2019 Sling & Spear Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The 2019 Sling & Spear Cabernet Sauvignon doesn’t come from good vineyards. Or great ones.

It comes from legendary ones.

Sling & Spear won’t work with anything less. Crafted from the outstanding 2019 vintage, this Cab sources grapes from premium sites in Rutherford, Yountville, Oakville, and St. Helena—ones whose names we’re prohibited from mentioning.

However, if you have any doubts about the quality of the fruit that goes into this Cab, its lush fruit and luxurious texture speak for themselves. A swirl releases complex aromas of red fruit, lilacs, and dark chocolate, and it lands on the palate with all the grace and power of a pole vaulter, carrying plums and graphite on rich tannins.

That opulence comes from three Cabernet Sauvignon clones that compose some of the Valley’s best (and priciest) bottles: clones 337, 4, and 6—the same ones planted at To Kalon.

The masterminds behind Sling & Spear have earned a slew of critical praise, including placement on Wine & Spirits’ Best US Cabernets and Blends list. But after years of making high-priced collector’s items, Sling & Spear’s Cab showcases their prestigious vineyard sources—but without the prohibitive price.

The winery had heard about a few of our blockbuster Napa Cab sellouts, so they knew theirs would make a killing. Cue our lunch with the winemaker at Napa’s Angèle. Over duck rillettes, steak tartare, and generous pours of this robust, sultry 2019, we locked in our share.

It’s one of the best Cabernets we’ve seen in a while (and we see quite a few)—plus, it comes from some of the Valley’s top terroir.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 14.50%
• 1 hour
• Now – 2030
• % Cabernet Sauvignon
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork