2015 Cornerstone Cellars Michael's Cuvee Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

Our last red from Cornerstone Cellars was a quick sellout that sparked more than a year’s worth of emails from members. They all wanted to know when we’d get another allocation from Opus One alum Charles Thomas and 100-point winemaker Kari Auringer.

Today, we’re thrilled to report that we’ve scored not just another back-vintage red from deep in Cornerstone's cellar, but one we’ve been after for years: Charles and Kari’s tiny-production Michael’s Cuvée, from the marvelous, 97-point 2015 vintage. 

This is a wine that tells the story of the iconic 2015 vintage with spellbinding, seductive force—but total production amounts to just a sliver: Only 175 cases were made of this rare, astoundingly rich red.

Our buying power—and history of rocketing sales with Cornerstone wines over the last decade—is the only reason we were able to tap into this exquisite bottle. Opaque ruby, finely aged for years, this powerhouse is drinking like a luxury collectible.

The 2015 Michael’s Cuvée is a statement wine, a rich mosaic of Napa terroir. While the estate’s single-vineyard releases showcase the identity of each site, this blend is a summation of the best grapes across Cornerstone’s network of growers—a living document of an unforgettable Napa season.

Most of this Merlot-led blend was drawn off the Oakville Station vineyard—one of the properties that originally belonged under the mythical To Kalon designation (Silverado’s single-vineyard blend off this same vineyard costs $90). Now operated by UC Davis as an experimental plot, it’s regarded by experts as among the most important sites in Napa viticulture. Grapes from the 33-acre Kairos Vineyard, bordering on Coombsville, play a supporting role, cooling off the heady, spice-filled concentration with San Pablo Bay freshness.

Showing sculpted power and leonine sleekness, the Michael’s Cuvée delivers a wallop of dark plum, cocoa, and graphite flavors. Aged in 60% new French oak, it’s entwined in fine-grained tannins that hold all that exuberant fruit together. The aromatic bouquet wafts like a breeze, revealing a new dimension with each passing moment: violets and red roses followed by candied red fruit, baking spice, and crème de cassis.

All that built-up concentration is a product of this intense, low-yielding vintage. A couple of years of cellaring have smoothed out the edges, making this a dream to drink now, and a fantastic investment piece for future aging.