97+ Points Anthony Mueller

Audere (Latin): To Dare! To Venture! Audere dares the senses to experience the rich harmony between boldness and elegance.

The 2023 Audere Red Blend is our highest-rated vintage of this bottling to date — a bold and luxurious expression of Napa Valley craftsmanship that commands attention from the very first sip. Crafted in extremely limited quantities from elite vineyard sites including our Rockwell Ridge estate atop Crystal Springs, Coombsville, Atlas Peak, and Silverado Bench, this vintage represents the pinnacle of the Audere program.

A masterful blend of all five Bordeaux varietals, the 2023 Audere balances immense power with striking elegance, revealing layers of dark cherry liqueur, black currants, violets, and exotic spice wrapped around a dense, satin-textured core. Aged 23 months in 90% new French and Hungarian oak, the wine finishes with decadent notes of mocha crème brûlée and remarkable persistence.

Rich, polished, and undeniably seductive, the 2023 Aud?re delivers world-class Napa Valley luxury at an exceptional value — and yes, the glow-in-the-dark label returns once again for a final touch of intrigue.

Retail: $75
Classic Club: $63.75
Elite Club: $59.99
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FOOD PAIRING: Prime sirloin steak, pork tenderloin, lasagna, and Alsatian munster cheeses
MUSIC PAIRING: The Rizzle Sizzle

“The 2023 Audere Red Blend is a full-bodied juggernaut that masterfully combines power and finesse. Showcasing dark fruit and bold flavors, this wine remains both refined and brilliant. With an incredibly balanced structure and a generous backbone, it culminates in a long, spicy finish. While still a touch tight and in need of some time to fully develop, it drinks beautifully and offers serious value for the price.” — Anthony Mueller, 97+ Points

“Audere by Hertelendy 2023 Red Wine (Napa Valley). Pushes the limit on how big a Napa Bordeaux blend can get before descending into caricature. It’s almost as weighty as a Port, although it’s an absolutely dry with no hint of sugar in the finish, and the alcohol level is discrete. Like a Port, it will benefit from decanting before drinking, and should age well. Made with all five classic Bordeaux varieties, the wine displays massive, huge flavors of blackberries and blackcurrants. It’s quite tannic on its own, while oak barrels add additional soft, sweet tannins. Acidity is just perfect: stimulating and piquant, getting those tastebud juices flowing. The texture feels as soft and velvety as any wine out there. It’s so complex, so layered and interesting, that you can sip it slowly from the glass over the course of a long meal, and always discover something new. The grapes are said to hail from all over Napa Valley, from the mountains to the benches. That makes it quite a masterclass in the art of blending, but it comes at the cost of lacking a bit of terroir specificity, beyond that of the general Napa Valley. Nonetheless, it’s a magnificent pour. Something about it screams grilled beef, and its reasonable price makes it a great value at a high-end restaurant.” — Steven Heimoff, 96 Points

"The 2023 Audere Cabernet Sauvignon is a thoughtfully crafted blend showcasing vibrant black cherry and blueberry notes accented by layers of baking spice, mocha, savory herbs and subtle toasted oak. On the palate, the wine delivers impressive intensity wrapped in a full-bodied frame, with a velvety texture that carries gracefully through a long, polished finish. Rich yet refined, it strikes a compelling balance between generosity and precision. Enjoyable upon release, it also possesses the depth and structure to develop gracefully over the coming decade, making it a standout value for Hertelendy in this vintage." — International Wine Report, 94 Points

"Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Audere is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. It comes bounding out with exuberant notes of juicy blueberries, cassis, and ripe plums, plus suggestions of graphite, tapenade, and charcoal. The full-bodied palate delivers impressive tension with ripe, grainy tannins and vibrant blue fruit layers, finishing with a savory lift. Food PairingsGrilled Steak, Grilled Lamb, Roast Beef, Game" — The Wine Palate, 94 Points

"The 2023 ‘Audere’ combines Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Malbec, all sourced from the Napa Valley. Inky in the glass, this shows off black tea, Middle Eastern spices and dark rose petals on the nose. The palate is powerful and well-structured with terrific weight and refined tannins. Loads of chocolate and espresso bean flavors collide with dense dark fruits. Juicy and delicious, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2036." Owen Bargreen, 94 Points