2019 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond District

2019 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond District

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

MARTIN RAY

2019 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN

2019 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond District
There is an intrigue behind estate-grown and bottled wines, but the most critical piece of the puzzle is the site where the grapes are grown. Martin Ray has continuously operated under the “wines of place” philosophy, and quite frankly, they’re nailing it, producing wines that showcase the best each region has to offer.
 
Their Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in the Andrew Geoffrey Vineyard located on the lower foothills of the mountain with a powdery mix of volcanic ash and porous tufa rock with some sprinkles of obsidian. The majority of the small lots are fermented in upright French oak puncheons, with a small portion in open-top stainless-steel vessels, followed by about 30 days on the skins after fermentation, giving a silky mouthfeel and a seamless integration between the fruit and the oak. 
 
MARTIN RAY
2019 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $85
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“Complex aromas of dark plums, blackcurrants, dried herbs, cedar and spice box. Some tar. Pine needles. Full-bodied with creamy tannins. Firm and polished with a velvety texture. Flavorful and long…”
95 Points
2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Diamond MountainKevin VogtNapaOakvilleProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

STEPS

RESERVE BARREL SELECT
2019 PROPRIETARY RED

2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red
Each year STEPS is re-birthed as it’s formed from declassified grapes from some of Napa Valley’s most coveted vineyards and meticulously blended by winemaker Grant Long, Jr, whom you might know from Aonair, Witchery, and James Joseph. Grant makes the blend with an unwavering goal of producing a showy, opulent red, guided by the vintage and the varietals that performed best. The 2019 release reflects the vintage’s knockout power and blanketing intensity, and at $50, the value is nearly inconceivable.
 
Steps 2019 Barrel Select draws on Diamond Mountain’s concentrated fruit and expressive flavors, then brings Rutherford elegance and Oakville complexity into play with absolute grandiosity. The final blend is more than 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, crafted in a richly layered, lavish, hedonistic style. The wine is a steal at $50, and at $45, a single case won’t be enough.
 
STEPS
RESERVE BARREL SELECT
2019 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The 2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select is beautifully aromatic with violets, ripe black plums and black raspberries, dark chocolate, and wet stones. On the palate, flavors of blueberry pie, cocoa power, and a savory mushroom component add additional layers of complexity. The tannins are fine-grained, giving the wine a velvety texture felt throughout the long and opulent finish that slowly fades away on the palate, revealing its complexity one layer at a time.”
95 Points
2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Diamond MountainKevin VogtNapaOakvilleProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

STEPS

RESERVE BARREL SELECT
2019 PROPRIETARY RED

2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red
Each year STEPS is re-birthed as it’s formed from declassified grapes from some of Napa Valley’s most coveted vineyards and meticulously blended by winemaker Grant Long, Jr, whom you might know from Aonair, Witchery, and James Joseph. Grant makes the blend with an unwavering goal of producing a showy, opulent red, guided by the vintage and the varietals that performed best. The 2019 release reflects the vintage’s knockout power and blanketing intensity, and at our price, the value is nearly inconceivable.
 
Steps 2019 Barrel Select draws on Diamond Mountain’s concentrated fruit and expressive flavors, then brings Rutherford elegance and Oakville complexity into play with absolute grandiosity. The final blend is more than 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, crafted in a richly layered, lavish, hedonistic style. The wine is a steal at $50, and at $45, a single case won’t be enough.
 
STEPS
RESERVE BARREL SELECT
2019 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The 2019 Steps Reserve Barrel Select is beautifully aromatic with violets, ripe black plums and black raspberries, dark chocolate, and wet stones. On the palate, flavors of blueberry pie, cocoa power, and a savory mushroom component add additional layers of complexity. The tannins are fine-grained, giving the wine a velvety texture felt throughout the long and opulent finish that slowly fades away on the palate, revealing its complexity one layer at a time.”
95 Points
2018 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn's Reserve

2018 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn’s Reserve

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

JAMES JOSEPH 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 KATHRYN’S RESERVE 

