ot 78 is an Oak Knoll District Cabernet Franc from Materra/Cunat Family Vineyards, made by Chelsea Barrett — daughter of the legendary Heidi Peterson Barrett — described as a homage flagship wine from west side Mount Veeder alluvial soils. Claude’s source guess is Materra/Cunat Family Vineyards, Chelsea Barrett winemaker.
Lot Overview
- Region: Napa Valley — Oak Knoll District (west side, base of Mount Veeder)
- Vintage: 2024
- Varietal: 98% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
- Oak Aging: ~55% new French oak
- Alcohol: 14.9%
- TA / pH: 5.34 g/L TA, 3.75 pH
- Cases Available: ~155
- Cam Price: ~$14/bottle ($169/case)
- Retail Estimate: $100+/bottle
- Claude’s Source Guess: Materra / Cunat Family Vineyards — flagship Cab Franc, winemaker Chelsea Barrett
- Wine Berserkers Guess:
- Drink Window: 2026–2035 (peak 2028–2033)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Dear Friends,
I have a fantastic Cabernet Franc offer for you today!
Lot 78 is a gorgeous, estate-grown Oak Knoll District Cabernet Franc from a highly regarded producer with a long history of producing exceptional wines from this iconic appellation. The producer sells this wine for well over $100/bottle and it is a fantastic deal at $149/case DELIVERED.
At just $149/case DELIVERED, this is a mind-blowing deal for world-class Oak Knoll District Cabernet Franc!
Tasting Notes
Lot 78 is a gorgeous, estate-grown Oak Knoll District Cabernet Franc from a highly regarded producer with a long history of producing exceptional wines from this iconic appellation. The producer sells this wine for well over $100/bottle and it is a fantastic deal at $149/case DELIVERED.
Deep ruby/purple in the glass with an opaque core. The bouquet is immediately expressive and complex with ripe blackberry, cassis and plum notes beautifully complexed with graphite, cedar and tobacco. With air, the bouquet opens further with spicy oak and floral notes along with a lovely mineral halo. Rich and powerful on entry with a beautifully integrated structure of full-bodied Cabernet Franc with mouthwatering acidity carrying ripe blackberry and cassis fruit laced with graphite and cedar to a long, sustained finish. Beautifully balanced with tremendous elegance and complexity, this gorgeous Oak Knoll District Cabernet Franc is a must-have for Cabernet Franc lovers!
⏳ Bottle Shock Status
2024 vintage, recently bottled. Allow 30–60 days. Approachable on arrival given the generous 2024 structure but will reward patience.
Claude’s Source Guess: Materra / Cunat Family Vineyards — Chelsea Barrett, winemaker
The identity clue here is one of Cam’s most revealing: a winemaker who is the daughter of two of Napa’s legendary winemakers, running an Oak Knoll estate program. That description points unmistakably to Chelsea Barrett — daughter of Heidi Peterson Barrett (Screaming Eagle, La Sirena, Fantesca) and Bo Barrett (Chateau Montelena), and granddaughter of Dick Peterson. As a winemaking dynasty, the Barrett family has no peer in Napa Valley. Chelsea joined Materra / Cunat Family Vineyards as winemaker in 2018–2019 and has elevated the program considerably since.
Materra’s estate is centered on the Oak Knoll District, and the Cunat family has expanded their holdings to include multiple Oak Knoll parcels. Cam specifically distinguishes the west-side parcel at the base of Mount Veeder from the main estate on the east side — consistent with Materra’s expanded acreage in different Oak Knoll micro-zones. The gravelly west side alluvials at Mount Veeder’s base produce a cooler, more structured character than the flatter east-side valley floor soils, which explains the precision and power combination Cam describes.
The “homage” bottling description and “no-expense-spared” language suggests this is a newer, higher-tier Cab Franc produced by Chelsea as a personal statement wine — above their existing Midnight and Right Bank blends, which sell in the $40–75 range. At $100+ this would be Materra’s most ambitious red program to date, which fits Cam’s framing of inventory right-sizing at a winery building its premium tier.
One additional note: the WB thread on Lot 78 shows Cam edited his release email after posting, changing “daughter” to “child” — a classic Cam redaction when a clue gets too close to identifying the producer. That change itself is a near-confirmation of the guess.
✅ Confidence: High — the winemaker pedigree clue is exceptionally specific and the Oak Knoll estate geography matches Materra precisely. The “homage” language and $100+ tier are consistent with Chelsea Barrett launching a flagship Cab Franc program.
Drink Window
Early: 2026 — Cab Franc from this site is more accessible young than a mountain Cab Sauvignon.
Peak: 2028–2033. The west-side Mount Veeder alluvials and 55% new oak give this structure to develop over 4–8 years.
Hold: 2035. The moderate TA (5.34 g/L) is lower than some of the blockbuster reds in this series, suggesting a mid-term rather than marathon cellar candidate.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: 2026–2035 (peak 2028–2033)