2021 Halpin Red Wine Napa Valley 750 ml

Halpin was in the precise condition we expected the morning after the WineaPAWlooza auction: raspy voice, five o’clock shadow, untucked Hamilton shirt, and a seersucker jacket that looked like he used it as a pillow. 

WineaPAWlooza is rife with winemaking talent, and it turns out Halpin spent the waning hours of the evening sipping Montrachet with the vintner of one of the most decorated wineries on the North Coast. 

“He let slip that he had a few barrels grown mainly on his two prime sites in east Oakville,” Halpin told us. “You know the spots. EVERYBODY knows the spots. The guy wasn’t even supposed to tell me, but it was a long night, and you know, in vino veritas. Anyway, he offered to Uber me to the winery and taste me on it then, but it was one in the morning and my palate was shot. So we met up this morning, which is why I was late… even for me.” 

Halpin couldn’t wait to taste us on the juice, so we walked the block from Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co. to Angèle to prime our palates with a burger. From the first sip, the wine was elegant, full-bodied, and well-balanced. Juicy acidity is backed by ripe, firm tannins and densely layered flavors of fresh blackberries, cassis, black currants, blueberries, a touch of pepper, and dark chocolate. 

This wine conjures thoughts of the great sites of Napa Valley, and even knowing Halpin’s M.O.—grabbing a deal on wine that should cost $100+, bottling it at more than half off—we were still stunned at the price.