2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red

2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red

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CHALK HILL

2015 ESTATE RED
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red
Named for it’s unique volcanic soils composed of chalky white ash, the Chalk Hill AVA produces stunning wines, and in my mind, this one reigns supreme.  This wine makes absolutely no excuses at it’s $70 retail price…  A paragon of Northern Sonoma County, and especially when it comes to Bordeaux varietals, this towering, ostentatious effort from Chalk Hill Winery is brimming with super-concentrated dark berries, black chocolates, pipe tobacco, and creme de cassis. The 2015 has superb presence on the palate with great intensity, depth and balance.  Unsurprisingly, it’s already earned 94 Points from Robert Parker.
 
A fusion of nearly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon enhanced with Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot, the wine‘s deep, concentrated core is complex and extracted, carving out layers of vivid dark berries, black tea, sweet vanilla and cigar box.  After evolving for 20 months in oak and kept for over a year in the bottle, this compelling wine is drinking beautifully now and will cellar effortlessly for two decades…
 
CHALK HILL
2015 ESTATE RED
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $70.00/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Estate Red is deep garnet-purple colored and delivers a good amount of oak-inspired notions to begin over a core of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry pie, preserved plums and chocolate box with hints of vanilla pod and cigar box. Big, concentrated and full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with black fruit preserves, framed by ripe, firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a woody note. Forget it for 5-6 years and drink it over the next 20.“ 94 Points 
 
Customers who enjoy Chalk Hill Estate Red may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
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.
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

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2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY

 
I’m often asked what’s the best Cab under $20.  I can honestly say that I haven’t found one that I like better than this Katherine Goldschmidt at this price point.  The wine also earned an incredible 94 Point score in the January issue of Tasting Panel Magazine and at $19.99/btl, there’s simply nothing like it.  Great wines never last long, especially when they’re drinking as well as this one is right now.  The winery has already released the 2016, but we couldn’t say goodbye to this one yet…  It comes from a single vineyard which for years went to Simi for their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)…  At just $19.99/btl, Katherine Goldschmidt’s Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon perfectly expresses just how inspiring Cabernet Sauvignon can be from Alexander Valley.
 
Ramping everything up a notch or two in terms of sheer power and concentration, the 2015 Crazy Creek releases a dense core and remarkable palate presence, unlike anything I’ve tasted at this price.  It saturates your palate in an abundance of chocolate covered cherries, crushed blackberries, roasted coffee and black currants, and just like the previous two vintages, this beauty out-performs most Cabernets at double its price…   
 
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 
2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY 
Retails at:  $24.00/btl
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 16%
 
From The Tasting Panel: “Named for Goldschmidt’s middle daughter, the wine’s grapes hail from Crazy Creek, a vineyard known to produce some iconic wines. Big, bright, blue fruit notes on the nose are meaty, with a chocolate espresso twist and dry tannins showing on the palate.  It’s a little masterpiece with a dark chocolate finish that way over delivers on price-to-quality.” 94 Points

 

Customers that would enjoy Katherine Goldschmidt’s Crazy Creek Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…

   

2016 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red Sonoma County Proprietary Red 2014 Arbor Bench Cabernet Sauvignon
SEBASTIANI 
GRAVEL BED RED
2016 SONOMA COUNTY 
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl 

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Named for the gravelly soils that are key components in this exciting Cabernet Blend, the 2016 blankets your taste buds in a velvety embrace that comes threaded with mineraly red and black fruits, pipe tobacco, pencil lead and vanilla.  With fruit sourced from famed sites such as the iconic Cherryblock Vineyard, this wine delivers serious bang for your buck and with the growing following, I wouldn’t wait to secure yours.    
ARBOR BENCH
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY, ESTATE
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
From the Wine Enthusiast: “Full bodied and fleshy, this 100% varietal wine offers polished tannin and toasty oak, the flavors lean and classically defined in pencil, cedar and soy. Notes of black pepper and tobacco etch themselves onto a lengthy finish.“  90 Points
2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

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DANIEL

2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD

In the wine world, history dictates that all roads eventually lead to Pinot Noir. The reason is because Pinots have a supple richness and elegance coupled with a balanced bright acidity that refreshes your palate.  So when your palate needs a reset with a red that’s refreshing and has a mouth quenching opulence, Pinot Noir is usually my answer. Daniel’s 2014 Laguna Vineyard Pinot is one of those wines and with just a 75 case production that satisfies on every level. It was composed by accomplished winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start working at Williams-Selyem and created in a deep, enchanting style full of wild and complex nuances that compel you for another sip.  At $60/btl this Pinot brought a smile to my face but at $39.99/btl… You’ll want to grab enough to share, or not (grin.)
 
