Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 (1.5L)

Even the most recent vintage I inquired about, the 2017 Austin Hope Cabernet had been snatched up in its entirety within weeks of its release date. It had been rated a 95 by Wine Enthusiast and named their #10 Best Wine of the Year. Great, I thought. We’ll never see a bottle. 

But what the winery didn’t know was that as soon as Covid hit, their agreement to sell the entirety of their Austin Hope Magnums to ‘The Palm’ Steakhouses throughout the country went up in smoke.

So last week I got the call I thought would never come, but with one ‘gotcha’. “Was I still interested in the 2017 Austin Hope Cabernet?” You bet. “Only problem is … they’re magnums. Would people like them?” I replied – “We’ve never offered Magnums. Ever.” Silence. “What if they were half price to make up for it?”

I laughed to myself. Would people want a two-for-one sized bottle of the #10 Wine of the Year for $75/magnum? It’s a no-brainer. 

The 2017 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon is an absolute treat, the perfect Cabernet to enjoy with outdoor dining. It’s powerful in its youth, bursting with dark fruits and cherry cola and attacking tastebuds with gripping tannins and a sturdy acid backbone (and the big bottle) for the wine to continue to improve for many, many years to come. 

95 points from Wine Enthusiast. In the interest of spreading this one around to as many as possible, we ask that you limit your Big Bottle purchases to six bottles or less.