2014 Leto Exceptional Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Leto Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt HelenaUSA

LETO 

EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2014 Leto Exceptional Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Have you ever tasted a “reserve level” wine from a given winery and thought that it was very similar to the winery’s standard offering?  Me too, but this wine is the polar opposite of that scenario… Leto only produces their Exceptional Selection when the wine is “unusually excellent” and dramatically differs from their other bottling of Cabernet.  This wine is deeper, richer and more powerful and fulfills every desire that one would have in an upper echelon Cabernet Sauvignon. The Exceptional Selection comes from a micro-block of 1/2 century old vines in the heart of St Helena.  The vineyard has been farmed by the same family for over 100 years…  At $150/btl this wine oozes majestic flavors and superior quality… It’s quite simply one of the best Napa Cabernets that I’ve come across at our price. 
 
Brad Warner, owner and winemaker has been making wine for over a 1/2 century, and it shows in this classically styled, deep and hauntingly penetrating wine.  A mere 3 barrels of Exceptional Selection were produced and after developing for 24 months in oak, the wine is marked by hauntingly intense aromas, intertwined with pressed blackberries, black expresso beans, vivid floral and Baker’s chocolate.  With 70 cases produced in total, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure a case.
 
LETO 
EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $150/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “It always amazes me when a wine can be both deep and brooding, yet light on its feet, without being heavy or overly sweet on the palate.  The depth on the nose starts immediately with fresh crushed blackberries, exotic black currants, toasty oak, pipe tobacco, a hint of fresh green herbs and spring flowers.  The deep palate begins with sweet black raspberries and ripe black plum, followed by secondary characteristics that include cocoa dusted chocolate, combined with sweet fruit tannins that perfectly balance the fruit. Absolutely stunning to drink now, but this will gorgeous for a decade or more to come.”  97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 Leto Cellars Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc

2016 Leto Cellars Old Vine St Helena Sauvignon Blanc

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaSauvignon BlancSt HelenaUSA

LETO CELLARS 2016 Leto Cellars Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc

2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC
OLD VINE, ST. HELENA 

If you’ve ever wondered what terroir tastes like, and if it could be found in a bottle of Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc, the answer is in a bottle of Leto’s 2016… Terroir refers to all of the environmental factors that collectively  contribute to a wine’s character and flavors.  Things like climate, farming practices, soil type, etc.  Reflecting terroir, older vines often provide the best representation of their unique characteristics because the root systems are deeper, allowing more complexity to flow from the earth.  Leto’s Sauvignon Blanc was created from 1/2 century old vines grown in a single vineyard in Napa Valley’s iconic St. Helena AVA.  The wine is remarkably intriguing, hedonistic and full of life. Leto’s 2016 Sauvignon Blanc is rich, and inviting with sensational flavors spanning fresh coconut, ripe pear, orchard fruits, chalk and rock minerals
 
Created by Brad Warner, the owner/winemaker who has been making wine for over a 1/2 century, Brad’s talent shows in this brilliant interpretation of St Helena Sauvignon Blanc.  Arising from the Varozza Vineyard on Pratt Avenue in St Helena, the older vines yield just 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 tons per acre of stunningly compelling fruit.  At $22/btl, one taste and you won’t LET it gO… 
 
LETO CELLARS
2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC
OLD VINE, ST. HELENA
 
Your Price: $21.99/btl 
 
Tasting Notes: “This beautifully balanced sauvignon blanc has an intriguing balance of  flavors including ripe pear, supple cantaloupe  and exotic tropical fruits that penetrate your palate then transition to ripe stone fruits, liquid mineral and shaved coconut.  It is an exotically styled and elegantly composed Sauvignon Blanc satisfies on every level.” 92 Points
Customers who enjoy Leto Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2014 Leto St Helena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Picayune Napa County Sauvignon Blanc
LETO 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 ST. HELENA
Retails at:  $85/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “The 2014 Leto is a deeply   penetrating and gorgeously 
styled Napa Valley Cabernet with enticing aromas of blackberry tart, cassis, pencil lead, tobacco leaf and rocky minerals.  These aromatics blend seamlessly with a saturating palate of red and black cherries, crushed blueberries, dried sage and a hint of camphor. The tannins are velvety yet slightly firm and the flavors supple and rich yet mouth quenching at the same time. A nicely balanced acid profile keeps all of the rich fruit in check so they all meld into a beautifully complete Cabernet that has style, elegance, weight and length.  What more could you want?”  95 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier  
PICAYUNE
2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA COUNTY & SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $20.99/btl 

