World's End Cabernet Sauvignon If Six Was Nine Reserve 2016

Hi! Looking for a light sip, a modest quaff? 

THEN HIT THE DELETE KEY AS HARD AS YOU CAN.

YEAH. Not only is this one a prolific, tube-screamer, opulent BEAST, it’s got literally everything else – if we had, like, an old-school clipboard, we’d be frantically checking off boxes – boxes of awesomeness!!! As your humble scribe, you’d think I’d be immune to the ferocious pace of brain-melting deals that cross my desk every day. I’m not. Seriously? $85 Napa Cabernet at $32? From the maybe-best-ever 2016 vintage?

All I can say is: DROP what you’re doing and lock it UP. I clearly remember the email from Tracie B. in OR who bought a case of the last World’s End Cab and spent a week BEGGING us for more (alas, it was long gone). Tracie, go big on this one. Dang!

OK, let’s get to it. By now you know (probably), World’s End is from the maverick, too-many-95-100-point-wines-to-list Jonathan Maltus, he of the culty Chateau LE DOME, Chateau Teyssier, and many more in Bordeaux (predominantly Right Bank). This is his Napa project, all named after songs he loves (If 6 Was 9 is a Jimi Hendrix all-time classic) and he accesses all the big vineyards (To-Kalon, George III, etc). The wines get big scores, but for whatever reason, this was never sent in for reviews, and we think the winery here has wound down. Anyway, that’s amazing news for YOU, because…well, THE PRICE!! For Cab at this level? It’s just…nutty. 

The wine is deep, dark, brooding magic-sauce, percolating and firing on all cylinders with hedonistic cassis and black plums, cigar box (I just waved a nice Macanudo cigar I got for Xmas under my nose and confirmed this – that sweet tobacco, touch-of-clove, warm, wonderful aroma), dark cocoa nibs (love those!), blackberry compote, anise, even a bit of menthol…TONS going here. JUST…..a STEAL!! Hard to believe! OK, happy Monday, get more than you think you’ll want!!