2013 Picayune Cellars Padlock Proprietary Red Blend

Thomas Keller’s French Laundry and Parker’s Greatest Napa Valley Vintage in 37 Years

At age 15, Thomas Keller found himself washing dishes at the Palm Beach Yacht Club for $4/hour. But even as he sponged plates and polished silverware, young Keller couldn’t keep his eyes off “the line.” Several months later, he was promoted, trading his wash cloth for a set of J.A. Henckel knives. That summer, Keller moved to Rhode Island and found himself behind the line of a commercial kitchen overseen by Master Chef Roland Henin. Henin, who would go on to become the coach of the 1992 Gold Medal U.S. Culinary Olympic Team, took a special interest in his future protégé, and asked Keller to cook staff meals at the Dunes Club.

To this day, Keller credits Henin with providing him with the inspiration that gave birth to America’s greatest restaurant, The French Laundry in Yountville.

What’s this have to do with the runaway success of the 2013 Picayune “Padlock Red?” More than you might imagine.

Jennifer Roberts is married to Nathan Roberts of Arnot-Roberts fame. Claire Weinkauf’s husband, Aron, is the winemaking guru at Spottswoode. When the women founded Picayune, they did so with the full knowledge that their “consultants” would be working free of charge.

Jennifer and Claire’s flagship wine is their “Padlock Red, a traditional Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. In Napa Valley’s phenomenal 2013 vintage, called “the greatest in 37 years” by Robert Parker, the women crafted 85 cases of a deep, dark, voluptuous “Padlock” that is simply perfect for Thomas Keller’s signature entree — charcoal-grilled Japanese Wagyu with roasted cèpes and sauce Bordelaise!

The 2013 Picayune “Padlock Red” is dark purple. Pungent aromas of black currant, blackberry, ripe cherry, and graphite. Rich, compact, and intensely concentrated, packed with a racy mix of crushed black- and red-fruit preserves, violets, and underbrush, finishing with age-worthy dusty-tannin backbone. Drink now-2023.

$85/bottle at The French Laundry. After Chef Keller, we were offered “the leftovers.” Just 600 bottles are up for grabs. $27/bottle.

• ABV 13.90%
• Enjoy right away
• % Bordeaux Blend