2020 Synthesis by Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The label simply says “Napa Valley.”

But the lineup of vineyards that goes into Martin Ray’s 2020 Synthesis Cabernet boasts a Big Red Machine level of quality.

The backbone of the wine comes from a coveted vineyard in Oakville, on the other side of the knoll from Screaming Eagle. It’s matched with heavy-hitter sites in Stags Leap, Rutherford, Mt. Veeder, and Diamond Mountain that are farmed by names like Beckstoffer and protected by strict NDAs. Crafted by 100-point winemaker Keith Emerson, this wine easily merits its flagship status at Martin Ray.

The Martin Ray team conceived of the Synthesis bottling as a yin-yang challenge of capturing Napa terroir—a way to step outside their single-vineyard approach. They decided to combine the fruit from high-elevation AVAs like Howell and Diamond Mountain with Valley-floor grapes that show the classic character of Stags Leap and Rutherford.

The result is an ideal Napa Cab, with the dense, bramble-y tones of the mountain grapes perfectly complementing the plush richness delivered by the ripe fruit from lower in the Valley. Ever since its inaugural vintage, Synthesis has been a favorite, carefully tracked by Cabernet-loving bargain-hunters vintage to vintage. 

The 2020 is a standout, the result of a strict barrel-by-barrel selection that made this one of the smallest-ever releases under the label. In the final blend, a seductive 40% new French oak put an appealing mocha sheen on the wine’s bold, dark-blackberry and blueberry aromas after an 18-month rest in barrel.

This is an excellent Cabernet from a top source—and it comes at way below market value.

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

• ABV 14.50%
• 15 mins
• Now – 2032
• 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Serving temperature – 62°
• Cork