Napa has a habit of making reds that ask you to wait. Aaron Pott made one you want to open tonight. The 2023 Red starts with barrels from his Lagier-Meredith collection and arrives at $40. Decanter gave it 95 points and called it one of the best sub-$50 Napa blends they have tasted in a long time. That combination is why this bottle matters. What is actually in it: 45% Syrah, 35% Mourvèdre, 10% Zinfandel, with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec filling the rest. This is Napa built around red varieties other than Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh, generous, and ready now, on purpose. In a valley famous for wines that demand patience, Pott made the opposite. He did not cut corners to get there. About 66% new French oak adds polish and shape while keeping the lift and energy he found in the 2023 vintage. Aaron says he built the wine to overdeliver. That still undersells it. One of Napa’s most accomplished winemakers, 95 points from Decanter, 300 cases. At $40, the price is the least serious thing about it.