2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtOld Vine ZinfandelRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley
Gus Gamba farms some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California, planted by pioneering immigrants from the turn of the 20th century. The winery’s vineyards are farmed organically and rely solely on rainwater for irrigation, just as they did over 100 years ago. 
 
Planted in 1920, the Starr Road Ranch Vineyard produces tiny yields of highly-concentrated Zinfandel fruit with stunning depth of flavor and remarkable complexity. The grapes are double sorted by hand, ensuring only the highest quality fruit is selected to make this profound expression of Old Vine Russian River Valley Zinfandel.
 
GAMBA
ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Gamba 2021 Starr Ranch Road Zinfandel begins with notes of Christmas spices, red licorice, clove, marzipan, and red cherry. On the palate, the wine has a bright red fruit accented by nutmeg, allspice, and fresh acidity. This wine is perfect for a casual afternoon and makes an excellent match for barbequed foods.”
94 Points
2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

with No Comment $40-$50ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

RUBIA

CHARDONNAY 2019
RITCHIE VINEYARD

2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
Margaret and Joe Valenzuela founded Rubia Wine Cellars as a tribute to their love and a deep desire to become a part of the winemaking world. They built strong friendships throughout Napa and Sonoma, allowing them access to renowned vineyards like Kent Ritchie’s Vineyard. Considered one of the top locations for Chardonnay in the Russian River Valley, Ritchie Vineyard fruit produces award-winning wines from Aubert, Ramey, DuMOL, and Paul Hobbs.
 
Furthering their dream, Margaret and Joe hired Julien Fayard as their winemaker. Julien worked for Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in France before moving to the US, then became the Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka. Rubia’s 2019 vintage Chardonnay was fermented in new French oak and kept on the lees for 16 months with a monthly batonnage creating a round, creamy mouthfeel and a long, flavorful finish.
 
RUBIA
CHARDONNAY 2019
RITCHIE VINEYARD
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The Rubia 2019 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay begins with notes of chamomile and honeysuckle with ripe peaches, apricots, marzipan, and vanilla custard. On the palate, the wine has a rich texture and creamy mouthfeel with flavors of honeydew, pear, baking spices, and toasted brioche. The roundness on the palate rolls into a smooth yet bright finish.”
93-94 Points
2021 Edict Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Edict Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

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

EDICT.

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Edict Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
“Truth, generosity, and love” are the three words that guide Edict’s winemaking approach, led by ardor and attention to detail that begins in the vineyard and is transferred to the winery, ensuring premium quality in every bottle. Edict’s Vineyard Manager has over 30 years of grape-growing wisdom. He collaborates with some of Napa Valley’s and Sonoma County’s foremost growers, overseeing that only top-quality fruit is selected and vinified.
 
The meticulous selection of fruit with the purest varietal expressions gives their winemaker the ingredients to craft memorable wines. The 2021 Sonoma County Pinot Noir was sourced from vineyards in the Sonoma Coast AVA and the Russian River Valley AVA and matured in 50% new French oak, creating an intrinsic balance between Sonoma’s bright fruit character and Pinot Noir’s innate spice rack.
 
EDICT.
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021
Retails at: $54
 
 
 
“The Edict 2021 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir has juicy fruit aromatics with ripe cherries, strawberries, and plums balanced by sweet baking spices, earthy undertones, and savory mushrooms. On the palate, the wine has flavors of cherry cola, ripe berries, cinnamon, and toast. The wine’s ultra-smooth texture and friendly approachability make this wine pretty easy to enjoy any night of the week.”
92 Points
2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

SONOMA BENCH

PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
The Green Valley AVA, nestled within the larger Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, is renowned for producing exceptional Pinot Noir. It benefits from the unique climate that brings in fog during the evenings and dissipates slowly, making it one of the last areas in the region to see sunlight. The cool temperatures and extended hangtime provide ideal conditions for the fruit to mature slowly and develop nuanced flavors with a refined complexity.
 
With twenty years of winemaking experience in Sonoma, David Sayre has established enduring partnerships with talented growers from the county’s finest vineyards. The grapes for Sonoma Bench’s 2021 Russian River Pinot Noir underwent meticulous hand-sorting and destemming before fermentation. The wine aged for nine months in 30% new French oak barrels, resulting in a flawlessly balanced Pinot Noir that’s an absolute delight.
 
