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The October 2026 Auction: Part 5
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Lot 29
Estimate: $590
OWC.
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Collection name
Reviews
94AG
"The 2013 Penultimate is a dark, brooding beauty that captures all the qualities of the Grand Vin, if I can use that phrase, but in a slightly more accessible style that can be enjoyed with just a few years in bottle. Iron, incense, tar, espresso, licorice and dark fruit all meld together in a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the essence of place and the year in its muscular personality. Time brings out the wine’s natural power, but intense saline and mineral underpinnings remain constants. This is a super-impressive debut. About ten years ago Bill Harlan took me to a small winery a stone’s throw from Meadowood and The Napa Valley Reserve. He took out a set of maps and spread them out over a coffee table. “This is our latest project,” he told me as his eyes lit up. Harlan explained that he had chanced upon this property while hiking years prior and used evocative phrases like “the land” and “the territory” to describe a place that sounded like something out of the Wild West or a fairy tale, possibly both. That sort of mysticism is not often associated with Napa Valley, but Napa Valley can be that way once you move away from the well-known areas. That place was Promontory. I recently had a chance to taste the first three vintages of Penultimate, the newest wine from the property, with Will Harlan and Winemakers Cory Empting and David Cilli."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The 2013 Penultimate is a dark, brooding beauty that captures all the qualities of the Grand Vin, if I can use that phrase, but in a slightly more accessible style that can be enjoyed with just a few years in bottle. Iron, incense, tar, espresso, licorice and dark fruit all meld together in a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the essence of place and the year in its muscular personality. Time brings out the wine’s natural power, but intense saline and mineral underpinnings remain constants. This is a super-impressive debut. About ten years ago Bill Harlan took me to a small winery a stone’s throw from Meadowood and The Napa Valley Reserve. He took out a set of maps and spread them out over a coffee table. “This is our latest project,” he told me as his eyes lit up. Harlan explained that he had chanced upon this property while hiking years prior and used evocative phrases like “the land” and “the territory” to describe a place that sounded like something out of the Wild West or a fairy tale, possibly both. That sort of mysticism is not often associated with Napa Valley, but Napa Valley can be that way once you move away from the well-known areas. That place was Promontory. I recently had a chance to taste the first three vintages of Penultimate, the newest wine from the property, with Will Harlan and Winemakers Cory Empting and David Cilli."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
California's most prestigious wine region, celebrated worldwide for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon. Diverse soils and mountain-to-valley-floor sites yield wines of remarkable ripeness, power and longevity.
Yountville is a sub-AVA in central Napa Valley, California, producing balanced, structured Cabernet Sauvignon of ripe dark fruit and firm yet refined tannins, blending power with elegance.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape known for deep color, firm tannins and a clearly defined structure. Blackcurrant, often described as cassis, is a signature flavor, accompanied by blackberry and, depending on the wine, cedar, graphite, mint or herbal notes. Oak aging can add spice and toast, while bottle age may bring tobacco, leather and other savory layers. The grape is a cornerstone of Bordeaux's Left Bank, especially the Médoc and Graves, where it is commonly blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and smaller amounts of other varieties. Beyond Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon has established distinctive regional identities, including Australia's Coonawarra and Margaret River. Vineyard climate and ripeness influence whether the emphasis falls on fresh fruit and herbs or richer, fuller expressions. Its tannins, acidity and concentration can support long development in well-balanced examples. Many accessible styles are made for earlier enjoyment, while more structured wines reward time as their tannins soften and their aromas evolve. Cabernet Sauvignon brings depth and backbone to blends and can also express a vineyard's character as a varietal wine.
