2019 Halpin Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley

When we got to the office at 8:00, Halpin was already there, feet on the conference table, an unlabeled bottle beside him. He held it out, and written on masking tape across the front was “The Oakville Cab U Want.” 

“Where’ve you been? I’ve been waiting for hours,” he said, doling out several generous, deep-purple pours, getting right to business. “This is the Halpin time machine,” he said. “Straight back to the days when every single Oakville Cab knocked you right off your feet.” 

He was right. The 2019 Halpin Cab shows classic Oakville power, succulent and structured, delivering muscle and grace in perfect balance. It shows exactly why Wine Enthusiast called Oakville the “go-to address for California Cabernet,” with wines that “reign supreme” in Napa. 

“Nothing like a blow-you-away Cab to get your wheels turning in the morning, amirite?” said Halpin.

He knew we’ve always coveted these grapes, which hail from a top Oakville estate, so we grilled him about how he got ‘em. Those details, along with the estate’s name, are locked behind an Infinite Jest-length NDA—which is a good thing, because if we did tell you, it might take up your whole morning. All we can say is that it involved an overheard bar conversation, a bunch of numbers from Halpin’s loaded Rolodex, and more than one coast-to-coast flight. 

We squeezed Halpin and landed Wine Access members a staggering value on a spectacular, Oakville-appellated Cab that stands as one of our Oakville deals of the year. 

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

• ABV 14.90%
• 15 mins
• Now – 2028
• % Cabernet Sauvignon
• Serving temperature – 62°
• Cork