If you’re a fan of California red blends, you’ve likely heard many being described as Bordeaux-styled.  It’s most commonly used a reference to the varietal makeup of the blend, and most often refers to Bordeaux’s “Top Five” which includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.  Hill Family’s 2015 Origin Estate Blend is absolutely stunning and includes 4 of Top Five, but it’s completely Californian in style.  It’s purposefully created in a plush, enchanting style, with lavish, extracted flavors, ranging from intense dark fruits, complex spices and sweet vanilla.  The wine was crafted by talented winemaker Alison Green Doran who worked under legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff at her father’s Simi winery, and was also the winemaker at Lewis Cellars.  Fans of rich, voluptuous Red Blends should be all over this one.

 

Rising from a blockbuster vintage in Napa Valley, and one Vinous describes as producing “opulent, voluptuous wines with real personality…” Hill Family’s 2015 Origin is a stunning specimen of the vintage.  Composed using fruit from seven vineyards, and ranging 4 appellations, the 2015 blend is built around a core of 47% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced with Malbec and Petit Verdot.  The wine was kept for 16 months in barrel and around 2 full years in bottle before release.  I highly recommend a case while supplies last.

 

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STEPS BARREL SELECT 2015 PROPRIETARY RED   Your Price: $49.99/btl Click to Order   Arising from Mountainous Vineyards, including Mount Veeder and Altas Peak, the 2015 is built around a core of nearly 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, heightened with Cabernet Franc and Malbec.  Simply stunning to swirl and taste, the 2015 was cave aged for nearly 24 months in high quality oak barrels.  Dramatic, thrilling and hedonistic are all excellent descriptors for the 2015StepsReserve and with a total production of only 150 cases, don’t let this one walk on by.

LAIRD JILLIAN’S BLEND 2014 NAPA VALLEY Retails at:  $48.00/btl   Your Price:  Insider Club Members Only Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers Click to Order   When Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.