2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District Napa Valley 750 ml

A seasoned grower for icons like Joseph Phelps, Chateau Montelena, and Robert Mondavi, grower Paul Segas can spot pristine Cabernet like few others. When his Dayna project—produced in tandem with Silenus Winery—produced more than expected thanks to 2018’s generous yields, Paul picked up the phone. He wouldn’t have to make a second call. 

Our back-room price is an anomaly we negotiated exclusively for Wine Access members on this exceptionally well-built Cab, which boasts the stamina and flesh to carry its rich berry fruit, hypnotic spice aromatics, and broad-shouldered tannins well into the 2030s. 

Production was extremely limited, and we could only secure 110 cases of this pure Napa beauty.

Paul never holds back, so it’s no surprise Dayna got the luxury treatment for 24 months after harvest, putting the prime Cabernet in this bottle on a pedestal. The parcel behind the 2018 sits on the western bench of the valley, in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains. This is one of the cooler spots in Napa, with fog and wind off the San Pablo Bay that keep grapes refreshed and in mint condition throughout record-length growing seasons. Radiant acidity and elegant texture are the norm here.

This is the same lauded appellation behind Mathiasson’s critically acclaimed Cabernets, Alpha Omega’s $100+ bottlings, and Wine Access all-time favorite Whitehall Lane. The vineyard behind Dayna itself historically supplied heavyweights like Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, and Inglenook.

Alluvial soils and wonderful vineyard drainage make Cabernet Sauvignon cultivation a no-brainer here. In 2018, moderate weather and steady conditions led to poised ripeness and picking by October 23rd. The Cabernet in Dayna’s 2018 release was rounded out with a little Merlot for softness and polish, and the final product shows lavish French oak influence in the smooth impressions of vanilla and new wood.

Trust us—if you haven’t explored this lauded appellation, let Dayna be your guide, because you won’t find Oak Knoll’s unique twist on Napa excellence for a better price anywhere.