Click to Order

Taking things to the next level with their 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Picayune’s 2016 comes alive in the glass with remarkable clarity, focus and penetrating fruit.  Picayune is a stand-out in affordable, premium quality Sauvignon Blanc, and originates from declassified barrels from top Sauvignon Blanc producers around Napa and Sonoma Counties, and retails for just a fraction of the price.  Bursting vibrantly from the glass with a melange of lime, jasmine, crushed rock and grapefruit notes, forecasting an elaborate parade of orange blossoms, lemon curd, and honeysuckle, all displayed with textural intrigue and uncanny purity. 
2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleSt HelenaUSA

CABAUD

2013 MON HOMMAGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon
You might know winemaker Luc Morlet from his work at Newton Cellars, Peter Michael, or from his own label Morlet which is raking in 100 point scores… However, most people haven’t heard of Cabaud, and with their tiny production, there’s no surprise.  The previous vintage caught the eye of Robert Parker who scored the 2012 91-94 Points and now with the 2013 vintage, which Robert Parker said might be the finest vintage he’s experienced over the last 37 years, I wouldn’t wait for the scores to secure the 2013.  Finding new wines made by top winemakers, that are somewhat unheard of, pays off big at times… I would estimate Morlet’s Cabs to range from $165 to around $300/btl.  At $130 Cabaud is a killer deal…I cannot put into words how incredible this wine is. 
 
Combining fruit from Glass Mountain in St Helena with Beckstoffer’s iconic Missouri Hopper Vineyard in Oakville, you can taste the magic of these two sites, each enhancing the best qualities of the other and melding together perfectly.  After resting for nearly 20 months in barrel and for another 3 years in the bottle, this 2013 is mind-bogglingly great!  It reminded me of when I first tasted Humanitas Signum and the recent Keever Inspirado, yet ramped up a notch. This is absolutely one of the best bottles in the shop under $150/btl right now… 
 
CABAUD
2013 MON HOMMAGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $130/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “A dense purple color is accompanied by mesmerizing wet stone and liquid minerals interwoven with blackberry jam, crushed blueberries, red currant and spring flowers.  The full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin, and extraordinary richness combine in a hypnotic way. It is the wine equivalent of sliding in between satin sheets and finding warmth and suppleness, but also balanced firmness and incredible tone, all in perfect balance.  Let your mind wander…” 97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 Heir Apparent Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2016 Heir Apparent Napa Valley Proprietary Red

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

HEIR APPARENT

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Heir Apparent Napa Valley Proprietary Red
Ever wonder how we are able to offer these amazingly high-quality wines with such dramatic discounts? It comes down to patience, confidence and buying power. We have the patience for our tasting panel to taste through over 80 wines each week, looking for only the best wines available. Then, our panel’s consensus gives us the confidence that we’ve made the right choices on which wines to work with.  Finally, we have the buying power to commit to, and purchase large quantities in advance, so we can negotiate the best deals. It is somewhat risky on our part, but frankly, we are pretty darn good at it, and the quality and value shows through in each incredible bottle we offer.
 
Case in point, this Heir Apparent Proprietary Red seduces you with intense aromas of floral infused red fruits, minerals and chocolaty espresso, the 2016 wraps your palate in a velvety embrace and leaves your taste buds yearning for another sip.  Combining fruit from St Helena and Rutherford, the tension created between the two distinct areas lends greatly to the complexity. Calling on all five Bordeaux Varietals, the 2016 spent 16 month in oak and it’s already providing enormous levels of pleasure, and should drink well over the next 10-12 years. Another winner!
 
HEIR  APPARENT
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $69.99/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “With a beautiful dark red hue, the wine opens up with seductive aromas of fresh violets, dried rose petals, ripe tree fruits, wild berries, licorice and spice. On the palate, lively notes of fresh baked dark cherry pie, red plum and ripe raspberry are layered with zesty notes of pepper, cloves, ginger, roasted walnuts, and the gentle use of oak which allow the flavors to pop. As the wine opens up, these flavors are balanced with soft tannins, tangy acidity, and (a) long finish...” 92 Points “Sommelier to the Stars” Christopher Sawyer
2015 Leto Cellars Old Vine Saint Helena Sauvignon Blanc

2015 Leto Cellars Old Vine St. Helena Sauvignon Blanc

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSt HelenaUSA

LETO CELLARS

2015 SAUVIGNON BLANC
OLD VINE, ST. HELENA

2015 Leto Cellars Old Vine Saint Helena Sauvignon Blanc
What is terroir?  It refers to all of the environmental factors that collectively  contribute to a wine’s character and flavors.  Things like climate, farming practices, soil type, etc.  Reflecting terroir, older vines often provide the best representation of their unique characteristics because the root systems are deeper, allowing more complexity to flow from the earth.  Leto’s Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect example.  Originating from half-century old vines from a single vineyard in Napa Valley’s iconic St. Helena AVA, this is a Sauvignon Blanc with a clear and vibrant voice… Remarkably intriguing, hedonistic and full of life, Leto’s 2015 Sauvignon Blanc draws you in with yellow orchard fruits, ripe pear, orange peel, chalk and minerals.
 
Created by Brad Warner, the owner/winemaker who has been making wine for over a 1/2 century, Brad’s talent shows in this brilliant interpretation of St Helena Sauvignon Blanc.  Arising from the Varozza Vineyard on Pratt Avenue in St Helena, the older vines yield just 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 tons per acre of stunningly compelling fruit.  At just $22/btl, one taste and you’re not going to want to LET it gO… 
 
LETO CELLARS
2015 SAUVIGNON BLANC
OLD VINE, ST. HELENA
 
Your Price: $21.99/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “This is a bright yet rich white with Bosc pear, ripe honeydew melon and exotic passionfruit that transitions into a limeade and lemon custard mid palate with liquid minerals on the finish.  It is an enticing, mouth quenching Sauvignon Blanc that keeps you begging for another sip.”
93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
Customers who enjoy Leto’s Sauvignon Blanc may also enjoy these two terrific wines from Leto Cellars..
2015 Leto Mount Veeder Pinot Noir 2013 Leto Cellars Saint Helena Cabernet Sauvignon
LETO CELLARS
2015 PINOT NOIR
MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at:  $56.00/btl
Your Price:

Winery Notes: “At 1,800 feet elevation, the fruit source was a rare and special opportunity. But then again, almost everything about this wine was. A Cabernet lover’s Pinot, this wine was picked carefully and aged in 30% new oak for 11 months. In the glass, notes of plum and cherry confections, espresso bean and dark chocolate accentuate this pretty Pinot Noir.” 

81 Cases Produced
LETO CELLARS
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ST. HELENA, NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at:  $85.00/btl
Your Price:
Tasting Notes: “The 2013 Leto is a classically styled Napa Valley Cabernet with aromas of black cherry, red plum, Good & Plenty candy, dried mustard seed and damp earth.  These aromatics beautifully complement a mouth coating palate of red currants, Bing cherry and mixed red and black fruits. The tannins are silky and the flavors expansive. A nice lingering acidity keep the palate lively and perfectly compliments the spice box notes and toasted vanilla finish.“
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier 

2013 Leto Cellars St Helena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt HelenaUSA

LETO CELLARS

2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ST. HELENA, NAPA VALLEY

 
What do Grace Family, Vineyard 29, Revana and Leto Cellars have in common?  For starters, they all make classic, absolutely stunning Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from Napa Valley’s prized St. Helena AVA.  There’s one glaringly obvious aspect that they don’t have in common, like being a Cherry Picked Wines Insider List selection.  When tasting this wine there’s absolutely no doubt in your mind, or on your palate that it’s a high quality, $85, absolutely gorgeous single vineyard St Helena Cabernet.  Brad Warner, owner and winemaker has been making wine for over a 1/2 century, and it shows in this classically styled, deep and hauntingly penetrating wine. 
Emerging from a vintage unanimously recognized for its unrivaled quality… One that Robert Parker alerted readers that it “…may turn out to be the finest vintage I have experienced in tasting North Coast varietals over the last 37 years,” this stunning Cabernet spent an impressive 22 months in French Oak and reaped the rewards of more than 2 1/2 years of bottle development.  With just 8 barrels produced, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure a case. One taste and you won’t LET(g)O.  
 
