Napa’s Next In Line
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2015 Lightning Wines Cease & Desist Red Wine 750 ml
- Curated by unrivaled experts
- Choose your delivery date
- Temperature controlled shipping options
- Get credited back if a wine fails to impress
A Star is Born—This Red is Proof
A Star is Born—This Red is Proof
In the Napa Valley, the whispers have become increasingly audible. Randy Hester, who cut his teeth under 100-point winemakers Andy Erickson, Michel Rolland, and Helen Keplinger, is fast becoming a star. For now, his wines are what sommeliers dream of—under priced and over-delivering—but if the market has any say, it won’t last.
A generous, sun-kissed Rhône-inspired blend, the 2015 Lightning Wines “Cease & Desist” is already a cult favorite, with placements on the lists at Napa’s Rutherford Grill and Sonoma’s the girl & the fig. And while many others would like to get their hands on this vibrant, Grenache-based gem, there’s hardly any to go around. Only 10 barrels were produced, and after the restaurants, we’re the only ones in the country with an allocation. Randy is thrilled to share this special wine with the Wine Access community–and at $29.99 per bottle from a wine-maker on the rise, they won’t last long.
In 2006, when Randy Hester came to Napa Valley, he quickly zeroed in on who to pay attention to in the winemaking pantheon of local greats. That focus brought him into the sphere of great winemakers like Erickson, Rolland, and Keplinger, and Hester became a fixture at some of the Valley’s top wineries: Colgin, Realm, Cakebread, Caldwell, and Marciano. He now applies a master’s touch to Rhône varieties sourced from some of the top sites in Northern California.
Hester’s 2015 Cease & Desist is a gorgeous blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise, and Syrah, which offers the savoriness of a classic Rhône blend crossed with the beaming opulence of California fruit. Charcuterie, pepper, and herbs, blend seamlessly with ripe dark cherry and blueberry fruits, bolstered by fine-grained tannins. There is vibrancy in the lifting acidity courtesy of the 2015 vintage, as well as elegance, complexity. It’s hard to believe that this wine is only $29.99, and harder still to believe we’re the only ones in the country who have it. On days like today, everyone wins.