The 2023 Scarecrow M. Étain Cabernet Sauvignon is shaping up to be one of Napa Valley’s premier “second-label” cult wines and arguably one of the strongest M. Étain releases to date. Sourced from the legendary J.J. Cohn Estate in Rutherford and crafted by superstar winemaker Celia Welch, the 2023 blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 5% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. It benefited from a long, cool, drought-ending growing season that delivered exceptional balance, concentration, and aromatic purity. The profile is classic Rutherford: dark currants, blackberry, violet, graphite, espresso, vanilla, and polished oak, with a plush, velvet-textured palate and powerful but refined tannins. Critically, the wine has already earned major praise, including 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 94 from Vinous, placing it at the very top of Napa’s high-end Cabernet category for the vintage. Compared to flagship Scarecrow, M. Étain is generally more approachable earlier, slightly more fruit-forward, and significantly better value while still carrying much of the estate’s prestige and vineyard pedigree. Community sentiment among collectors consistently positions M. Étain as one of the best luxury Napa buys below the flagship cult bottling tier.

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