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C Level Bistro & Wine Bar
4450 Bonita Beach Road, #1, Bonita Springs FL, 34134
239-221-7046
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| Schmitt Söhne Zeller Schwarze Katz | |||
| 2016 Mosel, Germany | |||
| Riesling |  $10  $36 |
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| Waxy lemon rind and blossom notes accent this off-dry Riesling full of ripe, almost preserved peach flavor. Briskly textured and fresh in acidity, it's an uncomplicated, drinkable wine. This Moselland Riesling entices with fruit, spice and lime aromas, followed by ripe apricots, pears, citrus and minerals. Its light sweetness, offset with generous acidity, makes it an ideal match for salads and fish dishes. |
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| Clifford Bay Clifford Bay Wines | |||
| 2019 Marlborough, New Zealand | |||
| Sauvignon Blanc | $36 |
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| The Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc is all about expressive fruit flavors. The wine possesses a light straw color and tropical aromas of guava, melon and citrus. The palate exhibits the same fine flavors followed by a crisp, dry, flinty finish. Critical Acclaim WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com This is so delicious!, I could make this my go-to, everyday wine, the 2014 Clifford Bay is a top-notch Sauvignon Blanc. Light straw, green color; grapefruit rind and ripe melon in the nose; medium bodied, zippy on the palate; dry, very good acidity, well balanced; racy citrus and ripe melon flavors; medium finish, lively aftertaste. (Tasted: June 11, 2015, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Le Grand Courtage Brut | |||
| NV France | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $38 |
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| The bouquet presents undertones of Granny Smith apples, honeysuckle, strawberry & toasted brioche. The palate reaches a perfect balance of dryness, acidity and fruit. It lingers nicely with a bit of Meyer lemon, honeydew and a continuing apple finish. Great length, crisp and refreshing. A versatile accompaniment that is very cuisine and cocktail friendly. Try it with savory hors d'oeuvres, buttered popcorn, creamy pasta dishes, fried chicken, spicy Asian dishes, seafood, fruit based desserts or semi-soft cheese. The Blend: Chardonnay imparts depth and complexity for the overall balance while Chenin Blanc lends citrus and hints of honey for a creamy texture. Colombard's higher acidity provides structure, length and a pleasant minerality that is supplemented by the Ugni Blanc's fruit profile. |
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| Chateau Ste. Michelle Chateau Ste. Michelle Vineyards | |||
| 2018 Columbia Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $40 |
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| Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay is a pleasurable, food-friendly wine. It is crafted in a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. Pairs well with crab, poultry, salmon, and scallops. Try seasoning with ginger, lemon zest, tarragon, or thyme. Critical Acclaim WE88Wine Enthusiast Aromas of corn silk, candy corn, vanilla and clarified butter are followed by creamy-feeling fruit flavors with plentiful baking spice accents. It’s a spot on example of the variety at a great price. Best Buy. |
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| Storypoint Storypoint Vineyards | |||
| 2014 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $40 |
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| Flavors and aromas of ripe yellow apple, pear and white peach are enriched on a plush palate. Subtle hints of vanilla and toasted oak linger on the silky and refreshing finish. Our smooth and aromatic Chardonnay was sourced from Sonoma County, Mendocino County and Lake County resulting in a luscious, silky wine. Storypoint Chardonnay embraces the variety’s incredible fruit character with bright aromas and flavors and a rich palate. |
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| Whitehaven | |||
| 2019 Marlborough, New Zealand | |||
| Sauvignon Blanc | $12 $44 |
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| Winemaker's Notes: Light straw in color with a bright clarity. Displays lifted grapefruit and white currants, with hints of freshly crushed herbs, nettles and flint. The palate has freshness and clean fruit purity, with a finely balanced, refreshing acidity. It shows vibrant varietal aromas, making a powerful palate impression that is quintessential Marlborough. |
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| Rutherford Rutherford Ranch | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $44 |
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| Rutherford Ranch Napa Valley Chardonnay was fermented in a combination of both stainless steel and French oak. The stainless steel fermentation process allows the winery to preserve the fruit's natural lush flavors and aromatic qualities. The French oak barrel sur lies then imparts a rich and buttery mouthfeel, creating a complex yet elegantly balanced Chardonnay. This is a deliciously versatile wine; enjoy as an aperitif or pair with chicken and grilled fish entrees, creamy vegetable soups or your favorite selection of cheeses. |
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| Luna Nuda Pinot Grigio Luna Nuda Winery | |||
| 2018 Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy | |||
| Pinot Grigio | $12 $44 |
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| Golden reflections in the glass tell you right away that you are going to taste a different Pinot Grigio. This is not your standard Pinot Grigio. Soft lemon and lime flavors with a little golden delicious apple for good measure. Nice weight and mouth feel with a little mineral and wet stone to add complexity. Simply lovely. Refreshing, and great by itself or with many dishes like simply prepared fish, sushi, salads, light tapas, and much more. If you like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, or other aromatic whites, you will love this wine. In one word, elegant. |
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| Mâcon-Villages Domaine Sangouard-Guyot | |||
| 2019 Burgundy, France | |||
| Chardonnay | $12 $44 |
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| A fresh, lemon-scented wine, this has fine minerality and youthful acidity that needs some months to become round. The vast Maconnais region of southern Burgundy is a particularly rich source for reasonably priced Chardonnays. Most of this area is somewhat warmer than the Cote d'Or, and thus the vines here usually enjoy a longer season and achieve greater ripeness. You'll find everything from lush, tropical-fruity examples that can out-California California Chardonnay at half the price to more serious wines that can rival examples from the Cote d'Or at a fraction of the cost. There is very little red wine of note made in the Maconnais: Pinot Noir here must be labeled simply ""Bourgogne"" and the wine called Macon rouge is made from Gamay. The most basic wines of the region, labeled ""Macon"" or ""Macon-Villages,"" are usually made in stainless steel tanks and bottled quickly to preserve their bright, crisp fruit. These wines are generally best suited for drinking within a few years after their release. In theory, Macon-Villages is the appellation used to signify higher-quality wines from the region's favored villages. As a general rule, sites on the first slopes near the Saone River are best. Wines made from fruit from a single village generally append their name to Macon on the label (i.e., Macon-Fuisse, Macon-Vergisson, Macon-Davaye); wines that are blends from two or more of these villages are typically bottled as Macon-Villages. In the northern portion of the large Maconnais area a new appellation controlée, Vire-Clesse, was created in 1999, originally for dry wines only but now including wines with residual sugar too--from a large delimited area around the towns of Viré and Clessé. The harvest here takes place a good week to ten days later than in vineyards farther to the south, leaving open the possibility of extra ripeness and the incidence of botrytis. |
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| Bread & Butter | |||
| 2019 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $12 $44 |
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| This Chardonnay opens delicately with rich notes of vanilla bean and almond husk, which reminds me of a decadent crème brûlée. The creamy custard notes are balanced by a soft minerality and a hint of worn leather. Those creamy notes continue to your palate where they are joined with a light woodiness from the oak. Just like that first bite of brûlée, this wine will melt in your mouth for a long, creamy finish. The wine is bright and clean in the glass with a beautiful golden yellow tone.The aromas of fresh butter, vanilla oak, and citrus fruit combine in a way that reminds me of orange Creamsicle,with a floral, jasmine hint. A decadent introduction. The aromas introduced in the nose continue on the palate. Buttered popcorn and vanilla oak characters mingle with flavors of honeydew melon, lemon peel, papaya, jasmine, honeysuckle, banana, and lychee.The richness and creaminess of our Chardonnay lends itself well to creamy sauces and fish dishes. I like it with soft, mild cheeses and chicken breast. |
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| Villa Rosa | |||
| 2017 Piedmont, Italy | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $12 $44 |
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| Moscato grapes are sourced from southern-facing hillside vineyards that surround the town of Santo Stefano Belbo in Piedmont. Villa Rosa Moscato is frizzante, or lightly sparkling, with an aromatic bouquet of sweet peach and apricot and delicate mineral qualities. A pleasantly sweet, yet refreshing way to end a meal. |
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| Harken Harken Winery | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $44 |
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| This rich Chardonnay exhibits a classic profile of tropical fruit and Bosc pear alongside warm oak aromatics. The luscious palate suggests crème bruléeand buttered toast, and finishes with fresh acidity. A tasty tang of toasted oak adds a great top note to this full-flavored and full-bodied wine, so that it seems to build complexity from the bass notes of ripe pear, to the butter and cinnamon in the middle and up to the wrapping of spicy, smoky oak. |
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| Luna Nuda Prosecco | |||
| 2016 Treviso, Italy | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $12 $44 |
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| VARIETAL COMPOSITION 85% Glera grapes, 15% Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio TASTING NOTES The Luna Nuda Prosecco boasts a brilliant, light straw color with a fine, persistent perlage. Enticing, delicate aromas present a bouquet of floral notes with hints of ripe golden apple and mountain flowers. The finish is crisp and refreshing, leaving the palate with inviting fruit flavors. This sparkling wine is an excellent aperitif paired with buttery popcorn, or divine served with any meal. VINEYARDS: Sourced from the Treviso area of Northeast Italy, which is considered the birthplace of Prosecco. The vineyards are on the Montello and Asolo hills, at an altitude of 120-250 meters above sea level. The soil consists of medium textures of alluvial origin; the gravely subsoil allows excellent drainage of rainwater. |
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| Aviary Aviary Vineyards | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $44 |
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| In the glass, the wine is a bright straw laced with honey. Aromas of tropical fruit, vanilla bean, banana, and apricot iite you in. On the palate, the texture is round and smooth with bright acid. Flavours of pineapple, guava, buttered toast, and banana balance together into a wine that is both rich and refreshing. Aviary Chardonnay is beautifully pale gold in the glass, with notes of tropical fruit and vanilla bean. Bright flavors of vanilla and subtle hints of banana continue on the palette, where they are complimented with a creamy, silky texture which reminds us of a delicious banana cream pie. A long, smooth finish will keep you wanting more. |
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| Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio Masi Winery (401) | |||
| 2017 Verona, Italy | |||
| Pinot Grigio | $46 |
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| Strong straw yellow colour. Original and attractive bouquet with tropical fruit aromas. Fresh and easy on the front palate, becoming weightier and fuller bodied on the mid palate where fruitiness blends with flavours reminiscent of honey and boiled sweets. A dry finish with an attractive citrus twist making it especially drinkable. Masianco is an ideal aperitif. Perfect with hors d’oeuvres, fish, and white meats. Shows attractive, tropical fruit aromas. Fresh and charming palate flavors gain weight and become full on the midpalate, where fruitiness blends with traces of honey. A dry finish has a citrus twist. An ideal aperitif, this wine is perfect with hors d'oeuvres, fish, and white meats. This mediumbodied white has great personality, wellsuited to modern cuisine. Critical Acclaim 90 Points "This fruity little number is full of personality. It's mainly Pinot Grigio, which gives freshness with a fruit profile of peach, pineapple and apple, while the local grape Verduzzo, picked slightly overripe, adds texture, complexity and body." |
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| Five Rivers Five Rivers (401) | |||
| 2016 Central Coast, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $46 |
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| Bright golden yellow in color, the Five Rivers Chardonnay leads with classic varietal fruit aromas of apple, pear, ginger and lemon blossom, followed by subtle vanilla notes. In the glass, a bright acidity is broadened by lemon custard and honey flavors. Five Rivers Chardonnay versatile white wine that can pair with appetizers, poultry and seafood, as well as spicy cuisines. |
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| Principessa Gavi di Gavi | |||
| 2019 Piedmont, Italy | |||
| Gavi di Gavi | $12 $46 |
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| The 2019 Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi begins with pleasant aromas of green apple, a little graphite minerality and a nice light floral component. The light-bodied wine tastes fresh, fruity and fun. Green apple, luscious lime and a little pear and grapefruit combine with a great texture and lively acidity to make a crisp and delicious wine. It ends dry, clean and crisp with lasting tart fruit flavors. |
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| Chablis Bardet & Fils (402) | |||
| 2015 Burgundy, France | |||
| Chardonnay | $48 |
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| #94 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2016 Very elegant bouquet, developing citrus, white-fleshed fruit and floral notes. Fresh and supple, the wine is marked by mineral notes that are typical of the appellation. Pair with oysters, seafood, grilled fish, light-to-medium-flavoured courses. Critical Acclaim WS90 Wine Spectator - "This is delicate, featuring lemon, herb and stone flavors lifted by the fine acidity. Touches of seashore and oyster shell add depth as this coasts to a clean finish. Drink now through 2021." V90 Vinous / Antonio Galloni - " Oyster-shell reduction and a note of lime on the classic Chablis nose. Dense, juicy and firm, boasting excellent definition to its flavors of oyster shell, lime and white flowers. Penetrating but not aggressive in spite of its firm acidity, finishing with excellent subtle length and grip. This terrific village wine is an exceptional value--but make sure you get the Domaine bottling." |
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| Chalk Hill Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards | |||
| 2017 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $48 |
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| The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is golden in color. Aromas of yellow apple, melon, citrus zest and mango meld beautifully with notes of toasted hazelnut and vanilla custard from the oak aging. Pure and rich with an elegant palate, it displays fruit-forward flavors of golden apple, nectarine, and guava with subtle hints of butterscotch. With its cool-climate inuences, this Chardonnay has remarkable varietal intensity, balanced acidity and mineral notes that complement the rich and full flavors of baked apples, and vanilla cream. |
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| Clay Shannon Shannon Ridge Winery (401) | |||
| 2018 Red Hills, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $48 |
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| This is an excellent Chardonnay to take on its own or with fish. Well rounded, well structured, pale straw color, not acidic, a bit sweet, and mid bodied. The notes are butter, tropical fruit, peach, pear, citrus blossom, and apricot. "Aromas of white peach and Bartlett pears balance the intriguing flavors of citrus, toasted vanilla and Crème Brûlée." Critical Acclaim WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com COMMENTARY: The 2018 Clay Shannon Chardonnay offers excellent persistence and richness on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows ripe apple and oaky notes in its aromas and flavors. It should pair famously with smoked mussels over al dente pasta. (Tasted: May 12, 2020, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Hill Family Estates Hill Family Winery (402) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $50 |
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| The Hill family knows about Napa Valley grapes, having farmed vineyards for three decades before founding their namesake winery. Doug Hill planted the estate's first vineyard in 1984. Hill Family Estate has grown to twelve vineyards totaling 250 acres including both hillside and valley floor sites. Currently, the winery produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and several red blends. The 2014 "Carly's Cuvee" Chardonnay comes from a selection of both hillside and valley vineyards to produce a complex wine. On the nose, the Chard offers pear and tropical fruit aromas, vanilla and a modest oak influence. Soft on the palate, its flavors are of Bartlett pear, crisp apple and a touch of white peach mingled with bright citrus acidity and a bit of honey and toast on the finish. It's a pretty wine, although we would prefer if it were slightly lower in alcohol. Try it with pasta in a cream-based sauce, roast chicken with garlic mashed potatoes or a roasted vegetable casserole. The wine would also work well with brunch dishes like a bacon-laced quiche. |
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| Materra Cunat Family Vineyards (502) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $50 |
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| 100% Chardonnay The 2015 Vintage Napa Valley exhibited textbook weather for grape growing in 2015. The year started off with healthy winter rains which led into a warm, dry spring, and brought an early bud break with ideal growing conditions. The extended heat spike in early July made summer temperatures consistently warm, allowing the grapes to mature steadily and develop complex flavors. The general consensus from our winemakers and staff is 2013 is an "oh wow" year. Winemakers Notes Our 2015 Chardonnay presents fresh, light, and crisp aromas with just a hint of oak and smokiness. On the palate it has subtle flavors of citrus, apricot, grapefruit with undertones of hazelnut. With a soft finish that relaxes your tongue, this Chardonnay would pair with a wide range of cheeses such as aged Gouda or a filet of sole with capers and lemon. 275 cases produced |
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| Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked by 'Caymus' Caymus Vineyards | |||
| 2017 Santa Lucia Highland, Monterey County, California | |||
| Chardonnay Unoaked | $50 |
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| Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay Silver Captures The Crisp, Pure, Mineral Essence Of The Classic Chablis Style With The Tropical Elements Found In Chardonnays Of The Pacific Coastline. Using Chardonnay Grown In Special Blocks Of The Mer Soleil Vineyard In The Santa Lucia Highlands Of Monterey County, We Harvest The Grapes When Just Fully Ripe, Their Gold Color Hued With Green, Expressing Clean Aromas Of Chardonnay Fruit And Firm Acidity. The Grapes Were Pressed And Fermented In Both Stainless Steel And Natural Cement Tanks Imported From France, With No Oak Contact Or Malolactic Fermentation. We Bottle The Wine Early In The Year To Maintain Its Fresh Character And Crisp Citrus Finish. Tasting Notes: Mineral Driven Nose With Citrus Shining Through. Cement Tank Fermentation And Aging Bring Out Aromas Remindful Of The First Rain Of The Season Or A Wet Rock. Soft And Round Entry With An Acid Backbone Informs You These Grapes Are Grown In A Cooler Climate. Mid Palate Reveals Ripe Fruits Such As Lemons, Gooseberry, And Grapefruit. Finishes Dry While The Acid Comes And Goes In A Balanced Fashion. Laser Sharp Minerality Carries Through From Start To Finish On Both Palate And Aroma. |
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| King Estate King Estate Winery | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Pinot Gris | $50 |
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| 2018 King Estate Pinot Gris is a gorgeous example from a stellar Oregon vintage. This has a glistening pale straw color with aromas of fresh Bartlett pear, ripe white peach, wildflowers, and crushed gravel. There are immediate fruit flavors that dance on the pallet like peach, Key lime, nectarine, and ripe pear. These fruit flavors are balanced by fresh acidity and fleshy viscosity. There is a lingering elegant finish that begs to be paired with soft cheeses and charcuterie. Drink now and at least through the next decade. Critical Acclaim WE91Wine Enthusiast This baseline Pinot Gris really shines in this vintage. It’s bursting with freshly cut pear that feels fleshy and textured. Juicy highlights of citrus boost the mouthfeel and add further liveliness to the finish, which ultimately resolves a papaya tone. Editors’ Choice WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com COMMENTARY: The 2018 King Estate Pinot Gris offers satisfaction on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine is fresh, briny, lightly earthy in its aromas and flavors. Pair it with a winter potato soup with savory spices. (Tasted: October 11, 2020, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Sofia Blanc de Blancs Francis Ford Coppola Winery | |||
| 2017 Alexander Valley, California | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $50 |
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| When his daughter was a little girl, Francis Coppola made her a promise that he would someday make a sparkling wine and name it after her. Today, this Blanc de Blancs is one of our most popular offerings, a favorite for parties and weddings. Fruity and refreshing, Sofia Blanc de Blancs is a rare blend of Pinot Blanc, Muscat, and Riesling. Mellow flavors of apples and pears are topped by a hint of citrus and honeysuckle. Elegant in character, this wine is lightly textured and vibrant through the finish. |
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| Stuhlmuller Stuhlmuller Vineyards | |||
| 2016 Alexander Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $56 |
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| Stuhlmuller Vineyards sits at the southern edge of Alexander Valley where it borders both Chalk Hill and the Russian River Valley AVAs. Five blocks of the estate vineyard are planted with Chardonnay grapes, 80% of which are the sought-after Gauer Upper Barn clone. The wine was brought up in small barrels (82%) and larger casks (18%), all of which were French oak (6% new). The wine was fermented on the lees for eight months and underwent 80% indigenous malolactic fermentation. The winery's vintage note: "This medium-bodied wine offers an alluring orchard-fruit nose of ripe peach, and pear, as well as notes of lemon candy, honeysuckle and wet stone minerality. The lovely fruit continues on the palate, where it is accentuated by harmonious acidity, subtle oak and hints of lemon cream and sweet thyme." This medium-bodied wine offers an alluring orchard-fruit nose of peaches and pears, as well as more exotic hints of lovage and quince. The lovely fruit continues on the palate, where it is accentuated my harmonious acidity, and subtle notes of lemon cream, thyme and salt-roasted cashews. Critical Acclaim WS90 Wine Spectator - "Delivers a tight beam of cream-laced green apple, melon, citrus and honeydew flavors, supported by firm acidity and ending with a persistent, flavorful finish." |
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| Sancerre Reserve Murielle Sancerre (504) | |||
| 2019 Sancerre, Loire Valley, France | |||
| Sauvignon Blanc | $14 $58 |
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| Pascal Jolivet is a small estate, nestled in the heart of Sancerre, in the Loire. Its vineyards are planted in the classic limestone chalk soils that characterize the region and help to create the finest expressions of Sauvignon Blanc in the world. Pascal Jolivet winery that has been family run for over five generations. Today the team is lead by a husband and wife duo who consistently make round, expressive wines. The classic Sancerre wine is white, bracingly acidic, and has pungent aromas of gooseberries, grass, nettles, and a hint of stony minerality. Richer, riper examples – particularly those from warmer, west-facing sites with chalky soils – often show fruitier notes of passionfruit and lemon peel. Sancerre is typically less 'obvious' than the most famous New World styles of Sauvignon Blanc; less grassy than those from Marlborough and less overtly citrussy than those from Casablanca. A couple of prizes have been won by this wine in competition: the Guide Hachette des Vins awarded the 2014 vintage 2 Stars and the 2015 vintage Cité. |
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| Blank Stare Orin Swift (404) | |||
| 2017 Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California | |||
| Sauvignon Blanc | $58 |
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| Our first foray into sauvignon blanc outside of the napa valley includes fruit sourced largely from laguna ranch in the russian river valley. the cooler climate brings out a different expression of the varietal-slightly more nervy and less ripe-with lots of acidity and texture. similar sauvignon blanc from the nearby laguna north vineyard and 127 year old semillon vines from the monte rosso vineyard complete the blend. bringing our style to the coast, we put together a wine that is different, yet still close to home, our signature at every sip. WIN EMAKER'S NOTES: Tight at first, then generous on the nose, the wine bursts with classic aromas of white peach, pear and freshly cut grass as well as stone, butterscotch, and clove. shards of minerality, white fig and lemon zest dominate the palate, with beams of acidity following through the extensive finish. BLEND: 95% sauvignon blanc 5% semillon MATURATION: 40% barrel-fermented in french oak 60% fermented in stainless steel tanks ALC. BY VOL. 15.2% |
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| Santa Margherita Santa Margherita Wines | |||
| 2019 Alto Adige, Italy | |||
| Pinot Grigio | $58 |
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| The wine is dry with intense aromas and appealing flavors of Golden Delicious apples and citrus with a long, multi-layered finish. Excellent as an aperitif and with a medium body that makes it versatile to pair with everything from salads to chicken or grilled fish. Wonderful pairing ideas include butter lettuce with apples, walnuts and pomegranate seeds, pizza topped with prosciutto and arugula, scallops with tarragon cream, or tagliatelle with Italian olive oil, lemon zest and pine nuts. |
