92 Point Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

September is California Wine Month!

All month, we have featured different varietals from California in honor of California Wine Month. We saved the state's most loved wine region, Napa Valley, and its most sought-after grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, for last. Cabernet Sauvignon put California on the map as one of the world’s top wine growing regions. As the years went by and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon gained in popularity, the prices of wine from this area increased significantly.

As a wine buyer, it is important to find wine value. While you can find a less expensive Napa Valley Cabernet, the goal is to find wines that taste better than their price point AND tastes the way a Cabernet from the Valley should. When we discovered this winery last year, I was thrilled at the initial response and how it continued to sell off the shelf all year long. 

Band of Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon is the product of collaboration, friendship, and a shared love for Napa Valley. Band of Vintners began in 2014, as a group of seven wine lovers based in Napa Valley who decided to pool their combined forty years in the wine industry to produce just one wine, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. In just four vintages, they have started a small “cult” like following for this wine.


The group consists of four winemakers, two businessmen, and Master Sommelier Jason Heller. In order to make an affordable yet overachieving wine, Band of Vintners buys juice from other estates in Napa. While we will probably never know the vineyards the wine is sourced from, members of the group are connected with some huge names in Napa Valley like, Cardinale, Harlan Estate, Lokoya, Spottswoode, and Massican to name a few.


This week, we are proud to feature Band of Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. This vintage is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 8% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. It spends fifteen months in a mix of new and old French oak barrels. This is affordable luxury at its best! Full of all the rich, powerful fruit the Valley is known for but also with an elegant complex finish like many top Bordeaux. It will be hard not to fall for this wine! My advice last year was to stock up as prices will surely rise and I was stunned there was no increase with the new vintage, great news for all!

Band of Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Napa Valley 750mL

92 Points - Wine Advocate
"Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is very pretty on the nose, super floral with notes of blackcurrant bud, violet, bitter chocolate, cedar and classy new oak spices plus loads of red berry sparks. The palate is medium-bodied, lifted, floral and fresh, with a gently chalky texture and long, uplifted finish." - Erin Brooks