2018 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn's Reserve
James Joseph has built a reputation for crafting age-worthy Cabernets that are powerfully elegant and profoundly hedonistic for the last eighteen vintages. Without constraint, the wine adapts to each vintage, bringing in new fruit sources or dropping old ones to craft the most extraordinary wine possible. The 2018 vintage is the deepest, most decadent, and hedonistic version yet, and with a total production of just 4 barrels, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
In this 2018 release, James Joseph combined the power of Diamond Mountain with the concentrated fruit of Atlas Peak and then intertwined the elegance of Rutherford. After nearly two years in French oak, the 2018 vintage offers a spectacular display of deep black fruits, dark chocolates, graphite, and liquid violets. 
 
Grant Long Jr., winemaker at Witchery, Steps, and Aonair, authored this masterpiece. Grant’s wines have a cult following for their incredibly compelling, magnetic style that draws you in and keeps you coming back for more. 
 
JAMES JOSEPH 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 KATHRYN’S RESERVE
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
“The 2018 James Joseph Kathryn’s Reserve begins with a nose combining deep, rich aromas of Autumn spiced blackberry cobbler, dried tobacco leaves, fresh mint, and sweet vanilla. The palate is intensely focused, with tantalizing layers of lush, concentrated black currants, crème de cassis, blueberry purée, and espresso roast, all in perfect balance. The ripe fruit tannins are silky smooth, so this wine begs you to drink it now, or over the next 10 years. This release is quite possibly the best James Joseph Kathryn’s ever made.”
96 Points
2011 Frisson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Frisson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

FRISSON 2011 Frisson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2011 NAPA VALLEY

 
Frisson is defined as a sudden feeling of excitement or thrill, which is exactly what you’ll get when you taste this $60 Napa Valley Cabernet.  It’s a blend of 70% Diamond Mountain and 30% Howell Mountain fruit and produced in a vintage where parts of the valley floor experienced challenges ripening.  The high elevation Mountains in Northern Napa Valley did quite well, however.  This wine embodies the mission set by the proprietors of creating small production wines from luxury grapes, grown in superior terroir, and  transforming them into balanced wine with sense of place and voice.  The wines are made by Wayne Donaldson who has nearly 3 decades of experience and has held top winemaking positions at notables Domaine Chandon, Moet Hennessy, Louis Martini and the list goes on…
 
The 2011 Frisson was made with an extreme attention to detail and add to it access to incredible Mountain fruit sources, and this wine speaks for itself and it’s stunningly impressive at this price point.  If you follow Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, you might have already heard of Frisson and noticed their mid-90 point scores on their 2015’s…  With a total production of just 150 cases of their perfectly ready to drink 2011 vintage, there are very few cases available, so I wouldn’t wait long to secure yours…
 
FRISSON
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2011 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “Seductive aromas of coffee, black currant and blueberry are laced together with hints of vanilla that drift onto the palate which dances with layers of complex flavor. Espresso chocolate, dark berry fruits and rich brown spice thrill you with delight. The wine is balanced with a dense yet supple tannin finish. 
70% Diamond Mountain, 30% Howell Mountain fruit.”
 
Customers who enjoy Frisson Napa Valley Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabernets…
2017 Fortune 1621 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Silenus Tryos Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
FORTUNE 1621
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

Click to Order

Journeying for more from 18 months in French and American oak barrels, the 2017 set sail from carefully chosen vineyards throughout Napa Valley, each selected for their own unique characteristics which contribute to the final blend.  The 2017 is marked by it’s superior concentration, royal elegance, fine details and dusty tannins that are rarely found at this price..
SILENUS
2015 TYROS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $32/btl

Click to Order

Winery Notes: “Brilliant ruby red color introduces black cherry, rose petal, vanilla, bay leaf and toasted oak on the nose. The palate has vibrant, deep flavors of raspberry, cherry, and plum with cocoa and vanilla extracted from the oak barrels. The wine is seamless and wonderfully balanced with bright acid, deep red fruit, lightly toasted oak and good structure that least to a long velvety finish.”
2015 MISC Mixed 15 Pack

2015 Misc. Two Barrel Production Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUncategorizedUSA

MISC.

