Bougetz Cellars, Ardante Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021

James Suckling called it _"cherries and chocolate with fine, firm tannins and a rich, fruity core"_ — and he wasn't wrong. The BOUGETZ CELLARS ARDANTE MOUNT VEEDER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2021 is 91 points of brooding Napa mountain muscle, the kind of wine that makes you put down whatever you're doing and pay proper attention. Wines like this don't announce themselves loudly. They don't need to. ​ Thomas Bougetz is the winemaker who lets his bottles do the talking — and this one has quite a lot to say. Sourced entirely from Yates Family Vineyard, perched near the summit of Mount Veeder, it's a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Merlot wearing its mountain origins with quiet swagger. ​ The 2021 vintage was lean and drought-stressed — precisely the conditions that force vines to concentrate rather than coast. The result is a wine of deeply focused intensity that will only improve with a few years in the cellar, though it's already rather magnificent right now. ​ Blackberry, black cherry, and dark plum lead the charge, anchored by that classic Mount Veeder spice-box grip. The tannins are firm, the finish is long, and the whole thing lands with the confidence of something that knows exactly what it is.