Silenus, “Tyros” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Out here in wine’s Wild West, where cult bottles run thousands of dollars and a single acre on Napa Valley’s floor can fetch hundreds of thousands, a lush and perfectly sculpted Cabernet Sauvignon for $32 seems like an impossible feat. To be clear, plenty of Napa Cabs exist in this price range, but 99% of the time those bottles lack pedigreed terroir, impeccable craftsmanship, and a proper aging regimen—quite simply, they don’t leave a lasting impression. Silenus is one of those extremely rare exceptions: With “Tyros,” they source from Napa Valley’s top AVAs, utilize exorbitantly priced Cabernet fruit, and allow it to mature for nearly two years in premium oak. Most producers devoting that much time and effort into their label would start the pricing at $75, but Silenus quietly does it for over two times less. I know two things to be true: (1) This is one of Napa’s greatest current-release values and (2) our customers swoon for luxuriously balanced Cabernet, so I anticipate a proverbia