+1 vouch for DanielP
I’ve had a few different champagnes since this note, and wow. The NV M Brugnon gives such structure and prominence with bread/toast flavors that are otherwise absent in this price range. I’m seriously impressed–even picked up a couple more bottles, as well as the 2015 and the Rose.
Steve, what do you think?
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Any thoughts on source for Kinfolk?
Napa Luxury, No Jacket Required
The 2019 Kinfolk Red Blend is among the biggest bombshell deals to slip out of California’s blue-chip category this year.
Crafted by two of the best-connected winemakers in Napa—Britt Nichols (a Philippe Melka protégée) and her husband Ry Richards (colleague to 100-point powerhouse Phil Titus at Chappellet)—today’s wine is a hush-hush trade secret, available exclusively to Wine Access members.
We accessed a historic vineyard site whose releases usually cost $120 per bottle, and came away with a once-in-a-blue-moon Napa red bargain. Just $27 on bottle one and $23 on cases for a wine that channels the “morning side” of Howell Mountain, where the high elevation and peals of sunlight endow grapes with broad shoulders, phenomenal density, and an age-worthy backbone. It’s a deal that redefines Napa luxury.
Our Kinfolk range takes its name from the fact that these are wines typically shared only within the most intimate circles of industry insiders. Today’s Red Blend, sourced from an estate that James Suckling included on his 2016 Top 100 Reds of Napa Valley, epitomizes that approach: You will never see this wine on a store shelf, or even a wine list.
In 2019, this estate experienced one of the greatest harvests in its history. The vintage—“stunning…the likes of which I have never seen” raved Antonio Galloni of Vinous—pushed many mountain wines to a level of uncommon richness.
During 2019’s miracle growing season, the eastern exposure of the vineyards and the warm afternoon winds resulted in the kind of plump Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon that would put a smile on the face of a Rothschild.
“When a vintage gets this much hype, cellar doors start closing and prices start jacking up,” Britt told us. “There’s a gold-rush mentality. People go nuts.” But she and Ry remained level-headed, worked their connections, and ultimately convinced the powerhouse producer behind this wine to give them the deal that everyone wanted.
They came away with around 100 cases worth of wine that typically would never see the light of day, especially in a year as anticipated as this one. That means Wine Access members drink like a Napa kingpin at 1/5 the usual price—with the producer’s name being the only thing that fell out of the deal. That’s a concession worth making when the grapes are this spectacular.
While this estate typically blends with a decade or two of aging in mind, Britt and Ry selected and pieced together lots that emphasized the high-spiritedness, raw power, and modernistic flash of the vintage. After a year and half in oak barrels, this is the kind of high-touch Napa red that belongs on the Michelin-starred circuit. Thanks to this exclusive partnership, you can enjoy it at home—no jacket or white linen tablecloth required.
Just curious, did this come in the shipment with the wine or a separate shipment? I just received a case of the 1998 Musar without the Ah So. Didn’t want to go out and buy one if they were shipped separately.
I believe they sent it in a separate shipment.
I know previously the Ah-So were sent separately (small white padded envelope).
I never got an Ah-So either but I already have Durand which I highly recommend to everyone.
Totally agree. Very pleasant surprise and I, too, went back for more.
I bit on the 2016 Conti Costanti Brunello . . . with volume discount, free shipping and coupon, came to about $62 per bottle, significant savings for something I have been shopping around for.
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Hadn’t seen that one yet - too good to pass up, thanks!
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Heads up WineAccess just shipped me a case and it will arrive in 98 degrees weather. Their explanation is temp controlled facilities and temp controlled trucks until the final leg. The final leg is packed with ice… They said it could hold at the destination until cooler weather,I just asked if I could pick it up from their facility.
Any thoughts on the Brainchild offer?
FWIW I’ve received shipments from them in the summer and it’s been totally fine. Bottles arrive still cold due to the cold pack.
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The 2019 Moundsman sure sounds like Schrader.
I think someone brought this up a while back, but what’s the thought behind why their NDA cabs often have such short recommended drinking windows relative to the supposed quality of the source material? Like $200 quality grapes (I know they’re not actually that) but drink the 2019 by 2026? Doesn’t make much sense
My theory is these are grapes that didn’t make it into the labeled bottles because they just aren’t quite as good. Also, different winemakers.
Yeah I think that’s definitely the case, but a) I’d think even a pretty solid (if not elite) cab should have a longer drinking window and b) WineAccess could easily just say drink through 2030 or whatever to enhance the overall storytelling that this is super premium cab, not like anyone is going to call them in 2029 to complain!
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Yah, I think the drinking window is BS and prob not even well thought out. Not sure I’ve ever seen them have a 20-25 year window for an NDA wine out of the 100 they have sold. Clearly at least one of them would!
They want buyers to drink faster and earlier so they would buy more. Lol
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First reviews look great…damit didnt bite…They usually come back so I signed up for the notice. Looks like I will jump if it comes back.
CHOPPERWINE LIKES THIS WINE: 92 points
When I first tried the 2018 Echoes, I wrote sarcastically, " “Echoes in the Canyon?” More like “Gurgles from the Barrel.” I still won’t touch the 2018 because I am betting it is still as young and “maple syrup” thick. BUT, BUT, BUT … the 2019 is something way different. While 2019 is an Oakville Napa Valley, the 2018 is a red blend. Right out of the bottle it is juicy and delicious. Yum. Super dark in color, but it has the perfect viscosity. Sleepyhaus called it right - “Rich dark fruits and chocolate on the nose and palate.” Time will be kind (I hope) to this Cab blend tasting treat. More to follow…