Beau Vigne, Old Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, 2022

Founded in 2002 by Ed and Trish Snider, Beau Vigne (French for "Beautiful Vineyard") began as a boutique project focused on high-elevation fruit from Atlas Peak. The brand gained "cult" status through collaborations with legendary winemakers like Dave Phinney (of Orin Swift) and Kirk Venge, the latter of whom secured a perfect 100-point score for the winery. In 2019, the brand was acquired by Charles Bartlett of the Appellation Trading Company. Today, winemaking is led by the "genius" Julien Fayard (formerly of Château Lafite-Rothschild), who has pivoted the brand toward sourcing from premier Napa sub-appellations like Rutherford to maintain its reputation for influential, luxury Cabernets. While not an official "motto" in the corporate sense, the winery’s guiding philosophy is often summarized by its name and its winemaker's creed: "Beau Vigne" (Beautiful Vineyard) — “Great wine is the natural product of grapes; the creed is vineyard-centric.” The wine is typically made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 20 to 22 months in 100% French oak. This Cabernet leads with ripe blackberry jam and dark cherry, anchored by signature "Rutherford Dust" minerality. Layers of cocoa, cedar, and toasted oak emerge on a full-bodied palate, supported by velvety tannins and a long, powerful finish. Pair this robust Cabernet with a dry-aged ribeye steak topped with blue cheese butter to complement the wine's bold tannins and dark fruit profile.