TEETER-TOTTER, CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 

NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 2016

 

"Having tasted a number of Touquette's wines over the last year, it is pretty clear he is one of the emerging stars in Napa Valley." - Antonio Galloni

If you are not familiar with winemaker Benoit Touquette, you probably are familiar with his repertoire of wines including highly acclaimed Realm Cellars, Hartwell and Kata as well as his work alongside Andy Erickson at Screaming Eagle, Arietta, Favia and Ovid. Today, he is considered one of the top winemakers in Napa Valley and is responsible for numerous wines that will go down in history as some of Napa's greatest wines ever produced, including eight 100-pointers under Realm Cellars. Though his resume is flat-out impressive, it's his journey to the top that I find so fascinating.

Unlike other famous winemakers, Benoit was not born into a family of wine. He grew up in a rough part of Lyon and attended the local university with the hopes of becoming a fighter pilot. When this ambition didn't pan out, he tried his hand at auto repair and even banking alongside his father. Uninspired, he moved to Bordeaux to attend graduate school where he was introduced to the wine business when he got a job with a mobile bottling line. While working towards a Masters Diploma in both Chemistry and Oenology, he worked at numerous wineries (including La Louviere and Couhins-Lurton) before venturing to California where he was introduced to Andy Erickson of Screaming Eagle through mentor and friend Michel Rolland. When Realm's winemaker left in 2010, Benoit agreed to help his friend and winery owner Juan Mercado with the blending of the 2009 vintage. Not long after, Benoit was officially part of the team. With access to perfect fruit and terroir, Benoit pulled from the culmination of this life experiences to figure out how to unlock the full potential of what each vineyard has to offer. This is what makes him the most in-demand winemaker in Napa.

Recently, Benoit has started his own projects: Fait-Main and Teeter-Totter - using fruit from incredible sources around the Napa Valley. Today we are thrilled to have a limited allocation of the 2016 Teeter-Totter Cabernet to offer. Explosive and full of vibrant energy, this wine represents the new wave of Napa Cabs - and we can't seem to keep our hands off it. As always, with limited allocations, we anticipate the wine to sell out, so please act quickly to secure your order.

 

 

 

 

*Offer NOT valid in-store. Offer is made pre-arrival, with the wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2019. 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 AZ, CT, DE, FL, MA, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NM, SC, VA and WA. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, April 21, 2019.