“An impressive discovery for me… a full-bodied, exuberant effort with good texture, lots of purity, depth and richness as well as terrific overall balance.” - Robert Parker, 2010

Today we have a HYPER EXTREME W for all you Napa Cab hounds.

A beauty (from 2019 and Rutherford no less) at well over HALF OFF. In case you’re wondering - no, you didn’t quantum jump into a parallel timeline where Rutherford Cabs sell for $49. It’s normally $95 at the winery. Just your standard, reality-defying, $50-savings Wine Spies offer.

We’ve been trying to get wine from these guys for two years and finally, it happened. Fiftyrow is a small project run by Paul Johnson and 100-point winemaker Gary Galleron (of Vineyard 29, Grace Family, Whitehall Lane, Chateau Montelena, Hartwell, Del Dotto, and Seavey fame). That’s a serious resume and this wine is a testament to his skills as a veteran in Napa Valley.

Alice Block is a tiny plot originally planted by Alice Galleron, off of you guessed it, Galleron Lane in the heart of Rutherford, neighboring Sullivan Estate.

And Napa’s 2019 vintage had all the right stuff (classic, ripe, plush, and beautifully expressive per the Wine Advocate) and the wines are showing exactly so. Like double fisting chocolate-covered blueberries and blackberries, with tobacco and graphite dust, some crushed rocks too, and roasted toffee is thrown in the mix. A treat for the senses AND the wallet. All of a sudden that tri-tip is worth marinating overnight for a budget weekday feast!

Single vineyard Rutherford Cabs at this price don’t come around often. Sadly, we have barely enough to warrant an offer, and we’re taking bets on when it sells out… three hours? Four? Sooner?