Teeter-Totter Wines - Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Founded in 2011 by French-born winemaker Benoit Touquette and his wife, Nikita, Teeter-Totter Wines is a Napa Valley project built around a simple idea: exceptional wine does not have to take itself too seriously—or come with an intimidating price tag. Born in Lyon and formally trained at the University of Bordeaux, where he earned master’s degrees in Chemistry and Oenology, Benoit brought his Bordeaux training to Napa Valley, where he worked alongside some of the region’s most influential winemakers before establishing himself as one of the valley’s sought-after winemakers and consultants. He later became winemaker and partner at Realm Cellars while developing his own Teeter-Totter label, giving him an unusually broad perspective on Napa’s vineyards. Rather than relying on a single estate site, Benoit hand-selects fruit from distinguished vineyards throughout the valley, including sites in St. Helena, Yountville, Rutherford and Calistoga, with Cabernet Sauvignon at the heart of the collection. His approach combines the structure and precision of his Bordeaux training with the generosity and expressive fruit that Napa does so well, resulting in wines that are polished and serious while remaining remarkably inviting and easy to enjoy.

The 2023 Teeter Totter Cabernet Sauvignon shows a beautifully expressive nose of black cherry and blackberry, with violet and lavender adding a lifted floral character alongside espresso, cocoa and subtle tobacco. On the palate, ripe plum, cassis and dark berry fruit are joined by hints of sage and mint, while fine-grained tannins and lively acidity give the wine shape beneath its generous fruit. Toasted oak and vanilla add warmth without overwhelming the fruit, and the finish is juicy, polished and persistent. Enjoy with steak frites, pepper-crusted strip steak, rosemary-grilled lamb, short-rib ragù, roasted mushrooms with polenta or a selection of aged hard cheeses.