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| Haute Couture French Bubbles Brut or Rose | |||
| NV Champagne, France | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $12 $60 |
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| Forever Sparkling. Forever in Fashion. Forever French. Haute Couture French Bubbles epitomizes a decadent style of ultimate sophistication, delicate bubbles and a graceful palate… Assert your style! OUR MAISON STYLE Haute Couture is a composition of the best of France has to offer tailor-made into a beautiful elixir. The stylist’s secret is the key to her creation. WINEMAKING NOTES The grapes were pressed and fermented into a still wine. After blending, the wine was bottled with the liqueur de tirage to start secondary fermentation in the méthode traditionnelle or traditional method. After disgorgement and right before final corking, dosage of 22g/l was added. TASTING NOTES Pale yellow in color with a fine and persistent bubble stream. The nose displays intense layered notes of pear and peach over a background of toasted bread aromas. It’s full on the palate, with just a touch of sweetness. |
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| Domaine La Grappe D'Or Pouilly Fumé Michel Girault Winery (502) | |||
| 2018 Loire Valley, France | |||
| Sauvignon Blanc | $60 |
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| Clean, clear in the glass with some grassy aromas. The palate offers flavors of lemon/lime, green grass and under-ripe green plum, with bracing acidity, in a rugged old-school style. Pouilly-Fumé is a 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc wine, produced at the eastern end of the Loire Valley in Central France. There, eight small villages make up the Pouilly-Fumé appellation. The limestone soils produce grapes that make medium- to light-bodied wines, zesty with citrus and mineral notes. |
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| Pouilly-Fuisse Louis Jadot (402) | |||
| 2017 Burgundy, France | |||
| Chardonnay | $70 |
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| Clear golden color. The nose has a very strong anise component, nearly exclusive to any other aromatic components. Medium bodied with medium intensity. This is mostly about texture, acidic structure and mineral components rather than fruit. It takes crisp and clean to a high degree and is a lovely wine to pair up with a simple salad of arugula, pear and havarti dressed with olive oil and black pepper. The pepper draws out a lovely saline/rocky component on the finish. As it lingers, you really get the complexion of some tart key lime which has lingered behind the scenes, but you didn't realize was there until you finished your sip. |
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| Rombauer Rombauer Vineyards | |||
| 2017 Carneros, Napa County, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $20 $75 |
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| Carneros, Napa, CA- Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay is a rich wine with layers of tropical fruit, peaches and pears. The fruit opens up into creamy textures of apples and pears that glide across the palate. Hints of citrus and light oak tones highlight the wine's lingering finish. Wine Spectator: ripe pear, apple and honeydew melon flavors are shaded by spicy, toasty oak. A rich, creamy style. Full-bodied, with a touch of sweetness. Rated 91 |
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| The Prisoner Prisoner Wine Company | |||
| 2019 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Chardonnay | $75 |
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| From the most recognized Napa Valley red blend comes a distinct, new wine. Made in the same iconic style as The Prisoner Red Blend, we proudly introduce The Prisoner Chardonnay. Redefining taste once again. The Prisoner Wine Company was born different. Designed to disrupt. The Prisoner Chardonnay is rich and full bodied with aromas of vanilla, baked apple, and flavors of pineapple, toasted oak. Critical Acclaim WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com COMMENTARY: The 2019 Prisoner Carneros Chardonnay incorporates New World Ideas in offering this aromatic and pleasing wine. By adding Roussanne and Gewürztraminer to this blend, they have added a cool nuance to it. TASTING NOTES: This wine gushes out aromas and flavors of ripe fruit and chalk, along with an intriguing aromatic note. Enjoy it with roast duck with thin slices of orange. (Tasted: October 17, 2020, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial | |||
| NV Champagne, Champagne, France | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $26 $100 |
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| Winemaker's Notes: pale yellow with shades of green in color. On the nose, subtly vinous aromas of citrus, nut and bread. This champagne is delicate, soft and fruity. An Impressive consistency of lemon and lime flavors, smooth, crisp and easy to drink. A good length that is clean and full of apple and honey notes. Richness and softness fills the finish with a clean aftertaste. |
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| Veuve Clicquot Veuve Clicquot Winery | |||
| NV Champagne, Champagne, France | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $110 |
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| A Champagne House is eventually judged on the quality of its Brut Non Vintage. It is in the making of such a wine that the true Art of Champagne blending reveals itself. This is an art in which the House of Veuve Clicquot excels. Our Brut Yellow Label reflects the superb vineyards we own and the consistent nature of our House style. The predominance of Pinot Noir provides the structure that is so typically Clicquot, while a touch of Pinot Meunier rounds out the blend. Chardonnay adds the elegance and finesse essential in a perfectly balanced wine. Critical Acclaim WW92 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com - "Medium straw, yellow color; complex aromas of ripe apple and light cream, excellent depth and persistence; medium bodied, active and layered on the palate; dry, medium acidity, well balanced; bright and beautiful ripe fruit and cream in the flavors; medium finish, lasting impression in the aftertaste. Calls for petrale in a Champagne reduction sauce with fresh, savory herbs. " WS90 Wine Spectator - "Bright and lightly toasty, this elegant Champagne layers flavors of cassis, crushed hazelnut and lemon meringue pie on the creamy bead. |
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| Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut | |||
| NV Champagne, Champagne, France | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $110 |
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| Crisp and light, with sweet aromas of apple, pear and citrus, lingering with notes of toast and butter on the finish. A hint of lemon zest remains on palate. Tasting Notes: always crowd-pleaser, open-knit and lightly juicy, with a lively, frothy bead. Mixes white cherry, ripe apricot, pickled ginger and mineral notes, with a fresh, spiced finish. Perrier-Jouët was founded in 1811 in Epernay by Pierre-Nicolas-Marie Perrier and his wife, Adele Jouët. One of the most prestigious houses in Champagne, the firm was shipping wine to Great Britain by 1813 and to the United States by 1837. Perrier-Jouët owns 266 acres of vineyards in Champagne, with an average rating of 95%, and is known worldwide for its consistency of style. |
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| Puligny-Montrachet Roux Pere et Fils (402) | |||
| 2015 Burgundy, France | |||
| Chardonnay | $150 |
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| Located in the southern part of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet has a varied terroir consisting of pebbly limestone, marl, and sandy soil. The bouquet shows floral tones, accented b herbal and mineral undertones and a subtly nutty quality. Honey and pear aromas appear over time. Fermented on the lees and aged in French oak barrels for more than a year, Roux Chassagne-Montrachet is smooth and rich in texture. |
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| Bollinger Brut Special Cuvee Vintuswines | |||
| NV Champagne, France | |||
| Champagne/Sparkling | $150 |
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| Bollinger is a Champagne house, a producer of sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France. They produce several labels of Champagne under the Bollinger name, including the vintage Vieilles Vignes Françaises, Grande Année and R.D. as well as the non-vintage. Winemaker Notes A golden color, distinctive of black grape varieties. Very fine bubbles. On the nose, it has a beautiful aromatic complexity, ripe fruit and spicy aromas, with hints of roasted apples, apple compote and peaches. On the palate, there is a subtle combination of structure, length and vivacity. The bubbles are like velvet. Flavors of pear, brioche and spicy aromas, notes of fresh walnut. Pair with all fish, especially sushi and sashimi, shellfish such as shrimp, prawns, crayfish and grilled lobster, poultry and white meat, cashews, parmesan or prosciutto. Critical Acclaim WW94Wilfred Wong of Wine.com There is always something extraordinary about the Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne Brut. I have savored the wines throughout my 40 years in my professional wine career, and the wine has always performed well. It begins with a refined mousse and entices with aromas of bread dough, ripe apples, crème brûlée, as well as mineral accents. While it is full in its body and textures, its finish stays long, zesty, and memorable. Drinks well now, although today's bottle could use another half a dozen years in the cellar. (Tasted: September 26, 2016, San Francisco, CA) WS93Wine Spectator Lovely aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry and currant fruit, graphite, toast and candied Meyer lemon zest are set in this racy Champagne, with a refined, finely detailed mousse. The mouthwatering finish is long and spicy. JD93 |
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| RED | |||
| Hahn Merlot Hahn Winery | |||
| 2017 Monterey, California | |||
| Merlot | $10 $36 |
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| This wine opens with lovely aromas of black cherry, cassis and raspberry. On the palate the soft grip of tannins melds with flavors of plum, dark chocolate and mocha. The finish is smooth and pleasing. The fruit for this Merlot was grown in superb Central Coast vineyards, most of which were located in Monterey County. We turned to superb Central Coast vineyards to grow the fruit for this Merlot. Most of the vineyards are located in Monterey County. After harvest, we age the wine in French oak barrels (45% new) to enhance mouthfeel and contribute dark chocolate and vanilla flavors. Lovely aromas of black cherry, cassis and raspberry complement the soft grip of tannins on the palate. Flavors of plum meld with seductively dark chocolate and mocha. The finish is smooth and pleasing. |
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| Centine Castello Banfi (112) | |||
| 2018 Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy | |||
| Super Tuscan | $40 |
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| The 2018 Banfi Centine Rosso Toscana begins with a very aromatic fruit and floral bouquet. This wine has wonderful intense aromas of black and red cherry, lavender, violet and even a hint of banana. The medium-bodied wine tastes of dark fruit flavors like blackberry and plum plus a bit of spice. Tart fruit flavors come to the forefront on the medium-long finish. Very easy to drink and even easier to enjoy. Winemaker's Notes: The color is intense ruby red with youthful hints. The bouquet is intense, vinous and spicy in which the Tuscan character of the Sangiovese is perfectly married with the international character of the Cabernet and Merlot. In the mouth, it is gentle, soft and easy-to-drink. |
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| Beaujolais Louis Jadot (302) | |||
| 2017 Beaujolais Villages, France | |||
| Gamay | $40 |
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| Strong red purple color. Fresh red fruits on the nose with a hint of dark cherry. Slightly spicy with a touch of grey pepper, liquorice and a touch of rose flower. This wine is very well balanced with a nice acidity and supple tannins on the finish. Pair this wine with terrines, charcuteries, grilled red meat, white fish, cheese or simply as the sole wine of a meal. This brilliant garnet wine is bright and fresh, with ripe, supple crushed strawberry flavors underscored by zesty nuances of peppercorns, gentle tannins and a clean acidity, finishing on a succulent, refreshing note. From the start, Maison Louis Jadot has always accorded equal importance to each of Burgundy's appellations, from Grand Crus right through to regional wines. Our aim is to express the true nature of Burgundy through our wines, a terroir that can be both proud of its past and optimistic about its future. In order to produce wines that celebrate their terroir, Jacques Lardière works with a team: Christine, Guillaume and Audrey. Together they have a large part to play in determining the success of our enterprise. Each influences the creation of our wines with their own particular set of skills, whether technical or commercial, thereby ensuring that Maison Jadot has a bright future ahead of it. |
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| Chateau Rambaud Daniel Mouty Winery (115) | |||
| 2015 Bordeaux, France | |||
| Bordeaux Blend | $40 |
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| An elegant blend, Arbalest displays aromas of graphite, minerality, red plums and boysenberries. The integrated tannins show balanced flavors of kirsch, plums, graphite and cassis. With a beautiful hints of umami on the mid palate, this savory and fruitful beauty pairs well with pasta, game, meats and cheeses. Blend: 81% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot Critical Acclaim JD91Jeb Dunnuck Mostly Merlot blended with 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Arbalest was brought up 16 months in tank and 30% new oak. It offers a perfumed, gorgeous bouquet of plums, incense, spice and hints of forest floor. Full-bodied, ripe and rounded, with a sexy, opulent style, lots of mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it's well worth your time and money and is a smoking deal at 20 bucks. This wine comes from a collaboration between winemaker Benoit Touquette and importer/distributor Kimberly Jones. |
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| [+ more] | |||
| William Hill Cabernet William Hill Winery (213) | |||
| 2018 Central Coast, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $40 |
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| William Hill North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon offers a smooth and rich palate of dark fruit flavors, with delicate hints of toasted oak and caramel. The wine has excellent structure and flavors of blueberry, plum, blackberry and black cherry. Soft tannins, firm acidity and refined red fruit notes are featured on the long finish. From California, North Coast. Producer William Hill Estate Winery is a special place. In 1978, visionary vineyard developer William Hill saw the incredible potential of the Silverado Bench, where he built his namesake winery. More than three decades later, our winemaker Ralf Holdenried is making modern wines that speak to the unique terroir of this virtually unknown area of southern Napa Valley. A confluence of characteristics makes our 140-acre estate an ideal vineyard. Set on a benchland - off the valley floor, but below the steeper slopes of the hills - with a southwestern exposure, the vines bask in abundant sunlight. The vineyard is close to the valley floor climatically, but the volcanic soil and the size and vigor of the vines means William Hill is more like a mountaintop vineyard. These elements translate to elegant, expressive red Bordeaux wines. |
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| Masi Campofiorin Masi Agricola (110) | |||
| 2016 Verona, Italy | |||
| Valpolicella | $44 |
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| Full bodied, smooth and velvety, but approachable and versatile in its food pairings. Combines simplicity with style, strength and majesty. This is the original Supervenetian created by Masi in 1964 and internationally recognised as a wine of “stupendous body and complexity”, the prototype for a new category of wines from the Veneto inspired by the Amarone production method (Burton Anderson). Its own production method was described by Hugh Johnson as “an ingenious technique”. Fruity cherry and plum aromas, with vanilla, cinnamon and spice notes. Shows sublime, soft tannins on the palate, with fresh acidity. Finish is long and persistent, with ripe fruit flavors and a touch of sweet spiciness. This very versatile wine is perfect with various foods, including pasta with rich meat- or mushroom-based sauces, grilled or roasted red meats, game and mature cheeses. Blend: 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara. Critical Acclaim RP91 The Wine Advocate - "The 2013 Campofiorin is an IGT Rosso del Veronese executed in a Ripasso style that sees a double fermentation on Amarone skins. Campofiorin is a wine that is dear to my heart because it has long been one of my top drinking choices while sitting by the fireplace on a cold winter's night. It offers Ripasso intensity with brooding dark fruit nuances followed by a dense, chewy build. " |
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| Leese-Fitch Leese-Fitch Winery | |||
| 2015 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Zinfandel | $44 |
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| Leese-Fitch Zinfandel swirls with dark purple color emitting aromas of blackberry jam, cinnamon toast, sandalwood, and grilled plum with hints of black pepper. On the palate, you taste dried cherry, black raspberry, toasted coconut, roasted almonds, and deep vanilla custard. The flavor continues to develop on the finish showing the brambly side of Zinfandel and some earthy characteristics; roasted Portobello mushroom, Mexican hot chocolate, and soy with hints of espresso and sweet leather. Blend: 76% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 8% Barbera, 2% Syrah, 1% Merlot |
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| Leese-Fitch Leese-Fitch Winery | |||
| 2015 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Merlot | $44 |
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| Dark ruby in color this Merlot showcases complex aromas of raspberry, dark cherry, dried thyme, and hints of cedar and spearmint. In the mouth, fruit flavors dominate with nuances of cherry preserves, blueberry pie, summer sweet plum, and cranberry sauce with delicate notes of cream soda, candied orange rind, coconut, and sweet basil. Blend: 81% Merlot, 9% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 3% Zinfandel, 2% Barbera |
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| Paringa Shiraz Paringa Winery | |||
| 2016 South Australia | |||
| Shiraz | $12 $44 |
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| Owned by Owen and Cassandra Inglis since 2004, Sidewood is already starting to get noticed. Highly respected critic James Halliday gave them a five-star rating in both the 2016 and 2018 editions of Wine Companion. Made by award winning winemakers whose CVs include top wineries such as Penfolds and Shaw & Smith, their wines are absolutely stunning. Outstanding example of a cool-climate Shiraz from the Adelaide hills, this wine presents lifted fruit flavours of red cherry, currants and dark plum on the nose. The palate intensifies with flavours of pomegranate, cinnamon and spice and a textural earthy finish with soft silky tannins. |
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| Plungerhead | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Zinfandel | $12 $44 |
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| Complex and juicy, this Lodi Zinfandel explodes with brambly fruit aromas as well as toasted coconut, sandalwood, tanned leather, clove, and freshly grated nutmeg. The palate is layered with fruit and spice showcasing blueberry, strawberry pie filling, sweet cherry, milk chocolate, graham cracker, thyme, and white pepper. This bold Zinfandel would pair exceptionally well with Mongolian BBQ or anything covered in a teriyaki sauce. Other recommended pairings would be a burger with BBQ potato chips or a meat lover’s pizza. Blend: 84% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 3% Tempranillo A nose of cherries and spice, dark garnet in color. A medium bodied Zin, with raspberries, black cherries, and spices. This was a nice surprise. Tobacco, pepper and red fruits. Quite a mouthful. Plungerhead makes wines of character for characters. Who IS that dude on the label? That’s Eddie, whose image represents our avant-garde collection of wines. According to local legend, after giving the creative department a bit of grief during a wine brand creative process, a mysterious bottle of wine bearing a label that was eerily familiar and quite uncanny made its way to Eddie’s desk. The character on the label had his face, his signature facial hair and was wearing his favorite purple blazer. However, on the label he was also wearing a red toilet plunger hat, wine barrels for trousers and holding a sign that simply said, “Plungerhead.” |
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| Domaine Bousquet Jean Bousquet Winery (525) | |||
| 2018 Mendoza, Argentina | |||
| Malbec | $44 |
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| Made from organic grapes from our own vineyards located in Alto Gualtallary, Tupungato at an altitude of 1200 (4000 feet) above the sea level, one of the highest points in Mendoza. The wine is composed of 85% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Syrah, which has been aged in French oak for 10 months and 4 months of bottle ageing. Tasting Notes: It is a wine of dark violet color with reddish hues. In the nose it presents intense aromas of blackberry with notes of black currant and plum. On the palate it is a balanced and elegant wine, with pure fruit expression like raspberry, fig, and chocolate. It has a well-defined velvety style, excellent structure and a long finish. It is ideal to combine with pasta, red meat, and meat with sauces, cheeses and chocolate. |
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| Ruca Yauquén Ruca Malen | |||
| 2017 Mendocino Ridge, Argentina | |||
| Malbec | $12 $46 |
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| A word from the native Mapuche language meaning “the ritual of sharing a drink with friends,” Yauquén wines are fresh selections, with minimal oak influence, intended to be enjoyed every day with good food in good company. Bursting with aromas of ripe black cherries, plums, and violets, followed by subtle notes of vanilla and caramel, this Malbec is jammy, packed with fresh red fruit flavors. A pleasant acidity is followed by a generous, round finish marked by a subtle hint of sweet oak and firm tannins from aging 6 months in 20% French oak barrels and 80% stainless steel tanks, following vinification in stainless steel. 2014 Wine & Spirits - 89 pts Best Buy Bursting with aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, and violets, followed by subtle notes of vanilla and caramel, this distinctive Malbec has a pleasant acidity followed by a generous, round finish marked by a subtle hint of sweet oak and form tannis P. Tapia, February 2017 2013 JamesSuckling.com - 91 pts A balanced and pretty malbec with sliced plum and berry aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, fresh finish. Drink now. J. Suckling, June 2015 Tasting Panel - 88 pts Lush and rich with smooth texture and ripe plum and blackberry; deep and balanced, long and intense. A. Dias Blue, October 2015 Wine Spectator - 88 pts A balanced and fresh-tasting red, with crisp acidity behind the dark cherry and boysenberry flavors, accented by minerally notes. Spice hints and firm tannins show on the fruity finish. Drink now through 2018. K. Marcus, July 2015 Wine Spectator - 88 pts, Best Buy Textbook Malbec in its pure red-fruit ripeness and its caressing texture, this leaves a gentle hint of spice in its wake. P. Tapia, June 2014 |
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| Aviary Cabernet Aviary Vineyards (215) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $46 |
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| The 2018 Aviary California Cabernet Sauvignon, as in previous vintages, is developed to offer the classic big, rich, dark fruit Cabernet attributes, while also displaying our velvety smooth tannin structure, tempered by our consistent selection of oak. On the nose you will find generous blueberry fruit with a touch of crushed earth. The mid-pallet continues with dark fruit expressions of cassis, some red fruit in the form of subtle strawberry preserves, and just a touch of bright menthol or eucalyptus. PAIR WITH: Any cut of steak or roasts, stands beautifully on its own as well. |
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| Chloe Chloe Wines (101) | |||
| 2017 Monterey, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $48 |
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| Chloe’s Pinot Noir is an elegant yet complex wine that delivers structure, flavors and aromas. Using grapes grown in two distinctive cool climate regions in California, Monterey County and Russian River Valley, allowed for Winemaker Georgetta Dane to blend these amazing regions together. The Monterey County Pinot Noir provides flavors and aromas of wild strawberry, plum, and cherries, while the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir complements these fruit notes with spicy clove that adds complexity, richness, and aromas of fresh torn spearmint leaves. Georgetta cold soaked the whole berries for 4 days, fermented at cool temperatures to retain the fruit and pressed gently at dryness. The wine was aged in French Oak. |
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| Cherry Pie Three Counties (104) | |||
| 2017 Monterey, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $50 |
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| The 2015 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir jumps from the glass with aromas of raspberry, nutmeg, sandalwood and light smokiness, lifted by a floral note. Silky and delicate up front, with ripe acidity framing the rich, sweet flavors of red berries, and finishing with red cherry and earth. Critical Acclaim WW89Wilfred Wong of Wine.com Smooth and easy, the fruit-forward 2015 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir is a soft red. The wine's pleasing jammy, red fruit, and soft palate textures make it a perfect cocktail or pizza wine. (Tasted: December 7, 2017, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Joel Gott Wines (506) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $50 |
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| The Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon has aromatics of roasted blue fruit, sweet blackberry and cherry cola with hints of graham cracker and vanilla. The wine enters with dark, concentrated fruit on the palate, velvety tannins on the mid-palate, followed by a long, vibrant finish. The 2016 Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon begins with a very nice aroma of plum, cherry, a little leather and anise. Tasting reveals a smooth, medium-bodied wine with great structure and soft tannins. The wine features a ton of cola notes, plenty of dark fruit and some dried herbs. There are definitely some oaky accents but they are integrated very nicely and come in the form of dark chocolate and spice. It ends dry with more cola and rich, dark fruit plus a nice burst of spice that lingers in the mouth for a good time. Absolutely delicious! |
