2016 Round Pond Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley 750 ml

Any time we delve into Cabernet from Napa Valley’s storied Rutherford AVA, we know what to expect: some of the very best bottlings in California, which bear some of the most daunting price tags.  

That’s what makes the stunning 2016 Round Pond Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon the proverbial needle in the haystack… especially four years after Napa’s 98-point vintage, and without even a penny markup for it’s “back-vintage” status. It’s not only one of the best wines ever off the Round Pond estate, but its stellar 95-point rating from Vinous puts it in league with some of the most prestigious and pricey Cabernets in the Valley, like Vineyard 29 ($250) and Fairchild ($245). We’ve got it at a third of the price.

Antonio Galloni called the 2016 Reserve “tremendous.” Comprising less than two percent of Round Pond’s production, the Reserve is sourced from the best barrels coming from the most expressive blocks on the Rutherford estate. It’s got tons of cassis on the nose, with licorice, black olives, and a generously proportioned mid-palate of blackberry and Chambord. Silky tannins and beautiful balance mean this Cabernet is set to cruise in the cellar for a decade-plus, but a long decant will make it a fantastic early-drinking taste of one of Napa Valley’s best vintages in history. 

This is just our second offer of Round Pond’s ultra-exclusive Reserve Cabernet in 15 years, and we don’t have much. Don’t wait to claim this collector-worthy steal from some of the most precious land in Napa Valley. The estate sits at the Rutherford Crossroads between Beckstoffer’s George III Vineyard and Caymus, and the grapes have been guided to greatness by Thomas Rivers Brown, perhaps the most in-demand winemaker in the Valley.

Round Pond’s founding vintner, Bob MacDonnell, was one of the original vineyard owners on the slopes of the prestigious Pritchard Hill before he conquered 250 acres of Rutherford’s most valuable hillsides in 1986. In the 30+ years since, Round Pond has become an icon in the midst of neighbors like Caymus and Staglin. 

After more than a decade of growing grapes, Round Pond began producing wine in the 2005 vintage, and the shrewd MacDonnell put Thomas Rivers Brown at the helm in ‘09. Brown, a  South Carolina native, has amassed a trophy room of top-scoring wines, including so many perfect 100-pointers that he’s lost count. Jay McInerney, author, critic, and wine columnist for Town & Country, called Brown “the most successful winemaker in California,” and his collection of scores across vintages more than backs up that assessment.

Antonio Galloni calls the Round Pond lineup “exceptionally well-priced by Napa Valley standards,” and their terroir and talent explains how they outperform their price point to compete with some of the most famous names in Napa. At the winery, they like to say they’re “farmers making a little wine.” We know they happen to have some of the best land and one of the top winemakers in Napa Valley, and it’s all evident in the 2016 Reserve, a top bottling that stands tall with the best Napa Cabernets—at a third of the price.