We scooped up another fabulous Cabernet from them. Slightly more of this one, so hopefully it lasts more than a few hours. That said, don’t be surprised when it goes the way of the Dodo…

This one too is a single vineyard (although missing from the label for reasons we’ll go over). It hails from the superb 2018 vintage and deserves to be on a pedestal with some of the big shot Napa Cabs that cost 3-4x as much. Or maybe those wines deserve to be 3-4 cheaper…hmmm, makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

No matter, whichever way you look at it, packed with MAMMOTH value and that’s what you come here for, isn’t it?

Winemaker/proprietor Robin Akhurst has quite the resume behind him. He learned the ropes at some pretty big names - Domaine Leflaive, Two Hands, and Outpost. He worked with Thomas Rivers Brown and Nils Venge. Then a stint at Carter Cellars in 2009, and as winemaker at Envy for five years before he started at Apsara. Oh, he also makes Swanson and Clos Pegase, by the way!

Now, about that missing vineyard on the label. We learned something special about the source.

The fruit comes from the same vineyard Cliff Lede uses for their Calistoga Estate Cabernet ($100 per bottle!). Although apparently, a non-disclosure prevented Apsara from using that on the label. This is prime time, grade AAA fruit!

Compared to the 2015, it’s almost equally delightful, if not slightly larger in stature with a youthful structure. A deep core of black fruit, earth, minerality, and brawny tannins come forth. Once it sheds the youth in a couple of months, an exquisitely balanced, silky red will emerge, when you can sneak this into any cult 2018 Cab lineup to elicit many “oohs” and “aahs” and “dammmmmn that’s good”. And nobody needs to know what you paid. Pedigreed, classy Napa juice - for a song - there you have it.

Apsara is the epitome of a local’s only find. A tiny production (500 cases TOTAL) winery, making some dead-serious juice and turning it out for a price that’s plain silly. You’ll understand the moment it hits your lips

There’s a tad more of this one, which is not saying much, probably not enough to satiate the thirsty Ops out there again. Déjà vu?! Did you load your Lockers up?