Hourglass HG III Napa Valley Cabernet Blend 2018

To say Tony Biagi is a Robert Parker Darling is an understatement. During his tenure at Plumpjack, CADE, et al) Parker rained down a tirade of 98 and 99 point scores on Tony’s wines – easily justifying the $300 to $800 price tags.

His 2012 departure for Hourglass was felt throughout the valley with many unsure about the future. Those doubts have been squashed now, as critics have continued to rave, with last year’s Cab returning Tony to the rarefied air of 98 points yet again.

Now that Vinous Media named Tony Biagi their winemaker of year in 2020 – the cat is completely out of the bag and one of the drop dead best values in all of Napa has steadily risen in price, now a well-deserved $50 a bottle. Still a steal for one of the drop dead best values in all of Napa.

Inviting aromas of cocoa, creme de cassis and dark fruits with a hint of oak. It’s a full-bodied grippy Cab blend with rich dark chocolate notes that blend nicely with black cherries and figs. The tannins are ripe and solid, and the wine has a beautiful drive from start to finish. This is perfect for grilling season or more serious cuisine– both in play at this amazing price.

And while there are only 10 cases to spread around, there was one pleasant surprise. During our trip down memory lane – Tony & Team decided to roll back the clock and give us the original release price.