2019 The Wonderland Project Cabernet Sauvignon No. 9 Napa Valley 750 ml

Wonderland’s Nº 9 Cabernet is a story about access. From the winery’s access to top vineyards on Atlas Peak, to our scoop on this rare Napa Cabernet—most years only sold to world-class restaurants—this bottle is all about who knows whom. Luckily for you, we know the right people.

Historically, the easiest ways to enjoy The Wonderland Project’s Nº 9 Napa Cabernet were either to buy a bottle straight from the winery, or dine at The French Laundry. But last year, we went right to wine star and longtime friend Matt Ahern to grab a tiny allocation.

This is the sort of bottling we’d expect from Ahern, one of the best-connected guys on the Los Angeles sommelier scene. That’s why, when he left his day job as a broker of exotic and rare wines to start The Wonderland Project, we knew it would be a label to keep an eye on—and we’re glad we did.

Matt sources the fruit from high-altitude, secret-to-the-rest-of-the-world vineyards in Atlas Peak, using connections that he built over his years as a go-to guy for allocated and rare wines. 

The primary vineyard site has been organically farmed since 2004, and the wine shows off the concentration and power of fruit grown at 1600 feet of elevation. A bit of new oak for 17 months contributes a silky mouthfeel and adds a hint of spice, then the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve the flavor and impact of Atlas Peak’s terroir.

The result is a bottle that easily overdelivers. We grabbed as many bottles as we could for Wine Access members, because when you have access, you have to take advantage.