2017 Leto Cellars Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2017 Leto Cellars Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSaint HelenaUSA

LETO CELLARS

PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Leto Cellars Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Brad Warner’s half-century of winemaking experience is compounded by each successful vintage and tuned with the trials and tribulations encountered along the way, resulting in expertly balanced, story-telling wines of palpable quality. Calling on his vast experience, Brad created this union of Mountain and valley floor fruit that balances power and grace, and simply put, tastes like it should be at least double the price. 
 
Combining Mount Veeder’s power with the refined complexity of Saint Helena fruit, Brad’s decades in the wine industry allowed him access to some remarkable vineyards. He sourced the Merlot and some of the Cabernet from a steep hillside vineyard, which he balanced with Cabernet Sauvignon from dry-farmed vines in St Helena’s center. 
 
Blending 35%Merlot with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Merlot softens the Cabernet’s tannins, providing supple fruits that balance Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure. After developing for 22 months in oak and two years in the bottle, this wine is gorgeous now and will gracefully age for another decade.
 
LETO CELLARS
PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“The 2017 Leto Red Blend is a striking blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, giving it the right balance to drink beautifully now and for many years to come. It begins with a compelling nose of red currants, mountain berries, fresh florals, green sage, and savory, earthy spices. The palate is rich with ripe Burgundy plums, wild currants, hints of vanilla, and subtle spice. It is beautifully concentrated with penetrating fruit that carries the balanced flavors for a long finish, and I highly recommend trying some.” 
94 Points
2018 Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2018 Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

JOSEPH JEWELL

2018 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Striking a delicate balance of character and approachability, Joseph Jewell’s Russian Valley Pinot Noir embodies the region’s spirit, calling on the best qualities of three renowned vineyards. This wine is winemaker Adrian Jewell’s best representation of the Russian River Valley, mindfully created from a barrel selection of Bucher, Starscape, and Hallberg Vineyards. The wine is a perennial favorite that will make you wonder how a Pinot Noir can be this good for this low of a price. 
 
Gaining lush fruits and earthy undertones from Bucher, brighter red fruit and supple tannins from Starscape, and structure with darker berries from Hallberg, Joseph Jewell’s Russian River Pinot Noir is a complete wine of charisma and balance. 
 
This intriguing release is ebullient and beautifully knit with a flirtatious mix of red and black fruits, wild rose, and classic cola and spice characteristics. Like the previous vintages, the fleshy, rich textures are sublime and are a hallmark of this brand. 
 
JOSEPH JEWELL
2018 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $40
 
 
 
“Luscious and inviting, with aromas of bing cherry, cola, and orange blossom, this wine follows fast with striking aromatics of candied cherries, vanilla, fresh mint, and hibiscus. On the palate, the medley of fresh cherries, cranberries, and red plum is accented with an elegant herbaceousness and a lasting floral finish. Soft tannins support a lush mouthfeel that will keep you coming back for more.”
2020 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley

2020 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaOakvilleRoséUSA

POP 300

2020 ROSÉ
NAPA VALLEY

2020 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley
Pop 300 spotlights a micro-parcel of Pinot Noir near To Kalon Vineyard’s center called the Wilsey Vineyard. This unique site exposes Oakville’s intriguing complexity with a fresh perspective of brightly focused fruit and refreshing style. Recently recognized by Antonio Galloni on his in-depth Oakville AVA map, the vineyard’s very existence was known only by a handful of Oakville locals until Pop 300’s debut in 2012. POP 300 is a wine for those in the know, and with just 141 cases made, hopefully, it stays that way for a bit longer. 
 
Oakville produces some of the world’s most remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon, but very few people know that Pinot Noir exists in the region. Created by Luke Russ, Oakville-raised, and the Commercial Director at O’Shaughnessy Winery, this genuinely unique Rosé of Pinot Noir is truly special. 
 
Luke makes his Rosé in a piercing style, with a unique floral lift, achieved by co-fermenting with a fragrant white. Enhanced with a small amount of Grenache Blanc from a secret vineyard on Mount Veeder, this scarcely available 2020 Rosé should be on your “drink me” list today.
 
POP 300
2020 ROSÉ
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2020 POP 300 rose is here. And boy aren’t we pleased to have been able to make this wine during this wild ride of a year. Harvested early in the morning on September 4th we had a beautiful crop to work with this year. As I have done in the past I co- fermented part of this wine with a floral white. This year I went with a small amount of Grenache Blanc from a low production vineyard on Mt. Veeder. This has added to the Pinot Noir base with playful aromas of unripe mango, white peach and lime zest. The wine was fermented in a combination neutral French oak and stainless steel barrels with no malolactic conversion. 141 cases produced”
2017 Tyros Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2017 Tyros Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonCarnerosKevin VogtNapaOak KnollSaint HelenaUSA

TYROS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Tyros Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Encapsulating the breadth of Napa Valley terroir, Tyros Cabernet Sauvignon orchestrates from vineyards spanning the length of Napa Valley, created to be a mindful expression of its varietal, region, and vintage. The makers of Tyros, Silenus winery’s vineyard was a walnut orchard, converted to Cabernet vines in 1968; the family sold fruit for years to Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, and Inglenook, often being a component in their reserve wines. With triple 90-point reviews and priced at $30, you can’t go wrong with a case.  
 
The winemaking team crafted Tyros around a tapestry of meticulously chosen vineyards, including; Silenus Oak Knoll Estate and surrounding sites, St Helena, Pope Valley, and Carneros. 23% Merlot contributes suppleness, a softer texture, and cherry fruit, balancing the Cabernet’s tannins. 
 
They then aged Tyros for 22 months in 50% new French oak and 10% new American oak Barrels, perfectly balancing the fruit’s lushness and natural tannins. The resulting wine is gracefully balanced, long, and expressive, and at $30, it’s impressive at this price level. 
 
TYROS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“This is an enjoyable and approachable Cabernet that is blended with 23% Merlot. Black cherry, cassis and mocha highlight a soft, supple palate. It has a hint of dried herb on the finish.”
90 Points “Editors’ Choice”
 
“Quite bold and ripe, this teeters a bit, with a prune note amid the cherry, raspberry and plum confiture flavors. Features pretty spice accents, a relatively silky feel and a lingering mesquite element for added range. For fans of the style.”
90 Points
 
“Earthy, black and blue fruit aromas over a very lovely, juicy palate showing cassis, currants, cocoa and coffee.”
90 Points
2016 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

2016 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

MAROON

SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 COOMBSVILLE 

2016 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville
Fueled by unparalleled quality and extreme scarcity, the following for Maroon’s Special Reserve Cabernet grows stronger with each vintage. Patronage is furthered by winemaker Chris Corley’s ability to harness Coombsville fruit’s power and deliver it with finesse and elegance. The Special Reserve is created from the top-performing blocks in the vineyard and priced in line with Coombsville greats Favia, Merus, and Meteor at $160 retail; As you can imagine, at less than 1/3 of the retail price, we have great difficulty keeping it stocked. 
 
Deeper and more defined than Maroon’s other bottlings, winemaker Chris Corley introduced as little manipulation as possible during the winemaking process, allowing the remarkable terroir of Maroon’s best Vineyard Blocks to shine.
 
The 2016 Special Reserve is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged for a full 24 months in oak before bottling. If you’re looking for an elegant but powerful Cabernet with plenty of definition and complexity, this is it.
 
MAROON
SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 COOMBSVILLE
Retails at: $160
 
 
 
“The 2016 vintage of Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has a rich, intense nose with briary wild berries, graphite, fresh sage, and hints of vanilla. The palate is concentrated, with penetrating crushed blackberries, dense black plum, decadent cassis, and an ethereal mouthfeel. It is a concentrated and focused wine with a finish that is elegant, powerful, refined, and long. It is a gift for your mouth now and will continue to drink beautifully for another decade or more.”
97 points
2017 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

BEAULIEU VINEYARDS

GEORGES DE LATOUR
2017 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2017 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
A wine of grand distinction, BV’s Georges De Latour Cabernet is a liquid legacy epitomizing Rutherford’s distinctive terroir with a transpicuous window into the fragrance of Rutherford and deep connection to the area’s roots. Paid homage by winemaking and fruit selection of the highest level that and even after 80 vintages the wine is as solid as ever. This 2017 offers a choreographed union of power and grace, and with double high-90s reviews, it’s a joy to behold. 
 
