Tusk…one of Napa’s most exclusive wines and most difficult to acquire.

From Wine Spectator on June 24, 2015:

“Tusk’s exclusivity is not just about the price tag; plenty of expensive Napa Cabernets sell for more than $500 a bottle. This is different, a private club whose members—who pay $1,111 for a 3-pack of wine—have to be connected to the owners by no more than two degrees. That means only friends of Philippe Melka, Tim Martin and Michael Uytengsu, and their friends, are allowed to join the mailing list. No exceptions.

“…Without doing any marketing, the first four vintages have sold out, and there is a three-year waiting list to sign up.

Tusk isn’t just based on opulent winemaking but also on luxury branding. Martin said that Tusk isn’t trying to compete with other high-end Cabernets, but rather other luxury brands, like Hermès and Tiffany. The packaging reflects the attention to detail, with hand-wrapped linen boxes, heavy, etched bottles and letter-pressed labels. The name is both a nod to ivory, one of the original luxury commodities, and to elephants’ close social groups.”

From the Winery – Even if this is difficult to imagine, Tusk is gaining in dimension, texture and depth every year. The 2019 is full of complex aromas of violets, lavender, warm crushed rocks, ripe raspberries and plum. Velvety tannins, full bodied with balanced acid, hints of cocoa powder on a long-lasting finish…over a minute!!!

The wine shows so well the power of the ripe grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon and its complexity aromatically and structurally…as all the previous Tusk vintages, it will age for decades and we are recommending decanting hours prior to consumption. – Philippe Melka

Production: 450 cases. Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyards: 5 Napa Valley vineyards, predominantly Oakville & Pritchard Hill. Aging: 30 months in new French Oak