Maxville Winery Premiere Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon KoKo Nor Vineyard Chiles Valley District Napa Valley 2023

From 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. Only 20 CASES of this rare gem exist... and we have all of them!

Tucked 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.

Maxville 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.

If 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!

PAIRING 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!