Beaulieu Vineyards is a timeless classic, embodying every trait that makes Rutherford so wondrous. Created from vines planted in the early 1900s, George de Latour’s first vintage was in 1936, released in 1940 to honor the winery founder’s passing. 
 
Under the guidance of one of the world’s most iconic winemakers, Andre Tchelistcheff, BV built on a reputation of excellence and achievements. Composed inside the winery’s new state-of-the-art facility, Georges de Latour perfectly balances time-honored traditions with modern technologies.
 
Fun side note, friend and former head winemaker at BV (27 years there) Joel Aiken tastes with us on our tasting panel each week.
 
BEAULIEU VINEYARDS
GEORGES DE LATOUR
2017 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $145
 
Your Price: $125
 
 
“This is one of the most balanced Georges de Latour, offering currants, minerals, fresh herbs and spices. It’s full-bodied with very fine tannins. Long and focused. Subtle and complex. Very elegant and refined in the end. Reminds me of classic, old vintages from the 1960s and 1970s. Drink or hold.”
97 Points
2019 Arbe Garbe White Blend Sonoma County

2019 Arbe Garbe White Blend Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtProprietary WhiteSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

ARBE GARBE

2019 WHITE BLEND
SONOMA COUNTY

2019 Arbe Garbe White Blend Sonoma County
Inspired by the Friuli region of Northern Italy, Letizia Pauletto and Enrico Maria Bertoz created Arbe Garbe to reconnect with their roots by crafting unadulterated wines, created from rare varieties common in Friuli but scarce in the New World. An essential part of their blend is Tocai Friulano, a relative of Sauvignon Blanc, of which there are 51 acres planted in California. Malvasia Bianca and Chardonnay shape the rest of the blend into a freshly focused, euphorically detailed white that’s unlike anything else from California. 
 
Winemakers Enrico and Letizia worked harvests in Friuli, well-rounding their skillsets. After arriving in the US, Enrico gained invaluable experience at Sine Qua Non, Joseph Phelps, and Flora Springs. 
 
Their 2019 release includes 50% Malvasia Bianca, an ancient variety with Greek origins contributing to the clean, crisp, laser focus. The winemaking is done naturally with gentle pressing and native fermentation, resulting in balanced, direct, and powerfully intriguing wines.
 
ARBE GARBE
2019 WHITE BLEND
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“This beautiful wine packs a one-two punch in both style and fruit character. It begins with a basket of ripe stone fruits, including peaches, nectarines, and apricots. It then follows with exotic bright citrus with pomelos, kumquats, mandarins, calamondins and carries bright florals along the way. The weight and body of this wine are rich and supple, with a degree of opulence and a bright acidity profile to keep it super fresh and clean—what a delight.”
93 Points
2019 Alma De Cattleya Pinot Noir Sonoma County

2019 Alma De Cattleya Pinot Noir Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUSA

ALMA DE CATTLEYA

2019 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY

2019 Alma De Cattleya Pinot Noir Sonoma County
At 14, how many of us knew what we wanted to do for a career? Despite growing up in Columbia with very little exposure to wine, Bibiana González Rave knew she wanted to become a winemaker. Graduating with honors from the University of Bordeaux, Bibiana gained invaluable experience at Château Haut-Brion in France, Soronsberg in South Africa, Lynmar Estate, and Peay in California before climbing the ranks at Pahlmeyer. Proving fantastic wine can be had at an accessible price, Bibiana crafts Alma de Cattleya to represent the purity of their varietals. 
 
Founded equally from Russian River and Sonoma Coast Vineyards, favoring maritime influenced sites, Bibiana’s 2019 Pinot Noir is vibrantly detailed, superabundantly fragrant, and expertly balanced. 
 
