S by Signorello Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Signorello – like a phoenix from the ashes, they have risen! After the devastating 2017 Napa fires burned the winery down, the Signorello brand has come back stronger than ever! This 92 POINT cabernet sauvignon – made from fruit on Howell Mountain, from Rutherford Bench, and Saint Helena – is a great sign of things to come...especially at our BEST anywhere price!

No one anywhere could have blamed Signorello for closing up shop in the wake of the horrendous 2017 Atlas Peak Fire. The burning edifice of their winery became the iconic image used by media outlets around the globe, and while many others suffered damage...theirs was total and complete. But Ray Signorello vowed to rebuild and come back stronger than ever. Construction is ongoing, now six years later, but fantastic, hope-giving wines have been crafted, Steve Matthiason viticulture, a top-notch winemaking team: Priyanka French and another rockstar winemaker’s name has been tied to the project. The future is bright, indeed!!

This miraculous 2019 “S” cabernet sauvignon – sourced from three pristine vineyard sites in the northern reaches of Napa Valley - is a completely solid effort that surely falls in line with the best under $100 Napa Valley cabs available. But at our exemplary $70 a bottle – this becomes something else entirely... a can’t-miss, top-value cabernet sauvignon that seriously (and tremendously) overdelivers!

Sylvan Lake Vineyard is a hidden gem on Howell Mountain – not to mention a new focal point for rockstar winemaker, Celia Welch, now that she has shuttered her personal label, Corra. The vines were only planted in 2014, but this is a property to watch (Signorello got access because of their own association with Celia). A pocket of warmth, coupled with volcanic soils and plenty of stress, makes this a perfect backbone, beautifully fleshed out by prestigious and plump cabernet sauvignon from the historic Chaix Vineyard in Rutherford. From there, the final core is augmented by Saint Helena’s Solares Vineyard – tucked in the valley center near the Aurajo family’s Wheeler Farms.

A blend of 91% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, and 2% petit verdot, this sumptuous and round cabernet sauvignon showcases all of the flair one might desire in Napa cab – with inky berry notes, dustings of shaved chocolate, ripe plums, toasty oak spices, and a creamy, long finish. The wine is big, yet approachable, savory but not animalistic, and the sweet fruit sensations are pristinely harnessed by a juicy and soft acidity. Not a rough edge to be found, with plenty of promise for development over the next several years! This is a cabernet to pour and enjoy amicably and freely – but first, you gotta get some! At First Bottle’s spectacular price of only $70 – this 92 POINT stunner is sure to vanish quickly!

PAIRING IDEAS: This is a new go-to for me with my weekly burger indulgence. I went for a house-made thick burger here, with caramelized onions, a confit garlic aioli, and blue cheese crumbles that I broiled on the bun. A finish of my special balsamic glaze, and this was a winter treat that was perfect for a big, rich, and layered cabernet.