The 2019 Triniceros Cabernet Sauvignon from Fairest Creature, a young Napa Valley winery founded by Jayson Hu in 2018, has been named the single greatest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon of the 21st century by Robb Report. This recognition places the ultra-limited wine above iconic, legacy producers in the prestigious publication's "Top 50 of the 21st Century" list, disrupting the traditional hierarchy of Napa Cabernet producers.
Robb Report authors Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen wrote that while Fairest Creature has been producing acclaimed Napa Cabs for years, this particular blend stands out as exceptional. "We feel this blend of three separate barrels first produced by legendary winemakers Thomas Rivers Brown, Benoit Touquette, and Philippe Melka and then assembled by superstar blender Michel Rolland, stands out as the best Napa Cab we've tasted in a long time," they noted in their assessment. The wine features aromas of blue fruits, cocoa powder, espresso, black raspberry, and graphite with flavors of ripe red and black fruits, tobacco leaf, and brown baking spices supported by minerality.
The significance of this achievement extends beyond a single wine ranking. Napa Valley has a winemaking history stretching back to 1839 and has long been heralded as a source of world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. For a relatively new project like Fairest Creature to secure the top position among what DeSimone and Jenssen called "the 50 Greatest Cabernet Sauvignons of the Century so far" represents a notable shift in the region's wine landscape. It demonstrates that emerging producers with innovative approaches can compete with and potentially surpass established names, potentially encouraging new investment and creativity in Napa winemaking.
Fairest Creature represents a unique collaborative model in Napa winemaking. The winery produces four wines from nine different Napa vineyards, with each of its three winemakers—Philippe Melka, Benoit Touquette, and Thomas Rivers Brown—creating one wine from identical vineyard sources with every release. The fourth wine, which includes the 2019 Triniceros, is a barrel selection of all vineyard lots made by these three winemakers, blended by world-renowned winemaker Michel Rolland. This collaborative approach, combining multiple renowned talents, may represent a new paradigm for premium wine production.
Proprietor Jayson Hu, who founded the winery after shifting from a Silicon Valley technology background to wine approximately 18 years ago, emphasized the team effort behind this achievement. "We're honored by this recognition from Robb Report," Hu said. "To be regarded as the greatest Napa Valley Cabernet of the 21st century so far — among so many legendary wines — truly speaks to the vision and dedication of our team." The winery's success suggests that cross-disciplinary approaches, combining analytical thinking from other industries with traditional winemaking expertise, can yield exceptional results in the competitive Napa Valley market.
For consumers and collectors, this ranking may influence perceptions of value and prestige in Napa Cabernet. While established producers have long commanded premium prices and collector interest, recognition of newer entrants like Fairest Creature could broaden the market for high-end Napa wines. The winery's limited production model—with detailed information available at https://fairestcreature.com—combined with critical acclaim may create new benchmarks for quality and innovation in the region. As Napa Valley continues to evolve as a premier wine region, such recognition of emerging talent alongside established names suggests a dynamic and competitive future for California's most famous wine appellation.