Daniel Winery has a talent for finding unique sites that are capable of producing profound fruit with compelling flavors and firm structure.  This one was brought to life from the organically farmed Laguna Vineyard and created from heritage clones, Calera, Eden and Martini, this Pinot Noir.  With a deep core and satin texture, this Pinot opens up beautifully to dark berries, wild flowers, hints of graphite and vanilla.  With a total production of 75 cases, this Pinot will go fast…  
 
DANIEL
2014 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 33%
 
From PinotFile: “Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Inviting aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry and dried herbs draw you into the glass. A forceful attack of delicious dark cherry fruit expands in the mouth, carrying over to a finish with respectable intensity and a burst of acidity.” 92 Points

 

Customers that enjoy Daniel’s Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 

  

2015 Two Sisters Lindsay's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 Solamente Terra Blanca Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
TWO SISTERS
2015 PINOT NOIR
LINDSAY’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “Plump red cherry, rust, dried sage, wild thyme and baking spices show on the nose of this top-end regional wine from Bill Foley. The palate shows cohesive well-woven flavors of strong red fruits, turned earth, brown spice, cracked pepper and a menthol-like finish. The acidity is perfect, the tannins soft but structural.”  93 Points
SOLAMENTE
2014 PINOT NOIR
TERRA BLANCA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Cellar Tracker Tasting Notes: “This deep ruby wine flaunts bright aromas of cranberries, black cherries, raspberries, pickling spice and violets. Medium-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with medium-weight but grippy tannins, it has impressive presence on the mid-palate. The medium length finish concludes with a wisp of oak. This is an outstanding Pinot...”
2016 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay

2016 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay

with No Comment $70-$80Atlas PeakCarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapa

PAHLMEYER

2016 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY 

2016 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay
Becoming Napa Valley’s first Cult Chardonnay after Demi Moore tried to seduce Michael Douglas in the hit movie Disclosure back in 1994, Pahlmeyer became nearly impossible to acquire, overnight. More than two decades later and it’s still making a powerful statement of prestige, along with three 95 Point reviews, the demand is still going full-bore.  It’s made in a style that has remarkable weight, dimension and intensity, and under the guidance of Bibiana Gonzalez Rave it’s only gotten better. She’s added a level of elegance to the wines that marries perfectly with the classic rich, unctuous style that Pahlmeyer is known for.
 
Created from the winery’s Estate Vineyard, as well as Antinori’s Antica Vineyard on Atlas Peak and Larry Hyde’s iconic Vineyard in Carneros, the 2016 has all the ingredients necessary to be everything you’d want in a powerful yet elegant Napa Valley Chardonnay.  With attention to every minute detail, the fruit was picked at night before being rigorously inspected by hand at the winery.  Kept for 11 months in 100% new Francois Freres oak Barrels, the wine is simply gorgeous.
 
PAHLMEYER
2016 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl
 
 
“… Apricot, honey, dried flowers and lightly buttery notes get a kick of energy from the freshness of vintage and the personality of the mountain sites (Estate and Antica) that inform this bottling, Winemaker Bibiana Gonzalez-Rave has brought an added level of finesse to the Pahlmeyer Chardonnay.”  95 Points
“The 2016 Chardonnay has a lovely savory, yeasty/toasty nose over a core of warm grapefruit, fresh apricots and allspice with a touch of candied ginger. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling stone fruit and spicy layers, supported by great freshness and finishing long and creamy.”  95 Points
“Gorgeous aromatics of heady voluptuousness conjure elements of caramel, honey and baked apple behind a golden hue of color in this memorable, no-holds-barred white. The flavors follow through along a lengthy layered pathway lined in sparks of anise and key lime, finishing in juicy crisp acidity.”  95 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2015 DuMOL Chloe Russian River Valley Chardonnay
 2014 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
DuMOL
2015 CHLOE CHARDONNAY
RITCHIE-LORENZO VINEYARDS
 
