2017 Quixote Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Stags' Leap District 750 ml

Born of vineyards separated by only a dirt road from some of Shafer’s Hillside Select sites, crafted by the deft hand of consultant Philippe Melka, Quixote’s 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as artistic and expressive as the boutique winery it’s from.

This is the first allocation of Quixote we’ve scored, and we knew we had to send it right to Connoisseur's Club members. It takes everything we love about Stag’s Leap District Cabernet—the velvety texture, the touch of spice, the power and finesse in equal measure—and delivers it with robustness and aromatic nuance. Jeb Dunnuck praised it as a “silky, elegant wine that has no hard edges, notable balance, and a great finish,” while Wine Advocate called out its “compelling lift.”

Melka’s showing off his formidable Bordeaux-variety blending chops here (he’s an alum of Haut-Brion and Petrus). He and winemaker Robert Smith bolstered the Cabernet Sauvignon with dollops of dark-fruited Malbec, brooding Petit Verdot, and herbaceous Cabernet Franc. The result is seamless and complex, with a whole lot of character.

Tucked away in the heart of the Stag’s Leap District, Quixote is an enclave of eccentricity. The property, which sits on a range of volcanic soils, is a tapestry of organically farmed vineyards, winding paths, wild grasses, and structures designed by an architect who believed straight lines to be “uncreative” and even “godless.” 

It’s a world of its own in the heart of a prestigious Napa Valley neighborhood, and as you might expect, they’re not out to make mass-market wines. They typically only sell their Cabernets from the winery and a couple of shops. Even so, it’s a wine we think every lover of refined Napa Cabernets should experience.