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| Biagio Chianti Riserva Castellani Wine (110) | |||
| 2014 Chianti, Tuscany, Italy | |||
| Chianti | $50 |
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| Bright ruby red color. Intense and characteristic bouquet. Fruity with a violet fragrance. Dry and harmonious with notes of dark chocolate and black cherries. Ideal with grilled meat and pasta dishes with rich tomato sauce. Serve at room temperature. |
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| Faustino V Reserva Grupo Faustino Winery (116) | |||
| 2013 Rioja, Spain | |||
| Tempranillo | $50 |
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| COLOR Bright garnet, cherry red rim. NOSE Very intense, sweet and spicy aromas that are well-integrated on the nose. Additional ripe fruit and barrel notes, such as cinnamon, tobacco or cedar. PALATE Pleasant on the palate, elegantly structured and balanced as a whole. Medium to long spiced finish. BACKGROUND Grupo Faustino is the country's leading producer of fine wines from Rioja and one of the most celebrated names in modern Spanish winemaking. Founded 150 years ago by Eleuterio Martinez Arzok, Grupo Faustino has excelled in balancing tradition and modernity over the past decades. The winery received worldwide acclaim in the 1950s when descendant Julio Faustino Martinez launched the family-owned label in both national and international markets. Today, the estate is led by Don Julio Martinez along with his children.With 1,625 acres of vineyards, Faustino's wines are all estate grown and bottled. The vineyards are located in the upper portion of the Rioja Alavesa, in the Basque Country, at an altitude of 1,200-1,800 feet. Here, the climate is relatively cool thanks to the maritime influence of the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and the vines thrive in the areas chalky soil. VINIFICATION Grapes are destemmed and undergo fermentation for 10 days at 28°C. The grapes then go through a 20-day maceration period. They are then aged for a total of 42 months: 18 months in 100% American oak casks and 24 months in the bottle. |
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| Smith & Hook Cabernet Smith & Hook Winery (519) | |||
| 2018 Monterey, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $14 $50 |
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| A bouquet bursting with notes of dark fruit and hints of spice leadsinto a structured palate of bright plum, boysenberry, and cherry. The initial fruitiness is complemented by alluring notes of vanilla cream and rich cacao. Expansive flavors and balanced tannins carry through to the smooth, lavish finish. The robust flavors are a great complement to braised short ribs, mushroom stroganoff, or a charred gruyere burger. Blend: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 2% Malbec Critical Acclaim WE90 Wine Enthusiast - "Dense blackberry and blueberry-paste scents mesh with dark chocolate, milk chocolate and graphite on the nose of this bottling from the Hahn family. A lush mouthfeel with ample weight unleashes coffee and mocha flavors, blueberry and black cherry fruit, with hints of fudge and a sweet oak touch." |
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| Bodegas Triton Tridente Triton Winery (111) | |||
| 2015 Spain | |||
| Tempranillo | $50 |
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| 15 months in barrel, 8 months bottle age. Produced from ancient vaso trained vineyards up to 110 years old, fermented in stainless steel tanks, and then aged 15 months in French Oak Barrels. This deep purple wines has notes of toasty oak, graphite and balsamic. The flavors are densely fruit with creme de cassis persisting through the lingering finish. Critical Acclaim ST91 International Wine Cellar - "(sourced from old bush vines and aged in French oak for 15 months): Bright purple. Sexy, oak-spiced dark berries, cola and vanilla on the perfumed nose. Smoky, pliant and appealingly sweet, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that become livelier with air. Finishes sweet and seamless, with echoing cola and blue fruit notes. " |
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| Lamole di Lamole Lamole Wines (113) | |||
| 2017 Chianti, Italy | |||
| Chianti | $50 |
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| Deep, vibrant ruby, giving typical violets aromatics with cherries and red berry fruits, lifted by a grace note of minerality. Assertive on entry, with savoury freshness to the fore mid palate, before the delicious finale reprises fragrant notes of balsam-wreathed fruitiness. Ideal with traditional Tuscan cooking, especially starters of cold meats and "bruschetta" toasted bread with spreads of all kinds, or charcoal-grilled pork drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. |
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| Chronology Secret Indungency Winery (218) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $50 |
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| Chronology Red Wine unites Bordeaux and Rhône varietals in balanced harmony. Deep garnet in your glass, you are greeted with notes of black currant, violets, italian plum and hints of umami on the nose. From the first sip, you find notes of black cherries, blueberries, dried figs, baking spices and cacao nibs. Your palate will delight in the bright, rich, palate coating texture of the Chronology. "The 2017 Chronology Red Wine is dark plum in your glass. The Rhone and Bordeaux varietals blend together in a rich, aromatic style. You are greeted with notes of dried plum, dark chocolate, dark red and purple berries with a hint of dustiness on the nose. From the first sip, you find notes of blackberry pie, dark cherry, baking spices and cacao. COMPOSITION 32% Petite Sirah, 22% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 13% Grenache, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Mission, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Mourvedre, 1% Petit Verdot APPELLATION California (9 counties) PRODUCTION 4,035 cases AGEING 20 months, stainless steel and barrel aged (16% new oak) WINEMAKER Katie Carter |
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| Decoy Cabernet Decoy Wines (501) | |||
| 2018 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $50 |
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| Wine Profile Production Notes Varietal Composition: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 4% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah, 2% Syrah, 1% Petit Verdot Winemaker Notes Displaying the lushness and balance that define great Cabernet Sauvignon, this inviting wine features layers of blackberry, black cherry and blueberry, along with notes of dark chocolate and fresh spearmint. On the palate, the bright, juicy fruit flavours are framed by rich, refined tannins that carry the wine to a long, satisfying finish. Production The 2018 growing season began with a cool winter, and just enough rain to replenish the vineyards. A temperate spring followed by mild weather throughout the summer allowed the grapes to ripen at a very measured pace, something we love to see in our vineyards. After several years of early harvests, the relatively mild weather and a healthy sized crop led to a return to more normal harvest times. After enjoying abundant hangtime to fully ripen, the quality of the grapes was extremely impressive. Overall, our 2018 whites and Rosé show an ideal combination of lovely fruit-forward flavors and elegance, while the reds are lush and complex, with great color and concentration. |
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| Decoy Decoy Wines (115) | |||
| 2018 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Merlot | $50 |
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| WINE PROFILE Production Notes Varietal Composition: 98% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot Winemaker Notes This lush and inviting Merlot displays layers of black cherry, blueberry and plum underscored by dark chocolate, cedar and mineral notes. On the palate, balanced acidity adds poise and elegance, while silky tannins carry the wine to a fruitful and concentrated finish. Production The 2018 growing season began with a cool winter, and just enough rain to replenish the vineyards. A temperate spring followed by mild weather throughout the summer allowed the grapes to ripen at a very measured pace, something we love to see in our vineyards. After several years of early harvests, the relatively mild weather and a healthy sized crop led to a return to more normal harvest times. After enjoying abundant hangtime to fully ripen, the quality of the grapes was extremely impressive. Overall, our 2018 whites and rosé show an ideal combination of lovely fruit-forward flavors and elegance, while the reds are lush and complex, with great color and concentration. |
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| Rainstorm Rainstorm Winery | |||
| 2017 Willamette Valley, Oregon | |||
| Pinot Noir | $14 $52 |
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| To craft our wonderfully balanced Rainstorm Pinot Noir, we take advantage of our diverse landscape by selecting grapes from our vineyards in the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys. With its cool, mild climate, the Willamette Valley of northern Oregon produces Pinot Noirs with an earthy, elegant style and complex flavors and subtlety. The hotter and drier climate in the southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley region produces Pinot Noirs bursting with brilliant, ripe, rich fruit flavors. |
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| Julia-James Golden Eagle Vineyard | |||
| 2018 Monterey, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $52 |
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| "Possess a deep plum color, with bright ruby edges. Rich yet medium-bodied, offering an exciting bouquet of berry, oak, earth and spice notes, with bold streaks of blueberry, raspberry, mocha and fl oral flavors. Finishes with an aftertaste of fresh licorice and cherries. Julia James Pinot Noir will drink nicely for 2-4 years, and pairs well with pork, salmon, chicken, and mushroom risotto." Critical Acclaim WE89Wine Enthusiast alance, ripe fruit and a dash of cinnamon make this wine easy to appreciate and fun to drink in light of its reasonable price. It has medium body, plum and red cherry notes and a hint of spicy oak. |
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| Masi Brolo di Campofiorin Masi Winery (111) | |||
| 2015 Verona, Italy | |||
| Valpolicella | $58 |
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| This wine shows rich, fragrant, ripe aromas of plums, with cherry compote, cinnamon and clove notes. Soft, full-bodied flavors blend weight and elegance with bright acidity, juicy fruit, and soft, well-rounded tannins. There are baked fruit, sweet spice, coffee and bitter chocolate notes before the very long finish. Critical Acclaim RP92 The Wine Advocate - "One step up in sophistication and pedigree compared to the base Campofiorin is the 2010 Brolo Campofiorin Oro. The base Campofiorin is great for sitting by the fireplace with family and friends, but this is a wine of extra caliber for dinner parties and elegant company. The bouquet is tightly woven with threads of dark fruit, spice, tobacco and cola. The wine shows a thicker, more elaborate level of extraction in the mouth. It tastes more like an Amarone than a Ripasso. " JS90 James Suckling - "A chewy, almost gritty red with dark-berry and dried-cherry character. Very intense. Medium body, fine tannins and a delicious finish." |
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| Meiomi Meiomi Wines (427) | |||
| 2019 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $16 $60 |
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| A rich garnet color with a ruby edge, the wine opens to reveal lifted fruit aromas of bright strawberry and jammy fruit, mocha, and vanilla, along with toasty oak notes. Expressive boysenberry, blackberry, dark cherry, juicy strawberry, and toasty mocha flavors lend complexity and depth on the palate. The well-integrated oak provides structure and depth seldom seen in Pinot Noir.Meiomi Pinot Noir has a consistent profile of supple tannins, silky texture, and balanced acidity that makes it the perfect wine to enjoy with a wide array of food. It pairs particularly well with tomato-based pasta dishes, thin-crustpizza, grilled lamb, and turkey. |
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| Peju Peju Province Winery (114) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Merlot | $60 |
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| Made in a firmly structured style with plenty of grip, this 2016 Merlot exudes aromas of dark berries, plum and subtle cedar. The palate features flavors of raspberry, cherry, cocoa and currants. With a hint of spice on the finish, this broad and sculpted wine is not your classic Merlot. A great food wine with a wide range of cuisines, this bottling will continue to mature for the next 5- 7 years. Critical Acclaim WE91Wine Enthusiast This is a generously full-bodied wine, explosive in dark, brooding black fruit, coffee and bittersweet chocolate that offers firm, integrated tannin and lively acidity in equal measure. It shows varietal character, with an additional 1% Malbec swimming within. |
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| Sancerre Les Beaux Michel Girault (103) | |||
| 2018 Loire Valley, France | |||
| Pinot Noir | $60 |
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| Vinification: After destemming the grapes undergo fermentation at 25° C for 10 days. Then they are pressed and wine is stored 20% in oak barrels and 80% in stainless steel tanks where the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. Tasting Notes: Ruby red dress with aromas of red fruits on the nose. The palate presents with a slight wood perception and supple finish. We recommended pairing with red meat or game. |
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| American Vintage Secret Indulgency Winery (207) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $60 |
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| In a world where extravagance is celebrated and imagination is boundless, a new age of enlightenment begins... Introducing Secret Indulgence, a new, borderless portfolio of wines. This unique collection is a collaboration between Jean-Charles Boisset and thirteen winemakers from his family estates in France and California, who have created a wine world without bounds, embracing the freedom to create a portfolio of daring, limited-production wines on the cutting edge of style! Uniting uniquely American symbols and icons, our stamp is an image of the American Dream; It represents the vintages of the past, present and future. Uniting the symbols that we all hold dear, the stars and stripes of the flag and the eagle - the most honorable and influential of them all! This rich, dark, dense wine presents as dark purple-red in the glass. The bold, jammy, ripeness of the Zinfandel is well balanced with the blue-black notes of the Petite Sirah. On the nose, you are greeted with the essence of blackberry pie, black cherry, graphite and a hint of herbaceousness. On the palate, this wine is inky and thick while maintaining brightness and balance. Notes of marionberry, bramble and a hint of black pepper coat your mouth in an assertive, rich and lingering way. Blend: 65% Zinfandel, 35% Petite Sirah Critical Acclaim RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 American Vintage Red (a blend mainly of Zinfandel with some Petite Sirah and a few other varieties) opens with baked cherries, warm blueberries and raspberry pie with touches of exotic spices, potpourri, tilled soil and rose water with a waft of incense. Full-bodied, rich and expressive, it has loads of juicy red and blue fruits in the mouth with plenty of spicy layers, framed by velvety tannins and a racy acid line, finishing long. JD91Jeb Dunnuck The California blend is the 2015 American Vintage California Red and it’s mostly Zinfandel, with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah and other varieties. It offers fabulous spice, white pepper and incense notes as well gorgeous blueberry and blackberry fruit, medium-bodied richness, and a great finish. It has tons of fruit authority, notable balance and length, and will drink nicely for 5-7 years. |
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| Meeker Handprint Meeker Vineyards (114) | |||
| 2014 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Merlot | $60 |
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| This is their flagship wine which rightly gets the royal trearment. This is a as big, bold, concentrated, deep, rich, oakey and chewey as any Merlot made in California. The handprint of owner Charley Meeker or his son Lucas or both on each bottle is much more than a marketing gimmick, they religiously spend hundreds of hours on this task and what's inside the bottle parallels this committment. The color is as dark as Merlot can get. The nose is unmistakenly really big new French oak with deep blueberry and black cherry. The palate is, of ourse, full bodied with intense black cherry, blueberry, blackberry and mulberry. This 2013 is only a baby, the structure, and the oak will give it decades of life. By structure I mean loads of tannins and lots of fresh young acid. The finish brings in all kinds of enhancing flavors like licorice, caramel, vanilla, graphite, cocoa and tar. I would like to think even those who are not fans of big California red wines might appreciate how this one tastes, especially when it gets several years of bottle age. Many Tribe members and customers learn about us because of our Winemaker’s Handprint Merlot – a unique bottle that’s eye-catching on the shelf and of course palate-grabbing in your glass. The textured bottle leaves you wondering if these people really have time on their hands (heh) to print each bottle by hand. Of course, we do. And here’s the story of how it gets done. Handprint is special because of the unique combination of wine and the package. Each bottle is held in paint-soaked hands one last time by either Winemaker Charlie or Winemaker Lucas Meeker before we ship it out the door. It starts with the paint. Some have office supply cabinets full of reams of paper, pencils and ethernet cables – we have shelves upon shelves of artist-quality acrylic paint. |
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| “Le Orme” Barbera d’Asti Superiore Michele Chiarlo (108) | |||
| 2016 Barbera d'Asti, Italy | |||
| Barbera | $60 |
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| Garnet in color, the wine is medium bodied and robust with rich, ripe cherries and earth on the nose and an elegant palate. Pairs well with a wide range of dishes: chicken scallopini with sage and wild mushrooms, farfalle pasta with pork sausageand broccoli rabe and grilled or roasted red meats. Several important critics have rated this Barbera d'Asti wine highly: Wine Spectator gave the 2009 vintage a score of 90. Several vintages have been winning prizes in competitions: the 2009 vintage was awarded Silver from the International Wine Challenge as well as Silver from the Decanter World Wine Awards. This is the fourth most sought-after wine from the region (in terms of user searches). Interest in this wine has fallen off relative to previous years. |
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| La Crema La Crema Winery (101) | |||
| 2017 Monterey, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $60 |
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| Winemaker's Notes: This Monterey Pinot Noir opens with lovely, vibrant aromas of cherry pie and sassafras, supported by subtle earth tones and hints of rose petal and vanilla. Vibrant pomegranate and cranberry join in on the palate, with notes of black licorice, espresso bean, sweet pipe tobacco and cherry cola. With elegant structure, the juicy mid-palate leads to a lingering nish of sweet spice. |
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| Benziger Cabernet Benziger Family Winery (202) | |||
| 2015 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $60 |
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| Blended with hearty amounts of Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and 8% unidentified, this is a likable, basic wine, dry in herb, cedar and pencil that'll work well with food. Critical Acclaim WW90 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com - "One of my pet peeves in the wine industry is finding the best values possible, and that can often be a challenge. Famous wineries that are high in demand, often command prices high above the reality of the wine's worth—they are simply charging what the market can bear. The 2013 Benziger Cabernet is excellent, a real deal in the marketplace. The wine's ripe fruit, savory spices, and freshness make it perfect for those wanting top wines at decent prices. |
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| Raymond Cabernet Sommelier Selection Raymond Vineyards (519) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $60 |
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| The grapes for Generations Cabernet Sauvignon are grown in some of the best vineyards and appellations in the Napa Valley. The majority come from two vineyards on the west side of St. Helena known for sandy soils that produce berries with sweet, ripe tannins. The remaining grapes were sourced from a meticulously farmed knoll-top vineyard at the corner of Oakville Cross Road and Silverado Trail. By blending grapes from the St. Helena and Oakville appellations, we are able to make a wine that truly represents the best of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and honors our five generation history of making wine in the Napa Valley. |
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| Justin Cabernet Sauvignon Justin Vineyards (512) | |||
| 2018 Paso Robles, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $16 $60 |
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| There are clear notes of earth, vanilla and slightly toasted oak, complemented by strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant aromas. The wine has a soft entry, with balanced acidity and tannins, along with strawberry, earth, toasted oak and vanilla flavors. Appearance: Dark purple ruby core, slightly lighter at the rim showing light staining on the glass. Aroma: Aromatic with bright ripe black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, baking spice, savory dried autumn leaves, subtle violet floral notes with a hint of caramelized barrel sweetness. Palate: Dry, moderate plus bodied, with ripe red and black cherry, and blackcurrant fruit joined by vanilla and cinnamon spice notes on the entry. The mid-palate is fresh with sustained ripe fruit, toasty oak notes and softly textured tannins. The finish is moderately long with notes of cherry candy and blackcurrant fruit matched with subtle classic Cabernet savory elements. Pairings: The 2015 JUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon is a great all-around choice for a wide range of food pairings from a simple cheese and charcuterie plate or a burger to vegetable lasagna, or even a prime rib. If you are looking for a quality, all-purpose red wine, this is it! WINE SPECIFICATIONS Varietal Composition Cabernet Sauvignon Appellation Paso Robles Maturation 14 months in American oak (25% new) |
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| Banshee Banshhe Wines (106) | |||
| 2016 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $60 |
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| Banshee is an exciting, yet friendly wine, bursting at the seams with aromas of macerated wild berries and an elegant, soft earth undertone. The flavors combine both sweet and tart, reminiscent of Santa Rosa plums and wild blackberries that grow so commonly in Sonoma Wine Country. The finish is bright, slightly herbal, and savory making this an excellent food wine, as well as a charming drinking experience by itself. Critical Acclaim WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com An example of excellent elegance, the 2016 Banshee Pinot Noir stays ripe in the place that this grape variety ought to be. This wine offers red currants, attractive minerality, and zesty acidity. The wine's balanced style pairs it nicely with lightly grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: December 24, 2017, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Le Duc Noir Secrets Indulgency Winery (103) | |||
| 2017 Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $60 |
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| In a world where extravagance is celebrated and imagination is boundless, a new age of enlightenment begins... Introducing Secret Indulgence, a new, borderless portfolio of wines. This unique collection is a collaboration between Jean-Charles Boisset and thirteen winemakers from his family estates in France and California, who have created a wine world without bounds, embracing the freedom to create a portfolio of daring, limited-production wines on the cutting edge of style! Four powerful dukes. Four strong personalities. One dynasty of wine. Part of an old era, an era full of secrets, games and powers. The 2016 Le Duc Noir Pinot Noir presents a rich red in the glass. The nose is Burgundian in style, with notes of smoke and leather integrating gracefully with cranberry, dried cherry and plum skin. This Russian River based Pinot Noir greets your palate with pomegranate, tart red fruits, Herbes de Provence and hints of cassis, black cardamom and black tea. This wine has a spreading, full body with a long, lingering finish. AWARDS November 2017 - 94 points / Jeb Dunnuck, 94 points October 2017 - 91 points / Robert Parker, 91 points |
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| The Equalizer Cabernet Ammunition Wines (204) | |||
| 2017 Paso Robles, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $60 |
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| Rich in color and texture, this is a true representation of what a Sonoma Cabernet should be. Ripe bright cherries and complex tannins highlight this medium-to-full bodied wine. Long mouth feel through the mid-pallette and pops with cherries and hints of spice. The Cab Franc adds a white pepper silkiness to round out the finish. Faint cedar overtones supported by the round mid-palate body and tingly tannins on the edge of the finish. Pairs extremely well with all red meats and game. Our favorite pairing is a blue-cheese encrusted bacon-wrapped filet mignon. It levels the playing field with wines priced in another stratosphere. Versatile and pleasing to a variety of palettes, this wine consistently delivers the goods. The Equalizer is medium to full-bodied with a fruit-forward character. The 2015 Equalizer Red Blend is deep purplish to ruby in color. Its nose has plenty of blackberry, black cherry, baking spice and vanilla notes that are both intense yet elegant. The finish is both long and complex with a balance of sweet fruit and tannic structure that will allow this wine to age gracefully for 5 to 10 years. Pairs wonderfully with skirt steak, carne asada & any type of grilled meat. This wine loves spicy and blackened foods. |
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| Bonanza by 'Caymus' Cabernet Caymus Vinyards (425) | |||
| 2019 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $60 |
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| Medium rubyred, this wine opens with scents of currants and dried roses, grape pomace and fresh tilled soil. The nose is nuanced with toasty oak imparting a subtle smoked meat character. Flavors of blueberries and blackberries mix with the warmth of vanilla and toasted bread. Silky tannins and striking smoothness. Mouthwatering, lengthy finish trails off with the taste of unsweetened chocolate and cassis. BONANZA is a multi-vintage California Cabernet. Make no mistake – Bonanza is not Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet. Yet we are proud to be introducing this multivintage California-appellation Cabernet Sauvignon. Do you have any idea how much fun this is for a seasoned winemaker? Casting aside the boundaries of individual appellations or vintages, we have greater freedom to make good wine. One thing that’s very important to me – Bonanza calls back to a previous era when a glass of good wine with dinner was a simple pleasure. Bonanza aims to be a smart and gratifying choice, speaking to the enjoyment of everyday life. You may agree that our biggest fortune is good company, great food and delicious wine. - Chuck Wagner |
