2021 La Pelle Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley

When Maayan Koschitzky, Atelier Melka’s Director of Winemaking, founded La Pelle Wines with the vineyard dream-team of Pete Richmond and Miguel Luna, the wine world had daunting expectations.

La Pelle has surpassed them all. 

The label is one of the most in-demand in Napa Valley, and their phenomenal 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve shows why collectors cellar these wines alongside bottles that go for two and three times the price. It won double 98-point scores from Jeb Dunnuck and The Wine Independent: Dunnuck called it “A legit gorgeous wine,” while Lisa Perrotti-Brown simply called it “Stunning!”

A few years ago, at the end of a long day, Wine Enthusiast Viticulturist of the Year Miguel Luna told his wife: “If I ever have a wine label, I’m going to call it ‘The Freaking Shovel,’” although he didn’t say “freaking.” 

As a partner in the elite Silverado Farming Company, he knew firsthand that making wine is incredibly hard work: It’s putting vines in the ground and scooping grape skins out of the fermenters—in other words, all shovels. So when Luna joined forces with Richmond and Koschitzky, they kept Miguel’s promise, opting for the French name “La Pelle”—a family-friendly version of his original idea.  

This wine could easily be mistaken for a new wine from Maayan or Miguel’s more high profile (and high-priced) clients. It’s rich and bold yet elegant, clearly Napa Valley’s best fruit made with Bordeaux-like sensibilities. There is blackberry jam, Morello cherry, graphite, Earl Grey tea, cocoa nibs, toasted oak, cedar, and bay leaves. The pronounced tannins will serve the long life of this wine, allowing it to age for 15-20 years with ease. 

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

• ABV 14.50%
• 1 hour
• Now – 2045
• % Cabernet Sauvignon
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork