DANA ESTATES
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 2021
Why Buy: Dana Estates’s 2021 portfolio boasts near-perfect scores (99+, 99, 98 pts), but as great as these wines are — and folks, we’re talking best in class both of the vintage and of Napa Cabernet generally — the other reason we’re so thrilled to be able to offer them is their scarcity (280, 475, and 312 cases made, respectively) and rarity in the marketplace. Everything we love about this cult producer seems to be amplified in this terrific trio: the vivid expression of mountain fruit, that signature marriage of power and white glove refinement, and a level of detailing that makes Swiss watchmakers appear cavalier by comparison.
What They're Saying: The critics have been falling over themselves — in the most dignified way possible, of course — to praise these wines. Jeb Dunnuck describes the Lotus Vineyard (99+ points) as “incredibly concentrated and flawlessly balanced,” while declaring the Hershey Vineyard (99 points) a "superstar" for its "incredible purity" and "multi-dimensional mouthfeel." The Wine Advocate joins the chorus for Helms Vineyard (98 points), writing that it "boasts a stupendous nose .. ample weight and concentration, a lovely silky texture and a long finish."
Tasting Notes: If terroir is a wine's autobiography, these three bottles tell remarkably different stories from the same author. The Lotus Vineyard, from its precipitous 40-degree slopes, delivers intense blue fruits, iron-like minerality, and incredible focus. The Hershey Vineyard, perched at a nose-bleeding 550m elevation, contributes a symphony of dark fruit with the kind of compelling minerality that makes geologists weak in the knees. Meanwhile, the Helms Vineyard demonstrates why the Rutherford Bench has been making Cabernet lovers swoon for generations, offering sophisticated layers of dark fruit and that signature "dusty" tannin profile that's become the wine world equivalent of a Savile Row suit.
The Story: Nestled in the shadow of the Mayacamas Mountains, Dana (Sanskrit for "the Spirit of Generosity") farms their precipitous mountain sites with the kind of painstaking attention usually reserved for bonsai cultivation. Under the guidance of winemakers Chris Cooney and Philippe Melka, these exceptional terroirs - spanning both sides of Napa Valley with two prized sites on Howell Mountain's slopes - are transformed into wines that speak with crystalline clarity of their extraordinary origins. Each bottle stands as a testament to Dana's unceasing pursuit of perfection, where the vines' struggle through bedrock becomes our pleasure in the glass.
Fun Fact: The dozen lotuses gracing Dana's label represent the months of the grapevine's lifecycle, as well as the 12 symbolic animals in the Lunar Zodiac tradition — both nods to the natural rhythm of winemaking.
What to Pair Them With: Though we could suggest the usual suspects — dry-aged ribeye, rack of lamb, wild mushroom risotto — wines of this caliber and complexity deserve to be experienced on their own, at least initially. These are meditation wines, best savored solo in proper stemware, allowing their profound depth and nuance to command your full attention.
Our Guarantee: As with all our premium offerings, you can be assured that these wines come directly from the estate, ensuring perfect provenance and optimal storage conditions.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in CA, FL & TX. This offer is valid for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Wednesday, February 12th, 2025.