2018 Rewa Khanda Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 750 ml

Mike Wolf and Celia Welch are two of the most famous—and expensive—names in Napa.

As the winemaker for Scarecrow, Celia is instantly recognizable to Cabernet connoisseurs—but even before she crafted those now-$750+ bottles, she enjoyed an unassailable reputation around the valley, consulting for names like Staglin, Buccella, Keever, and Hartwell. Oh, and she was named Food & Wine’s Winemaker of the Year, as well.

If it’s possible, Mike Wolf may enjoy an even more esteemed reputation in Napa wine circles. Andy Beckstoffer’s former right-hand man is probably the most in-demand vineyard whisperer in all of California—with a client list that has included names like Scarecrow, Vine Hill Ranch, Bond, Araujo, Lail, and Duckhorn.

So any project that brings the two of them together is going to be noteworthy—especially if the vineyard they work with has the prestige of Rewa.

Located on top of a knoll between Meteor Vineyard and Realm’s Farella Estate, it’s a prime piece of Coombsville real estate—the 2018 Rewa Khanda packs all the plush richness and intense complexity you’d expect out of a vineyard with such prized soils. Coombsville is notable for its cool, marine-influenced climate, which allows the team to let the grapes hang for a long time, creating intense flavor-ripeness without worrying about alcohol levels or freshness in the finished wine.

In 2018, Welch had a dream vintage to work with. Wine Spectator doesn’t think there’s ever been a better year in the history of Napa Valley, as winter rains gave vines enough stored water to navigate a warm—but not hot—summer free of surprises. That meant the Cabernet could hang and hang on the vine until perfection. It’s hard to argue with these results.