Say what? Yeah. Here’s what we had said for the 2021:

“This is truly one of the better treasures we’ve unearthed in recent memory with a Caymus connection like no other. And yes, we share the “But who is Cannatelli?” and “Is that a kind of pasta?” questions you likely have. They’re a tiny blip of a winery in Napa, and it’s not pasta. It’s NAPA CAB WELL UNDER $30.”

Then, like a just tossed heap of handmade al dente pasta in front of a hungry crowd, before we could grate more cheese on it, from a small mountain of Cab, we were down to NOTHING in less than a day. Then we kept wondering, could they have any older vintages?

It’s (y)our luck day, top Napa Cab crazy Ops, one more Cannatelli, this time from library, but at the same full 71% OFF the $95 winery price. Do not hesitate on this one either; it’s just as good with benefits of some cellaring on top. What precious little we scored once again has a strong chance of being gone by the afternoon once again… you’ve been warned, once again. And, enough with the once again!

What a find. Almost nobody had heard of Cannatelli, sure. The story is similar to many others here. Len and Judy Cannatelli had enough money to purchase a property in the valley, just outside of Yountville, complete with its own vineyard. They met a great neighbor/winemaker. And hired a terrific vineyard manager. They started making some fantastic wines.

Consulting winemaker Paul Colantuoni has a truly impressive resume. His humble beginnings at Robert Mondavi and Neyers led him to a couple of really impressive European detours at Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Brancaia in the Maremma, Tuscany. Returning to Napa, he took on Constant, Alanté, Frisson, and Rocca Family as clients from 2008 through 2021, while making Cannatelli from 2013 until 2023.

And the vineyard? It was planted by the one and only Joe Wagner of Caymus to supply some of the best grapes in their arsenal. Their tiny 1/4 acre estate vineyard sits just across from Robert Sinskey and Cliff Lede, near Gemstone. Great company and proven grounds for top-tier Cab.

Bongo: This is a classic Cabernet that has real varietal character. A pure, complex bouquet of sweet black currants, leafy herbs, lead pencil, and a touch of mint. Full-bodied, with an intense, focused, and elegant feel that can be found in the best examples of Napa Valley, it opens in the glass with vibrant acidity, silky tannins, and outstanding focus and persistence on the finish that will impress for many more years. Sometimes the whole marketing side, where you actually sell the wine, is a tricky piece of the puzzle for a small producer. With no distribution and such small production, they relied entirely on direct sales. And sometimes, the Spies stumble upon hidden gems like this, help liberate it from the cellar, and bring it into your home for an absolute STEAL.

Too bad there is so little to go around. Discoveries like these are RARE!