2015 Staglin Salus Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Staglin Salus Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

STAGLIN  2015 Staglin Salus Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 SALUS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD, ESTATE

 
Raising a staggering number approaching a Billion Dollars in charitable support, Staglin is known for much more than just terrific wines… At Auction Napa Valley last year, their joint lot with Antinori brought in $1.5 million.  They’ve spared absolutely no expense in their relentless pursuit of perfection, and their Rutherford Cabernets are some of the most distinct and powerfully compelling wines produced in Napa Valley.  Winemaker Fredrik Johansson works closely with one of the world’s most influential winemakers Michel Rolland, as well as renowned viticulturist David Abreu, who’s planted vineyards for Harlan Estate, Colgin and Screaming Eagle to list a few… Johansson gained invaluable experience working alongside Thomas River Brown at Outpost, as well as helping with Schrader and Maybach…
 
Composed from Staglin’s Estate vineyard located on the Southwestern rim of Napa Valley’s renowned Rutherford AVA, this vineyard’s ideal soils and microclimate produce pristine, complex fruit.   In fact, the top wines produced at the Estate go for around $285 to $335/btl… Salus represents a stupendous value for Staglin, and if you’re searching for a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon at an obtainable price… This is it.
 
STAGLIN
2015 SALUS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD, ESTATE
Retails at:  $115.00/btl
 
Your Price: $99.99/btl
YOU SAVE 13%
 
Winery Notes:The nose of focused and driven dark red and black fruits is made complex and intriguing by an overlay of earth and herbs – think tilled soil and wet, leafless wintertime trees with a sprinkle of freshly torn tobacco, pinched camphor leaves and Tellicherry peppercorns. The crystalline and concentrated palate of ripe cherries and bursting black raspberries cascades along a chiseled path of fine granulated tannins given texture and touch by notes of espresso, cocoa nibs and hazelnut butter. A bit tightly wound at present, this fine-grained gem will appreciate a brief stint in your cellar, or your decanter.”
 
Customers who enjoy Staglin Salus Cabernet may also enjoy these two terrific Rutherford wines…
2015 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Quintessa Proprietary Red
BEAULIEU VINEYARDS
GEORGES DE LATOUR
2015 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $119.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “...very deep purple-black in color and reveals bags of crushed blackberries, black cherries and warm cassis notes with mocha, Sichuan pepper and hoisin plus unsmoked cigars and cedar chest hints. Full-bodied and absolutely laden with layers of black fruits and spices, it has a firm, grainy frame and seamless freshness, finishing very long…” 96+ Points
QUINTESSA
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
RUTHERFORD, NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $174.99/btl

Click to Order

From James Suckling:Aromas of blue fruits, blackberries, tile and lead pencil. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh, bright finish. Layered and intense with white-pepper and salt undertones. Love the finish to this racy young wine. Beautiful blue fruits! Drink in 2020 and onwards. From biodynamic grapes.” 97 Points 

2016 Martinelli Bella Vigna Chardonnay

MARTINELLI

2016 CHARDONNAY
BELLA VIGNA

 
The latest releases from Martinelli are so stunning, that Julianna Martinelli came to our tasting room to personally show us how incredible they are, and they quite honestly might be the best they ever produced.  A perfect example is the 2016 Bella Vigna Chardonnay. It is so powerfully rich and yet delicately balanced that words alone can’t describe it. The core of the 2016 comes from the iconic Zio Tony Ranch Vineyard and was brightened with fruit from Martinelli Road.  On the palate, the wine has regal opulence matched with majestic balance, and displays focused flavors spanning from lemon meringue pie and lemon blossoms to honeyed pineapple.  At this price, the level of quality/value may just crush everything you thought possible at this price and by the time it’s hits your palate, you’ll wish you had ordered more…
 
The 2016 was brought to life by winemakers Courtney Wagoner and Erin Green. Erin worked alongside Helen Turley in the early ’90’s on some of her projects, including at Bryant Family & Martinelli and also was director of winemaking at Pahlmeyer.  There’s simply never enough of their Chardonnay to meet demand, and based on the quality of the 2016, really high scores aren’t far behind.
 
MARTINELLI
2016 CHARDONNAY
BELLA VIGNA
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes:Our 2016 Bella Vigna Chardonnay has notes of lemon, hazelnut, and golden apple on the nose. A bright lemon zest entry gives way to a rich middle and citrus finish.”
 
