Ulysses Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2018

We tasted this recently at the Oakville Grower’s Association tasting, after fighting our way through the rest of the Napa Valley winemakers wanting to get a sample, and WHOA. Like so many of Christian’s Napa wines, this screams Bordeaux, Right Bank in this case, to our palates. From a cool part of the Oakville appellation (near Beckstoffer’s Missouri Hopper and Vine Hill Ranch), this is rich and creamy, but has an almost Pomerol-like sensibility to it – tightly wound, highly complex, with terrific balance and layered flavors that unfold over time. EPIC! And a perfect aging wine – this might outlive you...!

PAIRING IDEAS: We’d go with a simple seared, thick slice of sushi-grade tuna. A little salt and pepper is all you need, with a light salad to let the wine shine. THEN — a REALLY good cheese (Reblochon? Comte?), and crusty bread for after, as the wine opens and shines even more.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: We just can’t get enough of this wine, so why not vibe to “I Just Can’t Get Enough” by Depeche Mode.