Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon

Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, bottled at 15.2% ABV in a 750ml format. The 2021 vintage earned perfect 100-point scores from both Jeb Dunnuck and Decanter, placing it among the most critically celebrated Napa Cabernets of recent years. Production is limited to roughly 500 cases annually, sourced from some of the valley's most storied vineyard sites.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.2%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Winemaker: Sam Kaplan

Production & Heritage

Memento Mori sources fruit from three elite Napa Valley vineyards: Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Beckstoffer Las Piedras, and Vine Hill Ranch — sites with deep pedigrees in California's fine wine hierarchy. Under winemaker Sam Kaplan, the wine is aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak, building structure and complexity while preserving the purity of the fruit. With only around 500 cases produced per vintage, allocation is tightly controlled, and the wine has developed a cult following that draws comparisons to the early days of Napa's most legendary estates.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with concentrated crème de cassis and dark plum preserves before revealing layers of dried roses, violets, and fragrant earth. Deeper in the glass, notes of cardamom, espresso roast, and cedar emerge.

Taste: The palate entry is full-bodied and immediately dense with ripe black and blue fruits — blackberry, wild blueberry, and black currant. At mid-palate, the wine gains dimension through graphite, rocky minerality, and cigar box complexity, all carried by a creamy, textural mouthfeel. Firmly framed tannins provide serious architecture without ever feeling harsh.

Finish: Long and layered, with lingering notes of bitter chocolate, aniseed, and tobacco leaf that persist well after each sip. The oak integration is seamless, leaving a final impression of spicy cedar and dark fruit concentration.

How to Drink Memento Mori

This is a wine built for contemplation — serve it at 62–65°F in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass, and consider decanting for 60–90 minutes to allow the full aromatic spectrum to unfold. Its weight and intensity are best appreciated on their own or alongside rich, savory dishes rather than in wine-based cocktails. If pairing at a dinner table, let the wine take center stage; it rewards focused attention.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley collector or wine enthusiast
• Anchoring a special-occasion dinner with aged steaks or braised short ribs
• Adding a trophy bottle to a cellar for aging through at least 2036
• Hosting a blind tasting of elite Napa Cabernet Sauvignons

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Memento Mori taste like? Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon delivers deeply concentrated black and blue fruit — cassis, blackberry, wild blueberry — layered with graphite, bitter chocolate, cedar, and tobacco leaf. The mouthfeel is full-bodied and creamy, with firm tannins and a long, spice-driven finish.

How does Memento Mori compare to Screaming Eagle? Both are ultra-limited Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons that command cult-level demand, but Memento Mori is a newer entrant drawing from Beckstoffer and Vine Hill Ranch fruit, while Screaming Eagle is estate-grown in Oakville. Industry observers have noted Memento Mori generating the kind of in-the-know excitement last seen when Screaming Eagle and Harlan were first gaining attention.

Is Memento Mori good for cellaring? Yes — Wine Spectator's James Molesworth rated a recent vintage as best from 2023 through 2036, indicating strong aging potential. The firm tannin structure and concentrated fruit profile suggest it will continue to develop complexity over the next decade or more.

Where is Memento Mori made? Memento Mori is produced in Napa Valley, California, by winemaker Sam Kaplan. The fruit is sourced from three prestigious vineyard sites: Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Beckstoffer Las Piedras, and Vine Hill Ranch.

What foods pair well with Memento Mori? Dry-aged ribeye steak benefits from the wine's tannin and dark fruit intensity. Braised lamb shanks with rosemary complement its earthy, herbal undertones. Dark chocolate truffles echo its bitter chocolate finish. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese match its weight and complexity. Wild mushroom risotto bridges the wine's forest floor and mineral notes.

What sizes does Memento Mori come in? Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Memento Mori worth the price? Memento Mori positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, competing with wines that carry similar critical acclaim and scarcity. With dual 100-point scores on the 2021 vintage and production of just 500 cases, its pricing reflects both quality and extreme rarity in the marketplace.

Why Memento Mori?

Few Napa Cabernets can claim perfect scores from two major critics on the same vintage — Memento Mori's 2021 earned 100 points from both Jeb Dunnuck and Decanter. The wine draws its character from a trio of vineyards that read like a greatest-hits list of Napa terroir: Beckstoffer Dr. Crane, Beckstoffer Las Piedras, and Vine Hill Ranch. Aged 22 months in 100% new French oak and bottled in quantities of roughly 500 cases, it occupies a rarefied space where critical acclaim meets genuine scarcity. For collectors seeking the next chapter in Napa Valley's ongoing story, this is one of the most compelling wines to emerge in recent years.