2013 Lore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Another killer effort from Rivers-Marie is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard, from a steep and rocky single vineyard in the Vaca foothills of eastern Napa above the Rudd Winery. The wine comes across with fabulous intensity and loads of blackberry, blueberry and cassis fruit, licorice, camphor and incense. This is great stuff, backward, as all of these 2013s tend to be. It’s the smallest of these cuvées, with about 250 cases, or ten barrels produced. This wine is another one to benefit from 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more.

The undisputed crown jewel in this lineup, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is every bit as fabulous in bottle as it was from barrel. Here the impression is of explosive energy and pure verticality. A rush of dark red and black fruit, melted road tar, cloves, licorice and leather punctuates the explosive, creamy finish. All the magic of eastern Oakville comes through in spades.

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Lore Vineyard is a fabulous example of how the very best sites in Napa Valley distinguish themselves from the merely excellent. Intensely savory, smoky and minerally, the Lore boasts huge extract, density and pure power. Simply put, the 2013 Lore is a head-turning wine. Thomas Brown is always very careful to underplay his hand with Rivers-Marie, preferring to let his clients get most of the attention. But there is no denying the 2013 Lore is one of the very best Cabernets Brown has ever made, including those of his much more famous clients. Readers who can find the 2013 should not hesitate, as it is a true jem.