2017 The Vice Tri Blend Napa Valley

Overflowing with fruit density and full-bodied complexity, the 2017 Tri Blend will go down as one more reason Wine Access members can’t get enough of The Vice. Known for their single-vineyard, NDA-protected Napa Valley sites, this opulent blend from three of the winery’s most prized sources proves how the sum can be even greater than its parts—at least in everything but price.  

Long sold out at the winery, we siphoned every last bottle of the 2017 Tri Blend that we could—bottles previously earmarked for some of New York’s top dining destinations like Black Barn, Old Homestead, Il Mulino Gramercy, Nix, and Ammos Estiatorio. 

The key to the 2017 Tri Blend is in its supreme blend of grapes—which typically amplify  100-point Cabernets. That’s what makes a powerhouse like this possible for $35. 

We’re amazed we don’t see this combination more often. Malbec from Oak Knoll plays a striking counterpoint to the Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc from Mount Veeder’s 1,000-foot slopes. From hillside vineyards that are often mentioned in the same breath as Mayacamas Winery’s $150 flagship, these grapes benefit from the same rugged elements that force the vines to struggle to reach for water and nutrients, producing world famous wines renowned for their concentration and power.

A deep, dark purple core unlocks the Cab Franc’s exuberant aromas which leap out of the glass with steeped violets, mulberry pie, and a hint of cocoa. Layers of minerally graphite evoke the Petite Sirah’s rocky mountain vineyard terrain, keeping everything lifted despite its density. The Malbec plays a critical bass note, keeping the Tri Blend’s rich body balanced and beautifully orchestrated, as elegant tannins evoke memories of Napa’s most cellar worthy bottles. 

The Vice’s owner, Malek Amrani, and his uber-talented winemaker, Vance Rose, have a keen eye for untapped potential. Recognizing gorgeous grapes that are usually blended into obscurity by pricey Cab-dominant flagships, the duo snapped up the tiny percentage of Petite Sirah and Cab Franc that they managed to get their hands on and flipped the script. 

Rose—whose impressive résumé includes Rosemount in Australia, Donum in Carneros and Ehlers in St. Helena—treats these reds like the high-elevation superstars that they are, capturing all of theirl mineral verve and impeccable balance to complement the Malbec’s lush, juicy black and blue fruit. 

Between The Vice’s flawless record with Wine Access members and their impeccably farmed grapes, the 2017 Tri Blend is once again a wine that outperforms its price.

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

• ABV 14.60%
• 30 mins
• Now – 2026
• 54% Malbec30% Cabernet Franc16% Petite Sirah
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork