{"title":"Wine Auction Exclusives!","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur unimaginably rare AUCTION EXTRAVAGANZA is here! We showed up ready to taste the best of the best, brought our daddy’s credit card, and bid until we were blue in the face to score these UNBELIEVABLY EXCLUSIVE and highly prized bottles…the sort of UNICORNS that you – quite literally – cannot get ANYWHERE ELSE!!! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"robert-mondavi-cabernet-sauvignon-premiere-napa-valley-to-kalon-monastery-block-oakville-napa-valley-2019","title":"Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Napa Valley To Kalon Monastery Block Oakville Napa Valley 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eGround shipping included on 3 or more bottles!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePremiere Napa Valley 2024 is just around the corner and we’re setting up tastings with all the big names to try and score something special!!! But, luckily for all of you, we’ve already scored from past years’ auctions – and can share with you today a uniquely amazing treat...incredibly rare cabernet sauvignon from Mondavi’s exclusive Monastery Block of the iconic To Kalon vineyard!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMan, this might be the rarest, and most collectible wine currently in stock! What’s PNV, you ask? Premiere Napa Valley wines are the most unique wines made in Napa Valley. The event is a centerpiece of the Napa Valley Vintners, where, for 3-4 days a year, trade members like us get to bid on TINY quantities of very special wines (literally the best in the cellar), crafted just for this event, and we are able to taste during this short period. Though reminiscent of how Hospices de Beaune wines are produced in Burgundy, the process is uniquely American. These are the rarest wines made in the entire Napa Valley – and we have a stunning price on one of the very, very best!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo Kalon. Napa Valley’s, California’s, and the entire US of A’s most revered, historic, sought-after vineyard site. Tucked in the very heart of this iconic vineyard is the exclusive Monastery Block – with cabernet sauvignon vines planted as far back as 1945! That’s what we have in this incredibly rare wine – a piece of cabernet history, in the remarkable 2019 Napa Valley vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe bought this lot a couple years ago after tasting dozens upon dozens of these super-limited offerings from the truly special 2019 vintage, and we’ve been waiting impatiently for it to finally arrive. Mondavi’s To Kalon, and this extra special selection from Genevieve’s favorite block in the entire vineyard, the Monastery Block, was without question one of the best of the 200+ wines tasted. This is the same block that she and Thomas Rivers Brown now have to fight over since Schrader (now owned by Constellation) is now bottling their own version of the Monastery Block. For comparison – the Mondavi To Kalon Reserve from 2019 scored an impressive 98 points from two top critics, with Schrader’s Monastery Block also snagging a 98 score along the way. Our pristine, incredibly limited lot was not submitted for scores – there’s simply not enough to share! We wanted every last bottle to be for you fine First Bottle collectors – at a price that is a tremendous value for such an exclusive and collectible bottling!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wine of immense structure and stature, this 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot treasure is packed with generosity and concentration consistent with the very best of To Kalon. The wine matures in 100% new French oak for 24 months, and stands among the very best To Kalon cabernets our entire team has ever tasted! Only 20 CASES made – EVER – so don’t hesitate to make one of these collectible beauties yours...for as long as we have it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePAIRING IDEAS: Grab a heavily marbled prime-cut ribeye and get the grill ripping hot. That is really all you need here - the classic cab and a slab is going to make you very happy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50657102266665,"sku":"AATWLAF","price":259.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/First-Bottle-Robert-Mondavi-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Premier-Napa-Valley-To-Kalon-Monastery-Block-Oakville-Napa-Valley-2019-product-image-8618-large.jpg?v=1752684652"},{"product_id":"bella-union-premiere-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-napa-valley-2019","title":"Bella Union Premiere Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eBella Union Premiere Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is a luxurious, limited-production wine that showcases the rich depth and complexity of Napa Valley fruit. Crafted with precision, it offers layers of black cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate, framed by velvety tannins and elegant oak influence. This opulent Cabernet Sauvignon embodies the artistry of Bella Union, making it a standout for collectors and connoisseurs alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50657103348009,"sku":"AA16524","price":199.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/First-Bottle-Bella-Union-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Napa-Valley-PNV-2019-product-image-6888-large.jpg?v=1752684651"},{"product_id":"robert-mondavi-cabernet-franc-premiere-napa-valley-to-kalon-oakville-napa-valley-2019","title":"Robert Mondavi Cabernet Franc Premiere Napa Valley To Kalon Oakville Napa Valley 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eTo Kalon is rare. Premiere Napa Valley is uber rare. But...PNV To Kalon CABERNET FRANC?! That is simply unheard of! We knew we had to have this...one of the rarest PNV wines, from the fantastic 2019 vintage, and one of the world’s most legendary vineyards...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMondavi’s To Kalon Vineyard is a legendary site that needs little introduction, known as one of the best vineyards to grow cabernet sauvignon in the entire world. But cabernet franc is far rarer here – accounting for less than 10% of To Kalon’s nearly 400 acres (and that’s just the Mondavi portion, mind you). The vast majority of cabernet franc hails from the revered Monastery Block section of the vineyard – where the oldest vines are planted. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e2019 is a remarkable vintage – and as good as it was for all of Napa Valley – a case could be made that cabernet franc shines brightest of all. Elegance and finesse, with ripe fruits, entrancing aromatics, and plenty of structure – in short, all the hallmarks for an epic vintage of cabernet franc, especially in this corner of Oakville. Now, Mondavi doesn’t usually make a cabernet franc varietal wine from To Kalon – as it is such a critical portion of the other blends – but for this rare PNV bottling, they set aside 20 cases worth of their best of the best (with 5% of To Kalon cabernet sauvignon blended in to inject a bit of oooommph!). The best part? We got it ALL, and if you snag any – you are in for a treat!\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe closest that I can compare it to is the Detert East Block cabernet franc – from a plot of old vines planted a literal stone’s throw away from these vines (and a not-too-shabby 97 points from Vinous for their 2019). It’s big but nuanced, floral without being overtly perfumed, and ripe without being sappy. The flavors are red fruit and bramble berry driven, with To Kalon’s signature soft and volcanic minerality, and a balanced acidity that both cuts through the richness and extends the finish superbly. It is among the greatest cabernet francs I’ve ever tasted, and without an ounce of irony or hyperbole – one of the greatest To Kalon’s I’ve ever tasted too. That’s as bold a statement as I care to make...I simply can’t recommend this wine enough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e20 cases is all there is, and you know I’m taking two of those! Franc lovers, To Kalon lovers...I implore you...don’t miss this! And hey, while you’re at it...check out these other EPIC PNV wines in stock, here!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePAIRING IDEAS: Duck breast, with the skin scored and salted, slowly crisped in a cast iron skillet (start it cold, without oil, and let that fat render)! Serve it with a balsamic and red wine reduction, with some crunchy and meaty maitake mushrooms, plus some brown butter glazed carrots. One of my favorite pairings of all time, truly. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50657103970601,"sku":"AA17085","price":249.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/First-Bottle-Robert-Mondavi-Cabernet-Franc-Premier-Napa-Valley-To-Kalon-Oakville-Napa-Valley-2019-product-image-8608-large.jpg?v=1752684656"},{"product_id":"onehope-premiere-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-atlas-peak-2019","title":"OneHope Premiere Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne Hope is a new winery that has made quite a splash here in Napa Valley. They built a magnificent winery and space in Rutherford, just down the road from Staglin, and a stone’s throw north of Oakville’s heralded To Kalon vineyard. We tasted this at PNV a couple of years back and we’re blown away!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eI mean, it is Premiere Napa Valley, after all, and you might imagine, any new winery, especially one with pretty deep pockets and a severely ambitious business model is going to swing for the fences here. This is a uber-small 5-case lot from a single vineyard at the very tip-top of the Atlas Peak appellation…and WOW! It rocks! Intense, age-worthy, layered with rich textured and plenty of that classic Atlas Peak structure and volcanic complexity. The super-secret vineyard source is heavily guarded, but truly, it is at the very top, so a little research will get you excited about this wine’s potential. Organically farmed, too!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis special barrel selection showcases deeply nuanced berry notes – from fresh raspberry to crushed blackberry, and black currant jam. The spice profile reveals a sexy and luxurious use of French oak barrels – with vanilla, black pepper, and clove punctuating the flavors throughout. The finish is exceptionally long, where the immense structure of Atlas Peak spirals into a delicately velvety and soft finish. This was certainly one of the great surprises we had out of all the copious PNV lots available…and we weren’t the only ones!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePNV is a once-a-year, trade-focused event that functions similar to the Hospices de Beaune. Wineries across the valley make extremely limited lots (often no more than 5 cases) from selections of their best vineyards or blocks to be auctioned as a single parcel of a unique bottling to a restaurant or a retailer from anywhere in the world. These wines are the rarest things in all of Napa Valley, and are worth the attention of any wine collector. This spectacular event each February creates a palpable buzz throughout the valley that you have to experience firsthand to believe. Next best thing… getting a bottle of one of these exceedingly rare creatures and enjoying it on your next special occasion. ONLY FIVE CASES! Don’t miss!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50657106952489,"sku":"AA16522","price":159.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/First-Bottle-One-Hope-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Atlas-Peak-PNV-2019-product-image-6886-large.jpg?v=1752684653"},{"product_id":"mayacamas-vineyards-premiere-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-upper-terraces-mount-veeder-2019","title":"Mayacamas Vineyards Premiere Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Upper Terraces Mount Veeder 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhile Mayacamas Vineyards has long been a preeminent producer within the Napa Valley – this 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is the first sourced entirely from the heralded Terraces Black of the estate vineyard. Only 10 cases were produced of this super cool, entirely unique, one-off wine – and we bought every one of them at the Premiere Napa Valley auction to share with you!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMayacamas has been around since 1889 and has earned a name for producing some of the most well-structured and balanced wines in Napa Valley. The old stone winery is dug into a dormant volcano crater on Mt. Veeder, changing ownership a few times over and modernizing as the years pass by. Since 2013, the Schottenstein family has been in ownership, continuing a fierce dedication to biodynamic farming, healthy vineyards, advanced technology, and preserved winemaking traditions, all at once. This is a once-in-a-lifetime wine from a historic, deeply pedigreed estate that will no doubt enhance your cellar and thrill anyone who gets a taste once you open it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis flawless 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon was specially produced for auction at Premiere Napa Valley, where we vigorously scooped up every bottle available. Coming solely from the Terraces Block of the estate vineyard, from vines planted in 1950 atop volcanic soils on steep, south-facing slopes, the fruit is wild, intense, and massively aromatic, with rugged power and insurmountable elegance you’d be right to expect from this plot and producer. Produced organically and aged for 36 months in cask and barrel, this is a classic yet enthralling Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon that collectors will be thrilled to add to their cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDark, deep, complex, and brooding as can be, the wine pours a rich garnet-purple with notes of juicy black fruits, purple flowers, menthol, sweet bay, dried Herbes de Provence, and black peppercorn. Structured and powerful, this is beautifully done, with generous, smooth tannins and a relentless, seemingly never-ending finish. Once again, First Bottle is the only place you’ll find this entirely rare, woefully limited Cabernet Sauvignon from a historic producer, cementing it as one of the most collectible bottles around that you simply can’t miss!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePAIRING IDEAS: Let’s switch things up and pick up a Reuben from your favorite deli – the salty corned beef and tangy sauerkraut with a creamy Thousand Island dressing magically works with this rustic and robust Cabernet Sauvignon. Give it a try!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50657116291369,"sku":"1011386","price":365.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/First-Bottle-Mayacamas-Vineyards-Premiere-Napa-Valley-Cabernet-Sauvignon-Upper-Terraces-Mount-Veeder-2019-product-image-10392-large.jpg?v=1752684699"},{"product_id":"maxville-winery-premiere-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon-koko-nor-vineyard-chiles-valley-district-napa-valley-2023","title":"Maxville Winery Premiere Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon KoKo Nor Vineyard Chiles Valley District Napa Valley 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom winemaker Jeff Owens (of multiple-100-point stardom with Plumpjack Group), this exclusive single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Maxville Winery is gregariously complex and resoundingly balanced. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnly 20 CASES of this rare gem exist... and we have all of them!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTucked into the eastern edge of the Vaca mountain range, Chiles Valley is a small, narrow, high-elevation AVA in Napa County that grows Cabernet Sauvignon exceptionally well. This 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon comes singularly from one of the oldest, west-facing blocks in the KoKo Nor Vineyard within Chiles Valley – the first-ever time this micro-block has been kept separate for a standalone bottling. The juice was hand-chosen to be used in this particular wine and auctioned off at last year’s Premiere Napa Valley... and we were the lucky winners! Though today, the luck’s all yours.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaxville is where rugged beauty meets refined winemaking. Set on a 1,000-acre property with roots dating back to the 1844 Rancho Catacula land grant, the estate combines a rich agricultural legacy with a modern vision for excellence. High-elevation vineyards, cool evening breezes, and diverse soils shape wines of structure, balance, and distinctive character. Reimagined in 2014 with a meticulous restoration of its vineyards and facilities, Maxville practices sustainable farming, careful vineyard stewardship, and a hands-on approach in the cellar ensure that every bottle captures both the history and the untamed spirit of Chiles Valley.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you haven’t enjoyed a Chiles Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, you’re in for a real treat with this! The higher elevation and slightly cooler temperatures impart this stunning acidity and elegance that just hit different. Pure, fresh, balanced blue and purple fruit, cedar, pencil lead, dried flowers, violets, lavender – all traceable from the nose to the palate, with magnificent freshness, captivating energy, well-integrated tannins, and a toasty finish. It’s drinking mighty fine already, but you know it’s got a good 15-plus years left in the tank! Grab some of this ultra-rare, covetable juice while you can, and don’t look back!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePAIRING IDEAS: I had this with an epic smash burger topped with white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, little gem lettuce, and Dijon mustard aioli, all on a puffy brioche bun. Truly outstanding!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52528699638057,"sku":"1013308","price":99.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/1013308_Rack.jpg?v=1771029334"},{"product_id":"bethel-heights-cristom-winery-willamette-valley-wine-auction-pinot-noir-willamette-valley-2024","title":"Bethel Heights Cristom Winery Willamette Valley Wine Auction Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2024","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTwo of the Eola-Amity Hills' most storied estates, one bottle. Bethel Heights was founded in 1977 by the Casteel family on volcanic Jory and Nekia soils at 480 to 620 feet of elevation, one of the pioneering plantings of the appellation, now farming over 80 organically certified acres with some of the last own-rooted Pinot Noir vines in the region. Cristom was founded in 1992 by Paul Gerrie, a Burgundy devotee who hired Steve Doerner (Calera's winemaker of 14 years and a student of Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac) to make the wine. Doerner's whole-cluster, ambient-fermentation philosophy shaped a generation of Willamette winemakers, and today winemaker Daniel Estrin (formerly of Littorai) and second-generation owner Tom Gerrie continue that legacy on biodynamically farmed hillsides named after members of the Gerrie family. Both estates are anchored to the same volcanic ridgeline, both share a conviction that Eola-Amity Pinot Noir is some of the most compelling in the valley, and this collaboration bottling (made exclusively for the Willamette Valley Wine Auction in an edition of 42 signed, numbered bottles) is the rare chance to taste both houses in a single glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eExpect the lifted aromatics, bright red fruit, and mineral tension that define this corner of Oregon: cherry, rose petal, violet, dried herb, and that cool saline undercurrent that the Van Duzer Corridor winds drive into these hills every afternoon. This is a collector's bottle in every sense, both for what's inside and for what it represents.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53484684116265,"sku":"2000473","price":259.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/BethelHeightsCristomWineryWillametteValleyWineAuctionPinotNoirWillametteValley2024_2000473_FB_Rack.jpg?v=1789504818"},{"product_id":"bethel-heights-willamette-valley-wine-auction-chardonnay-willamette-valley-2024","title":"Bethel Heights Willamette Valley Wine Auction Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2024","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBethel Heights has been farming the same volcanic hillside in the Eola-Amity Hills since 1977, when twin brothers Ted and Terry Casteel and their families planted the first vines on 50 acres of south-facing slopes northwest of Salem. Nearly five decades later, some of those original plantings (own-rooted Chardonnay from Wente and Dijon clones) are among the last surviving own-rooted vinifera in the entire Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Ben Casteel, Terry's son, took over as winemaker in 2006 and has continued his father's philosophy: let the Jory volcanic soil and the Eola-Amity's signature marine winds do the talking. The estate grows Chardonnay here not as an afterthought but as a genuine statement of terroir, and this bottling, made exclusively for the Willamette Valley Wine Auction in a numbered, signed edition, is that statement at its most concentrated and intentional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eRecent Bethel Heights Chardonnay has drawn scores as high as 97 from Decanter, and the 2024 follows a run of critically acclaimed releases. Expect the estate's characteristic balance of restraint and richness: stone fruit, white flower, and a mineral salinity that is the unmistakable signature of Jory soil Chardonnay, knit together by the kind of structure that comes only from old vines and careful hands. This is one of Oregon's most compelling white wines, made in a quantity so small the number is printed right on the label.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53484684542249,"sku":"2000472","price":239.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/BethelHeightsWillametteValleyWineAuctionChardonnayWillametteValley2024_2000472_FB_Rack.jpg?v=1789504578"},{"product_id":"00-wines-willamette-valley-wine-auction-pinot-noir-richards-cuvee-eola-amity-hills-2017","title":"00 Wines Willamette Valley Wine Auction Pinot Noir Richard’s Cuvée Eola-Amity Hills 2017","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eChris and Kathryn Hermann founded 00 Wines in 2015 with a singular conviction: that Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay belonged in the same conversation as the world's finest. The Richard's Cuvée is named for Chris's late father, Dr. Richard Hermann, a plant geneticist at Oregon State University whose blessing and encouragement made the project possible when he was 91 years old. The fruit comes from an unnamed vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills (a site so well-known the winery couldn't put it on the label) planted in volcanic soils at the cool, elevated end of the appellation. Decanter describes the Richard Hermann Cuvée site as delivering wines of great finesse, elegance, and freshness that balance out the powerful fruit sourced elsewhere in the 00 portfolio. The winemaking is as precise as the sourcing: whole single berries fermented in a 500-liter Tuscan terracotta amphora, then 16 months in 20% new French oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eNow eight years in bottle, the 2017 is entering a particularly beautiful window. Reviewers noted perfumed, cool aromas of red berries, rose petal, lilac, and sandalwood with fine delineation on the palate, a wine that absolutely needed at least five years of bottle age and should reward ten or more. That time has passed, and then some. This is one of 66 signed, numbered bottles released through the Willamette Valley Wine Auction: a mature, deeply expressive Eola-Amity Pinot Noir from one of Oregon's most quietly serious producers, in a format that doesn't come around again.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53484698566953,"sku":"1015553","price":259.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/00WinesWillametteValleyWineAuctionPinotNoirRichardsCuveeEola-AmityHills2017_1015553_FB_Rack.jpg?v=1789504746"}],"url":"https:\/\/firstbottlewines.com\/collections\/wine-auction-exclusives.oembed","provider":"First Bottle Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}