2019 Joseph Jewell Zinfandel Raymond Burr Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

2019 Joseph Jewell Zinfandel Raymond Burr Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

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JOSEPH JEWELL 

ZINFANDEL 2019
RAYMOND BURR VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY

2019 Joseph Jewell Zinfandel Raymond Burr Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

Adrian Jewell is the proprietor and winemaker for Joseph Jewell Wines, and his upbringing in Northern California’s cold, foggy climate led him to believe these majestic sites along the North Coast have invaluable potential for viticulture. With an authentic varietal expression, Joseph Jewell wines are sourced from small, independently owned, and sustainably farmed vineyards and carefully crafted in a welcoming, harmonious style that unites friends and family.

Recognized for producing superior quality grapes with subtle notes of ripe peaches, a quality that old-time growers prize in Zinfandel, Raymond Burr Vineyard is located in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley and planted on seven acres of 30-year-old Zinfandel.

Joseph Jewell’s 2019 Raymond Burr Vineyard Zinfandel represents a refined and elegant style of California Zinfandel, with fresh fruit flavors and plenty of spice. The wine is delightful on its own and particularly excellent with barbequed meats.

JOSEPH JEWELL 
ZINFANDEL 2019
RAYMOND BURR VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at: $45

Your Price: $26

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“The Joseph Jewell 2019 Raymond Burr Zinfandel begins with an enticing bouquet of aromas, including allspice, pink peppercorns, red cherry, red currant, dried rose petals, peach blossom, and thyme. On the palate, the wine has refreshing notes of peach, baked cherry pie, wild blackberry, clove, and menthol, balanced by the wine’s lively acidity. Drink this wine now or hold for a few years for further development.”

93 Points

2018 David Clinton Old Vine Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley

2018 David Clinton Old Vine Zinfandel Mounts Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

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DAVID CLINTON

OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
MOUNTS VINEYARD 2018
DRY CREEK VALLEY

2018 David Clinton Old Vine Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley
Specializing in Old Vine Zinfandel, David Clinton Wines began with the unity of two friends sharing a passion for wine, then sourcing fruit from choice vineyards in Sonoma County. The Dry Creek Valley is famous for high-quality Zinfandels due to its soil composition, topography, and cooling influences from the Pacific Ocean. These factors are the driving influence behind David Clinton’s wines.
 
The winery has produced a single vineyard Zin, from the Mounts Vineyard, located adjacent to Rafanelli, since 2013. This wine defines their house style with approachability, red and black fruits balanced with acidity, and a smooth mouthfeel. The 2018 vintage represents a classic example of Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel sourced from an old vineyard block, giving concentrated, intense flavors, soft tannins, and ageability. 
 
DAVID CLINTON
OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
MOUNTS VINEYARD 2018
DRY CREEK VALLEY
 
Your Price: $32
 
 
“The David Clinton 2018 Mounts Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel begins with red cherry, plum, mixed berry pie, milk chocolate, cinnamon, and earth. On the palate, the wine has rich flavors of raspberry, blueberry, and chocolate chip cookies, with a hint of black pepper on the finish. This wine has had some time to develop in the bottle, bringing out more profound complexity and a soft texture that will continue to age but is very drinkable right now.” 
94 Points
2021 L'Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

2021 L’Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

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L’OBJET BLANC

SAUVIGNON BLANC
COMSTOCK VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY 2021

2021 L'Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
L’Objet is the creation of winemaker/owner Danny Glover. Danny spent several years writing and producing in the artistic Los Angeles music culture before discovering a captivating Pinot Noir that inspired and drew him into the winemaking world. He honed in on his new passion by working for Clos du Bois, Armida, and Dutcher Crossing before launching his brand and pursuing the finest fruit quality from conscientious, hardworking growers.
 
Danny sources Sauvignon Blanc from the Comstock Family Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, valuing Bob and Sandy Comstock’s meticulous attention to detail that pays off each vintage with exceptional quality—the 2021 growing season experienced warm days with cool, foggy nights and a lengthy hang-time, perfect for complex flavor development that jumps out of the glass in this fresh and lively Sauvignon Blanc.
 
L’OBJET BLANC
SAUVIGNON BLANC
COMSTOCK VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY 2021
 
 
 
“The L’Objet 2021 Comstock Family Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley opens with pronounced aromas of acacia, jasmine, Meyer lemon, passion fruit, and cantaloupe. On the palate, the wine has a smooth texture with fresh tropical fruit flavors, pink grapefruit, and jasmine. The wine has a crisp finish that balances the depth of flavors in quite a delightful drinking experience.”
94 Points
2017 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Sonoma County Red

2017 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Sonoma County Red

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CHATEAU ST. JEAN 

CINQ CEPAGES 2017
SONOMA COUNTY RED

2017 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages Sonoma County Red
Chateau St. Jean was founded in the Sonoma Valley in 1973 and quickly established a reputation for single vineyard-designated wines that captured the individual character of each site. Cinq Cépages is the winery’s flagship wine that winemaker Margo Van Staaveren creates from specially selected fruit from outstanding vineyard locations throughout Sonoma. The wine has an incredible history of exceptional accomplishments, including ranking as the #1 wine on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list in 1999, followed by the #2 spot in 2002. 
 
