2014 V12 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 444

After a fast-paced racing career, growing premium grapes seems to go hand-and-hand. Just look at what Randy Lewis and Mario Andretti have accomplished. Indy-car Champion Jimmy Vassar owns V12, and he brings to his wine the same focus and determination needed to be a successful race car driver. And wait until you see where his vineyard is.

The V12 Estate Vineyard is on Soda Canyon Road, Southeast of Stags Leap Winery, and above Odette and Joseph Phelps La Rocas Vineyards. The vineyard itself was blanketed with several feet of solid surface rock and had to be blasted with dynamite before top viticulturist Davie Piňa could plant it.

Chad Alexander makes the wine, and he’s well-versed in hillside Cabernet, spending years as the head winemaker at Hess Collection and Robert Craig Wineries. The 2014 444 Cabernet is a concentrated and solidly-built wine, with an incredible core of fruit, decorated with rocky minerals, cassis, and crushed violets.

*LAST CALL — LESS THAN 5-CASES are now available