2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON(S)
TWO BARREL PRODUCTION
OAKVILLE | HOWELL MTN | DIAMOND MTN

2015 MISC Mixed 15 Pack
In a debate over whether micro-produced wines have the potential to be better than those with larger production, there are several points to look at.  When a winemaker can focus his or her abilities on just a few barrels of wine, they’re able to truly guide the wine from grape all the way to bottle, focusing on every minute detail.   For winemaker Grant Long Jr, the idea that he could hand-select only two barrels of each wine, from each chosen appellation with its own set of unique flavors and textures, and then focus on them individually to create epic wines at a whole new level is what inspired him to create misc.
 
Each of these top-level Cabernet Sauvignons from Oakville, Howell Mountain and Diamond Mountain, have a level of quality rarely available, and usually only found in wines produced on this macro-scale.  After spending around 20 months in French oak barrels they’ve developed flavors that are incredibly deep and compelling, yet sensual and pure… Each an idyllic expression of their origin, and with just two barrels of each wine produced, I strongly recommend adding a case to your cellar.  You’ll be glad you did…
 
 
 
 
2015 MISC Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 MISC Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 MISC Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
MISC.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 OAKVILLE
TWO BARREL PRODUCTION
 
Your Price: $95/btl

Click to Order

 
Winery Notes: “Located on the eastern side of this infamous appellation, the vineyard provides a great combination of terroir that serves as the backbone of this wine. Notes of blueberry and cola are enriched by undertones of crushed herbs and lavender. Meanwhile hints of roasted fig and mulberry land on the palate as luscious tannins offer a relentless finish.“
MISC.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 HOWELL MTN
TWO BARREL PRODUCTION
 
Your Price: $95/btl

Click to Order

 
Winery Notes: “Located high above the fog line of Napa Valley, this clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon is grown in a distinctive appellation. Minimal cluster counts of this vintage, combined with concentrated small berries, resulted in a classic big mountain Cabernet. Notes of blueberry, black cherry, violet and hibiscus are at the forefront. Hints of chocolate and cola round out the palate with a flattering texture and tannin structure.”
MISC.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 DIAMOND MTN
TWO BARREL PRODUCTION
 
Your Price: $95/btl

Click to Order

 
Winery Notes: “These grapes were grown on the highest vineyard on Diamond Mountain. Harvest was low yield and the more appellation characteristics of black cherry and chocolate were concentrated in this vintage. The bouquet flourishes in red fruit, pipe tobacco and rose petals.  Undertones of cedar box spice and mint.  Finishes with lush tannin and fruit preserves.” 
2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

VON STRASSER

2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN

2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
When I look back at my top-selling wine of all time, which was the 2007 Ascent Diamond Mountain Cabernet, I can’t help but to find similarities in Von Strasser’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was also created exclusively from Diamond Mountain fruit.  An idyllic expression of the areas distinct volcanic terroir, this stunningly elegant and penetrating wine saturates your taste buds with an abundance of blackberry cassis, mineral laced raspberry, Ghirardelli chocolate and roasted coffee. The overall texture, is both deep and elegant and foreshadows the long and expansive finish.  It’s rare to find a Diamond Mountain Cabernet that we can offer you , and this is the first time since Ascent that we’ve found one for you…
 
Von Strasser was a fixture on Diamond Mountain for more than two decades and while they sold the vineyard in 2015, they kept the brand, and purchased a new winery on Silverado Trail where the wines are now being made. Von Strasser gained valuable experience at Trefethen and Newton wineries and he has extensive experience working with Diamond Mountain fruit.  His 2013 Cabernet is drinking so beautifully right now, it was astonishing how elegantly this wine hits your palate and it continues to impress all the way through the finish.
 
VON STRASSER
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Immediate nose is pleasing with dark fruit of blueberry, blackberry and leather layered with flavors of licorice, coffee, pomegranate and subtle earthy undertones.  Wrap it up with supple tannins to enjoy now or up to 10 years.”