This Cabernet Sauvignon dominant Bordeaux-style blend has fruit sourced from Knights Valley, Moon Mountain, Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and the Sonoma Valley estate. The yields for the 2017 vintage were lower than average, leading to wines of fine quality with depth, dimension, and silky smooth tannins.
 
CHATEAU ST. JEAN 
CINQ CEPAGES 2017
SONOMA COUNTY RED
Retails at: $90
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“Beautiful blackberry, mushroom, bark and oak leaf. Some pine cone, too. Full-bodied, round and savory with layers of ripe fruit. Rather chunky wine, but nicely done. Drink after 2025.”
94 Points
2014 The Owl & The Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley

2014 The Owl & The Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley

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THE OWL & THE OAK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 DRY CREEK VALLEY 

2014 The Owl & The Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley
Michelle Mercer and her husband Bruce Golden spent 15 years living abroad, giving them priceless opportunities to visit some of the best vineyards in the world. Upon returning to the US, they searched to find the perfect location for growing premium Cabernet Sauvignon in an old-world style with subtle beauty and grace, like a new blossom slowly opening its petals and revealing its inner depth of character.
 
A small plot of 9 acres in Dry Creek Valley proved to be the best location because of the cooler microclimate than neighboring vineyards, allowing the grapes to mature at a slower rate, increasing hang time for deep flavor development while retaining the grape’s natural acidity. The 2014 vintage of The Owl & The Oak is captivating in its vast range of flavors and immaculate structure that coats the palate and continues into an ethereal finish.
 
THE OWL & THE OAK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The Oak & The Owl Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of violets, sage, crushed blueberries, wet stones, white truffles, and cocoa powder. The palate is seductive with its velvety tannins and bright acidity, allowing sultry, savory flavors to coat the mouth with a persistent finish. This wine is an old-world wine lover’s dream in the new world with its depth of fresh aromas and flavors, pure from start to finish without being flashy or flabby, and suitable for aging up to 15 years or more.”
95 Points
2018 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

2018 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

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DETAILS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 SONOMA COUNTY

2018 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
Details Cabernet fuses superior talent, assiduous fruit selection, and rigorous science in creating their value-focused Cabernet. Their commitment to excellence and obsessive attention to detail paid off, resulting in an enchanting wine that tastes like it should be much more expensive. We were among the first to feature it last August, before any scores. Recently, Vinous reviewed it, alerting readers to this “ridiculous value.” At $33, it’s a wine everybody should try. 
 
Sourced from a hillside vineyard located on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains, behind Oakville, this wine also incorporates fruit from Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek, and Chalk Hill for increased definition. Their team handpicks the fruit to precise analytics, equating to optimized flavors and aromas. 
 
Details is a new project by the owners of Sinegal, and Ryan Knoth makes the wines. Ryan gained valuable experience working under the tutelage of icons David Abreu, Michel Rolland, and Fredrik Johansson at Staglin Vineyards. He also worked with Jim Barbour and Philippe Melka at Gandona Estate.
 
DETAILS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $40
 
Your Price: $33
 
 
“The 2018 Details Cabernet Sauvignon is a new project from David Sinegal and winemaker Ryan Knoth made from a collection of top sites in Sonoma County, with a strong focus on Moon Mountain. Silky, yet powerful, with striking depth, the 2018 is simply magnificent. Readers will find a mid-weight, savory Cabernet Sauvignon. Best of all, the 2018 is a ridiculous value in today’s world.”
93 Points
 
“A value-priced release from this terrific estate, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon DETAILS checks in as 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% each of Merlot and Petite Sirah, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, all aged 16 months in 55% new oak. Lots of ripe black cherry and blueberry fruits, notes of vanilla bean, cedar, and tobacco, medium to full-bodied richness, and notable purity all make for a delicious Napa Valley Cabernet that won’t break the bank. Enjoy bottles over the coming 7-8 years.”
91 Points
2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs

2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs

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RIDGE

2018 PROPRIETARY RED
LYTTON SPRINGS

2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs
Ridge utilizes pre-Industrial winemaking techniques that were common in Bordeaux and California around the 19th Century. These methods involve fermenting with natural yeasts, winemaking decisions based on taste, and not adding any commercial enzymes or nutrients for extracting color, flavor, and tannins. It’s a philosophy that’s paid off, and when paired with historic vines, it creates wines of sensational quality. Their 2018 Lytton Springs is one of their best, and with double 96 point reviews, don’t miss it.
 
