The leap
Wine did not live on the Moore family dinner table. It arrived through restaurant work, where teenage Jason tasted first-growth Bordeaux, grower Champagne and benchmark Cabernets. Interest became obsession. After a short run in real estate, his then-girlfriend and now wife, Angelica, asked the question that rerouted his life: “What are you actually passionate about?” They sold almost everything, moved to California and aimed for UC Davis. He skipped the classroom and chose an older model. Apprenticeship. Mentorship. Books, labs, long emails to winemakers he admired. He worked service to pay bills, then made wine in a stranger’s garage after a chance tasting room conversation turned into access to fruit and equipment in exchange for a 50-50 split. That garage became his classroom.
The education of a hands-on winemaker
Without a professor over his shoulder, Moore had to connect theory to action. He asked the same questions to many winemakers and received different answers. The lesson was clear. There are many correct paths to delicious wine. He kept the bits that fit his brain, then coined the name for his label in 2004 at age 26: Modus Operandi. The method of operation is the point.
He still does not own vineyards or a winery building. He is a relationship winemaker who buys from sites with proven pedigree. Rocca. Sage Ridge. UV-Laguna and Silver Eagle under the late Ulises Valdez’s farming. Bacigalupi in Russian River, where Pam Bacigalupi still straps down the fruit on the flatbed at 3 a.m. Gravitas matters to Moore. So does loyalty.
Style: freshness, focus and pop-and-pour
Listen to Jason for 5 minutes and you hear two refrains. Freshness and intention. He likes to “bleed hard” on certain reds, often above 30%, to push muscle and focus. He runs daily phenolic panels during fermentation, graphing anthocyanins and tannins so he can call the press exactly when texture is right. The goal is structure without punishment. These are not wines that demand 20 years of exile before dinner. They open well in a restaurant and get better with air. If acidity needs a nudge for balance, he is not dogmatic about adjustment. Drinkability and longevity are the targets at the same time.
Alcohol numbers do not scare him. Many of his Cabernets print mid-15s on the label. He is direct about it. If you taste heat, he fixes it in the cellar. If you do not, the number is trivia.
Pinot belongs in this story
Moore was once a Pinot skeptic. Then he found the energy and lift he craves in Sonoma. Now he crushes Pinot as often as he drinks Cab. His single-vineyard bottlings from Silver Eagle, UV-Laguna and Bacigalupi are precise, red-fruited and nervy. New oak sits around 50% with classic coopers. He is out to break the “Napa Cab guy” pigeonhole and let the wines do the talking.
Vicarious: value with a boutique soul
The second label, Vicarious, is a savvy brand architecture that solves a real market need. When Modus Operandi blends are cut from top barrels, there are excellent gallons that do not make the final cuvée. Rather than sell them off in bulk, he bottles them as Vicarious. Think of it as the best kind of declassification. Caps hover near $65, red blends near $55, Pinot around $45, with Sauvignon Blanc coming at about $25. Production is small. The wines taste like the vineyards they come from, not like anonymous “California red.” In a crowded field of industrial sub-$100 Cabernets, Vicarious shows personality and place. It is an on-ramp for new drinkers who can then graduate into Modus Operandi.
The artistic experiments
Two projects show Moore’s creative streak.
Antithesis is a Merlot fermented with a sacrificial load of freshly pressed Petite Sirah skins. He destems the Petite Sirah, presses off and dumps the juice, then marries the skins with Merlot must. The goal is color and spice from Petite Sirah’s “cube-like” angles wrapped by Merlot’s round “sphere.” The result tastes familiar and brand new at once. It is a cerebral wine that also delivers pleasure.
Collection Cabernet is built around rare Sylvain “Collection” barrels coopered from single-named French heritage oaks. Only 50 to 60 barrels can be cut from a tree that grew for more than three and a half centuries, having sprouted in 1655 and was cut down in 2018. Moore fought for 3 years to secure one, then built a micro-cuvée around it. The label carries the tree’s name and dates. Typical élevage is extended, and production sits at approximately 2 barrels per vintage. Price is $325. It is luxury with a story that actually means something.