Your Price: $67.99/btl

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From Jeb Dunnuck: “… a big, rich, classic Russian River Chardonnay that has loads of ripe orchard fruits, honeysuckle, dried herbs/earth, and spice all soaring from the glass. It’s another impeccably balanced, pure, classic effort from this estate that does everything right.”  97 Points
PAHLMEYER
PROPRIETARY RED
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $175.00/btl
 
Your Price:  $159.99/btl 

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From James Suckling: “Fantastic aromatics with blackberries, blackcurrants and iodine. Licorice, too. Medium to fulll body, fine and velvety tannins and a very polished and gorgeous finish. Caressing and dialed in. Why wait? An intellectual wine here. Lovely now.” 97 Points
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.”
2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot

2014 Barlow Calistoga Merlot

with No Comment $30-$40CalistogaKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

BARLOW

2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA

2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot
Many of California’s best Merlots come from the sleepy town of Calistoga, on the Northern-most end of Napa Valley.  The area is distinguished by volcanic soils and the largest diurnal temperature variation in Napa Valley.  Daytime highs and night time lows span up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and while the hot daytime temperatures allow the grapes to develop deep and compelling flavors, the cool nights help to maintain acidity and structure.  With all of the contributing factors working in unison, this area has proven that it can produce some of the best Merlot in California… Just look at last year’s #1 wine in the Wine Spectator.  Interestingly, Duckhorn’s iconic 3 Palms Vineyard is just a short distance from Barlow’s Estate Vineyard and I believe the micro-climate on the South-Eastern edge of Calistoga where both of these Merlots originate is perfectly suited to produce some of Napa’s best Merlot.
 
Barlow’s Estate Vineyard is farmed by father and son team and you can literally taste the care that goes into each bottle.  They produce just over 300 cases of their Merlot and at $35/btl the level of quality is literally shocking when you taste it.  The 2014 was housed for 22 months in oak and has blossomed for 2 years in the bottle.  You simply have to try this…  
 
BARLOW
2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl
 
Winery Notes: “The 2014 Barlow Merlot has a deep, concentrated violet-purple color with aromas of rich raspberry, ripe red cherry with an essence of sweet French vanilla. The palate is highly concentrated with deep and generous flavors of currants, blueberries and Bing cherries. The tannins are soft and luxurious and are a great counterpart to the sweet flavors of toasty oak.” 
308 Cases Produced 
 
Customers who enjoy Barlow’s Calistoga Merlot, may also enjoy these two terrific Merlots…

 

2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2014 Frostwatch Bennett Valley Merlot
DUCKHORN
2015 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $56/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 

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The consensus in the wine industry points to Merlot being back and with serious vigor. The varietal took a hit in 2004 with the debut of the movie Sideways which besmirched Merlot causing US Merlot sales to crater. A study by Vineyard Financial Associates estimates that it cost Merlot farmers over 400M in lost revenue in the decade following the movie.  Of course none of that made Duckhorn blink, in fact they’ve been climbing to new heights, and recently went on to become the #1 Wine in the World on the 2017 Wine Spectator Top 100 list with their 2014 Three Palms Merlot.  
FROSTWATCH
2014 MERLOT
BENNETT VALLEY 
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Merlot is scented of red and black plums, dried Mediterranean herbs, vanilla and spice box. Full-bodied in the mouth, it has a relatively tannic backbone dominating the fruit and drying out the finish slightly, but there is a lot of expressive fruit to love and it should reward another 3-5 years in bottle.”  90+ Points
2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

ORRIN-SAGE

2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA MOUNTAIN

2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

When we introduced the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir in April, we genuinely felt it was WAY too good to be priced where it was.  Of course that’s exactly what we strive to bring you, and it simply defines what our tasting panel looks for.  Of course, over the years we’ve discovered some truly stunning Pinots that have delivered exceptional quality, but Orrin-Sage set a new bar… This was and still is the best Pinot at this price that we’ve ever featured.  It sold out the day that we sent out the offer back in April, but as luck would have it, the winery had a distributor that did not take an order and we grabbed it immediately.
 