Lytton Springs vineyard was planted in the early 1900s, and the ancient Zinfandel Vines are interplanted with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mourvèdre, and Grenache. Ridge produced their first vintage from Lytton Springs in 1972, and the consistency of character and quality of the fruit has been a hallmark of the site ever since. 
 
The 2018 vintage combines 72% Zinfandel balanced with Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Mourvedre. The wine has stunning depth and complexity that winemakers can’t replicate with younger vines.
 
RIDGE
2018 PROPRIETARY RED
LYTTON SPRINGS
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“…The nose is lush and open, with aromas of aniseed, red and blue berries, blood orange and earth plus touches of tobacco leaf and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate combines intense, powerful flavors with a more ethereal, silty structure, and it finishes with loads of juicy layers. It’s stunning straight from bottle but will have more to give with time in the cellar.”
96 Points
 
“The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up in the glass. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine its vibrant energy. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2018 for at least a few years. Wow!”
96 Points
2014 William Knuttel D Rafanelli Vineyard Mary's Block Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 William Knuttel D. Rafanelli Vineyard Mary’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon

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WILLIAM KNUTTEL 2014 William Knuttel D Rafanelli Vineyard Mary's Block Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
D. RAFANELLI VINEYARD
2014 MARY’S BLOCK

 
When it comes to the most Iconic Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel Vineyards in Sonoma County, the Rafanelli Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley is foremost.  Their wines are nearly impossible to acquire and are mailing list and restaurant only… What many people don’t know is that William Knuttel produces two Cabernets from Rafanelli Vineyard, so as you can imagine, we couldn’t wait to try them.  Their 2014 D. Rafanelli Mary’s Block is remarkably stunning, and it’s made in an elegant, long and expansive style that keeps you coming back for more.  At around $40, this makes my list of the best Cabernets in Sonoma County.
 
Proprietor William Knuttel isn’t a stranger to high-quality Sonoma County Cabernet.  He was the Vice President and winemaker at Chalk Hill from 1996 through 2003 and he was also winemaker at Dry Creek Vineyards through 2011.  The Mary’s Block produced minuscule yields of just 1.4 tons per are of intensely flavored, BB sized berries, and the resulting wine spent 19 months in oak.  In this realistic price category, this will compete favorably with the best Cabernets produced in Napa Valley and in fact, it did at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition where it earned a Gold Medal.  You simply need to try it.  8 barrels produced.
 
WILLIAM KNUTTEL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
D. RAFANELLI VINEYARD
2014 MARY’S BLOCK
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
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Winery Notes: “Mary’s 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon combines black cherry, ripe plum and blackberry fruit, spiced with brooding herbs. Oak and toast highlight and focus the ripe berry and cherry flavors, completely complementing the aromas. Hillside tannins are fully resolved, leading to a full, balanced and supple finish…”
Gold – 2018 SF Chronicle Wine Competition
 
Customers who enjoy William Knuttel Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…
2014 Humanitas Piscis Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Kuleto Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
HUMANITAS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 PISCIS VINEYARD
Retails at: $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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Tasting Notes: “....The nose has a sultry opulence with pungent berry intensity followed by blueberry tart, creme de cassis, hints of bay leaf, liquid mineral and sweetened dark chocolate.  The palate begins with penetrating, focused flavors of crushed blackberries and red currants, followed by secondary characteristics including wet stone, cigar box and vanilla spice.  For this price point, this wine is approaching perfection… I can’t remember having a wine that costs less and drinks better… Simply fabulous!”  97 Points
KULETO
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Wine Enthusiast: “From the producer’s estate at over 1,000 feet in elevation, this seamlessly textured wine grabs one’s palate from the start and doesn’t let go. Huckleberry and cedar notes meet bay leaf accents and grippy tannins, all enveloped in smoky oak. It finishes with bright, fresh blackberry.”  92 Points
0217 Quivira Pillsbury Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

2017 Quivira Pillsbury Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

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QUIVIRA 0217 Quivira Pillsbury Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

2017 ZINFANDEL
PILLSBURY VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY

 
As much as I love a great California style Zinfandel that’s classically deep, jammy, and intensely flavored, there’s something refreshing about finding a pure expression of the varietal, with brilliant detail and stunning balance.  When I came across Quivira’s 2017 Pillsbury Zinfandel it reminded me just how much I love the Zinfandel grape.  Imagine a basket filled with fresh blueberries, wild plums, boysenberries, black cherries and mulberries and being able to taste each one simultaneously and with absolute clarity?  That’s exactly what you’ll find in a glass of this Zin… At $48 it’s an experience worth taking, but at $39.99, it’s a rush that you’ll want to experience over and over again…
 
Carved from the dry-farmed Pillsbury Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley where winter rains are the sole source of irrigation.  You can see the crushed oyster shells scattered abundantly throughout the vineyard which are used to supplement the soils and strengthen the vines.  The wine was carefully guided from grape to bottle by Hugh Chappelle, former winemaker at Flowers, Lynmar and Charles Heintz to name a few…  We taste quite a few new Zinfandels every week and this is simply the best Zin that I’ve tasted this year.  Trust me… You’ll be glad you did.
 
