Secret Door 2022 JML Cabernet Sauvignon

The Wine

This polished, modern Napa Cabernet (i.e., lighter in style but with all the rich Cabernet love Napa is known for) begins with aromas of blackcurrant, plum, cocoa, graphite, and subtle dried herbs. Full‑bodied but balanced, with fine tannins and a long, dark‑fruited finish. 

Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 18–20 months in French oak barrels (60–70% new). The JML vineyard sits on volcanic and alluvial soils that give structure and mineral depth to the finished wine.

The 2022 vintage was warm and dry, producing small berries with concentrated flavors. Fruit is hand‑sorted, destemmed, and fermented with gentle extraction. Production is extremely limited, typically 300–500 cases.

Drinking nicely now, the wine will continue to evolve nicely through 2030, at least. Alcohol: ~14.5%

Pairings: Ribeye, short ribs, grilled portobellos; cheeses like aged Gouda, blue styles, or clothbound cheddar.

The Winery

One of the brands in the Donald Patz Wine Group (Donald's 'retirement' project after leaving Patz & Hall), Secret Door is his boutique Cabernet project. The brand is a partnership with his wife, Jung Min Lee, whose caricature appears on the label.

The estate works with sustainably farmed hillside vineyards, using organic‑leaning practices (i.e., not necessarily certified but practicing the principals), composting, and minimal irrigation. In the cellar, Secret Door uses native yeasts when possible, low sulfur, and judicious use of the oak barrel to assure the wine highlights the character of the grape and vineyard.