You would think that after seven years of sleuthing out wines that we Wine Spies would be a little jaded. We are offered all manner of wines. Some are fantastic - and many are simply sub-par. We reject anything that we don’t love. When we are offered ‘celebrity wines’ we make a point to taste them, even though we don’t expect very much.

A.J. Foyt wines are a rare breed of celebrity wines. The sort that is well worthy of your attention. What makes the wine so good? Today’s Foyt Family Wines 2011 No. 14 Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon was made by our friend, winemaker Tom Meadowcroft, who makes spy-pleasing wines that our tasting panel is uniformly crazy about.

Today’s single vineyard wine hails from the Oak Knoll District, at the southern end of the Napa Valley. This AVA (American Viticultural Area) is widely regarded as the sweet spot for lowland Cabernet Sauvignon. Hot days and cool nights, coupled with the alluvial soils found there, combine to provide ideal conditions for classic Napa Cabernet.

We offer you this wonderful, elegant and complex wine with our boldest recommendation.