Scarecrow M Etain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Scarecrow M Étain Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is a Rutherford, Napa Valley red blend bottled at 14.7% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 96 points by Jeb Dunnuck and 95 points from Wine Advocate, this 2019 vintage stands as one of the most critically lauded releases from the J.J. Cohn Estate's second label—a wine Vinous called "absolutely gorgeous."

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.7%  |  Origin: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2019  |  Winery: J.J. Cohn Estate (Scarecrow)

Production & Heritage

M Étain draws its fruit entirely from the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, a property whose history stretches back to 1945 when the original Cabernet Sauvignon vines—affectionately known as the "Old Men"—were planted. The 2019 blend comprises 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 4% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, fermented in small stainless-steel tanks before aging 17 months in French oak barrels, 75% of which were new. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration, preserving the full textural expression of the vineyard. While M Étain is positioned as the estate's second wine to the flagship Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, critics have consistently noted that its quality rivals many producers' top cuvées.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The glass opens with layers of violets and fallen leaves before giving way to warm cassis, plum preserves, and raspberry jam. Deeper inhalation reveals incense, pipe tobacco, clove, and a subtle mahogany undertone laced with cardamom.

Taste: Full-bodied on entry, the palate delivers ripe, opulent black fruit preserve flavors—currant, plum, and black cherry—woven through with blood orange, licorice snap, and roasted alder. At mid-palate the wine broadens into a voluptuous but never heavy frame, with firm, grainy tannins providing structural backbone and beautiful definition to the fruit.

Finish: Long and seductively spicy, with lingering vanilla, loam, and dark spice. The tannins grip slightly at the very end but remain balanced by the depth of fruit, trailing off with a whisper of black olive and forest floor.

How to Drink M Étain 2019

This wine is best served slightly below room temperature, around 62–65°F, in a large-bowled glass to let its complex aromatics unfold. Given its structure and intensity, decanting for 30 to 60 minutes will soften the grainy tannins and allow the secondary spice and floral notes to emerge fully. M Étain 2019 is fundamentally a wine built for the table rather than cocktails—pair it with richly prepared dishes rather than mixing.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley wine collector
• Anchoring a special-occasion dinner with premium red meat
• Cellaring for 5–10 years to track the evolution of Rutherford fruit
• Introducing someone to the Scarecrow estate without the flagship's allocation difficulty

Frequently Asked Questions

What does M Étain 2019 taste like? It delivers a full-bodied, opulent profile dominated by dark fruit preserves—cassis, plum, black cherry—layered with violets, incense, clove, and a seductively spicy finish. Silky, soft tannins and a lively acid backbone keep the richness in check.

How does M Étain compare to the flagship Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon? M Étain is the estate's second wine, sourced from the same J.J. Cohn Estate vineyard in Rutherford but typically blended from lots not selected for the flagship. Critics have noted that despite its second-label status, M Étain routinely competes at the quality level of many producers' top cuvées, though it tends toward a slightly more approachable, less concentrated style than the primary Scarecrow bottling.

Is M Étain 2019 good for cellaring? Yes—its firm tannin structure, lively acidity, and concentrated fruit suggest a drinking window that extends comfortably through the late 2020s and into the early 2030s. It is also highly rewarding when decanted and enjoyed now.

Where is M Étain made? M Étain is produced at the J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford, one of Napa Valley's most celebrated sub-appellations in California, known for its gravelly benchland soils and a long history of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.

What foods pair well with M Étain 2019? Grilled bone-in ribeye steak benefits from the wine's tannin and dark fruit intensity. Braised short ribs echo its savory, loamy undertones. Roasted lamb rack with herbs complements the clove and tobacco spice. Aged Comté or Gruyère cheese mirrors the vanilla and mahogany notes. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage bridges into the wine's spicy, lingering finish.

What sizes does M Étain come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle; availability of large-format bottles varies by vintage and allocation.

Is M Étain 2019 worth the price? M Étain positions as a premium Napa Valley Cabernet that sits below the ultra-premium flagship Scarecrow in price while delivering critical scores of 96 (Jeb Dunnuck) and 95 (Wine Advocate), making it a compelling value proposition within the estate's portfolio and against Rutherford peers at similar price points.

Why M Étain 2019?

The 2019 vintage in Napa Valley delivered a growing season widely praised for balance, and M Étain captures that character with precision—full-bodied and opulent without the heaviness that marked some earlier vintages, as Vinous specifically observed. With 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 95 from Wine Advocate, it sits among the highest-rated M Étain releases to date. The wine's origin from the historic 1945 J.J. Cohn Estate vines, bottling without fining or filtration, and 17 months in predominantly new French oak all contribute to a depth and complexity that justify its reputation as one of Napa's most distinguished second labels. For collectors who cannot access or afford the flagship Scarecrow, this bottling offers a genuine window into one of Rutherford's most storied vineyards.