LETO CELLARS
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ST. HELENA, NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at:  $85.00/btl
 
 
 
Tasting Notes: “The 2013 Leto is a classically styled Napa Valley Cabernet with aromas of black cherry, red plum, Good & Plenty candy, dried mustard seed and damp earth.  These aromatics beautifully complement a mouth coating palate of red currants, Bing cherry and mixed red and black fruits. The tannins are silky and the flavors expansive. A nice lingering acidity keep the palate lively and perfectly compliments the spice box notes and toasted vanilla finish.”
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier 

2014 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvingnons

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt HelenaUSA

HUNDRED ACRE

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNONS
ARK | KAYLI MORGAN | FEW & FAR BETWEEN

2014 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Mixed 3 Pack
 
Anybody who has met Jayson Woodbridge, owner of Hundred Acre, knows there are untold numbers of superlatives that describe him.  Terms like Character, Irreverent, Flamboyant, Opinionated, and ‘Type A’ come to mind.  These characteristics and more combine in Jayson to fuel a relentless pursuit of perfection in everything he does… The results simply cannot be denied, and the countless Hundred Point wines left in his dominating wake are an absolute joy to behold, but nearly impossible to acquire… Imagine a wine so deep and bold that each sip gives you goose-bumps… Sounds great right? You simply have to experience them to understand…
 
 Your Price: $1,499.97
 
 
 
 
 
 
2014 Hundred Acre 'Ark' Cabernet Sauvignon

HUNDRED ACRE
2014 ARK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Your Price: $499.99/btl
 2014 Hundred Acre 'Kayli Morgan' Cabernet Sauvignon

HUNDRED ACRE
2014 KAYLI MORGAN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Your Price: $499.99/btl
 2014 Hundred Acre 'Few & Far Between' Cabernet Sauvignon

HUNDRED ACRE
2014 FEW & FAR BETWEEN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Your Price: $499.99/btl
“From Howell Mountain, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Ark reveals the mulberry, chocolate, graphite and an incredibly dense bluish black color, massive fruit extract and richness, but without a hard edge to be found. All three of these are extraordinary wines, which is what we’ve come to expect from Jayson Woodbridge.” 
 
98-100 Points
 
“The 2014s also look sensational… This wine has great fruit, an opaque purple color, beautiful crème de cassis, blueberry and floral notes in a sexy, opulent, forward style that will be more flattering and flamboyant than its 2013 counterpart, at least in its youth.”
 
 
 
 

96-99 Points
“… Slightly softer, and perhaps more dramatic and flamboyant at present because it is a barrel sample, it has staggering richness, great blue and black fruits intermixed with truffle, camphor, and sweet loamy soil and earthy nuances. The wine is full-bodied, gorgeously pure, rich and not showing any evidence of oak aging.“
 
96-98 Parker
2015 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red

2013 Titus Napa Valley Malbec

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtMalbecNapaSt HelenaUSA

TITUS 

2013 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY

 
There are a handful of California winemakers whom many would refer to as legendary or iconic, and whose triumphs and experience are so profound that their very name rings with excellence.  Philip Titus is etched permanently onto that list…  Revered for his work authoring Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill wines for nearly three decades, leaving countless World Class wines in his wake.  When our panel first tasted his 2013 Malbec, it was one of those wines that compels you to say “WOW that’s good…” So, we bought every bottle that we could…this wine defines value. 
Forged from the Titus family vineyard located just North of Saint Helena, this stunning Malbec is kept for nearly two full years in barrel before bottling.  And from a vintage unanimously recognized for its unrivaled quality… One that Robert Parker alerted readers that it “...may turn out to be the finest vintage I have experienced in tasting North Coast varietals over the last 37 years,”  this exemplary Malbec leaves everything in the glass.  Deep, penetrating, intense and with plenty of substance, this 2013 is really drinking beautifully now and promises another several years of improvement.  
 
