Salus Cabernet Sauvignon, Staglin Family 2022 75cl
Salus carries a story most Cabernets can't. Shari and Garen Staglin named it after the Roman goddess of health, spotted on a coin in Italy, and every penny of profit goes to brain and mental-health research through the family's One Mind foundation — an effort that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars over the years. It is Staglin's second label, drawn entirely from their organic estate on the Rutherford Bench.
Rutherford is the warm mid-valley cradle of structured, age-worthy Napa Cabernet, famous for the dusty, cocoa-like tannin texture growers call "Rutherford dust." The 2022 season brought a late-summer heat spike but delivered ripe, concentrated fruit, and Salus is built to be the estate's most approachable bottle on release while still holding for years.
The family's notes open on crushed violets, supple leather and heady vanilla, then a palate of dense kirsch, chocolate and vanilla bean layered over bay leaf, pencil shavings and warm winter spice. What keeps the opulence honest is a racy thread of freshness and an almost espresso-crema texture to the tannins. It's generous, velvety Napa Cabernet with a bit of savoury detail to chew on.
At £110 you are paying for estate Rutherford fruit and a genuinely good cause behind the label. It drinks well now with air and will hold comfortably for a decade or more.
How to Serve
Serve at 16 to 18°C. Give it 30 to 60 minutes in a decanter when young. A large Bordeaux glass shows off the perfume.
Where to Drink It
Scott's in Mayfair for the full occasion. Bentley's for game and grand reds. Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood for a nightcap glass.
Food Pairings
Roast rack of lamb loves this kind of Cabernet. A well-marbled steak with peppercorn sauce is the crowd-pleasing alternative.
