Blue Monster Las Posadas Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2021

Name your hidden talent! We’ll go first – ACME knows an up-and-coming cult wine when we see one. Our industry insiders gave us the good word on Kyle Gellis’ debut vintage of Blue Monster and we featured it in our Kahuna Club, knowing immediately that it held the characteristics of a rising star. Boy were we right! Now in its fourth vintage, the wine has become well-known amongst premier sommeliers and wine retailers across the country. Lucky for us – and subsequently you – Kyle is a loyal friend and continues to reserve a large allocation for us to share with our beloved clients. 

Hailing from South Florida, Kyle Gellis started a successful boutique cigar business at the age of just 18. Warped Cigars, established in 2007 in Miami, is known for producing extremely limited, unique, Cuban cigars. Hand-rolled a few hundred at a time, each cigar is personally blended by Kyle to bring sensory components into harmonious balance. When Kyle first came to Napa Valley, he was seeking agricultural wisdom. Familiar with the farming of tobacco and its importance to the individuality of a cigar, he wondered if grape growing would hold the key to his next venture in life. He quickly discovered the importance of specific farming practices and soil types while gaining a new appreciation for Mother Nature's gifts and wrath. Ultimately, Kyle gravitated to the work in the cellar as opposed to the vineyards, and with this freshly lit fire, the vintner within emerged. The blending skills that led to his early success in the cigar world would translate seamlessly to winemaking in ways he did not imagine. In his own words, "Blending components together to craft an experience for the enjoyment of others is my life's purpose." With such vision and attention to detail, it is no surprise Kyle has become a competitive producer in the wine world. 

 Blue Monster is named after Gellis' adored dogs, Apollo and Sarto, whom he affectionately calls his "little monsters". Apollo is a blue and white American Pitbull Terrier he adopted while in college, who became known amongst Kyle's family and friends as Blue Monster because of his massive head, incredible power, and astounding agility. Sarto, a Cane Corso, joined the family a few years later. With his abundance of physical presence and intimidating appearance, it is easy to see why he is called a '"monster", but his gentle and loving nature is his dominant trait. 

The 2021 vintage marks just the second Cab in bottle for Kyle from the famed Las Posadas Vineyard, stewarded by the inimitable David Abreu. At about 2000 feet elevation, the vineyard sits above the fog line and is surrounded by a protected forest of fir and pine. Red Aiken soils are layered over white tufa, and the rocks that littered the site before it was planted now form walls that define the property. It is a breath-taking site, and the source for many award-winning Cabernets. Kyle’s block, C3, is situated on the higher perch of the sloping property. Despite having access to all of the rows in this block, Kyle opted to only harvest Cabernet Sauvignon specifically from the interior of this block, as those vines best express the vision for Blue Monster.

Handcrafted with the assistance of Lloyd Matthews (of Nine Suns and formerly Futo), the 2021 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and defined by black fruit, blue eucalyptus, graphite, licorice, smoldering earth, and leather.  The tannins and structure are formidable, yet elegantly balanced by a lush, opulent texture. Ready to enjoy now, with the promise of even greater rewards for those with the patience to let the Monster mature...