A Lesson in Chemistry
The Absurd has always been an expression of possibility, unbound by varietal, vineyard designations, or the usual rules of engagement. With each passing vintage, a deeper truth emerges: freedom, pursued with enough discipline, can produce something extraordinary — a wine that transcends the sum of its parts. The 2022 had us thinking about Audrey Hepburn: refined, intelligent, impossible to ignore. The 2023 is more Jackie O. All the grace and charm, all the style and magnetism, but with a well of depth and intensity beneath its surface. Difficult to describe and impossible to forget. A lesson in chemistry.
The Vintage
From the very beginning, 2023 felt like a gift from Mother Nature. After years of wildfires, drought, and the accumulated pressures that define modern winegrowing in Napa, Mother Nature offered something precious: time. Generous winter rains replenished the valley's soils, bud break arrived two weeks behind schedule, and the season unfolded at a pace that rewarded patience over urgency. There were no emergency harvest picks, no frantic decisions driven by incoming heat or rain. Just an unhurried rhythm, and the confidence to wait.
The result is a wine that we have long set out to make: a giant that is light on its feet. Long hang time and perfectly ripe berries produced deep color, flavor intensity and ripe tannins, while the cool, moderate finish to the season preserved the freshness and acidity that keeps the wine in perfect balance. The power is undeniable, and yet the wine carries it effortlessly, with richness that never tips into heaviness.
The Wine
The aromatics are warm and inviting — seductive, yet somehow fleeting, pulling you in before you can place them. Layers of ripe summer blackberry and baked plum open first, followed by hints of cinnamon and Tahitian vanilla. On the palate, the texture is luxuriously velvety, carrying notes of ripe black fruit, maple, and bitter chocolate.
What sets the 2023 apart is its refusal to stay still. This is a wine that is multidimensional and constantly evolving in the glass — a moving target in the best possible sense. Every time you return to it, it has revealed another facet. Elusive, yes. Endlessly compelling, absolutely.
A Decade of The Absurd at a Glance
From the seductive 2012 to the elegant 2022, we revisit the last decade of The Absurd.
2012: Pure Seduction
Sultry and concentrated. Tar, violet and dark fruit. Decadent plushness. More feeling than flavor.
Drink
2013: Hold Please
Power, density and structure with gorgeous fruit. Tremendous potential still to unfold.
Hold
2014: A Perfect Moment
In a gorgeous spot, with plenty of fruit. Round, dense and velvety.
Drink or Hold
2015: Plenty of Pleasure
Black fruit, violet, baking spices. Solar vintage with remarkable precision. Dense, structured, creamy texture.
Drink or Hold
2016: The Yum Factor
Seamless and sleek with electric fruit. Incredible complexity and energy.
Drink or Hold
2017: Transcending the Vintage
Lighter, more elegant. Decadent fruit mingles with earthiness and fresh herbs.
Drink or Hold
2018: A Textbook Vintage
"Skyscraper wine." Concentrated and structured yet surprisingly light on its feet. Mouth-coating creaminess.
Decant or Hold
2019: Bursting With Energy
Extroverted, polished, juicy. Tension and energy in abundance. Still super youthful.
Hold
2020 Vintage
We did not produce any red wines in 2020.
2021: Have Patience
Polished, sleek, concentrated. Tightly wound with beautiful clarity and precision.
Hold
2022: Impossible to Ignore
Transcends the vintage. Layered, complex, fresh and focused. Purity and elegance.
Drink or Hold
