2019 The Setting Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 750 ml

The 2019 The Setting Cabernet Alexander Valley—made by one of the hottest winemakers in California, boasting an incredible 97-point score from the tough-to-please Wine Advocate, and bearing a miraculous two-digit price—is the kind of collector coup that comes along, well, almost never.

We’re thrilled to have captured a small allocation of this spectacular Cab, which was grown on a magical gravel-rich vineyard adjacent to Verité. But that’s not the most impressive thing about it: This bottle is the work of Jesse Katz, who is without a doubt one of the most in-demand vintners today.

A superstar who has developed his craft over 20 harvests, he’s worked stints at iconic properties like Château Petrus, Screaming Eagle, and Château Haut Brion. He’s been named a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker, a Wine Spectator Rising Star, and was the first winemaker to land on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. “Cult” is a word freely thrown around his releases for Devil Proof, Aperture, and The Setting, and they merit it.

Katz was drawn to Alexander Valley for its volcanic soils and distinctive climate, which features cold nights contrasted by days that heat up as quickly as a Wolf oven. For this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 bottling, he harvested grapes from SJ Ranch in eight passes. The site consists of a well-draining mix of volcanic “chalk,” polished stones, and gravel, and puts out intense, concentrated Cabernet. He aged the wine in 80% new barrels from luxe coopers Darnajou, Boutes, Berger & Fils, Sylvain, and Taransaud.

We can’t think of a better sub-$100 California Cabernet that will soar for another decade-plus in your cellar.