2016 Karo-Kann Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

The 2016 is showing beautifully right now—so beautifully that we had to beg our CFO to discount this wine. But even he couldn’t fudge the numbers—we simply need to make room for outstanding new releases from NDA-shrouded sites. And since it’s showing five full years of age, now is the perfect time to enjoy this remarkable back-vintage Karo-Kann Cab.

This is textbook Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon that delivers serious quality for an incredibly reasonable price, especially considering it’s sourced from luxe terroir where triple-digit prices don’t get a second thought.

In 2016, Mother Nature granted Napa Valley one of the best vintages in living memory: Sunny skies prevailed through much of the summer, while drought conditions stressed the vines, leading to a perfect combination of ripeness and concentration. Unlike 2015, which produced fantastic fruit but saw vineyard yields drop considerably, 2016 offered generous quality and quantity. When top vintners wound up with more fruit than they could handle, we got the first call—and this Karo-Kann is the result of one such fortuitous connection.

We can’t name the exact vineyard source for this wine—it’s strictly prohibited by an NDA—but we can tell you it’s a Wine Enthusiast favorite. Nestled in the Vaca Mountains between 900 and 1,200 feet of elevation, this site yields Cabernet Sauvignon with vibrant, cool-climate acidity to go along with signature Napa Valley opulence and rugged mountain complexity. 

With five years of age, the 2016 Karo-Kann exudes the elegance and class of its mountain terroir. A vibrant magenta-purple, it’s got classic Napa Cabernet notes of black currant and black cherry emanating from the glass, carrying hints of vanilla, toast, violets, and eucalyptus. 

This profound mountain Cab drinks well above its pay grade. The final cases of this back-vintage release won’t last long.