AURA
2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
, Napa Valley
The Beau Vigne Collection
94 Points - Decanter
What happens when you hand the keys of a premier Napa estate to Julien Fayard—the winemaking virtuoso trained at Château Lafite-Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte? You get pure, unadulterated magic.
"One of my favorite wineries, Beau Vigne’s vineyard sits at a high elevation in the southern Napa Valley, back Soda Canyon Road, overlooking Pritchard Hill Gap and Stagecoach Vineyard. The AVA for these wines is Atlas Peak and the soils are all volcanic origin. This winery is currently on a qualitative roll."
– Robert Parker
Fayard masterfully blends mountain fruit power with flatland elegance to capture the true aura of the valley. Decanter calls it "opulent, dark-fruited... with crushed cocoa nibs nuances and a long dark chocolate finish. Ultra delicious." It's dense, concentrated, layered with plum, black cherry, leather, and baking spices. Pop it in a decanter for an hour, fire up a tri-tip or some leg of lamb, and experience Napa luxury the way it was meant to be enjoyed.
Why This Bottle?
- The Maker: Julien Fayard (100 Point Winemaker).
- The Pedigree: 94 Points (Decanter).
- The Vintage: 2023—described by Decanter as "as perfect as any Napa vintage in living memory."
- The Profile: It's dense, concentrated, layered with plum, black cherry, leather, and baking spices.
Napa Valley
A perfect blend of warm, dry summers for ripening and cooling coastal fog/breezes that preserve acidity. The region features 33 different soil types—roughly half the world's soil orders—ranging from volcanic to alluvial fan, contributing to flavor complexity. Vineyards are situated across valley floors and mountainous terrain (Vaca and Mayacamas ranges), creating distinct sub-appellations with unique characteristics. Known for high-quality, with a strong focus on producing premium, internationally acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon. The region's consistent climate allows for long "hang time" on the vine, enabling grapes to develop deep, concentrated flavors.
Vintage
In 2023, Napa Valley experienced one of the longest growing seasons in a decade or more. With consistent, mild weather throughout the season, above-average crop yields, and extended hang time, 2023 is an exceptional, high-quality, memorable vintage.
Winemaking
The fruit was harvested by hand, carefully destemmed, then sorted and gently crushed into small fermenting tanks for 12 days, with an additional time on the skins to maximize the extractions of aromas, flavors and tannins. The wine was aged for 16 months in 100% French oak barrels.
Winemaker: Julien Fayard
Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley
Aging: 16 months
Type of oak: 100% French oak barrels
Alcohol: 14.9%
Download Full Technical Sheet & Cellar Notes
Meet one of Napa Valley's 100 PT Winemakers, Julien Fayard
With more than two decades of winemaking expertise, Fayard is one of Napa Valley's most respected winemakers producing California varietals with French finesse. Julien's wines are a pure expression of their terroir, highlighting the specificities and characteristics of the fruit, vineyard management, soil and climate. Originally from France. In Bordeaux he worked at Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte before relocating to Napa Valley. In Napa, Julien Fayard spent eight years under Philippe Melka's tutelage, he was Melka's director of winemaking for a few years before launching his own projects.
Devoted exclusively to making influential luxury Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Sauvignon Blends. Taking inspiration from our founding winemaker Dave Phinney who sought out to make red wines that would compete with the greatest wines of the world. This tradition was enhanced by the addition of winemaker Kirk Venge in 2008 through 2018/19 who obtained a perfect 100 Points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
Julien's wines are a pure expression of their terroir, highlighting the specificities and characteristics of the fruit, vineyard management, soil and climate.
As a reminder, due to legal restrictions on shipments of wine and other alcoholic beverages, we are only permitted to ship to the following states:
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WY.
Temperature Control Shipping
All Central, Midwest & Eastern orders ship via temp control truck.
