2017 Vista Reserve Red Wine Blend California 750 ml

Veteran winemaker Grant Long, Jr.—the man behind $100-per-bottle, mailing-list-only Napa Cabernets for Aonair and Reverie—leaned on his deep network of growers for this inaugural vintage of the gorgeously balanced Vista Reserve Red Wine. To complement Cabernet sourced primarily from Napa, he contacted the best farmers he knew outside of the Valley, landing Malbec and Petit Verdot from the Sierra Foothills, plus superb Petite Sirah from Paso Robles.

He started small, making just a couple hundred cases of this wine. Once sommeliers and other industry insiders got a taste of it, demand was instantaneous, wiping out supply in under two weeks—but not before we scooped up this incredibly rich and muscular wine.

Living in Napa since he was a child and crafting the kind of Cabernets for which Napa buyers endure long waitlists, Long certainly understands the allure of the appellation’s premier vineyards, but as a consultant for 14 clients he also has an intimate knowledge of the best sites outside the Valley—and he knows that the right blend with the right sourcing can attain Napa-like levels of richness at a fraction of the price. By finding that sweet spot with the 2017 Reserve Red Wine, he ended up with a smash hit.

He took advantage of his connections to swoop in on some of the best grapes in California before other winemakers claimed their share. While it's based on Cabernet, the keystone of the blend is the low-yielding, spicy Petite Sirah from Paso Robles, where dry afternoon heat guarantees intensity. Add the Malbec and Petit Verdot, and you’ve got a blockbuster that would cost twice as much if it said “Napa Valley” on the label.