A visit to Chimney Rock earlier this year simply reinforced my belief that these wines are some of the most distinctive and engaging in all of the valley. On several occasions at the annual Napa Premier celebration the Chimney Rock wines have been clear standouts amongst many much more expensive wines. I had the chance to walk a few vineyard blocks behind the winery and was excited to see several old heritage clones of Cab including a personal favorite, La Cuesta Clone. This selection of Cabernet was purportedly taken from Chateau Margaux in the 1880s and planted in Woodside, CA. From there it found a home at Martin Ray / Mount Eden and in the 1940s became the backbone of Ridge Monte Bello. If you're seeking a more old school style of Napa Cab, but one that still has some heft and rich fruit, look no further. This is a structured, muscular wine combining effusive black fruits, with camphor, graphite, leather, bay laurel, cedar and rock dust. For bone-in red meat. Winemaker Elizabeth Vianna is in top form here as evidenced by this being named the #5 Wine of 2024 by the Wine Spectator.