🏷️ Lot Overview
Region: Spring Mountain District (Napa Valley)
Vintage: 2023
Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot
ChatGPT Original Source Guess: Probable candidate: Cornell Vineyards
Wine Berserkers Guess: Bergmann Proprietary Red
Alcohol: 15.0%
Oak Aging: ~80% new French oak
Cam Price: $20.75 ($249/case)
Retail Estimate: $300+
Drink Window: 2027–2042+
🍷 Cameron’s Release Notes
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Ladies and gents, from the minute I tasted this wine back in May, I knew I needed to have it. But, alas, it seemed we were too far apart on price and, given the market, I decided to wait. A couple of months later, I got the call and the deal was on. We just got this into the barn a couple weeks ago and it is SPECTACULAR!
Ethereal and otherworldly, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot features an intensely fresh and energetic bouquet, incredible structural depth and dimension with a silky, concentrated, beautifully intense and vibrant core of fruit. Super precise, ripe, powerful and exquisitely balanced, this wine will absolutely knock your socks off!
There is not a lot I can tell you about this producer, just know the pedigree here is world class and when I tell you no expense was spared in the production of this wine, I mean absolutely no expense.
Tasting Notes
Folks, I don’t know what to tell you. The 2023’s just keep on coming and, man, am I getting my hands on the good stuff!
Lot 27 2023 Spring Mountain District Proprietor’s Red hails from a relatively new project up on Spring Mountain. From the viticulturist who planted the vines, to the consulting winemaker who makes the wine, to the ~80% new French oak deployed, absolutely no expense was spared in any aspect of this production.
What would you expect from a wine that sells for well-over $250+ per bottle and has recently scored consistent 96- to 98-point scores from major critics for the 2021 and even the difficult 2022 vintage.
That is precisely what I have for you today, and from the epic 2023 vintage to boot!
Ethereal and otherworldly, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot features an intensely fresh and energetic bouquet, incredible structural depth and dimension with a silky, concentrated, beautifully intense and vibrant core of fruit. Super precise, ripe, powerful and exquisitely balanced, this wine will absolutely knock your socks off!
Dark in the glass with an opaque core and deep garnet rim. Killer bouquet of spring flowers and wild herbs swims with black raspberry, blackcurrant, cinnamon spice and a cocoa underpinning. With air, blueberry and plum notes mingle with red rock dust and notes of forest floor. Exquisite, precise, pure. Supple entry is nevertheless robust and chewy with vibrant cherry and black currant layered with loads of red-rock dusted, minerally tannins that make for a long, sustained finish with tremendous complexity. The cherry and blackcurrant conspire seamlessly to give the overall impression of vibrant “purpleness” (you’ll see what I mean when you taste it). Fantastic structure, exquisite balance and tremendous precision! Be sure to give this wine a good couple of years before opening!
100% Spring Mountain
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot
~80% new French oak
15% alc.
~400 cases produced
🧠ChatGPT says:
🔍 Source Guess: Cornell Vineyards (Alt: Barnett Vineyards or Keenan Winery)
🎯 Rationale:
- Pedigree & Scores: The “new project” language plus $250+ pricing and recent 96–98pt scores matches Cornell Vineyards’ profile — they’ve emerged in the last decade as a top Spring Mountain producer with limited distribution and ultra-premium pricing.
- Winemaking Style: Precision, purity, vibrant fruit, and “purpleness” aligns with Cornell’s structured yet aromatic approach. They employ top consultants and heavy French oak, consistent with the ~80% new oak here.
- Vineyard Source: Spring Mountain location and world-class viticulturist/winemaker collaboration narrow the field to a handful of small estates. Barnett and Keenan also fit but skew slightly less expensive.
- Alt Guess – Barnett Vineyards: Known for structured, perfumed Spring Mountain reds, though typically $80–$120 rather than $250+. Possible if this is from a special reserve tier.
⏳ Drink Window
- Earliest Opening: 2027 (needs time to unwind dense mountain tannins)
- Peak Drinking: 2029–2038 (when fruit, oak, and structure knit into harmony)
- Hold Potential: Through 2042+ (built for long cellaring with great vintage + structure)
⏳ Drink Window: 2027–2042+ (peak 2029–2038)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑🍷 Wine Berserkers Guess: Bergmann Proprietary Red