SONOMA BENCH
PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
 
 
“Beautifully reflecting the true essence of the Pinot Noir grape, the Sonoma Bench Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021 begins with an elegant nose of red cherries, light florals, fresh sage, and subtle baking spices. The palate continues with bright cherry cola, dried mushrooms, and sassafras combined with a saline minerality. This lighter-styled offering has a beautiful, balanced, complex finish that will make any Pinot Noir purist smile.”
94 Points
2018 Ramey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2018 Ramey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

RAMEY 

PINOT NOIR 2018
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Ramey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
David Ramey earned a graduate degree from UC Davis in 1979, just before he began working for the Moueix family at their renowned property, Château Pétrus. There he absorbed every detail of their old-world winemaking philosophy, which he brought back to California, firmly establishing Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill as winemaker, then project manager for Dominus Estate.
 
Ramey Wine Cellars was founded in 1996 by David and his wife Carla, and they have been producing award-winning wines of critical acclaim ever since. The 2018 Russian River Pinot Noir arose from top vineyard sites, including De La Montanya, Bucher, Dutton Goff, and Kilcullen. David fermented them with native yeast using 25% whole clusters, and aged them on the lees for 13 months in French oak, resulting in a beautifully elegant, delineated Pinot Noir.
 
RAMEY 
PINOT NOIR 2018
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is spicy and lifted with cinnamon and dried roses, fresh with wild raspberry fruit and blood orange. The palate is medium-bodied and softly textured, characterized by elegance and finesse. Drink over the next 10 or so years.”
94 Points
2021 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley

2021 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

MARTIN RAY

PINOT NOIR 2021
HALLBERG RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley
Martin Ray dedicated his life to creating single-varietal wines from unique AVAs that genuinely represented the site where the grapes were grown. Courtney Benham purchased the brand in 1990 and continues where Martin left off, producing the same stylistically pure, terroir-driven wines and utilizing his natural talent for selecting distinctive vineyards.
 
The Hallberg Vineyard was a former apple orchard on the edge of Green Valley, where the vines are 100% dry-farmed, which lends to the grapes reaching complete physiological ripeness at lower sugar levels. The site’s distinctive, marine-influenced fruit attracts some of Sonoma’s top producers to make wine from it, including Gary Farrell, Joseph Jewell, and Emeritus. Martin Ray’s version is supple and rich in red fruits, capturing the vineyard’s distinct identity wrapped into a lush, easy-drinking, delightful wine.
 
MARTIN RAY
PINOT NOIR 2021
HALLBERG RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $42

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“This is very fine with sliced strawberries and a hibiscus character throughout. Medium body. Very focused with fine tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Lots of energy. Fantastic. Drink or hold.”
95 Points
 
2018 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard

2018 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

PATZ & HALL

CHARDONNAY 2018
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD

2018 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard
Donald Patz and James Hall were colleagues at Flora Springs Winery before a shared passion for wines with a sense of place brought them together to create Patz & Hall, one of California’s crown jewel Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers. In 1988 Patz & Hall was founded by Donald and Heather Patz, James Hall, and Anne Moses. The winery, to this day, maintains a reputation of excellence by consistently producing brilliant wines from some of Sonoma’s most renowned growers.
 
The Dutton Ranch vineyard is home to some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in western Sonoma County, with partial dry farming producing intensely concentrated berries. The 2018 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay is a blend of five clones- Hyde-Wente, Robert Young, Rued, UC Davis Clone 4, and Spring Mountain, aged in 35% new Burgundian French oak, giving the wine some spice while allowing the fruit to shine radiantly.
 
PATZ & HALL
CHARDONNAY 2018
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
Retails at: $44
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“James Hall selects the fruit for this wine from 11 blocks farmed by the Dutton family. Most of the vines are older plantings of heritage clones and selections, a mix that seems to respond to a slow, spontaneous fermentation and development in French oak barrels (35 percent new). The 2018 builds to a savory and ornate chardonnay, a wine with traction that digs into scents of violets and game, jasmine and butterscotch, giving a sweet impression without any actual sweetness. There’s yellow and orange citrus fruit, but the main impression is earthy, with notes of lobster mushroom and lobster broth in a mineral finish. It’s floral, clean, intense wine, with stature and resistance to oxygen. Decant it for crab Louis, or cellar it for years.”
94 Points
 
2019 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

2019 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

MCM ESTATE ZINFANDEL 
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019

2019 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley
Gus Gamba considers himself a steward of his land and utilizes organic vineyard management practices on his family’s property, planted in 1900. His Vineyard’s topography, soils, and microclimate are perfect for ripening Zinfandel to the peak of perfection, resulting in one of the Russian River Valley’s most prized Zin’s. 
 
