Winemaker Janice Schmidt spent 20 years making wine at Jordan, the Alexander Valley Cab powerhouse, so it comes as no surprise that her small batch Bordeaux-styled red tastes ridiculously good. Really. Really. Good. This fantastic wine is Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Malbec and Petit Verdot, composed for the long haul.

It’s a treat to taste a 2008 that has benefited from a few years in the cellar, but make no mistake, 1856 has many years of pleasure ahead of it. With it’s graphite-scented nose, dark berry fruit, and classic Cabernet character, it immediately won us over with a $75+ look, taste, and feel. Super impressive wine made by a winemaker who learned from the best at Jordan.