Arising from the rugged Sonoma Mountain AVA, a unique area which gains some of the cooling influence from the Petaluma Gap and produces brilliant Pinot Noir fruit.  Bevan, Siduri and Flowers are just a few of the wineries that have crafted Pinots from this unique area. This wine was expertly made by Justin Harmon who gained valuable experience as an intern under Russell Bevan.  It has an undeniable meaty character coupled with remarkable weight and perfect balance making it a wine that I truly can’t get enough of…  Of course with just 6 barrels produced, don’t wait… 
 
ORRIN-SAGE
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $49.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “One glance and the brilliantly shimmering transparent cherry red color starts pulling you in. Then comes the enticing nose with ripe black cherries, bright pomegranate, allspice, nutmeg, wet leather, fragrant dried lavender and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, a mesmerizing cascade of flavors including crushed black raspberries, tart cherry, fresh sage leaf, candied lime peel and hints of Asian spices.  It’s so alluring that your instinct to swallow will override your will to allow it to linger longer on your palate… and when you do, you’ll be left with a penetrating, long, highly pleasurable finish that absolutely begs for another sip.” 
96 Points and where have you been all my life…
Kevin M Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
Customers that enjoy the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning wines…

 

2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay
COSA OBRA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
It’s telling when any one wine is still requested and praised months or even years post offering…  When this happens, some might call it storied or legendary, but when a value Pinot Noir makes this list, it simply speaks to the above average quality of the wine.  For those of you who tasted, loved and are still talking about 2013 Cosa  Obra Pinot, all I can say is, wait until you taste the 2015…
ORRIN-SAGE
2015 CHARDONNAY
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

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There’s something mystical about a wine so under-the-radar that all of the information available is written on the bottle… But, etched in your mind are the flavors which write a story of its origins, and the care that went into creating it.  That’s the feeling that washed over me when I tasted Orrin-Sage’s 2015 Chardonnay, and it was met with a feeling of blissful disbelief when I found out what we could offer this wine for. 
2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

WESTWOOD

2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red
In a conversation about the most recognizable blends in the world, it’s rare for the composition of varietals to come up. These wines are branded solely on taste and the location of the grapes. The components that make up the wine are eclipsed by the overall flavors and style.  Before we tell you what’s in Westwood’s Legend, we should tell you who’s behind it. The legend was made by Ben Cane who spent 6 years on the winemaking team at Twomey, and David Ramey, one of California’s most legendary winemakers, who helped put many iconic wineries get on the map including Dominus, Rudd Estate and Jericho Canyon…  The feeling that I had when tasting this wine was one of euphoria and sheer contentment.  When I found out I could offer this wine to you I jumped at the chance.
 
This legend arose from the bio-dynamically farmed Annadel Gap Estate Vineyard located between Mt Hood and Sonoma Mountain.  The area is heavily influenced by morning fog and high-winds, and the variety of soil types lend to the wines vast complexity.  The flavors are intriguing and balanced and introduce themselves in a silky and enchanting style that make this wine as unique as it is delicious.  It’s already earned 95 points from Tasting Panel Magazine, don’t hesitate to secure your case.   
 
WESTWOOD
2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $44.00/btl
 
 
From Tasting Panel: “This proprietary red blend (25% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 15% Zinfandel and 10% Tannat) is sourced [mostly from] the estate vineyard, situated between Mt. Hood and the Sonoma Mountains. The perfume is primarily floral: gardenia, red rose petals – with accents on red plum and an echo of black pepper. The palate is a silk road with gritty chocolate tannins. But the ruby slippers that carry you down the path bursts with red plum, dark chocolate cherries, exotic jasmine and grilled meat with soy sauce. The finish is pleasurable with a creamy cedar note.” 95 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Westwood’s Legend may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
2014 Horse & Plow Blockhouse Vineyard Napa Valley Grenache 2015 Sans Liege The Offering Proprietary Red
HORSE & PLOW
2014 GRENACHE 
BLOCKHOUSE VINEYARD
Retails at:  $34.00/btl
 

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Horse & Plow’s single vineyard Grenache is from Yountville, just a stone’s throw from our shop, and it completely rocked my world when I tasted it.  This beautifully proportioned and profoundly pleasing red should be the wikipedia reference for California Grenache.  With a round, velvet lined core, the 2014 envelopes your palate in a bumper crop of plump, juicy flavors with red plum, wild berries, mineral, cocoa and subtle spice.  
SANS LIEGE
2015 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $29/btl 

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Made in a magnetic style that draws you in with lavish aromas that become increasingly compelling with aeration, Sans Liege’s Southern Rhone inspired blend The Offering is wine that I simply love.  A remarkable fusion of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2015 saturates your taste buds with a velvety texture, intermixed with vibrant red fruits, crème de cassis, juicy blackberries, and savory spices that you coming back for more.