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| Saldo Prisoner Wine Company(421) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Zinfandel | $65 |
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| Saldo was created to feature the outstanding fruit sourced from Dry Creek, Lodi, and Amador, where Zinfandel has thrived for decades. Dark ruby color with bold aromas of black licorice, black pepper, cherry, and baking spice. The entry is rich, full, and scintillating. The palate is mouthwatering and smooth with a hint of chocolate. The finish is voluptuous with soft, velvety tannins. Blend: 85% Zinfandel; 15% Petite Sirah and Syrah Critical Acclaim WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com COMMENTARY: Many of us, including myself, can get caught up with the numbers. While the trend in Zinfandels has been high in alcohol, there is no consistent pattern to the wines' quality. The 2016 Saldo—sporting a whopping 15.9%—is one of best balanced Zins amongst the powerhouse players. TASTING NOTES: This a big red wine with excellent balanced. Its bold aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries and oak should pair it well with a grilled ribeye salad that includes flavorful greens, cucumbers, and heirloom tomatoes. (Tasted: May 15, 2018, San Francisco, CA) WE90Wine Enthusiast Gorgeous ripe, jammy, berry flavors dominate this full-bodied, smooth-textured wine. It smells like blackberries and black cherries, tastes so rich it's almost sweet, and fills the mouth from cheek to cheek with a chocolate-cherry flavor that lingers on the finish. |
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| Chateau Valentin Larmarnde Chateau Haut-Filius (424) | |||
| 2019 Saint-Émilion, France | |||
| Bordeaux Blend | $68 |
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| Dry red wine from Bordeaux Chateau Haut-Filius is made from grapes of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the vineyard of Grand Cru Class. Wine Chateau Haut Filyus created by traditional technology and aged in oak barrels for at least a year. Chateau Patris is located on the southern slope of the hills of Saint-Emilion, close to the Chateau the Angelus . The owners of the manor - Michel and Genevieve Querrey. The vineyards have a natural shelter from the cold winds and the sun, which contributes to the ideal ripening berries. On 9 ha of land are cultivated varieties Merlot (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The combination of these three varieties gives the wine finesse and elegance. Grapes are harvested by hand in small boxes to preserve the quality of berries. For the first wine farm oak barrels are updated annually by 60%. Average production is about 50,000 bottles a year, of which two thirds of the wine Château Patris, and a third - to the second wine estates - Chateau Haut-Filius and Spirit Chateau Patris. |
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| King Estate Signature Collection (102) | |||
| 2017 Willamette Valley, Oregon | |||
| Pinot Noir | $70 |
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| This 2017 Pinot Noir has a deep garnet color with bright red edges. The nose is expressive with fruit forward notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry and black tea, framed by subtle aromas of cigar box and toasted vanilla. The palate is elegant and structured with an excellent balance of tannins and acidity. The flavors tend toward the red fruit spectrum, with raspberry and ripe strawberry leading the way. There are sweet oak flavors from the barrel aging along with gentle vanilla tinges. Enjoy now through 2037. King Estate VIEW ALL FROM KING ESTATE King EstateKing Estate Winery is an organic winery located southwest of Eugene, Oregon, United States near the community of Lorane. Matt Kramer of The Oregonian considers King Estate the benchmark producer of Pinot gris (aka Pinot grigio) in the country.[2] While the winery also makes Pinot noir and limited amounts of Chardonnay, it is mainly credited with bringing the Pinot gris grape varietal into national consciousness.[3] The winery was founded in 1991 by Ed King, Jr. and his son, Ed King III. The estate itself, at 1,033 acres (4.18 km2), is Oregon Tilth Certified Organic[4] and includes 465 acres (1.88 km2) of organic vineyards, as well as 30 acres (120,000 m2) of fruits, vegetables and flowers.[5] The visitor center features a restaurant and wine bar. Complimentary wine tasting and winery tours are available as well as full lunch and dinner menus that incorporate estate and locally grown organic ingredients.[6] In the 2007 edition of Wine & Spirits magazine's annual restaurant poll, a survey of only the top Zagat rated restaurants across the United States, King Estate Pinot gris was the number one ranked domestic wine in the Pinot gris/Pinot grigio category, and number two overall in the category, the highest rank for an Oregon producer in the 18-year history of the poll |
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| Pure Paso Proprietary Cabernet J. Lohr Winery (401) | |||
| 2017 Paso Robles, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $70 |
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| J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is pleased to announce the inaugural release of the 2017 J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine, which will begin shipping in July and is set to debut in select states in August of 2019. The new J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine pays tribute to J. Lohr’s history of sustainable grape growing and winemaking in Paso Robles by showcasing the winery’s most popular varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, in a blend with Petite Sirah. J. Lohr Pure Paso represents an exciting new wine in the J. Lohr portfolio, while honoring J. Lohr's past. Family owned and operated since 1974, the winery's first wine was a Petite Sirah, which inspired the J. Lohr 40th Anniversary Red Wine, a memorable blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah. “The bold, intense flavors for which J. Lohr is known have become defining characteristics of winegrape growing in the Paso Robles region,” said Lawrence Lohr, co-owner. “The continual fine-tuning and nurturing of our estate vineyards support our winemaking team’s passion for crafting the highest-quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Our commitment to advancing the Paso Robles appellation reflects the authenticity of our J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine and our father Jerry Lohr’s vision when he first set foot in Paso Robles so many years ago.” |
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| UnShacked Cabernet Prisoner Wine Company (201) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $70 |
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| Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon, opens with aromas of plum and blackberry with a hint of olive. Vibrant flavors of black stone fruit and dried herbs with solid tannin structure result in a flavor-forward red wine with balanced acidity. A delicious red wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Merlot, this wine combines grapes from the north and central coast of California and is aged in French and American oak casks for 11 months. The Prisoner Wine Company’s eponymous first wine was inspired by the drinkable “mixed blacks” made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. Since launch, The Prisoner soon became recognized as one of the most innovative Napa Valley wines, leading the resurgence of California red blends and earning “cult wine” status. Now complemented by a white blend (Blindfold), Chardonnay (The Snitch), Cabernet Sauvignon (Cuttings), Zinfandel (Saldo), Merlot (Thorn) and a Red Blend (Dérangé), The Prisoner Wine Company’s winemaking philosophy remains the same: To collaborate with a family of growers throughout California’s best winegrowing regions to craft wines of exceptional quality and unexpected character. The Prisoner Wine Company acquires grapes from more than 100 vineyards throughout California’s premier grape-growing regions, partnering with phenomenal growers who are dedicated to cultivating unique varieties. Chrissy Wittmann and her team of winemakers collaborate with this family of growers, visiting each vineyard site throughout the year to carefully assess the style and quality of every lot to make the best possible wine from each vintage. |
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| Abstract Cabernet Orin Swift (409) | |||
| 2019 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $20 $75 |
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| Winemaker's Notes: Inky blue-purple in complexion, the wine bursts with a perfume of dark fruit, sage, acacia flowers, kirsch, and a hint of California chaparral. Voluptuous in texture, the wine is remarkably fresh on the palate with ripe blackberry, mulberry, roasted plum, black tea, and bitter chocolate. A sweet and soft tannin profile rounds out the finish, which lingers elegantly. |
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| Collier Falls Cabernet Collier Falls Vineyard (204) | |||
| 2011 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $75 |
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| Brilliantly flavored, with lush flavors of blackcurrants and cassis, clearly a classic Cabernet Sauvignon. Tannins are opulent and thick and should hold the wine for several years. There is a youthful, peppery bitterness throughout that will soften in time. |
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| Hill Family Estates Cabernet Hill Family Estates (426) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $75 |
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| The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is carefully blended to give the wine both power and balance. We particularly appreciate the opportunity to use high elevations (Baker in Atlas Peak is at 1,500 ft) with their intense tannins and color, then blend and civilize them with vineyards from the valley floor and cooler areas. The Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot elevate the nose and display the fruit and oak spice. Wines from 2013 were big and intense because of continued low rainfall and early bloom and veraison, but growers were lucky because reasonable temperatures (for the most part) and almost no fall rain, still allowed for nice hang time and maturity. Winemaker Alison Doran’s tasting notes: The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with beautifully lifted spice and black fruit aromatics—clove, anise, black cherry and blackberry—layered with a hint of rich oak. A round, supple entry leads to a silky, smooth midpalate. Cassis, clove, and toasted oak complement the black and red fruit flavors. Fine-grained, age-worthy tannins provide structure to the dark, juicy finish. |
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| Niner Cabernet Niner Wine Estates (204) | |||
| 2016 Paso Robles, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $75 |
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| This is one of Niner's darkest Estate Cabernet Sauvignons ever. On the nose this wine has depth with black currant, tobacco anddried herbs. On the palate black cherry, dark chocolate and dried sage are balanced with ample tannin and a long, lingering finish.This is a classic Cabernet Sauvignon with its harmonious blend of full-bodied fruit, luscious tannins and well-integrated acidity andshows how well these two Paso Robles vineyards work in a blend. Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 3% Merlot, 2% Carmenere Critical Acclaim WE91Wine Enthusiast This bottling, which is bolstered by 9% Malbec, 3% Merlot and 2% Carmenère, shows rounded black currant, blueberry, smoked beef and graphite on the nose. Soft tannins make for an elegant presentation, with heavy black-fruit flavors of crème de cassis and dark chocolate. RP90Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Blended of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Carménère and 6% Cabernet Franc, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of baked blackberries and blackcurrant cordial with hints of anise, dried herbs and mocha. Medium to full-bodied, with great expression and freshness, it has a chewy backbone and long, fruity finish. |
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| Quilt Cabernet Quilt Wines (406) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $75 |
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| WINEMAKER NOTES - Fifth-generation winemaker Joseph Wagner started with a simple philosophy — combine the very best grapes from across the valley into one amazingly balanced style to weave a tapestry of Napa Valley wine. For the Quilt Napa Valley, we focused on vineyards with well-draining, low-nutritive soils that stress the vines. The result of these soils is a grape crop with extraordinary concentration of flavor, color and texture. While the majority of the fruit comes from the floor of the Napa Valley to achieve the richness and elegance desired, we also relied on some grapes grown in the well-drained gravelly soils of the side slopes along with high elevation in the mountainous areas for a blend with more structure and complexity than we could have achieved had we used fruit grown solely in a single region. Napa Valley AVAs: Oakville, St. Helena, Atlas Peak, Coombsville, Oak Knoll, Calistoga, and Howell Mountain. Tasting Notes - COLOR: Crimson red with scarlet highlights. AROMAS: Enticing aromas of Bing cherry, dark chocolate, lightly toasted oak with a hint of blackberry jam and vanilla. PALATE: Striking flavors of ripe raspberry, blackberry, cocoa, and hints of vanilla linger harmoniously. Full yet elegant on the palate,with vibrant fruit and very approachable tannins. This wine has a long and velvety finish. Food Pairing - Filet Mignon with balsamic reduction, pan-roasted lamb chops with cabernet sauce, sauteed broccolini with garlic, rosemary scalloped potatoes, or a hearty charcuterie platter Critical Acclaim JS91James Suckling Blackcurrant, blackberry-leaf, orange-zest and milk-chocolate aromas. More citrus zest and fresh herbs on the palate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, fine tannins and lots of fresh berry character. Drink or hold. |
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| Cain Cuvee NV16 Cain Vineyard & Winery (415) | |||
| 2016 St. Helena, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $75 |
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| The Cain Cuvée is our most creative endeavor. It’s about the style of Cain and our vision of what classical red wine can be. Drawing from specific vineyards, both mountain and valley, as well as two harvests, we strive to compose a wine of aromatic complexity that is truly silky and sits lightly and refreshingly on the palate. If we have succeeded, the wine will dance on your tongue!The Cain Cuvée is our most creative endeavor. It’s about the style of Cain and our vision of what classical red wine can be. Drawing from specific vineyards, both mountain and valley, as well as two harvests, we strive to compose a wine of aromatic complexity that is truly silky and sits lightly and refreshingly on the palate. If we have succeeded, the wine will dance on your tongue! Blend: 60% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc |
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| 1881 Napa Cabernet 1881 Napa Winery(504) | |||
| 2018 St. Helena, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $75 |
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| Harvested from vineyards across Napa Valley, this bold Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of warmer climate hillside vineyard fruit and valley floor fruit creating a wine that celebrates the region’s diversity and complexity. A deep dark purple in the glass, this wine opens with a bouquet of boysenberry, bourbon and toasted vanilla aromas with a waft of caramel. Full-bodied with a plush entry, layers of brown sugar, cocoa, mulling spices and currants fill the mouth and are complemented by rich, round tannins. The finish is long and smooth. Critical Acclaim WW90Wilfred Wong of Wine.com Deep ruby, black color; black fruit aroma, exotic spices, medium depth; medium to full bodied, layered and textured on the palate, rounded; dryish, medium acidity, good balance; black fruit, licorice flavors; medium finish. (Tasted: May 25, 2020, San Francisco, CA) WE90Wine Enthusiast Chocolaty mocha richness dominates alongside cherry vanilla and toasted oak in this soft, approachable crowd-pleaser. Aged in American oak, it retains a supple sweetness through the finish. WS90Wine Spectator Very fresh and forward, with a blast of cherry pie and blackberry compote notes, unencumbered by toast and ending with a floral flourish amid the fruit. |
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| Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Domaine Bertrand Bachelet (104) | |||
| 2016 Burgundy, France | |||
| Pinot Noir | $80 |
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| Chassagne-Montrachet is the appellation that covers the communes of Chassagne-Montrachet and Remigny, and it is the southern-most of the Côte d’Or’s three great white wine appellations of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet. With 1,200 acres of vineyards, it is one of the largest appellations in the region, and more than half the vineyard acreage is Grand Cru or Premier Cru. The three famous Grand Crus are Le Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet. There are also 16 main Premiers Crus, most of them considered very high quality, and village wines. One fact rarely noted is that historically the appellation produced more red than white wine. In the late 1990s the ratio of white to red wines changed, however, as more vineyards were converted from Pinot Noir to Chardonnay, a logical decision given the acclaim of the appellation’s whites. There are still intriguing red wines produced. Clive Coates wrote that the appellation’s white wines generally are “full and firm, more akin to Puligny than to the softer, rounder wines of Meursault.” An overtly ripe nose of cherry liqueur, earth and a hint of menthol marries into rich yet relatively refined medium-bodied flavors that are supple, round and delicious while culminating in a moderately austere but long finish. |
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| Yao Ming Napa Crest Yao Family Wines (506) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $80 |
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| Deep ruby color and rich hue. The nose is complex and shows layers of fruit flavors. Blueberry, rich plum and red raspberry notes are apparent. Soft notes of vanilla and toast provide aromatic richness. The texture is supple to show off the 2014 vintage. The tannins are lush with long palate texture. This wine is drinkable now, but will continue to improve for 5 to 7years. Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 12% Petit Verdot Critical Acclaim WE92Wine Enthusiast This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend, with 25% Merlot and 12% Petit Verdot. Generously oaky and ripe, it offers textured layers of graphite, cigar and cedar. An exciting sideshow of spicy Mexican chocolate accents deeper, darker shocks of black cherry. |
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| Sylla Sebaste Barolo DOCG Sylla Sebaste Vineyards (113) | |||
| 2014 Barolo DOCG, Italy | |||
| Barolo | $80 |
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| This wine’s color is typical Nebbiolo – garnet red. Its aroma reminds us of red fruits and extremely fresh jams, because this Barolo is young. In the mouth, the tannins are significantly noticeable on the palate and its fresh notes are the protagonists, thus suggesting the aging potential of this wine. This wine is suitable for accompanying second courses such as medium and well done meat, a selection of herb or mildly seasoned cheeses. Its origin stems from the excellent Nebbiolo grapes grown on the land close to the village of Bricco. It has a pleasant tannin quality and it is particularly pleasing if accompanied by red meat dishes. It has an intense ruby red color and it takes on an orange shaded colour as it ages. This Barolo wine has received good scores from various critics: the 2009 vintage was given a score of 90 by Decanter. Ranked third among the wines from this region with respect to number of prizes won: the 2012 vintage was awarded Gold from the The TEXSOM International Wine Awards, and the 2010 vintage was awarded Gold from the Mundus Vini. Above average in popularity among wines from this region. Interest in this wine has fallen off relative to previous years. |
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| Collier Falls Collier Falls Vineyard (111) | |||
| 2012 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Primitivo | $80 |
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| The wine shows striking colors of deep crimson and black. A complex bouquet offers distinct aromas of butterscotch, jelly donut and damp forrest. This is a robust, full bodied Primitivo displaying rich flavors of strawberry and fig, with hints of eucalyptus and powdered sugar. Its long finish highlights linqering notes of cola, tobacco, charred wood and black pepper. Gold Medal & "Best of Class", Pacific Rim Wine Competition Final Blend: 100% Primitivo Case Production: Only 258 cases produced Alcohol by Volume: 15.% |
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| Chateauneuf du Pape "Matteo" Pictor Pape (101) | |||
| 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape, France | |||
| Chateauneuf du Pape | $80 |
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| Tasting Notes: Red Châteauneuf-du-Pape have intense color (purple and dark red) during their first years. After several years in the cellar the dress turns ruby and aromas of red fruits, leather and underbrush come out. The palate displays the pure expression of a unique terroir with silky and smooth tannins. Winemaking: Hand harvested then table sorted followed by 100% de-stemming. Vatting time of 21 to 30 days. Half of the wine is aged in oak vat and the other half in old barriques during 12 to 14 months. Certified Organic Varietals: Grenache (70%) Mourvedre (15%) Syrah (10%) Cinsault (5%) Critical Acclaim WS95 Wine Spectator - "This is packed with a range of star fruit, anise, white peach, yellow apple and Cavaillon melon notes that run seamlessly together, gilded with chamomile and orange blossom details on the creamy finish. A late echo of wet pebbles adds further range and intrigue. Drink now through 2019." RP95 The Wine Advocate - This 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc is the finest example of this cuvée I can remember tasting. It’s light gold color is followed by an impeccably balanced, ultra-pure, seamless white that has complex notes of white flowers, hazelnuts, just crushed rocks and citrus blossom. This beauty doesn’t hit you over the head with fruit or sweetness, yet grows on you with time in the glass. You can drink it today, as well as cellar it for two decades." View All |
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| Foley Johnson 'Estate' Cabernet Foley Johnson Wines (507) | |||
| 2017 Rutherford, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $80 |
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| "Our 2017 Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon displays inviting aromas of huckleberry, cedar, black pepper and a hint of dried sage. On the palate, bold tannins are balanced with flavors of black currant and dark cherry with savory notes of tobacco and graphite. Well structured and full bodied, our Cabernet Sauvignon is approachable now, but will age beautifully over the next 5-10 years." Deep ruby in the glass, our Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of vanilla, tobacco, black currant and anise which leads to an exceptionally soft wine across the palate. Complex flavors of dark cherry and blackberry are complemented by hints of cocoa, graphite and savory herbs. This wine is structured with firm but smooth tannins that lead to a satisfyingly long finish. |
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| St. Supery Cabernet St. Supery Vineyards (215) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $80 |
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| Dark, vibrant purple and red hues present in this wine. Blackberry and black plum aromas combine with graphite, espresso, dark chocolate, mocha, cedar, and white pepper. Flavors of black plum, black cherry and currant interminglewith dark molasses and a light vanillin oak with dusty finegrain tannins. This is a structured Cabernet Sauvignon with length, flavor and style Critical Acclaim WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com An amazing transformation has occurred the winery, the 2013 St. Supéry Cabernet is now a powerhouse of ripe fruit from start to finish. This is the winery's best to date! Deep ruby color; ripe fruit, sweet oak aroma; rich and highly textured on the palate; dry, medium acidity, good balance; bold, ripe red and black fruit flavors, a touch of oak; smooth and long in the aftertaste. Drinking very well now. (Tasted: October 23, 2015, San Francisco, CA) RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford is also outstanding. A classic Cabernet aromatic profile of damp earth, cedar wood, creme de cassis and licorice is followed by a full-bodied, powerful, rich wine with ripe tannin, impressive concentration and overall equilibrium. This wine should evolve gracefully for 15-20 years. JS91James Suckling A ripe and juicy red with velvety tannins and plenty of plum, walnut and spice character. Full body, fresh finish. Better in 2019. |
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| Cuttings Prisoner Wine Company (201) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $80 |
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| Winemaker Notes Luscious and round with alluring aromas of black cherry and roasted herbs. The palette is savory and structured with flavors of robust black fruit, currant, and espresso. Ripe plum and peppery spice alongside complex tannins evolve into a delicate finish. Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Zinfandel. Critical Acclaim RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2013 Proprietary Red Blend Cuttings is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine, but blended with some Petite Sirah and Syrah as well as a touch of Zinfandel. This is outstanding wine, and there are 5,000 cases of it. The Cabernet comes from top sites such as the Inkgrade Vineyard that Les Behrens made well-known. The wine offers plenty of blackberry and cassis fruit as well as some licorice, truffle, and lead pencil shavings. It is full-bodied, again very opulent (a hallmark of all of the wines from The Prisoner) and finishes authoritatively. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. Rating: 91+ WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com Highway 29 in the Napa Valley should be super proud of this wine, this taste just like if I were to plant myself in the vineyard and lick the grapes off of the vines at the point of harvest. The 2013 Cuttings is a solid Cabernet and one of the best at this price point. Deep ruby, black color; alluring and almost outrageous aromas of black currants and raspberry jam, bold; full bodied, sassy, smooth and fine on the palate; dryish, moderate acidity, well balanced; ripe berried fruit and light savory earth in the flavors, nice dollop of sweet oak; medium to long finish, smooth and layered in the aftertaste. Drinks nicely now. (Tasted: December 2, 2015, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Mer Soleil Reserve by 'Caymus' Caymus Vineyards (106) | |||
