The debut release of Toymaker Cabernet is a silky smooth tour-de-force, guaranteed to delight fans of Napa’s most intensely rich Cult-style reds. The luxurious + fresh dark fruit favors display the opulent characteristics of favorite Diamond Mountain vineyard neighbors such as Checkerboard and Levy McClellan. Hints of black currant and plum sauce combine with complex baking spice on the front palate and then lead to an blissful finish that includes Toblerone chocolate and truffles. Savor this magnificent wine now (after decanting) or anytime through 2026.

ToyMaker Cellars Winery

It’s not every prominent Bordeaux collector who also houses an enviable Action Figures collection (with an emphasis on the Iron Man Marvel series). But Shirlin Wong, ToyMaker’s founder and owner, is a delightful contradiction of her parts. She grew up in Hong Kong as part of a prominent family dynasty that included her father’s toy company.

Fresh-faced and far from self-reverential, Shirlin, who after moving to California with her family attended her last three years of high school there, chose UC Davis’ pre-med track instead of USC’s architecture program. She then became a chiropractor, and still practices today, seeing only long-time clients who swear by her healing expertise. In between she runs Prime Cellar—Hong Kong and the greater Chinese region’s first European and California wine specialty importing company. Along with, of course, launching ToyMaker.