QUIVIRA
2017 ZINFANDEL
PILLSBURY VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Jeb Dunnuck: “… the 2017 Zinfandel Pillsbury Vineyard (100% Zinfandel) has a classic bouquet of plums, mulled currants, cedary spice, and incense. Elegant, medium to full-bodied, rounded, and fleshy on the palate, with good purity, it’s another beautiful Zinfandel from this estate.” 93 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Quivira Pillsbury Vineyard Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins…
2016 Gamba Family Ranches Zinfandel 2013 Valedez St Peter's Church Zinfandel
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL
FAMILY RANCHES
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “… a bold, well structured wine with an aromatic nose of ripe berries, brown spice, and black licorice. The color is a beautiful and vibrant dark crimson. The wine is deftly balanced, with flavors that burst on the palate, offering well defined dark cherry, raspberry and blueberry that give way to dark chocolate, spicy pepper and a hint of nutty oak. The frame is firm yet round without harsh edges, with an appealing, weighty, yet buoyant mid palate, and a refreshing lift on the lengthy, enjoyable, toasty finish.“
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “This impeccably balanced zinfandel flaunts energizing flavors and aromas of ripe black cherries, concentrated pomegranate, and crushed blackberries with hints of white rose petals, cocoa powder and pipe tobacco. The perfect balance shines through with an amazing brightness that elegantly supports the richly focused flavors.  Simply stunning!”  94 Points
2013 Peterson Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel

2013 Peterson Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel

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PETERSON 2013 Peterson Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel

2013 ESTATE ZINFANDEL
BRADFORD MOUNTAIN

 
Many of the best wines go well beyond flavors and aromas, and some can even evoke feelings of nostalgia, like when I tasted Fred Peterson’s wines.  They are a perfect example of a classic style that many would call traditional and non-interventional.  Fred calls it their zero manipulation style of winemaking, which just as it sounds, is the philosophy of doing as little as possible to the wine in the cellar, resulting in the in the best expression of the vineyard.  It’s rare to come across a New World winery with a steadfast approach to this winemaking approach, and to celebrate it, we thought we would offer the wine at a “historic” price to boot…
 
Zero manipulation winemaking always begins in the vineyard, and that’s why we picked the 2013 Bradford Mountain Estate Zinfandel.  Perched at 1,000 feet in elevation, overlooking Dry Creek Valley, the well-drained, red-clay soils produce exceptional fruit.  The 2013 has a sturdy frame and concentrated center core of fruit that opens up to classic mulberry, white pepper and hints of saddle leather and wild rose.  At this price, you simply can’t afford to miss this…
 
PETERSON
2013 ESTATE ZINFANDEL
BRADFORD MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $38/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “A rich blend of ripe dark berries with traces of toasty oak provides an inviting entry. The luscious mouthfeel releases layers of concentrated fruit-plum, deep blackberry and dark cherry-punctuated by hints of spice and pepper. The Bradford Mountain terroir influences are evident in the threads of minerality that weave through this opulent wine, adding to its depth and complexity.”
 
Customers who enjoy Peterson Estate Zinfandel may also enjoy these two outstanding Zins…
2016 Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2014 Valdez Sonoma County Zinfadel
MAURITSON
2016 ZINFANDEL
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $39.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Perfumed aromas of black boysenberry cobbler with graham cracker crust waft from the glass. Hints of anise, fresh fig, and earthiness beautifully complement the fruit profile. The entry is full but inviting, exhibiting flavors of mocha, wet gravel, and black cherry. The mouthfeel is seamless from start to finish, indicative of perfectly integrated tannin and acid. Please enjoy this wine for the next 7-10 years.”
VALDEZ
2014 ZINFANDEL
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at:  $30/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “Aromas and flavors of juicy blackberries and currants are expressed in the 2014ValdezZinfandel. This wine has fresh acidity and light tannins that are in harmonious balance while hints of licorice and spice linger on the finish. Fruit for this wine is sourced from 3 different Sonoma County AVAs: Dry creek, Russian River Valley, and Alexander Valley.“