| 2017 Santa Lucia Highland, Monterey County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $80 |
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| It was only natural that Mer Soleil would make a Pinot Noir in addition to their Chardonnay. The Santa Lucia Highlands is well-known as the perfect home for both these varietals. Grapes ripen slowly, enabling us to make wine of heightened complexity, with layers of aromas and flavors. Mer Soleil is named after the two forces of nature – the sea and sun – that shape this singular character, and they are every bit as powerful in creating their Pinot as their Chardonnay. With the alluring color of dark plums, this wine features scents of ripe cherries with cocoa, pomace, blueberry, toasted wood and a soft, powdery whiff of old-fashioned lipstick. The palate is all about texture – entry is soft, with a round, complete quality. Flavors of cherry cobbler mingle with cola notes and hints of anise. Tannins are structured yet extremely fine, providing a lush, lingering mouthfeel. On the finish, a wisp of acidity adds balance and freshness, a reminder of this wine’s origins in a cool, coastal region of California. - Winery “Home to Kosta Browne, Carlisle, Pisoni and Roar! 30 Years Ago, The Wagner's Knew This Place Was Special...” From the winery:We put down roots in the region, drawn in by its down-to-earth vibe, rich farming history and weather that could not be more ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Started by Chuck Wagner — known for founding Caymus Vineyards with his parents in 1972 — Mer Soleil is now led by Chuck’s son, winemaker Charlie Wagner. Inheriting his family’s love of farming and adventurous spirit, he first spent time at the Mer Soleil vineyard in middle school as “punishment” when he got in trouble for bringing firecrackers to school. Like other members of his family, Charlie feels most at home in the vineyard. He has led Mer Soleil’s evolution, creating both SILVER unoaked Chardonnay and a more recently released Pinot Noir. Charlie is always eager to escort people in his truck down the area’s rustic roads, so that they too can experience a place unlike any other. |
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| Foretell Foretell Vinyards (105) | |||
| 2013 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $80 |
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| ONLY 260 CASES PRODUCED. WINE SPECTATOR 90 POINTS This ruby colored Pinot Noir from Foretell is Excellent. It opens with an attractive light strawberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced, silky and smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty mild black raspberry with notes of gentle minerality. I also detected hints of strawberry, plum and oak. The finish is dry and its flavors and mild acidity linger nicely. This Pinot is very food friendly and would pair nicely with grilled salmon. Winemaker Notes: Black Cherry, Sarsaparilla root, caramel, allspice, boysenberry and red licorice aromas swirl out of the glass. The soft bright fruit greets you elegantly on the palate with incredible viscosity and glycerol maintaining a deft balance. Foretell: to tell of beforehand “As I walk the vines for each vintage, I rely on the knowledge of those that came before me and my own experience. I react to the climate, the soils and the angle of the sun that hits the surface of the leaves and clusters. I make decisions that will ultimately shape those grapes into the wine that I envision. Influencing the variables with viticultural practices that coax the grapes in the desired direction, while understanding the natural trajectory as predetermined by the place in the vineyard. FORETELL wines are a reflection of my winemaking journey. I rely on decades of experience to play the ultimate role in shaping the future of the grapes into wine. Working with small world class vineyards that I have crafted wines from for over 15 years, I FORETELL the future of the grapes into these wines that are destined to be enjoyed with friends and loved ones around an amazing meal.” -Sam Baxter Founder and Winemaker |
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| Thorn 'by Prisoner" Prisoner Wine Company (107) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Merlot | $80 |
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| Earthy aromas open up into cocoa, blackberry, cedar, and anise. It’s smooth with flavors of cherry, chocolate, vanilla, and a mild toastiness. The finish is long with balanced acidity. Blend: 80% Merlot; 20% Blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Malbec Critical Acclaim WS92Wine Spectator Well-crafted, with medium-grained tannins supporting buoyant cherry, plum and currant flavors. Minerally midpalate, with hints of white pepper on the fresh finish. Drink now through 2025. WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com COMMENTARY: The 2017 Prisoner Wine Company Thorn Merlot offers excellent richness coupled with a pleasing suppleness. TASTING NOTES: This wine deftly combines black fruit, dust, and savory spices in its aroma and flavors. Pair it with roast veal topped with smokey bacon. (Tasted: October 17, 2020, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Belle Glos Balade Bella Glos Wines (428) | |||
| 2018 Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $80 |
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| One word can tell you a lot about a wine and in the case of Balade, which translates to wandering, the name defines the essence of this new project by Joe Wagner. With each new vintage, Joe will choose the most compelling and nuanced expression of Pinot Noir from a single site and release as a limited bottling. Joe Wagner’s Belle Glos Pinot Noirs are created in such an extravagant style that they’ve carved out their own category, and in doing so it took the entire Pinot Noir world by storm. In July of 2015 Joe split off the value priced Meomi label from Belle Glos and sold it to Constellation Brands for an eye-popping $315 million… When we found out about his new single vineyard project, we couldn’t wait to taste it. Birthed from a single site located in the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara and during the 2016 growing season, this particular vineyard was a stand-out for its fruit and undeniable complexity. Joe felt this vineyard expressed the quintessential qualities of its origin, with intensely flavored, dark-berry aromas and flavors. Just like all Belle Glos Pinots, it’s one of the deepest and most intense California Pinot Noirs with a generous style that’s resonated with wine lovers who enjoy a richer and more ripe style of Pinot Noir. Also, don’t miss the new Euenloch, Clark & Telephone, Las Alturas and Dairyman releases below… |
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| Belle Glos Las Alturas (106) | |||
| 2018 Santa Lucia Highland, Monterey County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $25 $90 |
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| Wine Spectator Rated 93: Dense, concentrated ruby color, hinting at the dark berry fruits and rich, textural components in this wine. On the nose, aromas of raspberry, wild blackberry and a slight earthiness. The palate is supple and layered with exotic spices, a rich meatiness, ripe plum, currant and black cherry flavors. The ripe tannins are nicely balanced with acidity, and the finish is long and fulfilling. |
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| Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Masi Agricola (110) | |||
| 2015 Amarone della Valpolicella, Italy | |||
| Amarone | $25 $90 |
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| The bright red color is amazing, nicely transparent and relatively concentrated with a slight nuance of orange on the edge. The aroma is intriguing for how intense it is, rich wild berry jam, with scents of star anise and licorice delighting the nose. The mouthfeel is sumptuous, warm yet bracing, rich in nuances, velvety, with an after-aroma of Domori chocolate. A great wine. Price: No longer on sale, practically impossible to find. Powerful, complex aromas of dried plums, with 'balsamic' (anise, fennel, mint) traces. Quite dry (not sweet), soft and with bright acidity, with baked cherry, chocolate and cinnamon flavors and structured, noble tannins. Grilled or roasted red meats, game, and hard cheeses like parmesan. Considered a 'wine for meditation,' to be sipped on its own, this is also a perfect after-dinner wine. Critical Acclaim James Suckling 96 - "Love the dark fruit with cloves and spices. Full body, ripe and velvety tannins and a fresh finish. Fleshy and rich. Wonderful balance here. Drink now. " Wine Enthusiast 92 - "Aromas of crushed violet, baked plum, cake spice, ripe berry and tobacco pervade in this bold, full-bodied red. The firm palate offers ripe black cherry, fig, mocha, nutmeg, licorice and tobacco alongside velvety tannins." |
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| Frog's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon Frog's Leap Winery (410) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $90 |
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| The 2017Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon is classic in every way: intense aromas of dark fruits, blackberry and cassis with lovely overtones of mocha and coffee bean. The flavors are subtle and nuanced while precisely balanced and deep. It is a wine for the cellar, of course, but will not disappoint in the shorter term paired with a nice rack of lamb or perhaps a Chateaubriand. Critical Acclaim WW93Wilfred Wong of Wine.com One of my biggest gripes in the business is how everyone oohs and aahs at the colors of wine and when a red wine is dark the crowd just goes crazy and make comments like, "This must be a great wine because it is so dark!" This conclusion that color indicates quality is so far from the truth—many wineries even add a secret ingredient called mega purple to darken their red wines; this addition has no aroma or flavor value. The 2017 Frog's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon shows a medium ruby color and exhibits beautiful aromas and flavors of wild strawberries, dried brown stalks, pleasant dust and rich earth. The wine's bright finish makes it sublime with a rack of lamb. Drinks well now and will certainly improve with bottle age. |
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| Substance Cabernet Wines of Substance (208) | |||
| 2015 Walla Walla Valley, Columbia Valley, Washington | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $90 |
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| This wine says, "Cabernet Sauvignon." It says it with black currant, tobacco, No. 2 pencil....polished with great length. Echoes crushed velvet in an endless refrain. Substance, Substance, Substance. Critical Acclaim RP94Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Vineyard offers up rich aromas of red and blackcurrants, espresso roast, burning embers and brown sugar. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and lavish, with an ample core of fruit, melting tannins, loads of savory complexity and a sapid, saline finish. It's a characterful Cabernet Sauvignon to follow for the coming decade. JD94Jeb Dunnuck Kirsch, caramelized red and black currants, spice, and cedar pencil notes all emerge from the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Vineyard. An elegant, pretty, pure expression of the Rocks Terroir, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon, it's going to keep for a decade at least. |
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| Peju Cabernet Peju Province Winery (420) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $25 $90 |
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| We are proud to announce that our 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has been awarded 94 points and a gold medal at the 2015 California State Fair! For more than 160 years, the California State Fair has showcased the best of California, from wine and olive oil to livestock and fine art. Our 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon has received many other accolades, including a gold medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 93 points at the 2015 World Wine Championships and 90 points from Tasting Panel Magazine. It was also named a “Hot Napa Cab” by Wine Spectator Magazine. Rich and complex, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon offers lovely aromas of summer berries with hints of anise, cocoa powder and caramel on the nose. Concentrated flavors of mocha, cherry, ripe raspberry and nutmeg lead to a rounded finish with restrained, yet velvety tannins. |
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| Pomerol Château Lafleur du Roy (115) | |||
| 2017 Bordeaux, France | |||
| Red Blend | $90 |
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| The nose is fruity as well as relatively aromatic and fine. It reveals notes of crushed blackberry and cassis associated with slight notes of raspberry jam, violet as well as hints of wood and chocolate. The mouth is fruity, mineral, gourmand, straight, elegant, ample and offers tension, a good definition and a nice fat, suavity, roundness and unctuousity. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of blackberry, sour cherry and slight notes of blueberry, crunchy strawberry associated with slight touches of red berries, chocolate, toasted wood as well as a hint of cardamon and tobacco. Tannins are very fine and slightly dry. Good length and persistence. There are (very) slight hints of caramelisation on the persistence / aftertaste. Clear dark ruby to purple. Aromatic earthy leather, forecast dirt and old furniture in nose. Dry, m acidity, m+ tannin and m+body. Mulberry, dark cherry, earthy lether and sweet spicy in taste. Wonderful Bordeaux right bank blend with 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Good balance and shows a bit young hint and well aging potential. A rich, Merlot-dominated wine, this is opulent and packed with blackberry fruits. It has a great structure of tannins and ripe fruitiness. Bitter chocolate and coffee flavors give an extra complexity. The wine is still young, still full of juicy fruit. |
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| Raymond Reserve Selection Cabernet Raymaond Vineyards (417) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $90 |
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| RP93Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a blend of 17 vineyards, with the dominant part from the Rutherford Estate. The final blend was 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, Malbec and Petit Syrah. This was aged 19 months in about 30% new French oak and bottled unfiltered. A real beauty, and, for a top Napa Cabernet, an excellent price point. The wine has a dense bluish purple color, a sweet kiss of crème de cassis, licorice, camphor and subtle toast. Relatively opulent on the attack and midpalate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with silky tannin, adequate acidity and impressive purity and length. WS92Wine Spectator Shows off a profile of currant, red berry and red licorice notes. Dense without being weighty, avoiding a tannic overload. Ends with a long, persistent finish. Best from 2019 through 2029. WE92Wine Enthusiast Dusty and tannic, this is a solid value for its quality—a wine of freshness and grip that offers complexity and approachability in equal measure. Black-cherry and black -pepper flavors highlight the palate. |
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| Banshee Cabernet Banshee Wines (217) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $90 |
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| Dark plum, cocoa, blackberry and sage aromas with powerful, welldelineated flavors of dark chocolate covered cherry, maceratedstrawberry, wild herbs, mineral and touch of caramel. Well balancedwith fine tannins, this wine is deep and multi-dimensional. Will play well for 15-20 years. Critical Acclaim W&S90Wine & Spirits Banshee has contracts for this fruit in St. Helena, Rutherford, Calistoga and Howell Mountain. Heady with alcohol, this wine takes its time to integrate. Give it several hours in a decanter and you’ll have a rich, blackberry-scented Napa cabernet, a gracious heavyweight. |
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| Anderson's Conn Valley Cabernet Anderson's Vineyards (516) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $95 |
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| You heard it here first: The Anderson Conn Valley Napa Valley Cabernet 2018 may be the best Cabernet Sauvignon from Todd Anderson in his 30-year history. If you love Napa Cab as much as we do, don’t hesitate on this one. There’s no better introduction to ACV than this 2018, which ACV winemaker Robert Hunt told us “is shaping up to be my favorite since 1994.” Aged in French oak for 16 months. An opaque, chewy, and boisterous wine, showing all the dark fruit, earthy spice, and rich tannins that made Todd’s wines famous. While convincing the Wine Advocate to declare that ACV “represents the greatness of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.” Saturated purple color with a nose of cassis, cedar spice, and violets. Plush blackberry fruit and more cassis on the palate with hints of licorice, black olives, and savory herbs. Smoothly-textured and gorgeously dense, the fine balance of tannin and acidity will allow it to hold for another seven to ten years. Drink Anderson Conn Valley Napa Valley Cabernet 2018 now-2030. Winemaker Notes This wine shows floral black aromas and a sweet entry. A rich mid-palate boasts earthy spice with clove and black pepper leading into a long, clean finish. Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 1% Petite Verdot Critical Acclaim RP91Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon jumps up out of the glass with ready-for-business scents of crushed black currants, blackberry pie and stewed plums plus suggestions of bay leaves, pencil lead, clove oil and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with fresh, crunchy black fruits, supported by a firm, grainy frame and bold freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. JS91James Suckling A medium-bodied red with aromas and flavors of black cherries, dried rosemary, potpourri and dark chocolate. Sleek, well-integrated tannins and lifting freshness on the finish. Try from 2021. JD90Jeb Dunnuck The appellation-based 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley reveals a more medium-bodied, elegant, lively style as well as an herbaceous edge in its ripe red and black currant fruits and tobacco and leafy herb notes. Nicely balanced, charming, and already enjoyable, it should evolve gracefully for 10-12 years. |
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| The Prisoner Prisoner Wine Company (402) | |||
| 2019 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $25 $100 |
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| The Prisoner was inspired by the “mixed blacks” first made by the Italian immigrants who originally settled in Napa Valley. The Prisoner is now the most recognized Napa Valley red blend, leading the resurgence of interesting blends by incorporating Zinfandel with the unlikely mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Charbono. The 2016 vintage features enticing aromas of Bing cherry, dark chocolate, clove, and roasted fig. Persistent flavors of ripe raspberry, boysenberry, pomegranate, and vanilla linger harmoniously, for a smooth and luscious finish. The label is based on the Little Prisoner etching, by one of Spain’s most famous painters, Francisco de Goya, who lived from 1746-1828. It depicts the atrocities of war between France and Spain during the artist’s time. Critical Acclaim WW91Wilfred Wong of Wine.com It may be time to rid ourselves of the ball and chain, the 2016 Prisoner is a pretty tasty wine, and it is perfect for New World wine lovers. The wine's elevated alcohol gives the wine textures that simply smooth out the wine. Though it may be a push of classic Old World lovers of Bordeaux or Rhône Valley reds to put this one on the dinner table, there is a new generation of wine drinkers who can't get enough of this style of wine. Pair it with spicy grilled hamburgers. (Tasted: December 21, 2017, San Francisco, CA) |
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| 8 Years in the Desert Orin Swift (418) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $100 |
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| If you love The Prisoner Wines… then get ready to be blown away by Dave Phinney’s First Zinfandel in 8 Years! Dave Phinney took a break from Zinfandel and its challenges. It would end up being an eight year break. Eight years in the desert. It was never if but when would he make Zinfandel again. That ‘when’ is NOW! Eight limited edition bottles with be released – one at a time – for the next eight years, every year in October. Each is adorned with a handcrafted label. One of the year’s hottest new releases this wine is masterfully blended… make room for a case of this in your cellar…Phinney’s signature blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah “ Our relationship with Zinfandel goes back 20 years. Orin Swift Cellars was started with two tons of Zinfandel in 1998—perhaps the most important two tons we’ve ever purchased. Quite often, you learn more from your failures than you do from your successes. What we learned from those two tons is that there is neither a silver bullet nor alchemy once the grapes are in the winery. You can only make great wine from great grapes. This truism applies to Zinfandel more than any other varietal. Like golf or fly-fishing, you never truly master the game; you just have good days and bad days. By incorporating Petite Sirah and Syrah into the blend, we’re able to mitigate some of the unpredictability. In the end, our goal every year, is to get closer and closer to the mastery of Zinfandel. WINEMAKER’S NOTES: Heady aromas of brambly raspberry, black fig and peppercorn dominate; time in glass exposes more—dark chocolate, fennel and High Sierra forest floor. The palate is lush and opulent with blackberries, dark plums and currants. More flavors add to the quality of the blend—a visceral minerality and fresh Herbs de Provence. Fully integrated with puckering tannins, the wine bows out with finesse. BLEND: Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah. |
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| Machete Orin Swift (417) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $100 |
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| Generous and expressive, big and brawny, this offers a mouthful of tannins but also brims with flavors and aromas, including Earl Grey tea, dark chocolate, dried violet and toasted gingerbread. Rich notes of plum and black cherry are balanced by forest floor and earth accents, which linger on the long finish. Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2030. Winemaker Notes #6 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2016 A nearly opaque color sets in the glass with a hard, red complexion that is almost black. Aromas of ripe blueberries and candied plum mingle with toasted oak and charred vanilla. The entry is soft and inviting which paves the way for a lush mid-palate replete with layers of ripe boysenberry and cassis. The finish showcases ripe tannins and pronounced fruit which frames the two for nearly a minute. Critical Acclaim RP96Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2014 Proprietary Red Blend Machete finished at 15.7% natural alcohol and is a blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache aged 10 months in 40% new French oak. This wine, at 15,500 cases, is telltale opaque bluish/purple with a super nose of barbecue meat and herbs, blackberries, blueberries, white flowers and sweet, dark raspberries in the background. The wine has fabulous texture, great intensity, full-bodied power (15.7%), and a long, long finish. It is a killer effort and like the Abstract, probably best drunk in its first 5-6 years of life because of its charm. WS94Wine Spectator Generous and expressive, big and brawny, offering a mouthful of tannins but also brimming with flavors and aromas, including Earl Grey tea, dark chocolate, dried violet and toasted gingerbread. Rich notes of plum and black cherry are balanced by forest floor and earthy accents, lingering on the long finish. Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2030. |
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| Slander Oriin Swift (102) | |||
| 2018 St. Helena, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $100 |
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| Sitting in the glass as lucid ruby in color, bursting aromas of traditional, elegant Pinot Noir are presented: from classic strawberry, cherries and slight savory tones of lavender, thyme and sage to exotic Asian spice, hints of wet earth, chalk and smoky oak. Upon entry there is an overwhelming envelopment of crème de caramel and the same red fruit flavors present on the nose. The wine transitions with subtle soft tannins, showing the sophisticated integration of balanced oak that finishes with a creamy mouthfeel. Overall, the wine’s surprising complexity characterizes this vintage of Slander with classic notes of Pinot Noir on the nose and New World boldness on the palate. |
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| Consecration Wines 'Cufflinks' Consecration Winery (405) | |||
| 2017 Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $100 |
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| Production: 100 cases Blend: 50% Cabernet Franc, 12.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12.5% Merlot, 12.5% Petit Verdot, 12.5% Malbec Vintage: 2017 This beautiful small lot mountain blend has big dark cherry combined with sage, Herbs de Provence, and a touch of chocolate that lingers on the palate. It is a robust version of what Cabernet Franc can do on a mountain site. Only 100 Cases Produced Deep, dark berry/cherry fruitiness, black currant, licorice, roast red pepper and a “taste of the soil” that I geekily describe as crushed river rocks introduce you to the cufflinks. The sweet fruit and the savory qualities associated with Howell Mountain play nice together. Careful oak ageing complements rather than overtakes the wine. A healthy acidity, very Howell Mountain, brightens it. Indeed a “Howell Mountain Cab Blend” that delivers big time flavor, texture and typicity for less dough than most. |
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| Duckhorn Cabernet Duckhorn Vineyards (505) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $100 |
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| Wine Profile Production Notes Varietal Composition: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc, 0.5% Petit Verdot Winemaker Notes Lush, energetic and intense, this gorgeous Cabernet begins with aromas of blackberry, huckleberry and chocolate, as well as hints of mint, cardamom, clove and graham cracker. On the palate it displays lovely brightness, with firm, resolved tannins framing flavors of boysenberry and black currant. As it evolves in the glass, subtle sweet and savory notes are revealed, carrying the wine to a long, focused finish. Production The 2017 growing season began with abundant winter rains, followed by a warm, dry spring that led to a perfectly timed budbreak. In addition to replenishing the water table, the early season rains produced robust canopies, which provided invaluable shade during a week-long heat event that kicked harvest into gear during the last week of August. This was followed by a much-needed cooldown that allowed the vines to recuperate, while also giving us extra hangtime for flavor development and tannin resolution. We harvested throughout September and into early October, with the grapes showing lovely ripeness and quality, yielding plush, polished and wonderfully complex wines. |
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| Eternally Silenced 'by Prisoner" Prisoner Wine Company (412) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $100 |
