Brandlin, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

 Once in a while here in the land of wine samples I get a bottle that has been compromised in some way, whether it’s tainted, oxidized, light struck, heat damaged, etc.  Often this is cause for a call for a replacement.  In rare cases, the issue can actually provide a window into the wine’s future that is difficult to get in the time I have allotted when furiously popping corks and doing a “retain and eliminate” round to get at the things I find worth writing about.  This particular bottle had a slight cork leak, obscured by the foil, but evident at opening.  No doubt you’ve had this issue when pulling a wine from your cellar, and no doubt you’ve had the good fortune of finding what I’ll call “accelerated aging” that put the wine into a fine, drinkable spot.  Such is the case here, as I’d expect from Steve Rogstad’s team.  The slight leak served to show a wine in a great place, with classic Napa character.  So, while it’s still an educated guess, it’s more educated than usual to say that you could lay this down for at least five years with no ill effect, or decant a few hours before serving in the near future.