Maitre de Chai Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Mountain Vineyard 2021

Napa Valley, California 

Vinous 96 points! 

Maitre de Chai Cabernet Sauvignon is a beautiful expression of Napa Valley from a single vineyard, Gala Mountain Vineyard. It is rare when a winemaker has a background as a top-level chef in restaurants. Nonetheless, there are some interesting parallels between these two noble professions. In the case of Alex Pitts and Marty Winters of the Maitre de Chai winery, both food and wine figure prominently in their resumés. Having worked in top kitchens, cellars and even as front-of-the-house sommeliers, this combined experience has informed their approach to making their own wines. Their winery, Maitre de Chai, was established in 2012. Together they look to make wines of high quality in a way that best showcases the ingredients that top California vineyards can produce. For this Cab, it’s the Gala Mountain Vineyard in Napa Valley. The Gala Mountain Vineyard sits at 1,000' above Napa Valley on the slopes of Mt. George just East of the town of Napa. The Northwest facing, terraced vineyard was planted in 1992 and is cooled by the constant breezes of the San Pablo Bay. The six-acre vineyard was converted from organic to biodynamic in 2018. 

“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Gala Vineyard is fabulous. It emerges from a terraced vineyard at 1,800 feet in elevation in Napa Valley, just above the Coombsville AVA. Rich, dark and beautifully structured, the 2021 possesses notable pedigree and character. Black cherry, plum, gravel, licorice, bay leaf and espresso all race across the palate. Readers who enjoy old-school Napa Cabernets will adore this. This wine, if sold in Napa Valley, would cost four to five times as much. Don't miss it!”—Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 96 points! 

Enjoy Maitre de Chai Cabernet Sauvignon with filet mignon, rack of lamb, steak, grilled vegetables and aged cheeses.