged in the 2010s as a boutique Napa Valley label from the Bartlett family, channeling decades of regional heritage into focused mountain Cabernet.

Up here, in vineyards carved from boulder-strewn volcanic soils, the Bartlett family has spent decades proving that greatness comes from refusing to take shortcuts. Everything about Typhon is shaped by place: the wild elevation of Atlas Peak, the perfect climate of Oakville, the family’s treasured heritage, and a team whose guiding principle is simple—make the best possible wine.

And then there’s the secret weapon: winemaker Chad Alexander. You might know him from our Dolum releases, but his story runs deep—starting at Hess when he was too young to even taste the wine, followed by years crafting elite Napa Cabs at Robert Craig.

Typhon is his passion project, and it shows.

Their 'Ignis' — Latin for fire, a nod to the volcanic origin of the Atlas Peak soils — is the estate's flagship expression of the appellation. Winemaker C. Alexander employs wild fermentation and assembles the wine from small-lot ferments timed individually, waiting until each component is ready before committing to the final blend. The result is a wine with genuine site character: precise, structured, and distinctly not trying to be anything other than what Atlas Peak produces best.

The 2023 Napa Valley vintage isn’t just another great year – it’s the year that will be etched in history. Wine experts are calling it "the vintage of a lifetime," and for good reason. The perfect blend of cool temperatures, morning fog, and balanced sunlight created conditions so exceptional that they’re being compared to Bordeaux's iconic 1961 vintage. As The Wine Independent put it, 2023 is "a winemaker's dream in terms of wine style." Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil calls it "one of the most phenomenal vintages ever in Napa Valley." This is Napa at its finest, with wines of depth, power, and elegance that will be the talk of the wine world for decades to come.