Fairest Creature's 2019 Triniceros Cabernet Sauvignon has been named the single greatest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon of the 21st century by Robb Report, an accolade that places a relatively young winery ahead of iconic, legacy producers. The announcement, made by the luxury lifestyle publication's wine critics Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, highlights the wine's exceptional quality and the collaborative effort behind its creation.
The 2019 Triniceros is a blend of three separate barrels, each initially crafted by renowned winemakers Thomas Rivers Brown, Benoit Touquette, and Philippe Melka. The barrels were then assembled by superstar blender Michel Rolland. In their review, DeSimone and Jenssen described the wine as having 'heady aromas of blue fruits, cocoa powder, espresso, black raspberry, and graphite with jaw dropping flavors of ripe red and black fruits, tobacco leaf, and brown baking spices supported by a sturdy backbone of minerality.'
Fairest Creature was founded in 2018 by Jayson Hu, who transitioned from a career in Silicon Valley to the wine industry. Hu's journey began with a wine import business about 18 years ago, and he later immersed himself in studying vineyards and winemaking techniques globally. His goal was to produce the finest wine possible by securing premier vineyard sources in Napa Valley and assembling a team of highly sought-after winemakers. The winery produces four wines from nine different Napa vineyards. Each of the three winemakers—Melka, Touquette, and Brown—crafts one wine from identical vineyard sources with each release. The fourth wine is a barrel selection of all vineyard lots made by these three, blended by Rolland.
Robb Report's list, titled 'The 50 Greatest Cabernet Sauvignons of the Century So Far,' was published to celebrate the depth and enduring appeal of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The publication noted that Napa Valley's winemaking history stretches back to 1839 and that it has been heralded as a source of some of the world's best Cabernet Sauvignon. DeSimone and Jenssen wrote that the 2019 Triniceros stood out among a field of iconic bottlings, an exceptional outcome for a relatively new Napa project.
Hu expressed honor at the recognition, stating, 'To be regarded as the greatest Napa Valley Cabernet of the 21st century so far — among so many legendary wines — truly speaks to the vision and dedication of our team.' The winery's achievement underscores the impact of combining top-tier vineyard sources with world-class winemaking talent. For more information, visit FairestCreature.com.
