2016 Yao Family Wines Napa Crest Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

If there’s a famous name on a wine label, we tend to want it to be the winemaker’s—that’s why we’ll admit to being a bit wary when Yao Ming’s 2016 Yao Family Wines Napa Crest Red Wine crossed our tasting table.

When we swirled and put our nose in the glass, however, all our doubts dissipated—we were engulfed by the kind of gorgeous aromas of dark chocolate, espresso, and dark, ripe fruit that announces serious Napa Valley Cabernet. A muscular but silky palate of blackberry followed, and segued into an intense and complex finish. In a matter of seconds, we were reveling in the wine, and ready to pay what we figured would be close to approaching three digits. 

We’d become full-on believers—and that was before we saw that we could bring this spectacular Cabernet to Wine Access members at the nation’s-best price $40 per bottle.

To be fair, we already had an inkling that Yao Family Wines, which belongs to world-famous athlete and humanitarian Yao Ming, was miles ahead of just about every other “celebrity” wine out there: They’ve carved out a regular place in Wine Advocate’s 95+-point upper echelon with wines that the magazine has called “true world-class quality” that “(rank) alongside just about anything made in Napa.” 

A huge part of that success is Yao Family’s Director of Winemaking, Tom Hinde. He has guided some of the top names in California wine—Flowers, Lokoya, Cardinale—and has been the perfect Napa Valley stalwart to guide a brand whose namesake is a true international icon.  

Most of the U.S. knows seven-foot-six Yao Ming as the Houston Rockets star who burst onto the NBA scene in 2002, and was selected to five NBA All-Star games over his career. But because of his stature and international appeal, Yao has transcended sports. He was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2003, and carried the flag for his native China at the 2008 Olympic opening ceremonies. He’s also a global ambassador for the Special Olympics, and a dedicated philanthropist and humanitarian focused on enhancing early-life education and ending animal cruelty. 

Yao’s wines have been steeped in excellence from their start in 2009, and that tradition continues with the 2016 Napa Crest. Sourced from vineyards in the prestigious AVAs of Oakville and St. Helena as well as the cooler south end of Napa Valley, the wine consists of free-run juice that is inoculated with cultured Bordeaux yeast varieties. 16 months in 50% new French oak adds a beautiful softness, and a touch of baking spice. It’s first class Cabernet at a fantastic price.