2014 Davis Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

No Obstacle to Perfection—Cabernet’s Dream Winery

When someone tells you that they “spared no expenses” in building a winery, most of the time, the truth is they spared a few. But as we toured Davis Estates, an astonishing new winery nestled in the Vaca Mountain foothills between St. Helena and Calistoga owned by Mike and Sandy Davis, winemaker Cary Gott led us from room to room and revealed how Davis Estates is, without a doubt, built on that mantra.

It was in January, during a week of torrential California downpours that we visited the estate. From the entryway, two massive double doors were hoisted open by Gott, revealing a Howard Backen-designed tasting room. A roaring fire glowed on one end and on the other, a chef prepared pizzas from a custom Italian pizza oven. After warming up a bit, we were ushered into yet another private space.

Sinking into plush leather chairs we tasted a lineup of wines, including today’s $85 2014 Davis Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which earned 95 points from James Suckling, who wondered if it was “the best ever” from Davis. Three feet from our noses, an original 17th century Rembrandt sat on an easel. But we were focused on smelling and tasting the wine in our glass. 2014 was the first vintage of Cabernet made in the new winery, and Gott had everything he wanted—the most expensive and delicate grape presses, custom-built new stainless steel, concrete, and wood tanks for fermentation, and the best French oak.

For a perfectionist winemaker like Gott, that means he had every chance to hit a home run, and it shows in the glass: layers of dark fruit aromas, vanilla, clove, a full-bodied mouthfeel, with chiseled mountain tannin, and delicious baking spice notes—not to mention a splash of fruit normally reserved for Phase V, the winery’s $225 flagship wine, which is produced by Philippe Melka. 691 cases were produced and we have 80 set aside for you.

Gott just beamed as he toured us around. It was exciting to see this Napa legend in action—sure, his family owns the eatery Gott’s Roadside, a Napa staple, but he’s known for helping build more high-profile wineries than you would believe, several you very likely know and love: Ram’s Gate, Round Pond, Calla Lily, Uproot, and Lawer, to name just a few. When Cary isn’t at Davis, Steve Smith, an ex-marine who interned at O'Shaughnessy and Jordan Jeffries formerly of Paraduxx, Merry Edwards, and Tamber Bey, keep things in check. Talk about impeccable winemaking talents.

Despite being the new kid on the block, Davis Estates is poised to become a veritable up-valley force. In 2010, around the time Davis sold his computer company, prices for land in Napa Valley had plummeted, and he went on a shopping spree, buying up seven prized vineyards, but the “crown jewel,” he says, is “the property where the winery is now. The whole area was owned by the parents of Duckhorn’s Lily Coit,” he told us. “French immigrants, the Saviez family made their way to Napa and became the foreman of the property. Lily carved out a small plot for him in 1908, and that’s now our plot.”

And they’re in good company. Duckhorn’s Three Palms is across the street, Larkmead and Frank Family are there too, and Lail’s 100-point J. Daniel Cuvée comes off hillsides in Dutch Henry Canyon just above the winery.

Davis blasted out a chunk of the Vacas to create a network of caves, and raised the Saviez’s 102-year-old barn, moved it about 20 yards, fully retrofitted and restored it, and now it houses some pretty cool things that we can’t mention. We can tell you there’s an unbelievable artistic rendering of a grape and vine leaf in the courtyard in front of the winery. The grape is a perfect granite sphere the size of a washing machine, and it floats on a pool of water in the center of the leaf. Davis’ former clients, like HP, Oracle, and Apple love coming by for a visit—especially to give the “grape” a spin. So will you.

But until you make plans and a reservation, pull out this story and read it aloud to your guests while filling their glasses with this knockout Napa Cabernet. Start off by telling them that you “spared no expense,” in securing a few bottles, but keep it between us that you only paid $85 each.