2023 Montagu 'The Baron' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

“…with bold freshness to frame the muscular black fruit…” – The Wine Independent

That quote by Master of Wine Lisa Perrotti-Brown sure describes The Baron before us, but it may as well describe the consulting winemaker behind it, whom we know oh so well… Russell Bevan… THE Baron of All!

And you say a Cab by Bevan for how much a bottle today?!

Cabernet people! Lend me your…tongues? That sounds weird. Bards we are not. But our love for a good Napa Cab deal is as deep as the boundless sea. And when it’s this good, carrying a near 70% OFF, with 94 points and over $100 off?!

Montagu has returned after a 3-year hiatus with a high-ranking Cab of the finest quality at a price for the people. Owner and winemaker Weston Eidson traversed from Chile, South Africa, Bordeaux, and Veneto before he returned stateside and opened shop in 2012. He linked up with 100-point powerhouse Russell Bevan, and Jason Moore of the infamous Modus Operandi (also plenty of his own 97-99 point scores). With his ascension into winemaking complete, he turned to his own brands, Silver Ghost and Montagu. And he takes a similarly forward, full-throttle, polished approach as his mentors.

Plus, he always seems to get access to some of the best vineyards - Ritchie for his Chardonnay, Charles Heintz for his Pinot, and various sources in Rutherford and Oakville for his Cabernets. While the label is clearly stating Napa Valley, the secret communique reveals that it’s entirely from Oakville this vintage, from a vineyard(s) under strict NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Which means only one thing with a Russell Bevan wine, they are too famous to reveal even for a $150 retail release… but especially when offered at this price!

In the glass, it’s LUSH and SUCCULENT and densely layered with chewy black fruit, savory smoked spices, and laced with minerality. Not for the shy, it comes pumped full of blackberry and black plum, fig and black cherry, with spicy oak notes of cinnamon, clove, and black pepper, with earthy tones of forest duff, rhubarb, and some kind of soy-glazed mushrooms or other umami thing going on. Terrific stuff, and while it’s drinking wonderfully now, it can certainly improve with time.

One final note - Weston doesn’t bottle much of ANY of his gems; what little we have of this will likely not last the day. Act quickly!

94 Points – The Wine Independent “The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon The Baron is made from 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of fresh black currants, kirsch, and mulberries, plus nuances of cedar chest, tar, clove oil, and wet slate. Full-bodied, the palate delivers a firm line of grainy tannins with bold freshness to frame the muscular black fruit, finishing long and cedary. Drink 2026-2042.”