“Maximus is impressive for its concentration, depth and complexity.” - Wine Spectator

Green flag. Maximus has entered the arena. Release the Gladiator!🛡️At just $27 for this banger of a Napa red overachiever, 55% OFF, it is full glory!

Black fruit takes the lead out of the gate, black cherry and chocolate, mocha wrapped in oak. Then bright raspberry and red cherry sneak through on a juicy, concentrated palate with light, silky tannins and cocoa nibs to bring it home. Smooth through the turns. One of our agents took a sip and introduced himself as Maximus Decimus Meridius.

In Gladiator, Maximus loses everything and fights his way back into the arena. Bennett Lane owner Randy Lynch did so with the racing version, with fewer swords. ⚔️ He was drag racing as a teenager in the ’60s, and by 1968 he was crew chief on a NASCAR Grand National Ford that won at Eureka. Then he stepped out of the arena for 30 years. Duty called…

In 1998 he came back as team owner, and his West Coast truck team took a championship and 18 wins in just three seasons. In 2007 his NASCAR West driver, Mike David, won the series title in a bright yellow chariot covered in purple Bennett Lane grapes. (Don’t worry Ops, It was a tasteful chariot). 😁 And one of those chariots ended up parked right in their Calistoga tasting room. 🏎️ Forget the Circus Maximus.

Now, about the name of the wine… I’m sure y’all are curious, as some of our younger agents were… It’s named for Roman emperor Magnus Maximus, and “Red Feasting Wine” is right on the label because the Lynches fell for the way Italian wine drinks next to the food.

BTW, Randy is quite the foodie himself. I remember that all too well from one of my first gigs as a wine buyer. A foodie, a come back story and super humble, generous and kind, which is refreshing these days because often it’s just a story and real people get lost.

Spy trivia: See the coin on the label? 🪙 That’s Magnus Maximus himself, stamped on an ancient Roman coin.

The Lynches have a bit of a coin collecting hobby and picked up Roman coins on their trips to Italy, which they have on display in their tasting room. Come to think of it… coin collecting is a great hobby. Coins are light (if just a few) and travel all over the world… the stories a coin could tell*…I’m sure Maximus and the Gladiators feasted together at some point during the times of war and peace.

$60 SRP. $27 here. Strength and honor, Operatives. Now go get your feast to enjoy with this wine 🍖🍷

92 Points - James Suckling ”A delicious, concentrated, juicy wine that seems to overflow with black cherry and dark chocolate flavors on a full body. The tannins are rather light and silky, letting bright raspberry and red cherry flavors soak through, followed by milk chocolate, cocoa and baked plums.”