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| Prisoner Wine Company is revered for pushing the boundaries of quality, extraction, and infectious charm. They’re also beloved for creating new and exciting blends, and they’re not afraid to experiment with unifying different varietals to achieve a more individualist wine, and one that vastly over-delivers for it’s price level. A perfect example is their new 2017 Eternally Silenced Pinot Noir which combines 95% Pinot Noir that’s magnified by a small amount of Syrah and Viognier. The addition of Viognier contributes to the mesmerising aromatics, while the Syrah adds to the deep colour, rich texture and full-body. The result is a wine that oozes personality, enchantment and excitement, you’ve got to try it. Stitching together fruit from a vast selection of premier and family farmed vineyards throughout California, including Santa Barbara, Sonoma Coast, Napa and Edna Valleys and Monterey, this 2018 is remarkably complex. The diverse assortment of vineyards allows the winemaking team to enhance the best components of the wine and fill-out the mouthfeel, and aromatic display. The packaging speaks for itself, and the wine in the bottle is guaranteed to silence any critics. Rich and elegant, soft and well-balanced. Aromas of pine needles, cranberry, dark cherry, cedar, clove, and brown spice lead to fresh red berry flavors, an ample structure, and seamless tannins. Sourced: 25% Santa Barbara, 25% Sonoma Coast, 20% Napa Valley, 20% Edna Valley, 10% Monterey Blend: 95% Pinot Noir, 5% Syrah/Viognier Our winemaking team works with a family of growers to source a diverse variety of grapes from premier vineyards throughout California. The resulting wines are interesting blends of distinct quality and character. Fruit is sourced from Santa Maria Valley, Edna Valley, Monterey, Sonoma Coast & Carneros! The winemaking than is Chrissy Wittmann & Niki Williams. Critical Acclaim WW92Wilfred Wong of Wine.com COMMENTARY: The 2017 vintage The Prisoner Wine Company Eternally Silenced Pinot Noir shows excellent balance and style. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers a pleasing brightness and zip on the palate and in the finish. Its aromas of ripe fruits and savory spice should pair it superbly with grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: August 20, 2019, St. Helena, CA) |
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| Palermo Cabernet Orin Swift (405) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $110 |
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| A dark garnet hue sits in the glass with immediate aromas of ripe cassis and blackberry. Hints of cocoa, new oak and fir complement the juicy fruit me´lange. A full-bodied entry is succeeded by a mid-palate of dark fruits and a smooth, integrated minerality. The tannins are well developed, allowing the wine to finish with length. Critical Acclaim RP90Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc and aged for ten months in 35% new French oak, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon gives up notions of stewed plums, baked blackcurrants and mulberries with hints of tobacco, sautéed herbs and damp soil with a touch of forest floor. Full-bodied, firm and chewy, it gives loads of savory layers and has an herbal lift on the finish. Notes: aromas of dark, brooding fruit with subtle French oak in the background lead into a smooth entry of ripe cherry and fig. The mid-palate is subtle and stretches with loads of bright acidity and candied cassis. Layers of stone fruit and ribena lead into a round, supple, lingering finish of integrated soft tannins that roll on and on. |
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| Domaine Eden Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Eden Vineyards (208) | |||
| 2014 Santa Cruz Mountains, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $115 |
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| The elevations and complex topography of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA allow both Pinot Noir (generally in the more ocean-influenced west) and Cabernet Sauvignon to thrive. The Domaine Eden Cabernet is treated similarly to historic Mount Eden's estate Cabernet program. It's a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot with Petit Verdot and Malbec from Mount Eden, Domaine Eden and three plots in the warmer Saratoga and Los Gatos areas. From the winery's notes: "While the Estate is a singular voice, the Domaine is a chorus. Complex, given the five varieties in the cepage, this Cabernet has aromas of briary currant, sage, mint and sweet oak.... Youthful aromas of cassis, leather, and currant are enticing. The palate is deceptively lithe yet with penetrating, nuanced blackberry, sage, and forest floor flavors. Medium-long on the finish with an overall expression of harmony and balance, this Cabernet is a lovely reflection of a cool year in a cool area." While the Estate is a singular voice, the Domaine is a chorus. Complex, given the five varieties in the cepage, this Cabernet has aromas of briary currant, sage, mint and sweet oak. Less tannis and acidity on the palate than is evident in the Estate, there is an earlier window of enjoyable drinking. Critical Acclaim 92 points Wine & Spirits **Best Buy** Jeffrey Patterson draws on a handful of vineyards—including the Mount Eden estate—to blend this delicious, rustic, well-priced mountain Cabernet. The cool 2010 vintage grew a wine carried by juicy acidity as much as tannins, the flavors tending toward black trumpet mushrooms and tobacco instead of overt fruit. It’s sappy yet elegant, just the thing for a rich autumn dinner that starts with roasted bone marrow and a bowl of chestnut soup. |
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| Kistler Kistler Vineyard (107) | |||
| 2018 Sonoma County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $120 |
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| Score: 95+ Deceptively medium in body, the 2018 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard packs a real punch. Succulent red cherry, rose petal, lavender and violet are all pushed forward, but it is the wine’s inner sweetness and aromatics that stand out. Today, the KV comes across as very restrained, with bright acids and fabulous balance. A rush of sweet red cherry, blueberry and pomegranate leave a lasting impression. The 2018 is going to need a bit of time in bottle to unwind, but it is superb. The Wine Advocate Rated 95: possesses lots of raspberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of underbrush and forest floor, and a nice meatiness to its texture. Steve Kistler's rich, Burgundy-style Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, from a series of ideally situated vineyards all around Sonoma County, have long been favorites among collectors and restaurant clients. For good reason. Quality has remained high even as production has grown. When the vineyard was founded in 1978, production totaled 3,500 cases per year. Now Kistler produces more than seven times that amount -- around 25,000 cases per year. The best bottlings have proven to be excellent mid-term agers and are among the richest and most complex Chardonnays made anywhere -- the key is low-tech, hands-off wine making that makes the most of the particular vineyard site plus what each vintage has to offer. |
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| Crossbarn Paul Hobbs (102) | |||
| 2013 Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $120 |
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| Vivid dark garnet color with a focused nose of black plums and dried herbs. The dense palate exudes Bing cherry, raspberry and fresh pomegranate flavors with hints of black tea and cedar. Supple tannins with peppery, mineral undertones round out the lengthy finish. |
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| Mount Eden Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Eden Vineyards (208) | |||
| 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 |
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| 2013 was an epic year for our Cabernet vineyards. As always, the weather drove the vintage style. A long and cold winter set the stage for a late start to the growing season. Coolness overall was the theme, which is typical of our mountain climate, but even more so in 2010. A late harvest commenced, giving the grapes ample time to ripen through October. The hallmark and beauty of this year is transparency of the fruit and abundant complexity. Black fruit, incense and sweet spices in the nose, with silky tannins and an endless array of violet, sage, espresso and grilled herbs on the palate, this Cabernet has exceptional overall balance and personality with an elegance that reminds me of a bygone era. Critical Acclaim W&S96 Wine & Spirits - "Most of the fruit for this restrained, savory cabernet comes from cuttings Emmett Rixford purportedly sourced from Château Margaux in the 1890s. Martin Ray propagated his own cuttings from that selection to plant in this vineyard’s shallow, shale-laced soils at 1,800 feet of elevation in the 1940s and 50s, and later Jeffrey Patterson replanted it in the 1980s with a selection from those vines. Is it just a coincidence that, tasting this blind, my thoughts turned to a 1985 Margaux I tasted recently? Maybe it was the gentle elasticity of the texture, the vibrant acidity, the rosy glow streaming through a curtain of ripe, earthy tannins. This feels layered with complexity: Beyond the pure cassis tone you might find lavender, graphite, redwood bark, black olive and green herbs. But you don’t need to go fishing for descriptors to appreciate its nuances: just think of it as lovely, integrated, old-school California cabernet. Buy a case and try not to drink most of it until 2030. " V94 Vinous / Antonio Galloni - "Often the most overlooked wine in the Mount Eden range, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon shows the pedigree of this great vintage. Firm veins of tannin support a core of black fruit, tar, grilled herbs, smoke and incense in a wild, savory mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that dazzles with its exceptional overall balance and personality. This is another fabulous new release from Mount Eden. Rating: 94+ Points" |
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| Groth Cabernet Groth Vineyards (423) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 |
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| Winemaker's Notes: big and lush with huge gobs of fruit in the aroma and flavor. The texture of the wine is soft and supple, typical of Cabernet Sauvignons grown in our area of the Oakville AVA. It shows its Oakville pedigree with smooth tannins and dry, complex flavors of blackberry, black currant and cherry with a fine earthiness. |
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| Sentinel Cabernet Mount Peak Winery (210) | |||
| 2014 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 |
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| This is a creamy, earthy, perfumed Cabernet with the sweetness of Sonoma County but the structure and power of Napa Valley. It stuck us as an incredibly well-made wine, with not a seam to be found. "A wine of considerable stature, gravitas, intensity and full-bodied power, it is muscular, backward and somewhat primordial, this wine needs a good 1-2 more years bottle age and should last for 25-30 years." Winemaker Notes Our Sentinel Cabernet Sauvignon is named for the shield-shaped block that pays a watchful eye to the entrance to Monte Rosso Vineyard. It’s a muscular and intense wine with rich, deep tannins and mouthfilling, concentrated fruit. Aromas of ripe dark currants mingle with hints of brown sugar and sweet mint. Flavors of blackberry and cherry are woven through anise and toasted cedar, echoing in a long finish that is framed with notes of sweet cream. This wine has tremendous aging potential. Critical Acclaim WW95Wilfred Wong of Wine.com Sourced primarily from the historically acclaimed Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma County, the 2014 Mount Peak Sentinel Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits an outstanding aroma of bright blueberries and wild blackberries. The wine, accented with a beautiful mix of oak nuances, is greater than the sum of its parts. Pair it with a slice of rare roast beef and enjoy a complete food and wine experience. (Tasted: September 12, 2017, San Francisco, CA) RP92Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Lastly, 4,750 cases were made of the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Sentinel, 83% from the Monte Rosso Vineyard in Sonoma and the rest from other Sonoma sources. It is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petite Sirah aged in 53% new French oak. Again, ripeness is well-noted in the 15.7% alcohol, but there is not a bit of heat to the wine’s overall character. A wine of considerable stature, gravitas, intensity and full-bodied power, it is muscular, backward and somewhat primordial, this wine needs a good 1-2 more years bottle age and should last for 25-30 years. Patience, please. |
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| Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon Silverado Vineyards (506) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 |
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| Dark rich fruits, black cherry, blackberry, and plum aromas. Full rich mid-palate with broad tannins and a medium to long finish. "In the heart of Napa Valley's Stags Leap District sits a rocky peak with a spectacular Mediterranean-style stone winery perched on top. That winery is the iconic Silverado Vineyards, established in 1981 by Ron and Diane Disney Miller. Thirty years later, three generations of Miller Family continue to source grapes entirely from their family-owned estate Napa vineyards. From berry to bottle, each vine growing and wine making step is dedicated to expressing the character of grapes grown on each of the wineries six historic vineyards. Expressing richness and age-worthiness, Silverado wines are unique, one-of-a-kind blends of superlative vineyard location and elegant winemaking style." Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot Critical Acclaim JS93 James Suckling - "A polished and pretty 2013 cabernet that delivers blueberry, slate and blackberry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied yet reserved and tight. Drink or hold." James Suckling 92 "Best Silverado in years with bright fruit that is complex and flavorful plus hints of wet earth and tobacco. Tannin tension and freshness make it tight and provocative. Better in 2017."-JS Vinous 92 "Dark cherry, plum, smoke, licorice, tobacco and grilled herbs meld together in the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown. Forward and juicy, the Estate captures all of the radiance of the vintage. Drink this succulent, mid-weight Cabernet over the next handful of years."-AG Wine Spectator 90 "Lip-smacking plum and currant accent a touch of chocolate in this soft, approachable, estate-driven wine from the heart of Stags Leap. Classically elegant with plenty of California oomph, it's a study in balance and fruity bravado."-WS |
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| ZD Cabernet Sauvignon ZD Wines (205) | |||
| 2014 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 |
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| The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is another example of an exquisite vintage from the Napa Valley. This wine exhibits similar characteristics to the previous vintage, with even more depth and layered complexity. Dark and dense, with aromas of cassis, plum, anise, and just the right amount of toasty spice and vanilla. The forward fruit is intense and enveloped in soft, ripe, tannins, which lead to an amazingly long, lush finish. This wine will continue to age gracefully for many years. Gold Medal San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2017 Gold Medal, 91 Points Winemaker Challenge Int’l Competition, 2017 Gold Medal TEXSOM Int’l Wine Awards, 2017 Gold Medal, 91 Points San Diego Int’l Wine & Spirits Challenge, 2017 First Place, 92 Points California Grapevine, May 2017 |
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| Cherry Pie Stanley Ranch (103) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $120 |
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| Wine Spectator-California - "Fruit-driven, gushing with lively plum, cherry and raspberry flavors, showing subtle shadings of anise, mineral, herb and cedar. An easy-to-enjoy, complex, ready-to-drink style, offering richness and flair." The 2015 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir is deep and concentrated. It shows tons of textural richness in its ripe red fruit aromas, there is no shortage of lush overt fruit this year. Big, rich flavors dominate this wine. It changes and opens in the glass enormously, although it disappears so fast. It's only by hiding an open bottle for several hours that you will truly discover the evolution. Enjoy! |
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| OVIS Cabernet Shannon Ridge Winery (406) | |||
| 2016 High Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 |
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| Only 1680 Cases Produced. Wine Spectator 93 Points An incredibly complex and layered wine from the shining Lake County AVA here in northern California. Big sunshine and beautiful weather all summer long in 2016 has produced grapes that are brimming with an explosive and wild character and the quest to tame this beastly wine was no walk in the park. We know you will surely enjoy the dedication and passion behind OVIS and the decadent and bold wine that is a direct result. OVIS (Latin for sheep), focuses on small lot wines that pay homage to the flock of sheep that help control the cover crops and weeds in the vineyards farmed so intently by Clay Shannon in Lake County’s High Valley. The sheep and his very dedicated Great Pyrenees guard dogs are the foundation of Clay’s sustainable farming practices. Owner, visionary, and leader, Clay Shannon, has transformed his Lake County ranch into one of the agricultural icons of California’s North Coast, and in doing so is changing the face and culture of grape-growing in the USA. Clay grew up on a farm in Healdsburg in Sonoma County and began his career as a vineyard manager in St. Helena. He grew passionate for viticulture while traveling the wine regions of California managing vineyards. A short time later he started his own vineyard management company, growing grapes for some of the top wineries and fruit companies in northern California. In 1995, Clay discovered a magnificent piece of property in the rolling hills overlooking Clear Lake in Lake County, thirty-five miles north of Napa’s world-famous vineyards. His vision was simple: “We wanted to grow the best fruit in the world,” says Clay, “but we wanted to do it in a way that made us happy living there.” Sustainability wasn’t just a philosophical concept for Clay; it is the way he decided to live his life. Perched on ridges of lean volcanic soils at altitudes of 2,100 to 2,400 feet above sea level, this wild land is cooled by steady winds off Clear Lake and from the higher peaks just to the north. Clay’s sprawling Home Ranch vineyard is cohabited by wildlife consisting of ducks, raccoons, golden eagles, bobcats, bears and even elk. They are passionate about preserving the land, not only for its great vineyard sites, but for the wild creatures which share the property. And one cannot forget those very important sheep! Clay’s sustainability practice has integrated a flock of sheep that clean the vineyards, remove the excess canopy, and reduce the need for che |
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| Furioso Cabernet Revolver Wine Company (524) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 |
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| Born out of strife, the Furioso began as a relief effort for the winery in 2014 when we lost most of our production to earthquake damage. Fast forward three years and on major disaster later to the release of our 2017 Furioso - on fi re! We lost approximately 30% of our harvest during the Northern California wildfi res, so what could we do but light it up and release this brilliant cab blend to you. Enjoy our beautiful cuvée and raise a glass to everyone that refuses to quit, come what may! |
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| Revolver 'The Divva' Revolver Wine Company (109) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Merlot | $120 |
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| True to the new world style, this Merlot presents a rich, juicy sensory experience on the tongue, allowing for a bright complexity to work its magic with every sip. Balanced notes of red fruit and oak make a stunning statement in this bottle. We found it pertinent to capture the lush, blueberry pie essence that this Merlot rocks. Dark, black, fruit and a solid structure lay a foundation with boysenberries and deep blueberries. Finishing with baking spices and lingering fruit; this wine truly reflects what a Merlot is supposed to be. |
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| Twomey Cellars Twomey Winery (108) | |||
| 2017 Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $125 |
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| Winemaker Notes The 2012 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a rich, multi-faceted wine with great fruit and spice expression. It has a dark, cherry-red color and a complex nose of potpourri, ripe strawberries, cardamom, nutmeg and peat. It has a fruit-sweet attack, a fleshy mid-palate and notes of blond tobacco and coffee bean on the long and slightly tannic finish. With proper cellaring, this wine will give drinking pleasure through 2024. Critical Acclaim W&S93Wine & Spirits Twomey's 2012 Russian River pinot noir, sourced from three separate vineyards, is bursting with flavor but not at all heavy: a clean, crisp beam of red fruit that picks up complex aromas of lilac, forest mushrooms and rosemary. It's delicious already, though the oak feels more integrated with a day of air. With its restraint and classical balance, it should gain from a few more years in the cellar. |
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| Jordan Jordan Vineyards & Winery (509) | |||
| 2016 Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $35 $130 |
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| Alexander Valley, Sonoma, CA- Combining the artistry of the old world with the technology of the new, Jordan produces Cabernet Sauvignon, blended in the tradition of Bordeaux. Rich in texture with opulent flavors, a restrained use of oak and a lingering finish of subtle earth and smoke. Winemaker's Notes: Concentrated, lovely aromas of blackberry, blueberry and cassis. The mouthfeel is luscious and full with continued flavors of blackberry, cassis, black cherry with a suggestion of vanilla, coconut and cedar. The soft, round tannins and understated acidity of this wine complement the bright fruit characters to create a balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. |
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| Pine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Pine Ridge Vineyards (412) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $130 |
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| Ruby red in color, this wine opens with alluring aromas of freshblack raspberry, boysenberry and ripe red plum, swirling with hints of red licorice, fragrant cinnamon and vanilla creme brulee. Enchanting and luscious, the palate opens with dark ripe cherry and juicy blackberry that join with suggestions of white pepper,fresh mint leaf and berry cola. The complex array of flavors lasts through the long finish, supported by polished tannins and integrated oak. Critical Acclaim RP92 The Wine Advocate - "The bottled 2017s include the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, which is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot. A classic much in keeping with the vintage characteristics, this charmer is loaded with sweet black and red currant fruit, some spice box, earth, and subtle oak. It is up-front, irresistible, full-bodied and layered with fruit and glycerin. The finish displays sweet tannin and the wine can be drunk now or cellared between 15-20 years." WE91 Wine Enthusiast - "This is a silky-smooth and integrated wine, with firm, structured tannins that provide support without distracting. A wealth of brawny baked berry, tar and chocolate flavors reveal themselves over time, while subtle, deep clove and dried herb scents lie beneath." |
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| Darioush 'Caravan' Cabernet Darioush Vineyards (201) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $130 |
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| A classically-styled round, supple and sleek red blend – 2014 Caravan is the first vintage to highlight higher proportions of Merlot. The resulting profile is ripe and decadent with palate-pleasing notes of juicy plum, raspberry and flourless chocolate cake. Cabernet Sauvignon, the lion’s share of the blend, adds layers of complexity and an ideal balance between sweet and savory elements. It’s supple yet firm and polished tannin is complemented by dark, spicy notes of black currant and cinnamon; Caravan has a youthful energy that would reward several years of aging. Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot Darioush, a winery noted for its Bordeaux style estate wines, implements old world labor-intensive, micro-vineyard management and new world state of the art technology to craft fine wines from its estates located in the appellations of Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder and Oak Knoll. Under the direction of Darioush Khaledi and winemaker Steve Devitt, precision and quality are of the utmost importance at the winery. |
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| Harvey & Harriet Cabernet Booker Vineyard & Winery (210) | |||
| 2017 Paso Robles, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $130 |
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| This is a wine for those whose hands are familiar with hard work. Whose values are solid and whose integrity is their compass. Who know heartache and joy are two sides of the same coin and that laughter can be found in the chaos of building a life together. This is a wine for Harvey and Harriet, my parents. It’s also a wine for you. Made with honesty and without compromise, the way great wine should be. Critical Acclaim JD95Jeb Dunnuck Named after winemaker Eric Jensen's parents, the 2017 Harvey and Harriet is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. It offers a richer, powerful style as well as Napa Cabernet-like notes of black and blue fruits, scorched earth, crushed rocks, and violets. Rich, full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and voluptuous on the palate, it's more approachable than the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, but I wouldn't bet against it aging just as long. RP94Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2017 Harvey and Harriet is made up of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, 5% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot aged in 80% new French oak. It gives up wonderful crème de cassis, chocolate mint, kirsch, blackberry and black cherry jam aromas with a classy frame of vanilla and sweet baking spices plus sparks of graphite, cedar, flowers and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied, silky palate features rich, plush, meaty black fruits with firm but finely woven tannins and just enough juicy freshness to lift the long, layered finish. This is great! It deserves more time in bottle, but it's drinking wonderfully straight out of the gate. V93Vinous Opaque ruby. Powerful, smoke- and spice-accented black and blue fruit and candied violet aromas show excellent clarity and pick up a hint of candied rose with aeration. Sweet and broad on the palate, offering plush yet lively dark berry preserve, cherry cola and floral pastille flavors and building spiciness. The impressively long, velvety finish features an echo of sappy blue fruit and polished tannins that come in late. |
