A true BLOCKBUSTER from this up-and-coming boutique winery. The alluring bouquet charms with blueberry liqueur, espresso, and pipe tobacco plus toasted oak. This regal wine launches forth with massive notes black forest cake, blue fruit, mocha, exotic spices, graphite and creamy vanilla extract. This is a deeply satisfying + FUN example of young Cabernet Sauvignon. This 2019 Institution is another killer effort by this all-star team, worthy of 98+ points now and promises 99+ point grandeur for the next decade. Bravo.

Institution Winery

At Porthos, we love discovering and then sharing Napa pre-Cult Cabernets (like Ovid,
Checkerboard, Nine Suns, Toymaker, etc.) before they are recognized by mainstream
collectors and critics. Institution is a small passion project by all-star winemaker Russell
Bevan and vintner Josh Peeples, who have collaborated since meeting at Chateau
Boswell in 2010 and is a best barrel selection from TOP vineyards like the Tench
vineyard next to Screaming Eagle in Oakville and Houyi next to Colgin on Pritchard Hill.

Bevan has earned over fifteen “Perfect” 100-point wines in his career, including the
world’s only 100-point wine in 2011. According to this dynamic duo, “Institution
Cabernet blend represents a zero compromise approach to crafting Napa Valley wine.”
Their inaugural release was Nov. 2020, and allocations have been by invitation only.