Welcome to the Wine Spies Intrigue Awards for 2015! Each year we recognize our most popular and sought-after wines from the previous year - while giving our Operatives one final chance to secure some of the winning wines for themselves.

Today’s spectacular Wine Spies 2015 Intrigue Awards winner for Top Cabernet Sauvignon marks the 35th vintage for winemaker David Mahaffey and his 15th as winemaker for Palladian. David produces just one wine from the Palladian estate each year, and today we are lucky enough to have exclusive access to the wine.

The Palladian Estate Winery 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a true Reserve wine. Rated at 95 points by Anthony Cimorelli, it is treated to some of the finest white glove treatment we’ve ever heard of in winemaking. This is a true hand made wine that isn’t released until it is good and ready. The wine is all estate grown, produced, bottled - and then aged in glass for three full years after bottling and then stored at a constant 55 degrees before it is ever released. David wanted the wine to be silky smooth before it left his care. And, wow, is it ever silky. And delicious. And elegant. And what a fantastic value!

Here is what expert Sommelier Anthony Cimorelli had to say about the wine:

“Palladian’s 2009 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is the rarified stuff that I am always hopeful of finding. From a small, organically farmed vineyard that sits next to Harlan Estate springs forth a true hidden gem of luxurious, expressive quality. It is plush, lush, bright and truly superlative in every way. David Mahaffey has been making Napa Cabernet for more than three decades. He has presided over some of the best and worst vintages in wine history. With his 2009, David has made magic. Delicious delicious magic.” - 95 points