We have tasted a boat load of quality wines over the past year. There has been everything from a $12.00 grocery store selection to a $250+ limited selection, single vineyard Cab. So, when we decide on a WOTY (wine of the year) it is every bottle for itsself. They must all stand on their own merit and each bottle has a fair shot of receiving this honor. We take into consideration not only what is inside the bottle, but also the overall presentation, availability, price and label.
For 2025, the Drink The Bottles team has bestowed our "Wine of the Year" honor to the 2017 Maxville Winery Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine epitomizes Napa Valley fruit, body, complexity and the overall tasting experience. Eggplant and berry jam color, this wine has lifting aromas of crushed black cherries, cocoa powder, scorched earth and wet cedar plank. It's absolutely mouth-watering and the delicate tannins coat the mouth with black fruits, fine saddle leather, mild spices, cherry tobacco and dark chocolate. The Rutherford Dust that you typically experience from this AVA was surprisingly not at the forefront but the mouth-coating feel was absolutely delicious with every single sip.
While the drinking window for this wine still has a long life ahead, we feel it is drinking superbly right now and it is nearly perfect. Absolutely delicious!
ABV: 14.5%
Ruherford AVA
Winery: Maxville Winery
Suggested retail price: $150.00
Drink The Bottles score: 97/100