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| Chalk Hill Estate Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards (206) | |||
| 2016 Sonoma Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $140 |
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| Winemaker Notes The Estate Red is tightly wound with velvety tannins. This wine is filled with aromas and flavors of black cherry, black currants, unsmoked tobacco, bay leaf, licorice, and dark chocolate. The finish is long with balanced acidity and abundant fruit sweetness, a great balance of fruit and spice. Textured yet silky, the wine is very appealing in its youth, but will also age beautifully for the next 10 years. Critical Acclaim RP96The Wine Advocate The 2013 Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot and the rest Carignane, Syrah and Merlot. This is another titanic effort from proprietor Foley. A spectacular dense-purple color and sweet toasty oak intermixed with licorice, blackberry, cassis and graphite are all present in this profound first-growth quality blend that should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years. This is a stunner and a revelation. WE92Wine Enthusiast Almost three-quarters of this blend is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%) and Malbec (30%), with smaller additions of Petit Verdot, Carmenere, Syrah and Merlot. Together they sing, loudly, in a lush, structured explosion of plummy blackberry, boysenberry, leather and espresso. A bright current of acidity throughout keeps it fresh in the glass. |
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| Pommard Roux Père & Fils (105) | |||
| 2016 Burgundy, France | |||
| Pinot Noir | $150 |
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| Amongst the most prestigious reds in Burgundy, RouxPommard is a rich, yet delicate wine with aromas of blackberry, cherry, and ripe plum. With age, the wine develops notes of leather, chocolate, and pepper. Fermentation takes place on the lees in French oak barrels. The wine is then aged for 14-16 months. |
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| Papillon Orin Swift (416) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $40 $150 |
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| Dark garnet in the glass, this wine is highly aromatic with notes of ripe black cherry, anise, licorice, shaved dark chocolate, rosemary and charred meat. The entry is immense with bright raspberries and fresh cherries, transitioning to a mid-palate of amaretto, sandalwood and hints of high mountain forest and coastal scrub. Textured tannins and notes of toasted coconut round out the palate as the wine finishes with lingering sweet oak. Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc Wine Advocate: a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest other Bordeaux varietals. It exhibits supple, sweet tannin in addition to lush black cherry and black currant fruit, cedar, toasty new oak, and spice box. The finish suggests that the wine is still somewhat restrained and closed, but promising. It should evolve for 15 or more years. Rated 90 |
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| Silver Oak Cabernet Silver Oak Cellars (413) | |||
| 2016 Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $40 $150 |
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| This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Silver Oak Cellars is sourced from several different vineyards in Alexander Valley. Rainfall in May made up for the dry winter, prolonging the growing season and making for ideal late ripening conditions for Cabernet. As is custom, the finest lots were blended into 50% new American oak barrels to age for 24 months. The moderate treatment of specifically American oak highlights the wine's distinct Alexander Valley terroir and minerality, rather than creating an undue influence on the wine's profile. Another 15 months of bottle aging at the winery smooths tannins and adds layers of complexity. Historically the Alexander Valley bottling is drinkable upon release but has the structure and stuffing to age. From the winery: "Our 2013 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex wine with berry and floral aromatics and a lovely structure. It has a dark, ruby color and a vibrant nose of black cherry, wisteria and sweet baking spices. On the palate, the wine is elegant and expressive and echoes the berry, floral and spice notes from the nose. It has a classic structure of fine grained tannins and a long, layered finish. |
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| Crossbarn Cabernet Paul Hobbs (203) | |||
| 2013 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| Our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon showcases hand-harvested fruit from carefully selected vineyards in prime appellations in the Napa Valley. CrossBarn Cabernet Sauvignon offers structure and weight in balance with concentrated fruit. Winemaking · Hand-harvested grapes, picked at night from St. Helena to Coombsville · Harvested between October 2nd – October 22nd · 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot · 27-day total maceration · Primary fermentation using native and selected yeasts · Aged 20 months in French and American oak barrels, 14% new Notes Color: dark ruby Aroma: perfumes of cedar, dark chocolate, fig, tobacco Flavor: juicy boysenberry & plums with baking spice cloves and cardamom Texture: long savory notes with a tannin structure the coats the entire palate |
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| Lewis Cellars Alec's Blend Lewis Cellars Winery (203) | |||
| 2014 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Red Blend | $150 |
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| Randy and Debbie Lewis established their small family winery in Napa back in 1992. Lewis Cellars makes some of K&L's favorite Napa wines--they're always delicious, polished and fundamentally drinkable. This is a powerful yet balanced blend of Syrah 60%, Merlot 34% and Cabernet 6%. The winemaker compares this year's cuvée to a first-year college student, saying, "Asserting his independence through explosively ripe blackberry and huckleberry fruits, there's also kirsch-like cherry cola, spicy oak, supple tannin and a trace of s'mores that's closer to home. Tremendously youthful and seriously good fun, Alec's Blend remains a kid at heart. " Critical Acclaim WS94 Wine Spectator - "A plush and generous blend that also shows excellent structure and focus. Brooding dark boysenberry and smoky mocha aromas combine with layered flavors of blackberry, graphite, nutmeg and brown spice. The tannins are burly, but ripe and fleshy. Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2027." |
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| Janzen Cabernet Bacio Divino Cellars (207) | |||
| 2014 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| 2014 was a great vintage in our Valley with smaller yields offering intense flavors. Our latest offering of Janzen Napa Valley Cabernet showcases the characteristics of the vineyards from which this wine was produced. Hillside fruit from our estate provides the structure and body necessary for longevity. The finesse offered by Cabernet grown on the valley floor in Rutherford and Oakville tames the power of this wine and maintains the elegance we have come to expect. A potpourri of dried sage, gunpowder, black pepper and leather provide a robust, full-bodied and brawny experience in this wine crafted from vineyards across the valley. It has black fruit flavors and a savory personality wrapped in big, sturdy tannins that should mellow in due time. 95 pts Wine Advocate, 2016 93 pts Wine Advocate, 2014 |
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| Round Pond Estate Rutherford Cabernet Round Pond Estate (211) | |||
| 2016 Napa, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| This estate-grown Cabernet evolves in the glass from aromatics of wild strawberry and rhubarb to complementary notes of red licorice and cocoa dust. The plush entry of ripe black cherry and blackberry pie on the palate is followed by richer tones of toffee, fresh oak, and a hint of black pepper. Elegant and supple, this wine showcases a lengthy and pleasing granite-like finish reflecting the diverse flavors found on Round Pond's Rutherford estate vineyards. Blend: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot Critical Acclaim JS90James Suckling Blackberry compote, ivy and plum liqueur as well as some crème de cassis are prominent on the nose. Full-bodied with round tannins, lots of ripe fruit and a fruit-forward finish. Drink in 2021. WE90Wine Enthusiast Soft and supple in milk chocolate and cherry, this wine contains 2% Petit Verdot. Dried herb, sage and pencil shavings contribute a savory complement to the richness of the ripe fruit. |
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| 'The F in Red' Cabernet Fleury Estate Winery (421) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| TASTING NOTES The dazzling garnet color first grabs hold of your attention. Beautiful swirls of wine dance in the glass, releasing enticing aromas of dark fruits, cocoa powder, sweet leather, violet and wild herbs. Persistent and layered flavors of black cherry, roasted espresso, toasty oak and graphite harmoniously excite the senses. The fine, almost powder like, tannin provide structure and balance. Produced in small volume, but mighty in stature, this 2015 offering is one which can be savored today or aged for years to come. VINEYARD NOTES Sourced primarily from our Fleury Estate owned and farmed vineyard located in Rutherford, Napa Valley, this beautifully manicured vineyard sits aside the winery in which the wonderful wine was crafted. There is little dispute that Rutherford’s climate and terrior create characteristics unique to wine from this region. Planted amongst the valley floor, with rows running east and west, the vineyard produces rich and full-flavored wines, with beautiful chocolate notes. The location provides ideal sun exposure during the day which helps to develop the lush, intense fruit one would expect from such a magnificent property. PRODUCTION NOTES Hand-harvested, picked at night Hand-sorted while still cold from the field Fermented in small, closed top, stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts 5-day cold soak, 25 to 29 days total maceration Gentle pumpovers and delestage Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels Blended before bottling and returned to barrel to continue aging as a blend Bottled unfined and unfiltered |
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| Cherry Pie Rogers Creek | |||
| 2014 Sonoma County, California | |||
| Pinot Noir | $150 |
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| Vineyard Notes: Rodgers Creek Vineyard is in the Sonoma Coast AVA. The vineyard is on a low ridge in the Petaluma Wind Gap; the Gap is important, as it is a low spot in the Sonoma Coast Range that allows a constant cool flow of air directly from the Pacific Ocean. Well-draining White Rhyolite Volcanic Ash soils dominate the vineyard allowing the earthiness of our favorite Pommard & 777 Clones to shine. Climate: At an elevation of 1000-1200 feet, the Rodgers Creek Vineyard receives two key ingredients - a full day of sun and blasts of ice cold air. When much of Sonoma Coast is buried in fog till mid morning, Rodgers Creek sees the sunshine from day break. The clusters are allowed to fully ripen while the gusts from the Pacific manage the internal heat of the berry - never over ripening the grapes. The result is a perfectly balanced wine with highly defined aromatics. Producer Cherry Pie is another innovative offering from visionary winemaker Jayson Woodbridge, creator of Hundred Acre and Layer Cake Wines. One would think with the myriad winemaking projects that literally take him and his winemaking team around the globe several times each year, that Jayson would be content with his current stable of wines?but he has yearned to make Pinot Noir for years and circumstances finally aligned for him to do just that. Jayson sought out the owners of Stanly Ranch, on the Napa side of the Carneros appellation, as their grapes were becoming well known as some of the most sought after Pinot Noir grapes in California. They told him they would give him a small allocation to make wine, but future allocations would depend on the quality of the wine he made. They had no idea that was just that kind of challenge that puts Jayson at his best. After tasting the 2007 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir from the barrel, and deeming it one of the best ever made from their grapes, the owners of the ranch granted him free rein to choose from the very best blocks of the property for his wine. Needless to say, the allocation of fruit is now whatever he asks for?but the wine still had no name. Then in early 2008 while perusing New York's Soho District, Jayson happened into the Campton Gallery during its exhibition of paintings by artist, TR Colletta. Colletta's richly detailed paintings of everyday, distinctly American objects are at once familiar and remarkable, assuming an evocative, sculptural character. His subjects tap into our collective consciousness and become complex metaphors. Jayson was |
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| Aftermath Cabernet Aftermath Estate Winery (205) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| This small-production wine offers a classic nose of cedar and clove before introducing itself on the palate as soft, pleasing and plumply ripe. The full-bodied weight offers integrated, fleshy flavors of mocha and plum that linger with ease on a lengthy finish. Vineyard east of Silverado Trail at the base of Atlas Peak. Dave Phinney, winemaker. Steve Matthiasson, vineyard consultant. Jim Kaplan, former college math teacher, owner (AFTER-math). Big flavor, broad shoulders, dark fruits, toasty oak, cocoa, black olive, cherry bitters. Low acid, light tannins for so much flavor. Drink anytime. 100 cases made. Product Description All you Dave Phinney fans will adore his latest project as a winemaker, The 2015 Aftermath Cabernet Sauvignon is dark garnet in the glass. The nose opens with complex aromatics of blackberry, coffee, cedar and cloves, with a hint of graphite and crème caramel. The palate is soft and pleasing with ripe dark berries and stone fruits. Consistent with previous vintages, the finish is very long and lingering, with flavors of plum and mocha. The wine is medium to full bodied. The grapes were vinified in French oak for 17 months, with 50% being new. The blend which is in the bottles represents the best 40% of the barrel samples and consists of 65% new French oak. |
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| "My Favourite Neighbour" Proprietary Cabernet Booker Vineyard & Winery (404) | |||
| 2018 Paso Robles, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| My Favorite Neighbor Vineyards of Booker Winery has released a new wine, Harvey & Harriet. Officially released earlier this month, the 2018 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon blend is the latest addition to the range of premium wines in the leading Paso Robles producer’s portfolio, headed up by owner and winemaker Eric Jensen. Harvey & Harriet’s blend of Cabernet Sauvignon is an ideal outdoor dining companion. For the true Paso experience, enjoy this wine Santa Maria barbecue-style with black-pepper seasoned beef tri tip, fresh salsa and tossed green salad. 97 pts - rare New release from Paso cult producer Booker Vineyards. As always, limited. 97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2018 My Favorite Neighbor is in the same ballpark and offers terrific notes of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, lead pencil shavings, and cedary herbs. It’s a full-bodied, silky, impeccably balanced beauty that has just subtle background oak, a stacked mid-palate, and terrific purity of fruit." 95 points Robert Parker: "A barrel sample blended of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2018 My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Blend is deep garnet-purple in color and a little cedary to begin, giving way to fragrant blackcurrants, black cherries and black raspberries with touches of spice cake, Sichuan pepper, violets and hoisin. Full-bodied, densely packed and with velvety tannins, it delivers tons of tightly wound flavors, finishing long...As I've commented in the past,the wines from Eric Jensen at Booker are some of the most impressive releases coming out of California. While in the past, they relied on pure fruit and texture to impress, today they possess layered, elegant and complex characters paired with serious depth, richness and structure." |
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| Pahlmeyer Jayson Cabernet Pahlmeyer Winery (407) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| Jayson Red Wine is a distinctive blend from some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards, crafted to express each vintage with intensity and richness. The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks to enhance its fresh fruit profile and retain its bright acidity. It was then racked to 35% new french oak barrels for fifteen months of aging. Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon has deep purple color in the glass, and displays classic varietal expression through an aromatic profile of intense floral notes, ripe blackberry, white pepper, and hints of leather and vanilla. On the dense, creamy palate, sweet plum, raspberry and ripe blueberry characters are accented by hints of cinnamon stick and brown sugar. A touch of earth contributes complexity over the long, luxurious finish. |
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| Cain Concept Cain Vineyard & Winery (515) | |||
| 2016 Spring Mountain, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $150 |
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| The Cain Concept is the ripest, roundest, fullest wine in our collection. The 2016 is a vintage of wonderful ripeness, that epitomizes our ideals of Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the classic Benchlands of the Napa Valley. It displays the aromatic complexity, smooth entry, balanced mouthfeel and graceful finish, which are the signatures of the Cain style. One of the best Napa vintages of recent history, the 2012 expresses all the warm, generous fruitiness which Cabernet Sauvignon can offer when grown in the best sites of the Napa Valley. It is simply bursting with fragrant aromas of fruit, flowers, tobacco and spice, all layered over a zesty, juicy structure that promises many years to come. The Napa Valley is justifiably famous for one variety. As diverse and complex as our little Napa Valley is, many good wines are grown in a comparatively small area. But in this valley, there is only one variety that can be called great: Cabernet Sauvignon. Even then there is no more than 10% of the Napa Valley that can grow the quality of wines for which the Napa Valley is recognized the world over. The best known and the most classical sites are the alluvial benchlands which line the edges of the Napa Valley from Yountville to Calistoga. The heart of this all is in Oakville and Rutherford. It is from here that we draw the Cabernet Sauvignon for Cain Concept—The Benchland. If you know Cain, you know that, while there are many wonderful Cabernets grown in the Napa Valley, nothing else tastes like Cain. The reason for this is very simple: Intention. When many are looking for intensity, our quest is complexity. Where many want power, we strive for grace. The result is a balanced, multi-faceted wine that not only will age well, it keeps us and you interested and refreshed throughout the course of a meal and a conversation with friends. And that’s what wine is all about. |
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| Caymus Caymus Vineyards (408) | |||
| 2019 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $40 $160 |
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| The 2018 growing season was another great one in Napa Valley. Our Cabernets are a blend of wines from eight of the sixteen sub-appellations – a bottling that represents complexity through judicious blending. Deep red and opulent in color with the vibrant scent of dark cherry and blackberry, subtly layered with warm notes of vanilla. The palate is explosive, bright and balanced with cassis at the center, with flourishes of cocoa and sweet tobacco. Critical Acclaim RP94 The Wine Advocate - "The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley has a dense opaque purple color, a kiss of blackberry and cassis fruit, a full-bodied mouthfeel with ripe tannin and a long finish. It is very Caymus in its immediate accessibility, but has plenty of staying power and depth. This is lush, full, intense and pure. Drink it over the next 15 or so years." WW91 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com - "The 2017 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is ripe and rewarding. As one of Napa Valley's most well-known wines, it remains one of the most consistent beacons of the vintage. The wine shows pleasing berries, sweet oak, and smooth textures. Drinks well now. (Tasted: November 3, 2018, San Francisco, CA)" |
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| Burgess Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Burgess Cellars (209) | |||
| 2012 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $160 |
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| Napa Valley Pioneers Burgess, was one of the very first wineries to establish vineyards on the steep slopes of Howell Mountain. Since the outset, Burgess has turned out distinctive moutain Cabs, Merlots and Zins that gained admirers and a strong following. This 2012 is benchmark Burgess style. Grapes for this Cab are sourced from the estate vineyard that faces west from the side of Howell Mountain and has a slope averaging 22% and their Haymaker Vineyard, an eastern-facing Howell Mountain vineyard located in a frost free zone between the valley floor and mountain top with ancient marine sedimentary soils. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 11% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec. The Wine Advocate scored this 92 points saying "The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (at a very fair price, by the way) has beautiful blackcurrant fruit, blackberry, underlying earth and spice, medium to full body, a long finish and sweet, moderate tannin. A rather classic example of Napa viticulture and still available at a shockingly realistic price. This beautiful wine is young, but reflects the greatness of 2012, and should promise to improve and evolve for another 15-20 years." Complex aromas and flavors of blackberry, cassis, cherry, vanilla and spice. This rich mountain wine shows true Cabernet flavor, densely packed and with a full body. Critical Acclaim V93 Vinous / Antonio Galloni - "The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Burgess hits the palate with an exotic concoction of dark fruit, pencil shavings, spices, tobacco, cedar, savory herbs, licorice and lavender. Dark and imposing, the 2012 possesses superb richness, with plenty of Howell Mountain character and intensity. The silkiness of the vintage has softened some of the contours, but this remains a distinctly savory and mineral-inflected Cabernet with tons of hillside character. Today, the 2012 comes across as tightly wound and in need of further cellaring, so readers should not be in any rush to open bottles. This distinctly old-school leaning Cabernet will also thrill readers seeking value, as it delivers superb quality and personality for the money." WE90 Wine Enthusiast - "From a high perch on Howell Mountain, this producer has blended 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with 8% Petit Verdot—making for a darkly colored, robust wine. Thick, chalky tannins envelop plum, cassis and dark chocolate. |
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| Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon Turnbull Wine Cellars (407) | |||
| 2014 Napa Valley | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $160 |
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| Aromatics of bing cherries, dusted, farm-ripe strawberries, red cassis and dark olive. There’s a rich, dense, dark fruit core, with lifted floral and earth tones. Plush dark fruit defines the forefront. Dark berries and cherries flow forth, creating a nice mid-palate density. Dark fruits, spicebox, tobacco, dark chocolate tones fill out the finish. Rich and hedonistic. Critical Acclaim Wine Enthusiast 93 - "A larger offering from the producer from a selection of sites, this shows a prowess of blending in its grippy, classic elements of black pepper and currant, a focused display of savory edges around elusive fruit that makes for a compelling experience. Drink now through 2023. Cellar Selection." James Suckling 93 - "Love the aromas of crush blackberries, black currants and black tobacco. Full body, integrated and rich tannins, and a flavorful finish. Rich yet tensioned. Better in 2018 but so delicious now." Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot Winemaker's Notes: Dark, rich and extracted, this wine has aromas of cassis, black cherry and currants. Balanced oak nuances add both a sweetness and roundness to this aromatic and powerful wine. Extraordinarily complex, while amazingly rich and smooth in the mouth, this wine offers superb richness and balance, and builds in intensity. The huge finishing fruit coats the entire palate. |
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| Stringer Cabernet Stagecoach Vineyard (421) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $160 |
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| The hand-picked fruit was destemmed, hand sorted and moved to a combination of a closed top stainless tank and small new 60 Gallon French oak barrels for fermentation. After a 5-day cold soak the must was inoculated. During fermentation the tank was pumped over 2-3 times a day and the barrels spun to maximize extraction. The wine stayed on its skins for 21 days and pressed at dryness. The barrel fermented wine and tank fermented wine was kept separate until a barrel selection could be made Vineyard: 1,800 feet above the valley floor in the eastern Vaca Mountains of Napa Valley lies the famed Stagecoach Vineyard. Stagecoach Vineyard extends from the Atlas Peak AVA all the way north to the Pritchard Hill region. Our Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet is clone 337 from Block C3A in the Pritchard Hill region of the vineyard. This region of Napa is characterized by red volcanic rock and large diurnal shifts which are ideal for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. |
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| Venge Silencieux Cabernet Sauvignon Venge Vineyards (404) | |||
| 2013 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $175 |
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| Silencieux is the winemaker's showcase of five distinct vineyards, blended together into a seamless whole. The sites span from Calistoga through Rutherford to cooler Coombsville and Pope Valley, combining to offer chocolatey plum and red cherry, with the head-turning ability to be both bright and decadent simultaneously. Integrated tannin keeps the texture fresh on the palate, with a lingering waft of anise. Powerful and full-bodied, opening with scents of sweet cassis, anise, blackberries, roasted coffee, and vanilla. The tannins are firmer up-front than the 2012 and 2013 vintages, with a full mouth-coating lead into a concentrated and lengthy finish. This wine is approachable upon release and cellar-worthy in proper aging conditions. 95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Deep ruby/purple with a seamless integration of oak, alcohol, wood and tannin, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Silencieux is a smoothly textured, dense ruby/purple-colored wine with enormous fruit extract, loads of blueberry and blackberry notes, a touch of oak and charcoal. It's full-bodied, opulent and easier to drink than the two blockbuster 2012s. Drink now through 2031. 92 points Connoisseurs Guide Although not at all stinting in richness and a wine of considerable substance and size, Venge's Silencieux stays well away from the brink of being too much and takes its lead from keenly defined Cabernet fruit rather than unbridled ripeness. It is decked out with a nice complement of creamy oak and has more than enough fruity extract to buffer its nominal back-palate tannins, and, if its finish is blunted by last-minute astringency just now, its only liabilities are those of extreme youth and six to eight years of age will set everything right. (12/2015) 90 points Wine Spectator Rich and well-defined, with a mix of black licorice, currant, dark berry and mocha-scented oak flavors. A tad rustic and chunky now, but a good bet to gain. The finish reveals crushed rock and minerally notes. (JL) (4/2016) |
