2021 Force & Grace - Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford (750ml)

Force & Grace is a partnership between Joseph Carr, the entrepreneur behind the Josh Cellars brand, and winemaker Jean Hoefliger, whose resume includes stints at Château Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux and Alpha Omega in Napa. Together they built Force & Grace around the idea of pairing bold structure with elegant restraint, crafting small-lot Cabernet Sauvignon from some of Napa Valley's most storied appellations.

This bottling is blended from multiple distinct vineyard sites within the Rutherford appellation, an area prized for its wide, sun-drenched valley floor and vineyards dating back to the 1800s. The grapes are hand-picked at night to preserve freshness, carefully sorted, and aged for 22 months in French oak, more than half of it new, which builds a toasted, textural depth without overwhelming the fruit.

The wine offers dusty, iron-like minerality alongside black and red cherries, red currant, candied cinnamon, and herbes de Provence. Medium to full-bodied, it carries long, refined tannins with a powdery finish. Pair it with juniper-crusted elk, aged Gouda, or a rich beef stew.