Vintage and vineyard truths
The conversation winds through recent harvests. He sees 2023 as a banner season for Sonoma Pinot and Chardonnay. For Cabernet, site matters more than the headline. Rocca is his anchor. The fruit darkens a juice sample in under 30 minutes, so he does not need long cold soaks or extended macerations to reach saturation. Seven days on skins can be enough. Sage Ridge brings mountain drive and rock-born grip. Co-ferments are a case-by-case tool, not a rule. Above all, Moore wants his wines to open with clarity, hold their line and reward the person who simply pops and pours at a steakhouse.
Contracts and costs are real. He shared a brix-penalty story that ended up costing him $14,000, which occurred because he waited for the pH and TA to balance, pushing sugars above the clause. He paid growers first, then the penalty. It is a window into the economics of a virtual winery working with expensive fruit, rented space and a single press queue.
Teaching, tech and the next generation
Moore is not waiting for younger drinkers to come to him. He ships QR codes that open polished, scripted videos on grape varieties, Napa and Sonoma terroir and techniques, and talks about what he did in the wine you are actually tasting. He raffles signed large formats at dinners to spark friendly competition and connection. He is also building a workflow automation agency that uses AI to sort emails, label tasks, and keep a small team moving. He’s a Renaissance man who wears many hats and isn’t scared of getting the work done.
Why this matters
Napa’s future will rest with makers who can honor pedigree and reach new audiences without condescension. Moore is one of them. He buys from blue-chip sites, chases freshness, tracks phenolics like a lab nerd and still pours wines that make you smile on the first sip. He offers true value through Vicarious, high art through Antithesis and a serious, world-class wine drinking experience with his top-tier bottling called “Collection.” He talks openly about price psychology, contracts, penalties, and the grind of doing 80% of the work in a 3-person company. There is nothing starchy about any of it.
For younger wine lovers, Modus Operandi offers a clean entry point. Start with Vicarious. Learn with the videos. Climb to single-vineyard Pinot. Taste Rocca in full armor. If you collect, chase a bottle of Collection and open it for people who will listen. The wines are polished, not pretentious. They are balanced and bold. They tell the story of a kid from Texas who turned a garage into a graduate school and then kept the curiosity alive.
That is the method. That is the modus operandi.
Wines tasted in this article:
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Vicarious Red Blend
Made from a blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Merlot, and 20% Malbec, the 2022 Vicarious Red Blend is very fresh and juicy, showcasing a mineral-driven nose with a dark fruited core. Full-bodied and with energetic acidity, the palate reveals tight tannins alongside notes of bitter black tea, blackberry skin, and red floral elements of potpourri. It concludes with a long, lip-smacking finish, and it has me coming back for more.
Score: 92 | Drink: 2026–2033
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Vicarious Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Vicarious Cabernet Sauvignon displays a big and juicy profile with plenty of oak influences. The tannins are tight and gripping, making it very food-friendly. The wine is fresh and has a generous frame. It offers a long finish that is clearly punching above its weight class and over-delivers for the price.
Score: 91 | Drink: 2025–2033
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Aetherius Pinot Noir
The 2022 Aetherius Pinot Noir is instantly impressive, showcasing layered and bright red cherry notes, along with succulent acidity and freshness. The wine exhibits precision and ripeness, featuring just-ripe and crunchy red fruit expressions, complemented by bright acidity. It is very expressive and pure, with the wine’s structure lifting the palate, resulting in a pleasurable and precise drinking experience that ends with an elegant and clean finish.
Score: 93+ | Drink: 2025–2037
2023 Modus Operandi Cellars Aetherius Pinot Noir
The 2023 Aetherius Pinot Noir is broad-shouldered and generous, with an attractive array of aromas that waft from the glass, with delicate red spice essences. The nose is layered and bold, with notes of red tea and potpourri essence. On the palate, the wine ends with a tight tannic structure that will benefit from another year or two in the bottle.
Score: 93 | Drink: 2026–2035
2021 Modus Operandi Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is still tight, while displaying a fresh and vibrant nose. Incredibly complex, this full-bodied wine has focus and power, with plenty of attractive oak spices to round out its expression. On the palate, it reveals a robust mineral tension and freshness that will deliver pleasure for more than a decade. Nicely done!
Score: 94+ | Drink: 2026–2038
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon presents a fresh and complex nose, showcasing dark red fruit essences with precision and power, along with a delightful floral aspect. On the palate, the wine is juicy and fresh, featuring lively tannins that grip and hold throughout. It has a brilliantly balanced structure that will allow the wine to slowly uncoil over time, revealing its character as a true powerhouse Cabernet. Ending with a long, lingering, and complex finish, the wine is hedonistic and fresh, framed generously, demonstrating its style with everything in balance. I’m going to finish my glass.
Score: 95 | Drink: 2026–2037
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Houyi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Generous, juicy, and fresh, the 2022 Houyi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon showcases a core of oak spices, revealing a touch of volatility on the nose. The wine is fresh and complex, with a rocky core, while the oak remains shiny and expressive. The Cabernet displays fresh notes of popcorn kernel and a tannic edge, making it very food-friendly. Overall, the wine exudes elegance and power.
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026–2044
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Sage Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Sage Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon presents a generous and firm frame that overflows with complex dark red fruit wafting from the nose. The wine’s structure is big, beautiful, and still slightly compact in its youth. With succulent acidity, the wine reveals incredible complexity with a rich and rounded mouthfeel. Possessing remarkable depth, complexity, and freshness, with a larger volume of expression yet a tighter compact structure, this beauty ends with a vibrant and long-lasting finish. Bravo!
Score: 96 | Drink: 2026–2045
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Rocca-Collinetta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2022 Rocca-Collinetta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly complex and fresh, with a generous frame that oozes with layers of bitter dark chocolate, black tea, and black berry compote. Full-bodied and still showing firm tannins, complemented by notes of resinous purple flowers, this deep and dark expression of Cabernet is a powerful wine that will stand up to just about anything that you throw at it from the grill. It has a firm, broad structure with a dense and chewy finish that leaves me craving a bone-in ribeye. If this wine were a movie, it would be the movie 300. “This is Sparta!”
Score: 98+ | Drink: 2027–2050
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Antithesis
The 2022 Antithesis is a super fun blend that showcases refined elegance. The nose reveals complex aromas that are both aromatic and inviting, with Merlot rounding out the expression, while Petite Sirah fills in the edges. On the palate, the wine is rich and layered, offering a soft phenolic grip, and demonstrates how complex and utterly cerebral a wine it is and has me coming back for more. What a remarkably focused and impressive red blend. Bravo!
Score: 96+ | Drink: 2027–2046
2022 Modus Operandi Cellars Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Instantly impressive with luxurious and elegant oak tones that sway out of the glass, the 2022 Collection Cabernet Sauvignon is impressively fresh. Overflowing with precision and finesse, this wine aged in Collection barrels, made from oak trees that were specially selected for harvesting. Jason Moore of Modus Operandi Cellars honors the trees by listing the name and age of each tree on the label. This profoundly gorgeous wine is impressively rich, round, and focused, in a full-bodied frame with the oak driving the myriads of complexities that await the drinker at every turn. It beautifully highlights the wood and the tree that produced the barrel, making it a serious collector’s item that will age for decades. Made in excruciatingly low quantities, this bottle will complete any serious wine collector’s cellar. Bravo, Jason! Take a victory lap, you deserve it!
Score: 99 | Drink: 2027–2055