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| Cakebread Cabernet Cakebread Vinyards (429) | |||
| 2018 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $180 |
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| Pretty aromas of ripe boysenberry, dark cherry and cassis, coupled with scents of sweet oak and herbal spice, introduce plush, deeply concentrated, black fruit flavors bolstered by bright acidity and well-structured tannins. This classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a long, lovely finish featuring savory fruit, spice and mineral tones. Delicious now, it will age gracefully in bottle for another 7-10 years. Vineyards The grapes for our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon come from a selection of our estate ranches and superior family-owned vineyards located throughout the valley’s finest cabernet sauvignon appellations. Long-term relationships with our growers ensure an annual supply of top-quality fruit from diverse sites. This allows us to craft a stylistically consistent and complex cabernet marrying the lush black fruit and sturdy tannins typical of the valley’s warmer northern districts with the bright fruit and acidity characteristic of its cooler southern climates. Each year, our winemaking team ferments dozens of different small lots of cabernet, assessing each one in order to select the very best lots for this classic Napa Valley red. Vintage After abundant harvests from 2012 through 2014, the 2015 growing season experienced more weather extremities that led to a small, yet outstanding, vintage. 2015 was our earliest harvest ever in the 40+ year of Cakebread Cellars history. A warm, dry winter fostered early bud-break, though a cold spell during fruit set limited cluster sizes. A warm summer and late-season heat spikes ensured beautiful ripening. We hand harvested the fruit at night between September 14th and 23rd for a perfect balance of ripeness and acidity. Winemaking Each individual lot of fruit was hand-harvested at night to preserve freshness and varietal intensity. Given the diverse sizes of the stainless steel tanks we use for fermentation, we’re able to precisely match each lot to the appropriately sized fermenter in order to best express the character of each individual block of fruit. Separately harvested, fermented and barrel-aged before blending, each lot also is also cold-soaked for two days prior to fermentation to foster early extraction of color, flavor and tannin from the skins. Tank size, yeast strain, fermentation temperature and barrel type are specifically tailored to the fruit character of each lot. In 2015, the component wines aged six months in French oak barrels, 57% new, before being blended in April, 2016. The final |
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| Archimedes Cabernet Francis Coppola Winery (524) | |||
| 2016 Alexander Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $195 |
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| A luxurious Cabernet Sauvignon wine that delivers immensely concentrated flavors of black cherries and juicy red plums. Archimedes is a Cabernet Sauvignon that derives its alluring spice quality from the small amount of very unique Knights Valley Cabernet Franc that is added to the blend. This fruit is highly aromatic and extremely dark, which is atypical of the varietal. We use a significant amount of Cabernet Sauvignon from our own Estate and additional lots from Alexander Valley and Knights Valley vineyards we find particularly impressive, well concentrated, and distinct. We get very bright cherry notes from the Alexander Valley fruit, and darker fruit impressions from the Knights Valley grapes. The final wine is created by selecting the best blend from individual barrels within each lot. This accounts for Archimedes’ tremendous complexity. The discoveries of the Greek mathematician Archimedes nearly 2,000 years ago established laws of physics still viable today. Francis Coppola’s grandfather, Agostino, so greatly admired the intellect and ingenuity of the mathematician that he gave his first son the same name. Today, we pay homage to Coppola’s Uncle Archimedes with our new flagship wine. |
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| Cain Five Cain Vineyard & Winery (404) | |||
| 2016 Spring Mountain, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $195 |
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| Napa, CA- Signature, top of the line wine from this Spring Mountain estate, based on the five grapes used in a classic Bordeaux blend. Displaying ripe mocha, vanilla, black cherry and cassis flavors wrapped in a structured, yet round, smooth style. Ready to drink tonight with a steak. If the Cain Five is utterly unique, distinctive in both aroma and taste, this can only reflect the Cain Vineyard, which gives birth to this wine and is both spectacular and idiosyncratic. Composed of the five classic varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot—Cain Five epitomizes the benefits of blending to achieve a complex wine. It is supple and rich of texture, combining a full, firm structure with a long and subtle finish. Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec Critical Acclaim JS95James Suckling A juicy yet subtle red with spices, walnuts, chocolate and hints of currants. Complex. Medium to full body. Creamy and polished tannins span out on the palate. Flavorful and beautiful finish. Drinkable now, but even better to hold. |
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| 'Premiere Barrique' Cabernet Franc Revolver Wine Company (508) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Franc | $200 |
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| Inspired by the “best barrel” each year, this beautiful bottle is the pinnacle of our cabernet franc production. Ripe fruit mixes with a backbone of grippy tannins on the palette, while a pleasant acidity leaves you wanting more. Winemaker Bryan Page was going through his Cabernet Franc Barrels for the 2016 Vintage, when he came across a Barrel "SO GOOD", he thought it was too good for Blending, and decided to create a separate Wine from this Barrel. The result is this Wine, 75% Cabernet Franc from the "Premier Barrique", blended with 12.5% of his BEST BARREL of Merlot and Petit Verdot. AMAZING. At this stage, Decanting or Cellaring is Recommended. The Bryan Page Story The idea of creating Page Wine Cellars happened in the summer of 1996. The opportunity opened up for Bryan Page to tour many Chateaus throughout the Bordeaux region, falling in love with their incredible wines. After his culinary tour in Europe ended, he returned home to California. He simultaneously worked at several restaurants ‘saving every penny’, while apprenticing at a few Napa Valley wineries, with the goal and desire of making his own wines, under his own label. In 1997 Page Wine Cellars officially began. The first vintage of Proprietary Red produced only 36 cases. This is not just a winery where a “consultant” winemaker produces the wines then the family name is labeled on the bottle. Page Wine Cellars is about hands on crafting our unique and remarkable wines all Hand Made by Brian Page often down to the Bottling and Labeling. |
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| Silver Oak "Napa' Cabernet Silver Oak Cellars (517) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $230 |
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| Wine Tasting Notes: Our 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby in color and entices you with a nose of raspberry, cassis and loose pipe tobacco. This full-bodied wine has an assertively silky structure and is notably spicy on the palate. Flavors of sage and blackberry mark the wine,s entry. The strong acidity in the mid-palate is followed by a lingering finish. Given proper cellaring, this wine will provide drinking pleasure through 2038. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot Our 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon artfully combines the classic elegance of the old world and the ripe fruit of California. It displays an opaque garnet color with a bouquet driven by fruity aromas of blackberry liqueur and hoisin sauce. It also offers the savory components of sage and molasses. These complex aromatics are complemented by sandalwood and nutmeg characteristics indicative of American oak aging. This is a well-structured wine with a compact and rich mid-palate buttressed by silky tannins and generous acidity. Given proper cellaring, this wine will provide drinking pleasure through 2037. Critical Acclaim WW93 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com - "An excellent performance from a wonderful growing season, Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon demonstrates a beautiful synergy between a top winery and Mother Nature. The wine offers abundant ripe red and black fruit, a pleasing suggestion of coconut from the oak, and a long and luxurious finish. (Tasted: January 11, 2017, San Francisco, CA) " |
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| Derange Cabernet Prisoner Wine Company (202) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $250 |
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| Winemaker Notes Rich and enticing aromas of blackberry, vanilla bean, baking spices, dark chocolate, and caramel. The palate is overly luscious and giving with notes of dark cherry and blueberry leading to an opulent, velvety finish. Critical Acclaim WW92Wilfred Wong of Wine.com You must all remember the expression, "Life is a bowl of cherries." The Prisoner Wine Company Dérangé Red Wine—a New World blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, and Petite Sirah—shows what can be successfully done when a producer combines grapes from some of California's highest regarded winegrowers. This wine explodes with all kinds of ripe fruit, spices, and earth notes. Its fully loaded palate makes it an excellent choice with high-quality pizzas surrounded by big screens and many ballgames. Hey maybe, life may even be better as a mixed bowl of berries. (Tasted: January 3, 2018, San Francisco, CA) |
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| Darioush 'Signature' Cabernet Darioush Vineyards (213) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $250 |
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| The hallmark of Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is its seamlessness, the result of decades of meticulous vineyard management of our cooler climate, Southern Napa Valley sites. Our estate vineyards in the Mount Veeder and Napa Valley AVAs have hit their stride, producing fruit with splendid concentration, compelling freshness, and graceful complexity. The final composition strikes a tightrope balance of youthful energy, structure, and restraint; our flagship wine rewards with extraordinary depth and poise. "2016 Cabernet Sauvignon reveals a total rock star on the nose, cranking out beautifully boisterous notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums, warm blueberries... a solid frame of super ripe, finely grained tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing very long and very spicy." Robert Parker Wine Advocate October 2018 | Rated 96+ |
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| Canard Reserve Cabernet Canard Vineyard (211) | |||
| 2013 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $300 |
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| 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (Only 48 Cases) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from our dry farmed clone 7 block, which consistently year after year produces the finest fruit in the vineyard. Open top, barrel fermented and then aged in the same barrel. This very special wine is made from only four barrels. Dark, very rich with velvety but firm tannins. Chocolate covered cherry cordials, ripe persimmon, black plums dominate the palate. Long, soft elegant finish with hints of clove and black figs. This will age 20 years. Appellation: Napa Valley: Calistoga, CA Fermentation: Cold Soaked 4 days, for a total of 25 days on the skins Aging: 20 months in French Oak (100% New) Cooperages: Fleur de Quintessence, Nadalie Varietals: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Clone Seven Block Alcohol: 14.7% |
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| Love Hammer Cabernet Slo Down Wines (415) | |||
| 2013 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $300 |
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| Pristine vineyards, long sun soaked days and the allure of mountain fruit seduced winemaker Brandon Allen (which wasn’t that hard to do) to craft our inaugural vintage of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Love Hammer. Named to provoke and inspire thought, the label represents the extreme of good and evil, and how closely they can exist. Dark and inky with intense aromatics of dark cherry,dark chocolate, mocha, baking spices and clove, this wine delights the palate with an array of black and red cherry,cranberry, leather and rum raisin, all wrapped up with lush, plush tannins and a finish that just won’t quit. Extremely limited with less than 300 cases produced,this wine won’t last long, but fear not as we are already working on future vintages. Extremely limited with less than 300 cases produced |
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| Mercury Head Cabernet Orin Swift (518) | |||
| 2017 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $300 |
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| An alluring hue of dark garnet sits in the glass, encircled by a glowing ruby rim. Immediate aromas of ripe black cherry, blueberry and classic cassis are supported by undertones of lavender, jasmine, sage, tobacco, cigar box and the slightest touch of anise. Rich and vibrant upon entry, flavors of dark plums, figs and black fruit transform into sweet vanilla and dark chocolate framed by velvety and plush tannins. The wine finishes with great length and a touch of acidity—an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon from select vineyards in the Napa Valley. Critical Acclaim RP96 The Wine Advocate - "A spectacular wine, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Mercury Head is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Taplin and Morisoli vineyards and several Atlas Peak vineyards, aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. There are 5,461 cases of this wine. The wine is a classic, broad-shouldered, compelling Cabernet Sauvignon with beautiful blueberry and crème de cassis fruit, Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, white chocolate notes and a hint of graphite and background toast. It is ripe, full-bodied, pure, multidimensional and a mouthful of succulent Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 20+ years." |
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| The Stash Cabernet Sauvignon Revolver Wine Company (404) | |||
| 2015 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $300 |
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| There were only 160 Cases of the 2015 produced! Two barrels... yes... only two barrels of the 2015 The Stash E.R. have been released. Cedarwood, spice box and black currants seduce the nose followed by a pallet of powerful layers of rich fruit and dashes of vanilla. 18 months of 100% French oak aging. 'The Stash' will truly enjoy a bit of decanting when served at a young age. This Cabernet Sauvignon is of blockbuster quality and the 2015 typifies that. A giant baby now, this wine will only benefit from time in the bottle. Hands on-hand crafted, hand bottled, hand waxed, and hand labeled. Very limited production - only 160 cases produced Bryan Page, a southern California native, first found his calling to the wine industry while studying at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. His proximity to California’s expansive wine country matched with his culinary studies of pairing food and wine created a sense of inspiration and excitement he just couldn’t ignore. After interning at the popular Wine Spectator periodical, Bryan secured a job at Napa’s Truchard Vineyards in Carneros where he ultimately became the assistant winemaker. He also made wines for Havens Wine Cellars during this time, and served as the chef at close-by Domaine Carneros Winery. In 1997, Bryan decided it was time to try the wine business for himself and established Page Cellars with the help of his family. The focus at Page Cellars is on Bordeaux-style blends, and while it was - and still is - a successful brand in its own right, he decided to create a second brand that would feature single varietal wines that didn’t quite fit the Page Cellars style. He wanted these new wines to reflect a darker, distinctive, ‘rock and roll’ vibe and thus Revolver Wine Company became a reality in 2003. Revolver Wine Company was named after the Beatles’ epic Revolver album that was released in 1966 - the same year Bryan Page was born. It had always been one of his favorite albums and its style was much like the wines he wanted to make - rebellious, edgy and different. The first Revolver wine release was a brooding Cabernet Franc named ‘The Fury,’ and it was followed by ‘Purgatory’ Merlot, ‘Perdition’ Petite Sirah, ‘Forsaken’ Petite Verdot, and ‘Redemption’ Late Harvest Zinfandel. Bryan is recently joined by his brother Chris, who assists in winemaking duties. All of the Revolver wines are produced in Chris and Bryan’s garage style winery in downtown Napa Valley in extremely limited quantitie |
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| J. Davies Cabernet "Estate" Davies Family Vineyards (423) | |||
| 2016 Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $300 |
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| The Davies family, proprietors of Schramsberg Vineyards in Napa Valley, presents its fourteenth vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from the historic Diamond Mountain vineyards they purchased in 1965. Replanted to Bordeaux varietals beginning in 1994, J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon is the creation of the next generation of the Davies family; it is the product of an intimate knowledge of a place and a passion to create a delicious red wine. The wine is named in honor of patriarch Jack L. Davies, who along with his wife, Jamie, revived the Schramsberg property and established the preeminent American sparkling wine house over 50 years ago. The vineyard blocks, totaling 41 acres, are laid out in three isolated pockets ranging from approximately 550 to 1,000 feet in elevation. They include the two Schram sections, Napa Valley’s first hillside vineyards, originally established in 1862 by Jacob Schram. The third piece is the adjacent McEachran parcel, which was first planted by Colin McEachran in 1878 and was purchased by Schramsberg in 1985. These are the southernmost vineyards in the Diamond Mountain District AVA. Flanked by two cool creek canyons (Nash Creek to the north and Ritchie Creek to the south) and surrounded by dense coniferous and deciduous forests, the vines here produce late-ripening, richly concentrated fruit with average yields of just two tons per acre. View Wine Technical Sheet TASTING NOTES The 2016 J. Davies Estate Cabernet Sauvignon leads with rich aromas of dark red cherry, black plum, tobacco leaf, and white pepper. The palate is densely layered with fruitful flavors of cassis and blueberry, and supported by delicious undertones of cinnamon, clove, and coriander. The polished fine-grain tannins carry the flavors to a long finish. WS 92 Wine Spectator, November 2018 The baked berry pie flavors are compelling, with blueberry, blackberry and wild berry notes, turning supple and graceful. Impressive, offering drink-me-now allure and cellaring possibilities. Best from 2020 through 2032. 1,200 cases made. — JL WE 92 Wine Enthusiast, February 2019 This blends the main variety with 16% Malbec and smaller pinches of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The resulting wine is robust and well built, softly structured and punctuated in flavors of bold red cherry and plum. Rich, it shows some restraint and ultimately balance, the fruit integrated with oak and tannin. VIRGINIE BOONE VN 91 |
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| Vein Cabernet Revolver Wine Company (515) | |||
| 2016 Napa Valley, California | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $300 |
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| Limited Production: 3 Barrels – 75 case production Ageing: 30 months in French oak barriques The punk rock classic, our flagship cabernet is sure to excite at every occasion. Dark fruits, bold tannins, and a velvety finish are hallmarks of this exceptional vintage, and with an approachable complexity, it’s the perfect companion for dinner and a show. Description It all started years ago at a chance meeting in the tasting room. This led to the genesis of producing a kick ass wine together. After many meet ups over the years and idea swapping, we decided to do a Cabernet Sauvignon to start…and not just an ordinary one. We got the components for 2009 together and headed to my cottage to watch the Super Bowl and start up the final blending process. After a quick Guinness to calm the nerves and cleanse the pallet, we dove right into it. Within minutes it was clear that the Super Bowl was an after-thought and the creation of this wine was taken very serious attitude. After hours of creative epiphanies, Mike had his blend. Two weeks later he came in and hand blended one barrel, and I hand blended the other. Truly HANDS-ON, HAND-CRAFTED with a “punk” attitude!! Bryan Page ~ Winemaker 2016 Tasting Notes & Technical Data From the soul of a ballad and a face-melting riff comes a blend from 10 different barrels to make a mere 3 barrels of this stunning Cabernet. This is a brooding, dark, intense wine. Blackberries, dark plum, with hints of cocoa and pepper. Amazing tannin structure that is present but not dominating. Although this is a big wine, acid balance is sublime. Built to last and go great with food. It is best to give it an hour in the decanter if drunk young. This wine will easily age for 12 years plus. Vintage: 2016 Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec |
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| Abacus Cabernet ZD Wines | |||
| 1992 Napa Valley | |||
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $1000 |
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| This is the Very Limited 19th Vintage. The current 19th Bottling of Abacus XIX includes 25 vintages of 100% ZD Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (1992-2016). Abacus the ultimate Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a "solera style," multiple-vintage blend of every ZD Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ever produced. A small portion of the Abacus is bottled each year, and the remainder is returned to barrel to await a new infusion of youth with the next vintage. The next bottling released will increase by one vintage. The concept was born when ZD Winemaster, Robert and his brother, Brett were enjoying a wonderful aged Cabernet Sauvignon. They agreed that the deep complexity and subtle nuances that develop in older wines are always accompanied by a loss of fruit. What if there was a way to blend the elegance of an older Cabernet Sauvignon with the intensity of fruit found in a younger wine? Always eager to accept a challenge, Winemaster Robert deLeuze took on the task of creating such a wine, unlike any other produced in the world. The result is a "solera style" multiple-vintage blend of every ZD Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ever produced, which is held in barrel until bottling. The first bottling, with the 1992 - 1998 vintages, was released November 1, 1999. Approximately 15% of the total blend was bottled in distinctive custom bottles, totaling 200 cases. The remainder was returned to barrel to await the next infusion of youthful fruit. Prior to the second bottling, the 1999 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was added to the blend. This is the ongoing cycle of the ever-evolving solera; each year Abacus will increase by one vintage, gaining more and more complexity. It truly stands as a legacy to all future ZD winemakers. |
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| BLUSH | |||
| Sables d'Azur Bronco Wine Company | |||
| 2019 Côtes de Provence, France | |||
| Rosé | $12 $44 |
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| Sables d’Azur blends the best selection of Rosé wines from the interior Valley of Provence and Sainte Victoire Terroir. These Côtes de Provence vineyards benefit fully from the Mediterranean climate: mild winters, early spring and moderate summers, when the sun’s continuous and beneficial rays ensure the vines produce fully mature grapes, oozing ripe juice. A dry fresh and clean rosé wine, with crispy acidity, and a wonderful souvenir of Provence! Critical Acclaim TP89Tasting Panel A charming Provencal quaffer for beach days; dry, crisp and racy; lively and lifted. Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah. V89Vinous / Antonio Galloni Pale salmon skin. Orange zest, red currant and strawberry aromas show good energy and lift. Fresh and lively in the mouth, offering juicy red berry and tangerine flavors complemented by a hint of succulent herbs. Closes firm and stony, delivering solid thrust and a lingering, refreshingly bitter berry skin quality. |
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| M de Minuty Château Minuty | |||
| 2019 Côtes de Provence, France | |||
| Rosé | $60 |
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| Chateau Minuty is the #1 selling Rose house in Europe and one of only 18 Cru Classé in the Cotes de Provence that specialises in Rose (90% of production). Minuty crafts wines in the classic Provence style primarily using Grenache grapes. Sooooooo, belly up to the bruschetta bar with this archetypal Provencal Rose, M. de Minuty Cotes de Provence Rose. You'll want plenty of toasted bread slices, some pesto, roasted tomatoes, salumi, your favorite cheeses, toasted pignolis and whatever else sounds good to you. The subtle floral and fruit notes of the wine, combined with its lovely acidity and dryness make it a very well-rounded companion with food. It's perfect for sushi and sashimi. Poached salmon with a sunflower-dill pesto works beautifully. Grilled cheese with brie, asparagus and crispy prosciutto is less formal but no less delicious. Not feeling the meat? How about smoked gouda and mushroom quesedillas topped with sour cream and cilantro. C'est incroyable, n'est-ce pas winelovers? Winery: "Established in 1936, Chateau Minuty remains the Provencal Rose gold-standard, continuing a remarkable 20 years of growth as the #1 Rose throughout Europe. Once again the 20+ year-old vines, farmed without the use of pesticides or herbicides, experienced a gloriously hot, sunny growing season. Frost in late April and less than half the rainfall throughout the season, produced smaller berries which in-turn yielded less wine! Hand harvesting began mid-August and lasted 2 weeks, as the blocks were picked at perfect ripeness. The tiny berries were absolutely pristine, with an acidity held vibrant by the vineyards’ proximity to the cooling bay of St. Tropez. This vibrant, dry Rose reveals fresh, ripe peaches and candied orange aromas that lead into a plush palate with soft acidity and featherweight richness." |
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