2014 Castellucci Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 750 ml

There’s a reason why you won’t see this wine in any wine publication, or find it anywhere outside of the winery gates.

The Castellucci family marches to their own beat. They only release wine when it’s good and ready, regardless of whether that schedule aligns with the needs of critics, distributors, or big-box juggernauts. 

Shaped by world-class winemaker Jac Cole—an author of legendary, long-lived wines at Spring Mountain Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and S. Anderson—the 2014 Castellucci Rutherford Cabernet comes from vines just across the Napa River from Quintessa, not far from Sullivan Estate in the heart of Rutherford. 

Founded by Italian immigrant and property magnate Antonio Castellucci—a true American success story—the Castellucci family has owned and farmed land in Napa Valley for over 20 years. They own 50 acres spread over prime sites in the Spring Mountain, Carneros, Rutherford, and St. Helena AVAs. This gem comes from their family’s vineyard between Silverado Trail and Zinfandel Lane, the heart of the dusty, loamy Rutherford valley floor. The vineyard is managed by Antonio’s son Marco and his team, who give it undivided attention year-round.

When Wine Spectator summed up Napa Valley’s 2014 harvest, they called it “a dream vintage.”

The bad news: It was a short crop, with not a lot of wine to go around. That’s why we we SO LUCKY to get access to a library release like this. 

Nine years have been extremely kind to this deep-ruby-colored Cabernet, and it’s just soaring toward its plateau of maturity. Drink a bottle with a thick ribeye and then enjoy the other five (or 11) over the next few years.