2018 Commission Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 750 ml

As bold, sultry, and impeccably polished as its sleek, artist-commissioned label, the multiple 100-point grapes that went into the 2018 Commission typically make up what Robert Parker has anointed “some of the most singular and prodigious Cabernet Sauvignons of Napa Valley.”

It’s from a marquee Pritchard Hill estate that has attracted some of the most talented winemakers in the world, including Helen Keplinger, Helen Turley, Philippe Melka, and Michel Rolland, who still consults. The blockbusters from this mountain vineyard start at around $500 per bottle and go from there.

At $35, it goes without saying that our exclusive deal on the 2018 Commission is a rare chance to fill your cellar with cases from one of Napa’s most iconic estates—helmed by one of the most buzz-worthy winemakers in the Valley.

When Rolland realized the banner 2018 crop was going to result in excess grapes, he called Melka protégé Julien Fayard, the Provence-born, Bordeaux-trained winemaker whom Robb Report dubbed “the new name to add to that short list of superstar consultants.”

It’s an open secret that many of Napa Valley’s most sought-after bottles are helmed by French winemaking consultants. Less reported is the underground grape trade that occasionally takes place between them, often at deeply discounted “friends and family” rates that would shock those who aren’t part of the network.

Living where we do means our ears on the ground are the first to hear rumblings of these hush-hush deals, putting us first in line for wines like the 2018 Commission before the grapes have even been picked off the vines.

And while those vines could not be more impeccable given the cult-level source and “picture perfect” 2018 vintage, the skill belongs to Fayard, a longtime friend we call the "Cabernet whisperer with the golden résumé."

A Château Lafite-trained former director of winemaking for Philippe Melka, Fayard is now a multiple 99-point winemaker and in-demand star who has lent his talents to multiple $150+ labels like Dalla Valle and Lail, and boasts a waiting list of even pricier clients who’d do anything to hire him.

His mark on the Commission is unmistakable: Ripe, juicy blackberry and cherry fruit aromas cascade from the glass, while mouthwatering accents of vanilla bean, clove, and spice chime in from the background. Velvety and polished across the palate, this has all of the charm and finesse of textbook luxe Napa Valley Cabernet.

We’d expect nothing less, knowing this is from the mountain estate that the Wine Advocate called, “without question one of the most spectacular vineyards in Napa Valley.” Vinous critic Antonio Galloni seconded, “I don’t see any reason why the Cabernets that emerge from this property shouldn’t be among the top five to ten wines in the valley each and every year.”

Once this pristine surplus crop was quietly handed over, Fayard opted to preserve as much of its vineyard character as possible, leaving it unfiltered and doing a series of fining, oak, and blending trials to sculpt Commission into the ultimate Napa Cabernet. The final blend rested for 20 months in 30% new French oak, a modest regime that let the fruit purity shine, while accenting it beautifully with oaky spice and nuance. 

Fayard commissioned his favorite pop artists—the Brooklyn-based duo Brand US—to not only design the label, but to paint whatever came to them as they enjoyed a bottle of his unnamed Cabernet. The artists told us they are known for their “concentrated use of color, texture, and precision and a minimalist tendency that favors clear and bold notes over an erratic symphony.” Sipping this Cabernet, they realized they could apply the exact same description to the wine, resulting in a meta design depicting an elegant artwork within an artwork. Fayard loved the concept so much, he named his new wine in their honor: “Commission.”

Between the modernist label, 100-point vineyard source, and all-star winemaking talent, the 2018 Commission is a complete work of consumable art worthy of every connoisseur’s bucket list. And given our $35 exclusive, it’s equally worthy of your everyday Cabernet rotation.