SOLD OUT! The 2015 Smith Story Pickberry Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is the best California Cab I’ve tasted this year.
Rated 95 points by Vinous Media’s Antonio Galloni, just 300 cases were produced. It’s the debut vintage, it’s a magical wine, and it’s not going to last long.
2015 Smith Story Cabernet Sauvignon Pickberry Vineyard
95 points – Antonio Galloni – Vinous Media
SOLD OUT
I’m going to start with Galloni’s review, as it’s spot-on. “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pickberry Vineyard is a total knock-out. Gracious and light on its feet, with tremendous character, the Pickberry will thrill readers who enjoy old-school California Cabernets. Bright acids and mountain structure from this hillside site on Sonoma Mountain give the wine a palpable sense of energy and savoriness to play off the dark-toned fruit. Scents of lavender, sage, tobacco and menthol linger on the super-expressive finish. What a marvelous wine this is.”
It’s good to be connected is all I can say. My friends Ali Smith and Eric Story only made 300 cases of this wine in the tremendous 2015 vintage. Ali was just in town last week, and we shared a bottle of this over lunch. It literally floored me! Stylistically, this one reminded me of some legendary wines — think Mount Eden, Laurel Glen, Corison, and Montelena Estate. Yep, it’s that good and it costs a lot less.
Oh yeah, Ali also made sure that I got the lion’s share available to WNC…….like I said, it’s good to be connected. I can’t put into words how good this wine is. It’s powerful, yet elegant, and the aromas and flavors are in perfect harmony, with the fruit balancing perfectly with the savory herb, spice, and earth nuances. Galloni says to drink it from 2023-2035 — I certainly believe this one has the stuffing to lay down, but don’t feel like you have delay gratification for that long. I thought it was drinking just fine when I had it with Alison the other day.
So there you go. Your friendly wine monger scoring another incredible, small-production, highly-rated wine, and offering it up at the best price in the country. Am I awesome or what? Just kidding! But I’m not kidding when I say this one won’t last long. Don’t think about it too long. Cheers!
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville