2018 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

O’SHAUGHNESSY

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Flaunting Oakville fruit’s alluring complexity, Mount Veeder’s savory tinge, and combining Howell Mountain Cabernet’s focused concentration, O’Shaughnessy’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is epic. It’s a harmonious composition of the winery’s Estate vineyards, located in some of Napa Valley’s most elite neighborhoods. 
 
Since their inception, O’Shaughnessy’s winemaker has been Sean Capiaux, whom you might know from his work at Peter Michael or his brand Capiaux. He did a fantastic job on the reference-standard 2018 release, perfectly expressing Mountain terroir enriched with Oakville elegance. 
 
O’SHAUGHNESSY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“This is such an outstanding wine at any price, but here we’re talking about outstanding value as well. Notes of iron and crushed rock lead to a lengthy balance of juicy red fruit and clove. With small amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Saint-Macaire and Cabernet Franc, it shows a deft hand at blending, with lasting notes of black pepper and nuanced oak.”
97 Points, Editors’ Choice
2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPetaluma GapPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BLACK PINE

2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Created to showcase the talents of hand-picked local growers and made in a lush, inviting style, hitting a sweet spot where complexity meets opulence, Black Pinot Pinot Noir is a constant in the value Pinot Noir section of our shop. After a culmination of outstanding efforts, it’s built a reputation of excellence and value, with its relentless quality and hard-to-resist style.
 
Combining fruit from Petaluma Gap, Russian River, and Sonoma Coast AVAs, Roger Roessler hand-selected each site for its unique contribution, resulting in a concentrated Pinot that hits a sweet spot with complexity, nuance, and lushness.
 
BLACK PINE
2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $30
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“The Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018 is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with elegance and delicacy. It begins with red cherry, pomegranate, black currants, Mission figs, juniper berries, light florals, and a hint of spice. It is refreshing on the palate and is very easy-drinking, finishing with liquid minerals, an elegant focus, and satiny tannins. It is a delightful wine, particularly at its low price point.”
92 Points
2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtKnight's ValleySonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

DETAILS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2019 SONOMA COUNTY

2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
Details Cabernet fuses superior talent, assiduous fruit selection, and rigorous science in creating their value-focused Cabernet, which hails from the Sonoma, Knights, and Alexander Valleys. Their team, let by Ryan Knoth, who previously worked under the tutelage of icons David Abreu, Michel Rolland, and Fredrik Johansson at Staglin, handpicks the fruit to precise analytics equating to optimized flavors and aromas. 
 
Masterfully blending four of Bordeaux’s top five varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, then adding Petite Sirah, Sinegal’s winemaking team’s obsessive attention to detail paid off. Their efforts result in an enchanting wine that tastes like it should be much more expensive.
 
DETAILS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2019 SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Details is obviously a very young wine, but its freshness and energy are so compelling. Spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and dried herbs are some of the many notes that grace the 2019. Even in the early going, the 2019 is positively stellar. Franc aromatics and a distinct savoriness from the Petit Verdot add so much character. This may be the best vintage yet. I loved it.”
93-95 Points
2020 Domaines Ott By. Ott Provence Rose

2020 Domaines Ott By. Ott Provence Rose

with No Comment $30 and underFranceKevin VogtProvenceProvenceRosé

DOMAINES OTT

2020 BY. OTT
PROVENCE ROSÉ

2020 Domaines Ott By. Ott Provence Rose
A benchmark in style, Domaines Ott is one of the top rosé producers globally and acts as a reference standard in its category, setting the highest bar for quality. Provence, the oldest vineyard land in mainland France, has for the last 2600 years been primarily focused on crafting fruity, focused, dry rosés with a delicate color but a deep concentration of red fruit flavors and backbone of minerality.
 
Setting out to produce the finest examples of Provençal wines crafted from noble grape varieties, Marcel Ott discovered the Estate which would become Domains Ott in 1896. Today, cousins Christian and Jean-François Ott continue with the same dedication, creating classic and refreshing rosé blends, setting timeless precedence of quality. 
 
DOMAINES OTT
2020 BY. OTT
PROVENCE ROSÉ
 
Your Price: $27.99
 
 
“Plenty of sliced strawberries and peaches with citrus and perfume. Medium-bodied, showing lovely fruit and balance. Creamy finish. Drink and enjoy.”
91 Points
 
“Light orange-pink. Ripe pit fruits and red berries on the nose, along with a hint of smokiness. Juicy and open-knit, offering strawberry and nectarine flavors that show very good clarity and back-end cut. Finishes smooth and long, leaving a suggestion of pit fruits behind.”
90 Points
2017 Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2017 Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

BELLA UNION

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Backed by decades of elite winemaking and premium vineyard sources, Bella Union hit the ground running in 2012, founded by Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel winery partners. Focused on creating a union of flavors, textures, and character, voiced through artistry and exceptional fruit, Bella Union is “well-made” and “sumptuous” as described by Wine Enthusiast and deserving of its 95 Point score and spot on the top 100 Cellar Selection list of 2020. 
 
Ideally located in Rutherford, Bella Union’s Estate Vineyard reaps the benefits of well-draining, gravelly loam soils, and diurnal temperature swings, encouraging the site’s signature intense, beautifully proportioned fruit and complex aromas. 
 
Crafted in an expressive and richly textured style, Bella Union winemakers unite Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot, harmonizing each varietal’s most significant characteristics, displayed with finesse and brilliance. 
 
BELLA UNION
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $80
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“Sinewy, earthy and full of spice, this well-made wine is lush and sumptuous, with firm, focused tannins and integrated oak. Black cherry, cinnamon and nutmeg meld on the structured, full-bodied palate, with a graceful hint of dark chocolate on the finish. This will do well in the cellar.”
95 Points, #74 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2020
2017 Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir Carneros

2017 Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir Carneros

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUncategorizedUSA

BALDACCI

ELIZABETH PINOT NOIR
2017 CARNEROS

2017 Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir Carneros
Marked with concentrated fruit, intriguing textures, and a palpable sense of place, Baldacci’s Carneros Pinot Noir authoritatively expresses many of the region’s best attributes. The wine arose from Baldacci’s Estate Vineyard in Carneros, farmed by Josh Clark, one of wine country’s most sought after viticulturists whose clients include icons like Outpost, Hourglass, and Kinsella, to list a few. At this price, it truly shouldn’t be missed.
 
Michael Baldacci works closely with Ricardo Herrera to craft balanced wines with a sense of place and tangible value. Ricardo gained invaluable experience over the years at icons Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Dominus, and Screaming Eagle.
 
The Baldacci team is steadfast in producing wines that tell a story of their origins and vintage. They achieve this through highly skilled vineyard management, top-level winemaking, and timely choices made during each step along the way. The results speak for themselves, and at this price, a single case may not be enough.
 
BALDACCI
ELIZABETH PINOT NOIR
2017 CARNEROS
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“Our motto is no whimpy Pinot Noir! I approach this varietal as a lighter, yet sturdy red wine from our portfolio. We work towards a balanced fruit load, per vine, in the vineyard. We use our clones to create nuance and texture in the final wine… We strive for a fruit forward expression that is more dark rather than red berry. We de-stem everything and cold soak for no more than 3 days to achieve a color and tannin profile that is more structured. Everything is fermented in open top, small volume tanks with daily punch downs until dry. We use 40% new French oak to marry our fruit with the spice from the wood.”
2017 Frisson Cabernet Sauvignon Alluvium Coombsville

2017 Frisson Cabernet Sauvignon Alluvium Coombsville

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaSanta Cruz MountainsUSA

FRISSON

2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALLUVIUM COOMBSVILLE

2017 Frisson Cabernet Sauvignon Alluvium Coombsville
Frisson is a French word defined by a sudden feeling of excitement or thrill; Taking inspiration from this, Frisson Cabernet is mindfully crafted in a magnetic style, awakening your senses with intensely compelling characteristics, drawing you in with soul-stirring energy. The winery’s Alluvium Coombsville Cabernet whispers the spirit of the region with persuasive power and polished confidence, leaving a positive impression at its $115 retail price and a frisson at less than $40. 
 
Focusing on revealing Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley’s leading sub-appellations most dynamic features, Frisson proprietors drew on Coombsville’s gravelly loam soils and cooler climate that naturally encourages balanced fruit in creating this masterpiece. 
 
This wine embodies the proprietor’s mission of creating boutique wines from grapes grown in superior terroir, transforming them into balanced wine with a sense of place. Crafted by Paul Colantuoni and Wayne Donaldson, former winemaker at Domaine Chandon, Moet Hennessy, and Louis Martini, Frisson offers exceptional value. 
 
FRISSON
2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALLUVIUM COOMBSVILLE
Retails at: $115
 
 
 
“Frisson’s 2017 Alluvium Coombsville Cabernet is striking in the glass with a deep, brooding, inky-purple color. This full-throttle wine begins with a powerful nose that includes very ripe dried plums, dried cherries, black currants, dried herbs, Asian spices, light florals, and bramble. The intense palate has concentrated black fruits with black plums, black cherries, vanilla hints, and exotic spice. This is certainly no cocktail wine, and it begs to be enjoyed with food. I had it with orange-barbecue glazed pork, and it was delightful.”
91 points
2018 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Proprietary Red

2018 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underAtlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VISTA

ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
2018 PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Proprietary Red
Cementing its spot on my top 5 list in 2020, Vista’s 2018 Atlas Peak Red is the single most extraordinary $23 wine that I’ve tasted. The wine has the concentration, depth, complexity, and balance that you’d expect from a remarkable $50 bottle of high-elevation Napa wine, but at $23, it’s hard to wrap your head around how it can be that good, for the modest price.
 
At 2,000 feet elevation on Atlas Peak, Vista’s 2018 Reserve Blend was wrought from the rocky red Aiken soils and perfectly shows off the deep, concentrated flavors that make this region famous. Predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, balanced with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, if you’re looking for a wine that tastes like it should be at least double or triple the price, this is it.
 
VISTA
ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
2018 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $23
2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy

2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy

with No Comment $30-$40BaroloBaroloKevin VogtPiedmontUSA

FRANCO SERRA

2016 BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY 

2016 Franco Serra Barolo Piedmont, Italy
Revered for having captivating power, thought-provoking definition, confident energy, and graceful delivery, Barolo is one of the world’s great wines. Many start around $60, and in vintages like 2016, which the Wine Spectator rates as the best in more than two decades, even entry-level Barolos can be memorable and profound. We estimated Franco Serra’s 2016 Barolo to be around $65, and we loved it at that price. When we found out we could offer it to you at $38, we seized the opportunity. 
 
Keenly focused on tradition, the Sperone family brings four generations of experience to Franco Serra. Proudly intent on producing wines of distinction and value, the family owns and farms 75 acres of prime vineyards outside Monferrato. 
 
Franco Serra Barolo is classically styled, detailing the vintage hallmarks with vibrancy, balance, and refinement. The wine spends a full three years in oak, and with time in the bottle, the wine perfectly balances intensity and grace.
 
FRANCO SERRA
2016 BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“Aromas of plums, cherries and ash with hints of tea and toffee follow through to a full body with layered, chewy tannins and lots of chocolate and walnuts at the finish…”
94 Points
2017 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

2017 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

SULLIVAN

COEUR DE VIGNE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 RUTHERFORD 

2017 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
For nearly 50 years, Sullivan Estate has quietly produced classically styled Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with a powerful sense of place. Their vineyard located North of BV, behind Franciscan, is under the guidance of Mike Wolf, one of the leading viticulture experts in Napa Valley, whose past and present clients include Bond, Scarecrow, and Lewis. Winemaker Jeff Cole’s goal for each vintage is to craft wine with great density, depth, and longevity, and his 2017 is a stunning example. 
 
Carved into an ancient riverbed with soil types ranging from clay loam to sandy gravel, Sullivan’s Vineyard has excellent drainage, which assists in producing intensely flavored berries. 
 
Sullivan’s Coeur de Vigne 2017 captures the essence of the vineyard and combines 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with 22% Merlot and 3% Malbec. The wine was kept for 19 months in oak and is drinking stunningly right now.
 
SULLIVAN
COEUR DE VIGNE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 RUTHERFORD
Retails at: $110
 
 
 
“Smooth textured and rich with ripe plum and blackberry fruit, elegant and lush with depth and balance, what you want from a top-quality Napa Cab.”
94 Points, Anthony Dias Blue
 
“Blended with 22% Merlot and 3% Malbec, this is an impressively made wine from the Rutherford estate. Densely concentrated, it offers youthfully grippy layers of black olive, dark cherry and plum, with underlying earthiness. The finish takes on additional notes of clove, black pepper and tobacco.”
92 Points