Captivating wines, just like fascinating friends, always have a tale to tell….About a year ago, my sister turned up at our house with a case of wine saying she had just seized an amazing deal on a great Napa Cab. The owner of the wine shop she frequents told her that this bottle was made by one of the best Napa producers. Apparently the producer had such an amazing harvest, that he had too much wine. So as not to drive the prices down on his usual number of exceptionally good bottles produced, he bottled the leftover wine under a different label and price point. His high-end wine price stays intact, and he makes a little bit extra off the surplus. Obviously I didn’t believe this story, but decided to try the wine anyway; I mean there was an entire case of it. It was divine, and we proceeded to fight over the rest of the case for the next few months, since it had vanished from the inventory at her wine shop. And then, the Atticus John Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 showed up at two of my wine shop haunts. I stocked up and have now sequestered a couple bottles away for cellaring, while still having some out in the wine bar rack to enjoy on festive occasions. The Atticus John is one of those rare bottles that costs $25 but drinks like $85.Deep ruby in colour, a slight strawberry smell gave way to a spicy tobacco essence. Velvety black cherry and plum flavours bumped into traces of mint and smooth minerals in the round full body. The intense finish was filled with layers of spicy green peppercorn and ginger that lingered into suave elements of tobacco and oak. The very last morsel left on your tongue is a bit of rich vanilla, which just entices you into another well-structured sip.
*According to all of my sources, the above account is actually true, with the maker of the winebeing “a very well known high-end Cabernet producer near St Helena. Almost 32 barrels were blended with no fining, no filtration and one final racking to bottle.”
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
Napa Valley
California
Vinted and Bottled by Brandon Cellars
13.8% alcohol
$26
Enjoy now through 2014
$26
Enjoy now through 2014
2.17.13 Vintage Update
Atticus John Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Delightfully similar to the 2007, with a substantial increase in earth and herbaceous elements. Black cherry and earthy bark were underscored by fresh herbaceous notes in the full body. Spicy green peppercorn lingered with coffee and smoky vanilla in the lengthy finish. Velvety and well balanced, this is a lush, fantastic expression of high end California Cabernet at a discount price.
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
[The grapes were sourced from Rutherford and Stag’s Leap]
Vinted & Bottled by Brandon Cellars, Fairfield
13.8% Alcohol
$27
Enjoy now thru 2017
cara rutherford 
so, I was right…..
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