Secret Door Cabernet Sauvignon Sage Ridge Block 38 Napa Valley 2021

Secret Door began as a love story that has blossomed into something truly remarkable. Sourcing the highest quality Cabernet Sauvignon grapes across Napa Valley, the winery crafts some of the most exceptional expressions of Cabernet anywhere in the country, helmed by Donald Patz (of Patz & Hall). We have massively limited numbers of the 2021 vintage Sage Ridge Block 38 Cabernet Sauvignon on the docket today – though with just a few cases, these hard-to-find and widely adored wines won’t be around for long!

Donald Patz and Jung Min Lee met and almost instantly fell for one another. She lived in Virginia and loved Cabernet and Bordeaux wines, and he lived in California and made Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. He promised her that if she moved to California, he’d make her some Cabernet Sauvignon, and that promise came to fruition with the creation of Secret Door Wines. Now, Secret Door has earned a reputation for some of the most pure, elegant, and highly desired Cabernets in the valley.

Hailing from Sage Ridge Vineyard, a 1.2-acre lot with clonal selection from Martha's Vineyard in Oakville. This is a site renowned for its unique terroir on the hills east of St. Helena, perched above Lake Hennessey, with steep hillsides and thin soils that cause the vines to struggle and stretch deep down to survive, ultimately leading to wines with great density and concentration. Run by Judy Jordan of J Winery, the vineyard was planted in 1998 and technically doesn’t fall within any distinct AVA, instead wearing the “Napa Valley” appellation with pride. 2021 Block 38, receiving James Suckling 97 points and Wine Advocate 96 points in the larger production Sage Ridge wine, was a hotter vintage with an ongoing drought that reduced yields but led to immaculate wines and a five-star vintage with immense concentration, generous layers, and super-fine tannins. Plenty of fruit is noticeable, along with tantalizing savory qualities and vivid minerality, making for an incredibly complex wine. You’ll be hard-pressed to find these uber-desirable wines online anywhere else, especially for these prices. We only wish we had more, so do not delay!