2016 Le Pich Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

This opulent, dense Cabernet Sauvignon from the Advocate’s 98-point vintages competes (and in our opinion outdoes) wines several times its price, including $200+ Cabernets with sterling reputations like Hall and Alpha Omega, plus over 40 wines ranging from $100-$200 including Nickel & Nickel’s John C. Sullenger Reserve ($125) and Keenan’s Spring Mountain Reserve ($108). And Le Pich does it for under $60. 

For lovers of Napa Cabernets, this is a must-have deal that we expect to disappear. Le Pich fans are surely skipping today’s story and cutting to the chase. Over the past three vintages, this Cabernet has garnered 110 5-star reviews and elicited such member comments as:

“My favorite California Cabernet this year!” 

“I love this wine and it’s a steal for QPR!” 

“One of the boldest wines I have had this year. Very rich with a long finish.”

“Would buy more if available.” 

We know how that feels.  

Boasting a panoply of black raspberry, boysenberry, and black cherry with pops of graphite and brown spices, the 2016 may be winemaker Julien Fayard’s best Le Pich yet. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate praised it as “plushly textured,” and called the wine a “buxom beauty” “ready for biz.” We couldn’t agree more, but there are just 47 cases of this Cabernet coup up for grabs. 

The astounding 2016 vintage is the crown jewel in a line of remarkably brilliant Napa growing seasons—a year that will go down as one of the best of the 21st century—and one that will pay extraordinary dividends to those savvy enough to stock their cellars with the iconic labels of Napa’s great growths. 

Julien Fayard took full advantage of nature’s gifts, coupling the stellar vintage with his expertise to make this standout Cabernet. His résumé fuses experience at top Bordeaux estates (including Château Lafite-Rothschild and Château Smith Haut Lafitte) with time in Napa’s most esteemed vineyards. He worked alongside Bordeaux native and consulting guru Philippe Melka (formerly of Château Haut-Brion and Dominus) at the marvelous Quintessa winery as well as at Gemstone, Dalla Valle, and Lail. Soaking in everything he could, Fayard eventually struck out on his own with Purlieu and Le Pich, both of which are now the stuff of legend. 

His years in Napa helped Fayard cement relationships with top growers (relationships that allow Fayard to source top-flight fruit for Le Pich from sites like Pritchard Hill), and the lessons of Lafite rule his world: attention to detail and restraint in the cellar. For collectors, that’s a big deal. For lovers of age-worthy wines that are also delicious out of the gate? It’s a golden ticket.   

The result is the best Le Pich yet. Delicious now, and ready for the long haul—of course, the only way to know is if you can beat the Fayard fans to the “buy” button.