Fermenting in stainless steel open-top tanks to allow for hand-punch-downs and preserve freshness, Bibiana’s commitment to the highest quality is evident in every aspect of production. This Pinot embodies the soul of Sonoma County, and at $30, everybody should try it.
 
ALMA DE CATTLEYA
2019 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Exploding with aromas of raspberries, cherries, wild strawberries and a hint of vanilla, the mouthfeel is rich, with great texture and a supple finish.”
2016 Zuidema Grenache McGah Vineyard Rutherfor

2016 Zuidema Grenache McGah Vineyard Rutherford

with No Comment $30-$40GrenacheKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

ZUIDEMA

2016 GRENACHE
MCGAH VINEYARD
RUTHERFORD

2016 Zuidema Grenache McGah Vineyard Rutherfor
Freed from a one-acre block of gnarly head-trained Grenache vines that were nearly re-planted to Cabernet, Zuidema Grenache was 30 years in the making and is a passion project by one of Napa’s most respected winemakers. Rudy Zuidema is the winemaker for Mastery and has held winemaking positions at Robert Craig, Honig, and Ehlers Estate, to name a few. His pensive winemaking style results in balanced, complex wines, deep with individuality and varietal truth. At $38, the value is unmistakable. 
 
Sourced from the McGah Vineyard in Eastern Rutherford, Zuidema Grenache powerfully reflects the area’s nutrient-rich, rocky soils and ideal microclimate. The Gobelet trained vines yield various ripeness levels, and that lack of perfect consistency is what Rudy looks for to create the naturally rustic complexity in his wine.
 
Analytically hand-harvesting, de-stemming, native yeast fermenting, and three times daily punch overs for 10-12 days, Rudy’s cumulative knowledge over the past 30 years is commanding in this wine. If you’re looking for something a little different from one of Napa Valley’s greatest terroirs, this is it. 
 
ZUIDEMA
2016 GRENACHE
MCGAH VINEYARD
RUTHERFORD
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“The 2016 expresses incredible fruit purity and opens with aromas of cherry blossom, ripe plum, cinnamon spice, fresh strawberries, and vanilla bean. Flavors of cherry pie, wild berry jam, licorice, and orange zest, layer with subtle herbal nuances. The well-knit tannins are juicy and rustic, integrating with a clean, crisp acid profile. The wine finishes with rolling waves of black raspberry, new leather, dark spice, and graham cracker piecrust.
131 cases produced. 100% Grenache”
2017 Alma Rosa Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

2017 Alma Rosa Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastChardonnayKevin VogtSanta BarbaraSanta Rita HillsUSA

ALMA ROSA

2017 CHARDONNAY
STA. RITA HILLS 

2017 Alma Rosa Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

 
Alma Rosa’s story is of an unparalleled wine region with cool Pacific breezes, unique geography, a winery’s commitment to land stewardship, and crafting balanced wines expressing their origin. Top-level winemaking and unwavering standards of excellence merge, resulting in vibrant, layered wines that exude value. Selected as Editors’ Choice with a 93 Point Score by Wine Enthusiast, this $24 Chardonnay is something special. 
 
Winemaker Samra Morris’s skills gleaned as harvest-intern for Thomas Brown and on the cellar team at Michael Mondavi winery are met with consulting winemaker Tony Biagi’s decades of experience at Paraduxx, Plumpjack, Cade, and Hourglass.
 
Ample winter rain and a warm 2017 growing season yielded powerfully complex Chardonnay in Santa Barbara, as noted by the Wine Spectator. Alma Rosa’s version sports a wide range of tropical fruits, rich texture, and balance far exceeding expectations at its value price.
 
ALMA ROSA
2017 CHARDONNAY
STA. RITA HILLS
Retails at: $30
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“Especially for an appellation blend, this is a wondrous, regionally indicative bottling, starting with clean and fresh aromas of honeysuckle, Asian pear and lime pith. There’s a flashy sizzle of acidity on the sip, where lily and honeysuckle flavors meet with kiwi and restrained guava, wrapped up in a delicate texture.”
93 Points, Editors’ Choice