In Oakville there’s a strip of asphalt literally named “Money Road”.

And Castellucci’s Lira Vineyard sits just off to the side of it, within reach of Opus One and many other titans of industry.

The name seems fitting. As this wine fetched $250 on release.

They make just a few barrels of each wine and for us to have ANY, let alone for nearly TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS OFF…is wild.

That price, if we’re being honest, is right in line with many Oakville hitters. From Opus to Harlan to Plumpjack and TOR, it’s not uncommon to part with a few Benjamins for a bottle of primetime Oakville Cab.

Getting one of those for $55 however, is rare as hen’s teeth.

Antonio Castelucci, originally from Italy, made a fortune in Bay Area real estate before setting his sights on Napa Valley, where he locked down 50 acres of prime land holdings. But the Lira Vineyard is the showpiece of his collection. Surrounded by some of the best acreage in Oakville, the small 6.5 acre vineyard is carefully farmed each year, and this wine pulls fruit from two specific blocks, E and F, to build an immense Cabernet that struts its stuff with the best of the best.

From their inception in 2012 they brought Jac Cole on as the winemaker. He spent years honing his craft at Spring Mountain Vineyards and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. By 2023 they shifted to Atelier Melka’s 100-point team, but one thing has always been consistent - no shortcuts, no compromises, and a laser focus on everything from farming to bottling to ensure the absolute best wine is made.

And one taste is all you need to affirm this indeed sits with the tippy top shelf. Dense, dark berry fruit, richly layered with espresso bean, salted dark chocolate, creme de cassis and sweet spices with dusty herbs on the finish. While 2022 was a hot year, this reins it in well but certainly pushes toward the hedonistic and full-throttle side of the spectrum.

At $55 this is a total no-brainer. And as guaranteed a sell out as we can predict. Move quick!