2022 Halpin Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 750 ml

“You have before you two glasses,” Halpin began, imperiously. He drew out the words and paced along our tasting table like John Houseman in The Paper Chase. 

“In the glass on your left, I have poured four ounces of a 2022 Cabernet from a renowned estate on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain, led by a venerable publication’s Winemaker of the Year. In the glass on your right, I have poured another Cabernet, sourced largely from one of the most historic vineyards in—”

“We know they’re the same wine, Halpin,” we blurted out, cutting him off. 

“What?” he screeched, breaking character and dropping the dignified tone. “Come on guys, how’d you know?” We pointed out that the color was identical, there was only one bottle on the table—oh, and that we’d seen him pouring through the window of the conference room.  

“Alright, just taste the freaking wine,” he said, slumping into a chair and filling a glass for himself. Only when we asked him for details did he perk up. 

Halpin is buddies with the winemaker at a Sonoma County estate perched on the back side of Spring Mountain, not far from icon Pride Mountain. He got summoned to the site when the winemaker realized they had some surplus Cabernet—but not just any Cabernet. 

Half of the grapes came from their mountain vineyard, where they farm about 10 acres of Cabernet planted on their wild high-elevation terroir. The rest comes from the aforementioned historic site, which has been producing grapes since the 1880s—and where Cabernet has grown since the 1960s, mostly under the auspices of the iconic Martini family.

After savoring the gorgeous Cab with Halpin, we agreed to take everything he had.