Grapes: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4% Petite Sirah

Fortunate Son is the newest wine project from critically acclaimed winemaker Jayson Woodbridge of Hundred Acre fame. The wines are sourced from heritage micro-block sites that showcase the quality of the vineyards that are the bedrock of the early history of the Napa Valley

This is made with the same meticulous winemaking and farming practices as his flagship wine Hundred Acre. They represent a commitment to quality and craftsmanship that very few wineries in the world can match.

“The Diplomat” 2022 sets a clear statement: Napa power, sculpted with finesse. Sourced from storied small parcels, this bottling combines Cabernet’s backbone, Merlot’s lushness and Petite Sirah’s depth—all grown and harvested with precision to reflect Napa’s terroir in an elevated form.

The fruit is fermented in small lots, aged 35 months in 100% new French oak with tight-grained staves, then blended to balance intensity and polish. The focus remains on letting the wines speak of place and structure rather than volume or flash.

Aromas of blackberry and cassis open gently, followed by graphite, sagebrush and a touch of vanilla bean. On the palate it’s structured and elegant—dark fruit layered with fine tannins, bright acidity and a mineral spine that carries into a long, textured finish. This is Napa’s grand-blend ambition, delivered with composure and reserve.

James Suckling: 97 Points