TITUS 
2013 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “The 2013 Malbec bouquet offers dark cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate and baking spices. The mouthfeel is lush, with balanced tannins and bright acidity that give the wine a plush mouthfeel and long finish. Flavors of bing cherry, plum jam, clove, vanilla and warm cedar dominate the palate.”
Malbec 85% | Petit Verdot 7% | Cabernet Sauvignon 5% | Merlot 3%

 

Customers who enjoy the Titus 2013 Malbec may also enjoy 
these two terrific Reds…
2015 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red

 
 Wagner Family Schooner Malbec Voyage 5

 
CHAPPELLET
2015 MOUNTAIN CUVEE
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $31.99/btl 
Chappellet’s Iconic Pritchard Hill Vineyards have been hailed by some as “Napa’s Grand Cru,” and particularly with Bordeaux Varietals.  Following the advice of renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff, by planting on the rocky, high-elevation slopes, Chappellet became one of the first wineries in Napa Valley to plant vineyards on the lofty hillsides…
WAGNER FAMILY
RED SCHOONER
MALBEC, VOYAGE 5
Your Price: $49.99/btl  
 
2011 Bernard Magrez Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Bernard Magrez Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt HelenaUSA

BERNARD MAGREZ

BECKSTOFFER DR. CRANE
2011 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2011 Bernard Magrez Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Cabernet SauvignonThe synchronicity between esteemed winemaker Benoit Touquette and Beckstoffer’s iconic Dr. Crane Vineyard is powerful and absolutely indisputable… Benoit is responsible for multiple 100 points from this very vineyard as the winemaker at Realm.  And as one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated heritage vineyards, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane produced single vineyard Cabernets from Paul Hobbs, Realm and Myriad to list a few.  Nearly all Cabernet from this hallowed ground ranges from $175 to over $500/btl…
Saturating, intense, generous, lovely… these would all be perfect descriptors for the 2011 Bernard Magrez.  There’s also something magical that often happens right around five years in the bottle.  This wine has a fully developed, intense and hedonistic bouquet that can only come from bottle age.  It has focused, powerful intensity and scrumptious texture, that has to be experienced to be believed.   I strongly recommend adding some of this gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon to your cellar. 
 
BERNARD MAGREZ
BECKSTOFFER DR. CRANE
2011 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $175/btl
 
 
From Vinous: “The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard from Bernard Magrez is another impressive wine for the year. Long, persistent and intense, the 2011 stands out for its focus and energy. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, sweet French oak and leather flow through to the layered, finish. The sweet, floral notes so typical of the 337 Cabernet clone present in Dr. Crane ring out on the finish.” 92 Points
 
Customers that enjoy the Bernard Magrez Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet, may also enjoy these two terrific Cabs…
 
2010 Harris Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Jones Family The Sisters Cabernet Sauvignon
HARRIS ESTATE
2010 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
JAKE’S CREEK VINEYARD
Retails at:  $140.00/btl
Your Price: $119.99/btl 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, “Dark cherries, plums, menthol, licorice and flowers all come together in the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Jake’s Creek Vineyard. There is plenty of intensity in the glass as this full-bodied, opulent wine shows off its considerable personality. Sweet floral and spiced notes add lift on the finish. Readers will have to be patient with the 2010 Jake’s Creek, but it is striking, even today. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030.”   94 Points
JONES FAMILY 
2013 THE SISTERS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $85.00/btl
With nearly two dozen perfect 100 Point wines, Thomas Brown is a dominating force in Cabernet Sauvignon and he’s truly at the top of his game Packed with supple, concentrated red cherry, deep black raspberry, pomegranate, graphite and a touch of sweet vanilla oak, this absolutely ready to drink Cabernet will thrill you from first sip to last. The vineyard is managed by Jim Barbour, one of the absolute top viticulturists, who’s list of clients include icons like  Hundred Acre, Grace Family and Barbour to list a few…