“Chris Carpenter turned out a gorgeous set of 2019s… these are very distinctive wines.” – Vinous

Hey doc, I’ve been having a lot of hallucinations lately…

Like seeing a 2019 Mt. Brave Cab on Wine Spies for… a price I am embarrassed to tell you.

What do you mean there’s nothing wrong with me?

Whatever you do, DO NOT report this to your shrink. They might admit you straight away. No further evaluation needed.

What do you expect? The perennial high scorer - lowkey 97 points plus triple 96s this time - made by the talented Chris Carpenter of Lokoya, Cardinale… With a sweet $100 OFF THE LIBRARY PRICE?!

We must be losing it.

Mt. Brave comes from a site that was once the Chateau Potelle “VGS” Vineyard. If you’re old enough to remember Potelle, you already know what a special property it is. The rugged hillside fruit produces “Very Good $hit” to this day. It’s massively concentrated, with skyscraper structure, and mouthcoating OMG-hell-yes richness. An avalanche of rich, ripe blackberries, créme de cassis, kirsch, tobacco, graphite, and roasted espresso. Plush, sweet, silky-smooth-by-now tannins, incredible purity of fruit, long finish.

Wine Advocate rewinds the story even one owner earlier, back to the 1980s: “the Mt Brave Vineyard was the original source for William Hill’s Reserve wines. In effect, the label parallels La Jota, just originating from a different mountain. This Mount Veeder vineyard gets sun early, but it cools down in the early afternoon. According to winemaker Chris Carpenter, this site provides more backbone tannins, compared to the breadth provided by Howell Mountain.”

Oh, and Vinous back in the day wrote “Mt. Brave is one of the hidden jewels in the Jackson Family Estates portfolio. All of the wines emerge from the Jackson family’s stunning vineyards atop Mt. Veeder, where winemaker Chris Carpenter makes wines of true distinction that remain exceedingly fairly priced by Napa Valley standards.”

They must have seen this insane deal coming. With its full-throttle style, towering structure, and overall cerebral neuron-blasting enjoyment factor, we don’t blame you if you voluntarily commit yourself to the ward.

Just get a few (or more than a few) bottles first.

97 Points – Decanter “Showcasing the lovely freshness of high-elevation Mt Veeder grapes. Vivid boysenberry and mulberry fruits give way to mountain herbs, dusty minerals and rich toasty cedar. A compact wine revealing black-fruited flavours and savoury herbal nuances alongside sculpted tannins that are pixelated and mouthcoating. An impressively long finish of iron shavings, baked agave and dried chaparral. 2022-2050.”

96 Points – Vinous “Chris Carpenter turned out a gorgeous set of 2019s… these are very distinctive wines. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Mount Veeder wine loaded with strong savory and mineral accents. Black fruit, graphite menthol and licorice lend complexity to this huge, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are pretty fierce at this stage, so readers should plan on being patient. Drink 2026-2038.”

96 Points – Owen Bargreen “The beautiful 2019 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon has 5% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc blended in. Needing an hour in the decanter to be fully aroused, this delivers ripe cassis and huckleberry notes that combine with wet stone and suggestions of sandalwood on the nose. The palate is refined and elegant, with plenty of dense dark fruits and power - yet comes off quite weightless. Refined tannins and bright acidity frame this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that is only starting to come into its own. Drink 2023-2043.”

96 Points – James Suckling “Blackberries and black currants with grape skin, lead pencil and pine cone. Full-bodied with round tannins and juicy fruit. Tamed tannins. Bright finish. Classy and authentic. Beautiful now, but will age beautifully.”