Patria The Monarch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

Like his wines, Tony Biagi is boisterous, complex, loud, and un-filtered - in the best way!  He has a stacked résumé which includes past cellar positions at Duckhorn, PlumpJack, and CADE, the current winemaker role at Amici Cellars, Clos du Val, and Hourglass, and the consulting-winemaker role at Lasseter (Sonoma), Jada Estate (Paso Robles), and The Vineyardist (Diamond Mountain).  Known affectionately amongst locals as The Golden Bear, it is no secret that Tony pours his big heart and kind soul into every barrel he touches.  Tony’s label, Patria, means “native” or “homeland.” The label boasts a golden bear, and the name and the image are an homage to his multigenerational history in California.  He is ruthless when sourcing fruit for Patria, as he should be.  After all, these are more than just wines; they are unique collaborations between friends and community members, a convergence of livelihood fueled by passion.

Tony’s partner in crime for Patria, Kimberly Jones, is no stranger to Napa Valley’s wine world, having represented some of the region’s most exclusive wineries through her brokerage.  Her company, Kimberly Jones Selections (or KJS as it’s known to us locals), distributes wines for over 60 California producers in addition to 30 international wineries from Europe and South America.  After a successful career in restaurants and then the film industry in Hollywood, wine was a welcomed respite for Kimberly, who was seeking a gentler pace of life.  Her peaceful hobby quickly became a budding profession and leading distributor/broker business.  These days, if you’re an up-and-coming brand with sights set on achieving cult status, Kimberly is most likely your next call (after ACME, of course) to get your wines outside of California.  For Kimberly, relationships are everything, and from the beginning, she and Tony hit it off as colleagues back in the day when they worked at Plumpjack.  She was an easy choice for Tony when selecting a partner, knowing they could pool their respective relationships to source the most epic fruit around Napa.

Patria’s inaugural release of The Monarch is a testament to fostering those friendships and connections.  With fruit sourced from Oakville Ranch, Montagna Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, and the famous Georges III vineyard in Rutherford, it is shocking that this Cabernet Sauvignon blend comes in below $100.  This approachable price point is thanks to the handshake deals that come with being a pillar in the community and knowing the right people at the right time.  Only the most adept winemaker can craft a wine of this caliber at this price.  In this case, that person is Tony, who boasts unfettered access to exquisite grapes and agile expertise in the cellar.  

The debut Monarch release blends 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec, and 5% Cabernet Franc, with only 500 cases produced.  The wine aged in 75% new French oak from four cooperages:  Taransaud, Darnajou, Sylvain, and Nadalie.  Dark, summer stone fruit aromas like black cherry and plum dominate the nose, with trace scents of toffee, roasted espresso, and aged leather hiding in the background.  The palate showcases abundant fruit and warm baking spices and is a delicate dance between soft yet sturdy tannin and balanced acidity.  Sipping The Monarch is like a warm embrace from a lifelong, trustworthy friend and reminds us of how easily one falls in love with Napa Valley Cabernet.  We have Tony & Kimberly’s friendships to thank for this classic rendition, and the ACME team will happily reap the benefits of those connections; we know you will, too!