2014 Cornerstone Cellars Benchlands Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml

Parker’s “Star Winemaker”

When we offered the 2014 Cornerstone Cellars Benchlands Cabernet Sauvignon, the bottles disappeared—and we haven’t stopped hearing about it from Wine Access loyalists since. Today, we’re back with another allocation of that original 2014 standout. Released at $65, this is a fantastic deal at $40 today, and stunning after an additional stint in the Cornerstone cellars.

The producers on winemaker Charles Thomas’s resumé read like a flashing marquee of top names in California Cabernet—Opus One, Lokoya, Quintessa, and Robert Mondavi, among others—and his role at these powerhouses has earned him unqualified praise from the world’s most influential critics: Robert Parker calls Thomas “brilliant” and a “star winemaker,” and Wine Spectator simply calls him “one of California’s best winemakers.”

Together with 100-point winemaking partner Kari Auringer, the Cornerstone team forms one of the most formidable duos in Napa, and the 2014 Benchlands Cab is a ruby-hued jewel, bursting with flavors of blackberry preserves, vanilla, mocha, and spice—the kind of jewel you’d expect from two powerhouse winemakers and one of the top vintages in Napa history.  

Like Charles Thomas, many winemakers believe that winemaking begins in the vineyard. But few can back it up as he can, with experience at nearly every conceivable step between terroir and bottling. Thomas worked his way up the ladder at Robert Mondavi, eventually serving as assistant winemaker where he was instrumental in the conception and execution of an exclusive project called “Napamedoc,” which, after a 1982 name change, became known the world over as Opus One. After 12 vintages at the legendary estate, plus Thomas’s contributions at Cardinale, Rudd, and Quintessa have cemented his place in the pantheon of Napa’s transformative winemakers.

Their combined expertise, and the 2014 “dream vintage” delivered perfect fruit for this ripe and luxurious Cabernet. This is the kind of warm, abundant vintage that winemakers like Thomas and Auringer dream of during leaner years, and take full advantage of on the rare occasions when they occur. The duo sources grapes from some of the top vineyards in Napa’s low-lying hills, and bolsters the beautiful, ripe, and concentrated fruit with luxurious vanilla and exotic spice from 80 percent new French oak barriques. The result is a wine of exceptional power and grace that will be an asset to any cellar.