Lot 1: 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena, Napa, 6-bottle pack

This famed Napa winemaker makes wines from several of Napa Valley’s most legendary vineyards. He’s been a regular in Wine Spectator annual Top 100 Wines and has received a long string of dazzling scores from Robert Parker. His track record means he advises several other leading wineries in California and Washington, while this wine comes from his own highly acclaimed label and his widely known insistence on the finest grapes in Napa.

The aromas are packed with pronounced notes of blackberry, roasted meats, black truffles, and rich cocoa. On the palate, this wine has a very rich, dark fruit-driven start with hints of espresso and cassis leading into a very long, smooth finish. The richness of flavor is balanced by just enough tannin structure to keep it fresh and clean. This Cabernet is very drinkable now and will gain further complexity and depth for at least 7-10 years.

A prized St Helena Cab that normally sells for $90 to $120. Almost all of this wine is bought directly from the winery’s private list so in years where there’s a good yield there’s often a few surplus barrels that they have little interest in marketing more aggressively, equally with their golden reputation they can’t afford to be seen to discount to clear it. So we twisted several arms and can offer it discreetly under our own label at a quarter of the regular price, for just $25.

“In loving memory of Gene” on this label pays tribute to ‘Captain Gene’ McNany, Colin aka Mr Hunt’s tragically departed father who lit up life for his son, family and many others.