Mission Codename Once a classic, always a classic
“I have long been drawn to the natural beauty of this sprawling estate on Howell Mountain.” – Vinous
Can’t stop! Won’t stop! This week continues with another strong showing.
We’re back with one more go ‘round of this impeccably crafted, 95 POINT flagship Cab from Burgess.
Burgess is one of Napa’s most pedigreed wineries! This bottling hails from a vineyard planted well over a century ago! A heavyweight Napa Cab, from the near-perfect 2018 vintage - at a FULL $110 OFF!
Heck, with tasting room fees through the roof these days, you’d have to pay a $120 just to try it at the winery! Or you can save the airfare, gas, and hotel. Just kick back at your computer with your cozy slippers on, and snag some for a cool $65.
Got some? Good, now let’s get to the good stuff…
Burgess is as real as it gets in Napa. For 150 years they’ve been farming the slopes of Howell Mountain and making single vineyard Cabernet since the 1800s. It was officially founded in 1972 by Tom Burgess, but in 2020 it sold to the current Heitz Cellar owners. With the sale came rebranding and an opportunity to score a few cases of their previous vintages at a breakneck price.
Antonio Galloni’s Vinous has the back story, “CEO Carlton McCoy and winemaker Meghan Zobeck have breathed new life into Burgess… Sorenson Vineyard emerges from the oldest vines on the Howell Mountain property, planted between the early 1980s and early 1990s, and is named after Bill Sorenson, the first winemaker at Burgess.”
This is as real as Napa Cab gets. A barrel selection from the oldest vines in Sorenson’s, an instant classic, with monstrous structure, ample acidity, and firm tannins holding it together. My oh my… dusty violets, crushed ripe plums, crushed blackberry, old cigar box, and worn leather. Serious stuff, sure to impress, and built to last! For this Reserve Jeb Dunnuck once wrote “while it’s twice the price of the base cuvée, you do certainly get more wine” but he meant that without the massive $110+ OFF today!
As always, time is of the essence. Get yours while it’s here. No guarantee we’ll see any more…
95 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
“These are compelling wines from Burgess. The 2018s are the last vintage made from the oldest vines on the estate, which dated back to 1979. Entrepreneur Gaylon Lawrence acquired Burgess in 2020. Meghan Zobeck is the new winemaker. Needless to say, it will be very interesting to see where these wines go. I have long been drawn to the natural beauty of this sprawling estate on Howell Mountain. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is such a classic Burgess wine. Dark and ample, the Reserve offers up generous black fruit, scorched earth, tar, orange peel, menthol and licorice, all wrapped together by firm, potent tannins. As always, those tannins are a bit rustic, but that’s part of the charm here. There is certainly no lack of personality.”
What the Winery Says
2018 'Sorenson's Reserve' Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Meghan Zobeck
- Varietals
- 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec
- Vintage
- 2018
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Vineyard
- Sorenson Vineyard
- Aging
- 28 months
- Barrels
- 40% new French oak