2015 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40CarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

ETUDE

2015 PINOT NOIR
GRACE BENOIST RANCH 

With around two hundred 90+ point scores under their belt, Etude is the reigning King of the Carneros AVA.  Founded in 1982 by wine country icon Tony Soter, I can’t think of any other Carneros winery that defines the AVA as well as Etude, and now nearly four decades later they remain a paragon.  With all of the hallmarks that make the Carneros AVA so wondrous, you can almost smell the fog from the San Pablo Bay in their 2015 Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot.  Classic Carneros down to the core and at $39.99/btl it will put a smile on your face… 
 
Tucked along the Northwest corner of Carneros, Etude’s Grace Benoist Ranch benefits from a strong maritime influence and rocky, volcanic soils, making it ideally suited for Pinot Noir.  A correlation of the best grapes from individual vineyard blocks on Grace Benoist Ranch, this wine always tells the story of a particular vintage from a very unique place.  The 2015 is such a good story that you won’t be able to put it down until the last page has turned.   
 
ETUDE
2015 PINOT NOIR
GRACE BENOIST RANCH
Retails at:  $47.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 14%
 
 
“… the 2015 Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch has a savory, sautéed herbs-laced nose over a core of red currants, cranberries and Bing cherries plus hints of dusty earth and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with savory/earthy flavors, framed by chewy tannins and finishing with a lot of interesting layers.”  92 Points
 “... a deeply colored effort that has medium-bodied notes of red currants, cherries, campfire and forest floor. It has plenty of texture and a charming, rounded, delicious style ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.”  91 points

 

 
Customers that enjoy Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 
2015 Two Sisters Lindsay's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 Solamente Terra Blanca Vineyard Carneros
TWO SISTERS
2015 PINOT NOIR
LINDSAY’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 

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From Wine Enthusiast: “Plump red cherry, rust, dried sage, wild thyme and baking spices show on the nose of this top-end regional wine from Bill Foley. The palate shows cohesive well-woven flavors of strong red fruits, turned earth, brown spice, cracked pepper and a menthol-like finish. The acidity is perfect, the tannins soft but structural.”   93 Points
SOLAMENTE
2014 PINOT NOIR
TERRA BLANCA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
Cellar Tracker Tasting Notes: “This deep ruby wine flaunts bright aromas of cranberries, black cherries, raspberries, pickling spice and violets. Medium-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with medium-weight but grippy tannins, it has impressive presence on the mid-palate. The medium length finish concludes with a wisp of oak. This is an outstanding Pinot…“

 

2015 Juslyn Perry's Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red

2015 Juslyn Perry’s Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSpring MountainUSA

JUSLYN 

2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN 

2015 Juslyn Perry's Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red
The best wines I taste leave me with an indelible stamp in my mind and an overall feeling that becomes part of the wine’s identity.  The first impression I had when I tasted Juslyn’s 2015 Perry’s Blend was one of shattered expectations, and those were set high, given the high quality of wines that the winery has produced over the last several vintages. They’ve also attracted some incredible talent…  Assisting in their constant pursuit of perfection, consulting winemaker Angelina Mondavi, who’s worked alongside Jayson Woodbridge at Hundred Acre… At the retail price of $95/btl, this is a brilliant bottle of wine and a great representation of Spring Mountain terroir.
 
At 81% Cabernet Sauvignon this vintage of Perry’s Blend is stunningly powerful and oozes sweet mulberries, chocolate covered cherries, pen ink, graphite and hints of savory spices.  This wine conveys all of the noble traits that make Spring Mountain so desired, and immediately out of the bottle it’s absolutely rocking and promises another 12-15 years of enjoyment.  I’m predicting mid 90’s scores aren’t far behind and I wouldn’t wait for the reviews to get yours… 
 
JUSLYN 
2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “…Enticing aromas of ripe blueberries, rich blackberries, powerful cassis, black currants and delicate floral notes rise from the glass.  On the palate, terraced layers of wild red and black berries, cocoa powder, black plum and pen ink build over time.  Compact and rich with a focused center palate of densely concentrated fruit intermixed with spring flowers and hints of pencil lead and subtle sweet vanilla.  Powerful on the palate, with firm, slightly dusty tannins, this wine is simply gorgeous now and promises another 12-15 years of enjoyment.”