Farming is foremost at Gamba Vineyards; however, the same level of care follows through into the cellar. Gus and his team double-hand-sort the berries, with only the best making their way into fermentors. Next, the 2019 release spent an impressive 18 months aging primarily in American oak barrels, contributing to the wine’s spice characteristics and remarkable structure. The finished wine is rich, vibrantly detailed, engrossingly fresh, and is drinking beautifully right now. 
 
GAMBA
MCM ESTATE ZINFANDEL 
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $54
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The exciting 2019 MCM Gamba Estate Old Vine Zinfandel is a brilliant wine, with bright garnet hues shining in the glass. The aroma offers lush raspberry, rhubarb pie and savory dried herbs. Medium to full in body, the wine explodes with fresh berries, stone fruit and red cherry that are accented with delicious brown spices and an essence of toasty oak. The texture is slightly leathery, yet polished and refined. The wine is focused, compelling, and exquisitely layered, with mouth-watering tannins; a serious and seamless flavor experience from beginning to end. Lifting acidity and mild toasted oak round out the coda of its pleasant, lingering finish. A great wine to enjoy in its youth, or candidate to lay down in the cellar if you have the will power!”
2019 Pont Neuf Pnt Royal Chardonnay Russian River Valley

2019 Pont Neuf Pont Royal Chardonnay Russian River Valley

with No Comment $60-$70ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

PONT NEUF

PONT ROYAL CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019

2019 Pont Neuf Pnt Royal Chardonnay Russian River Valley
Douglas Danielak completed the Professional Winemaking Program at the Lycée Agricole et Viticole de Beaune in Burgundy while working with Wine Exporter Rebecca Wasserman, gaining an impressive knowledge of Burgundian wines and barrels. Upon returning to California, Douglas completed his degree in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis and, for over twenty years, has made wine for some of Napa Valley’s most respected wineries.
 
Douglas and his wife Mary named Pont Neuf wines after the oldest standing bridge in Paris, symbolizing the bridge between Burgundian and Californian winemaking. By carefully applying low-intervention techniques, native yeasts, and slow malolactic fermentation, this 2019 Russian River Valley Chardonnay possesses Burgundy’s sophistication and finesse matched with California’s opulent, stunning fruit. It’s one of the most popular Chardonnays we feature by pouring in the shop and is a must-try if you love top-quality Chardonnay.
 
PONT NEUF
PONT ROYAL CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $65
 
 
“The Pont Neuf 2019 ‘Pont Royal’ Chardonnay opens with aromas of golden apple, apricot, toast, roasted almond, and crème brûlée. On the palate, the wine has a rich body with flavors of peach, cantaloupe, and macadamia nut balanced by a crisp minerality and bright acidity. The finish is long and sultry, leaving a lasting impression.”
94 Points
2020 Stemmler Pinot Nour Nugent Vineyard

2020 Stemmler Pinot Nour Nugent Vineyard

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonoma

STEMMLER

PINOT NOIR
NUGENT VINEYARD 2020
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2020 Stemmler Pinot Nour Nugent Vineyard
Robert Stemmler migrated to California from Germany in 1961, taking a job at Charles Krug Winery; he later worked for Inglenook and Simi before opening his winery in 1976, focusing on Pinot Noir production. His first vintage release was in 1982, and by 1984 critics were calling his Pinot Noirs the best in America.
 
Robert sold the winery in 1989 but still assists whenever needed to help maintain that quality that he established 40 years ago. The Nugent vineyard, planted in 1997 with Calera, Dijon 667, and Pommard clones, brings delightful nuances to the blend, and the 2020 vintage delivers a bright and light yet concentrated wine that’s hard to resist at this price.
 
STEMMLER
PINOT NOIR
NUGENT VINEYARD 2020
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The 2020 Stemmler Nugent Vineyard Pinot Noir opens with bright notes of red cherry, wild strawberry, baking spices, earth, crushed rock minerality, and crushed oregano. On the palate, the wine has flavors of cranberry, berry bramble, and cloves with refreshing acidity and soft tannins that result in a super smooth finish. This wine is an outstanding value and should not be missed by Pinot Noir lovers looking for a wine for any night of the week.”
92 Points