Heidi Barrett’s Record-Breaking 1992 Screaming Eagle Appears at Auction Napa Valley
“1992: A Very Good Year”
Sponsored by the Napa Valley Vintners and founded in 1981 by a small group of winery owners, including Robert and Margrit Mondavi, Auction Napa Valley has become the world’s most celebrated charity wine event through more than $180 million in donations to locals nonprofit organizations in the Napa Valley. Every year the four-day fete features private, vintner-hosted parties, an E-Auction open to wine lovers and bidders anywhere in the world, and a grand Live Auction Celebration, which includes extremely rare and collectible Napa Valley wines and unique life experiences.
While lots in the 2018 Live Auction included private trips and experiences around the world, luxury yacht cruises, and dinner prepared by Michelin-star chefs Thomas Keller and Christopher Kostow, one of the most exciting lots included Paradigm’s “1992: A Very Good Year,” which consisted of three-liter bottles of both 1992 Screaming Eagle and Paradigm made by world-renowned winemaker Heidi Barrett.
At Auction Napa Valley in 2000, a 6-liter bottle of Heidi’s 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet sold for a record-breaking half a million dollars.
While the final bid for the auction lot “1992: A Very Good Year” has yet to be disclosed, the event as a whole is projected to raise more than $13 million. Wine critic Karen MacNeil, author of “The Wine Bible,” has observed the phenomenon of cult cabs over the years and shared an explanation with The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa.
“These are wines that possess what I call the desirability of unattainability,” she said. “It’s not merely that they’re expensive, although they are… but with them you need a special status or a special power to land one of these cult cabs, some kind of insider access.”
Heidi Barrett has been dubbed ‘the first lady of wine’ and ‘the Queen of Cult Cabernet’ by top wine critic Robert Parker. After having previously worked with Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Jones Family, Grace Family and others, Heidi joined Fantesca in 2008 to craft the winery’s Chardonnay, All Great ThingsTM Red Blend, and Spring Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.
Interested parties are invited to experience Heidi Barrett’s Fantesca lineup by requesting a tour and tasting at the winery location on Spring Mountain in beautiful Napa Valley. Guests are also invited to sign up for Fantesca’s mailing list to receive news regarding future releases based on availability.
