Carl Roy Red Wine "East Side Cuvée", Napa Valley 2021

Ry Richards, the longtime assistant winemaker at Chappellet, fashions this classic Bordeaux blend from Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (30%) and Petit Verdot (10%). The vineyard sites are select plots in Rutherford and St. Helena just above the valley floor, with west-southwestern exposures. What amazes us year after year is the exceptional freshness Richards achieves with grapes that would normally yield the typical thick, high-octane Napa red. That it comes in at the under-$40 mark makes this wine one of TFWR's best values!