Drink now or cellar for up to 15 years. No need to decant before serving.

Donald Hess was on a business trip to Napa Valley in the 1970s when he first discovered the beauty of mountain wines. The wine enthusiast and art lover embarked on extensive research in the Mount Veeder sub-region to find the perfect spot to set up his own winery. By 1978 he had purchased 900 acres here and started to build what is now one of Napa’s most innovative and pioneering mountain wineries.

Central to Hess’s philosophy is the unique mountain terroir which helps to create balanced yet powerful red and white wines. This classic Cabernet is a great example of their house style, with fruit exclusively sourced from their rugged Mount Veeder Hills vineyard which sit on steep slopes at 200 to 350 metres above sea level.

Hess adds a small amount of Malbec to the cuvee which they say acts as a “lion tamer” to soften the punchy tannins of the Cabernet and add luscious dark fruit flavours. The young wine is aged in new French oak barrels for 22 months to fully integrate the different components and at yet more complexity. Bursting with luscious cassis, blackberry and ripe plum notes, this robust red is a great wine to cellar for a few more years or to enjoy now alongside hearty red meat dishes.