Prophet & Poet Offer – Inaugural Release

Last night, we were honored to have Jesse Katz and Chris Jackson join us for the inaugural release of the Prophet & Poet wines. The three red wines received a 99, and two perfect 100 point scores from the International Wine Report, and are expected to sell out upon official release next month. For what it’s worth, after speaking more in depth with Jesse and Chris after the dinner, while sipping on post event drinks by the clubhouse fire—I know my winners. I have been advised by my imaginary council to state that Jesse and Chris have no favorites here, these wines are their children, and they love them equally. Yeah, yeah, sure. I however, have no such allegiances, and can speak freely.

The Upper Barn Chardonnay, “Ghost Cat” is the pony to bet on for the whites. Upper Barn Vineyard, if you’re not familiar, has been a mainstay and heart piece for both the Peter Michael and Marcassin Chardonnays for years. Jesse Katz’s take on Upper Barn is modern and precise with an eye for the future—this is a chardonnay you can put down for a few years. As for the reds, contrary to the opinion of my worthy colleagues at the International Wine Report, it’s the 99 point Merlot-based “Mourning Cloak” that wowed me the most. It’s high time we stopped letting Miles from the movie Sideways malign and besmirch the good name of Merlot.

Prophet & Poet is what happens when friends, family, and a little wine-fueled genius come together to make something special. Jesse Katz teamed up with Christopher Jackson and the Biel-Timberlake family (yes, those Timberlakes) to create a lineup that blends world-class pedigree with fresh perspective. They pulled fruit from some of California’s most iconic vineyards—think Peter Michael, Marcassin, Vérité, and Stonestreet caliber—and set out to write the next chapter in that legacy. No pressure, right?

You already know Jesse’s got the chops—Aperture, Devil Proof, The Setting. Now he’s added another arrow to the quiver with Prophet & Poet, and we get to be among the first to dive in.

"Mostly coming from Knights Valley, as well as two plots from Pocket Peak, the 2021 Black Crown Cabernet Sauvignon includes the addition of 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot and was aged 22 months in 80% new French oak. Pouring a saturated purple/red hue, the wine is potent and detailed in the glass, with notes of cassis, graphite, polished leather, savory olive tapenade, and spice. Long on the palate, it offers great vertical drive, with balanced richness and a weightless feel. This is built for the long haul and is going to be a wine to hold onto, but it has a great energy propelling through it now. I would be thrilled to have this fantastic red in my cellar. Drink 2027–2057." – 99 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck, July 2024 | 100 points, IWR

"The 2021 Mourning Cloak Proprietary Red Wine is composed of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot and was raised in 70% new French oak for 22 months. An opaque magenta/purple color, it opens to rich, layered notes of graphite and pencil shavings, leather, blackberries, espresso, and menthol. Full-bodied, it has a great juxtaposition of ripeness with savoriness on the palate, and it's full-bodied but not heavy, with ripe tannins, a gravelly texture, and a long finish. It's going to need time in the cellar to show its best. Drink 2027–2050." – 98 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck, July 2024 | 100 points, IWR

"Composed of 62% Malbec, 18% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the inky purple 2021 Mountain Sage Proprietary Red Wine is ripe and brooding with deep, layered aromas of resinous herbs, black plum, and dark stony earth. Full-bodied, it has a great, plush texture, mocha notes through the palate, and a long finish. Elegance and luxury, all the way through, it harkens more to a Right Bank Bordeaux than Malbec in my mind and is going to age at a very slow pace over the next 20 or more years. 180 cases were produced." – 98+ points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck, July 2024 | 100 points, IWR

"The 2021 Chardonnay King Bird Broken Road is a bright straw/green hue and opens with a bright nose of lime blossom, toast, candied green apple, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it's elegant all the though, with lovely, refined balance and a hint of orange creamsicle. This is going to have some real longevity, with a wide drinking window over the next 10–12 years. 74 cases produced." – 96 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck, July 2024 | 97 points, IWR

"A bright green-tinged straw color, the 2021 Chardonnay Ghost Cat Upper Barn has a darker mineral profile on the nose, with aromas of wet stone, ripe pear, melon rind, and honeysuckle. Full-bodied, it takes on notes of glycerol richness without being heavy, and it's long on the palate, with a silky texture and notes of citrus oil throughout, as well as a touch of hazelnut. It has a Corton- like feel and will improve with time in the cellar. Drink 2025–2035. 79 cases were produced." –97 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck, July 2024 | 97 points, IWR

Here’s the deal: you can acquire the full five 3-pack set (that’s 15 bottles total) featuring Mountain Sage Proprietary Blend, Mourning Cloak Merlot, Black Crown Cabernet Sauvignon, Ghost Cat Chardonnay, and King Bird Chardonnay or pick up individual 3-packs of whichever wine(s) you’re most excited about. These bottles are as limited as they are stunning—and until now, they’ve only been shared with a very small circle of folks who really get wine.

So, if you’re reading this, that means you’re in that circle. I’m genuinely honored to be able to offer them to you.

Let me know if you have any questions about Prophet & Poet, or if you want help deciding where to start. And hey—fun fact: it was Jesse who recommended me for the Wine Director role here at Mayacama. So if you’ve got any complaints about me… level them at his inbox.

Cheers!

Jared Hooper, Wine Director

WINES BEING OFFERED:

2021 Inaugural Prophet & Poet Five 3-Pack Box Sets (15 bottles per set, $6,150)

2021 Black Crown Cabernet Sauvignon 3-Pack Box ($1,650)

2021 Mourning Cloak Proprietary Red Wine 3-Pack Box ($1,650)

2021 Mountain Sage Proprietary Red Wine 3-Pack Box ($1,650)

2021 Broken Road Vineyard Chardonnay, King Bird 3-Pack Box ($600)

2021 Upper Barn Vineyard Chardonnay, Ghost Cat 3-Pack Box ($600)