Customers who enjoy Martinelli Bella Vigna Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific Chardonnays…
2014 Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 Black Cordon Laguna Road Vineyard Chardonnay
CHARLES HEINTZ
2014 CHARDONNAY
SEARBY VINEYARD
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your price: $39.99/btl 
 
Brought to life from the Searby Vineyard which you might recognize from Kosta Browne, Nickel & Nickel and Duckhorn Migration who have all made Chardonnays from this remarkable hillside vineyard.  This Chardonnay screams cool-climate, impeccably well-made Russian River Valley Chardonnay with penetrating flavors of lemon meringue, Bosc pear, tropical fruits and butterscotch.
BLACK CORDON
2014 CHARDONNAY
LAGUNA ROAD VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Rich, decadent and inviting, the 2014  Black Cordon Laguna Road Chardonnay is bursting with Meyer Lemond, almond shavings, tangerine and honeyed apple.  Wildflowers, nutmeg and orange rind add to it’s deep complexity.  On the palate the wine is sensual and balanced with terrific weight and structure”  93 Cases Produced 
2016 Sonnet Tondre's Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2016 Sonnet Tondre’s Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

SONNET 2016 Sonnet Tondre's Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2016 PINOT NOIR
TONDRE’S GRAPEFIELD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

 
Looking back at the most loved Pinot Noirs I’ve featured over the years, there’s one from the Santa Lucia Highlands that rises above the rest.  Sonnet’s Tondre’s Grapefield Pinot Noir comes from an incredible site that neighbors the iconic Garys’ Vineyard.  And it’s appropriately named, with a perfume so muse-worthy that it makes it easy to wax poetic about.  One twirl of the glass unleashes a burst of red cherries woven throughout with wild rose petals, fresh violets and spices.  On the palate the wine is plush and satiny with perfect balance, and after tasting the 2016, you’ll want to get yours before the reviews… Trust me on this one.  
 
Santa Lucia Highlands is well-known for producing Pinot Noirs with great depth, often showing cherry-berry pie and exotic spices.  The topography and proximity to the Pacific Ocean allows for a long hang time, and in many areas, the fruit is able to reach optimum maturity, resulting in profound flavors.  This could be the poster-child for classic Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot and at $40/btl it’s absolutely one of the best in the shop.   I highly recommend picking up a case, while supplies last… you can (and will) thank me later. 
 
SONNET
2016 PINOT NOIR
TONDRE’S GRAPEFIELD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 11%
 
Winery Notes:The 2016 vintage pinot noir shows an array of cherry fruit, red berries, nutmeg, and that recognizable Santa Lucia Highlands AVA spiciness, that resembles dried herbs, potpourri and briar patch. The palate is soft and plush with balanced acidity and moderate tannin.”
 
Customers that enjoy Sonnet Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2013 Fort Ross FRV Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Matias Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
FORT ROSS
2013 PINOT NOIR
FRV, SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
 
From Jeb Dunnuck: “The  2013 Pinot Noir FRV Fort Ross  Vineyard sports a ruby color as well as an open knit, ready-to-go bouquet of dried cherries, tobacco, menthol, and dried herbs. It’s pretty, medium-bodied, rounded, and supple, with an evolved style ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.” 90 Points
MATIAS 
2015 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast:Rose petals, cranberry and dust show on the nose of this bottling, which grows more intense on the nose as it sits open, offering riper fruit. Dried sagebrush and baked earth flavors show on the sip as the red fruit and floral components arise with grace.”  93 Points

2016 Juslyn Second Daughter Spring Mountain Estate Proprietary Red

JUSLYN  

SECOND DAUGHTER
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
SPRING MOUNTAIN ESTATE

 
There are lots of limited release wines that the majority of wine lovers will never hear about…  Juslyn’s 4 barrel production of their Second Daughter Proprietary Red is a perfect example.  Juslyn is one of the top wineries in the valley, and if you follow Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, you’ve likely taken notice.  They’re making high 90’s scores look easy… Their high-elevation Estate vineyard on Spring Mountain produces stunning fruit, and now consulting winemaker Angelina Mondavi is taking their winemaking to an even higher level.  Angelina worked alongside Jayson Woodbridge at Hundred Acre, producing stunning wines.  The 2016 Second Daughter is a ridiculously great value at it’s $65 retail price…. You may want to skip down to the order link and grab as much as you can… 
 
Combining 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, the 2016 Second Daughter conveys all of the noble traits that make Spring Mountain so desired, with a dense core of fruit, savory spices, chocolate mint and sweet mulberries.  The wine was kept in barrel for 24 months and the 2016 vintage is absolute gorgeous right now and promises another 10-12 years of enjoyment.  Just don’t wait too long to secure your case…  
 
JUSLYN 
SECOND DAUGHTER
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
SPRING MOUNTAIN ESTATE
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 

Click to Order 

 
Winery Notes:Our first release of our Second Daughter. The wine is inspired by the chosen family and close ties between Perry, CJ and Stephanie, their “Second Daughter”. The unit has worked together since 2003, professionally and personally through countless ups and downs that only true family can survive. In 2010 each inked an inspiring Thai-scripted tattoo on their left forearm, meaning “Eternal Love”. Our Second Daughter is dedicated to the Juslyn family near and far, you always have our Eternal Love

2016 Vin Perdu Napa Valley Proprietary Red

VIN PERDU

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

 
Exceptional quality in the bottle is always paramount, but there’s something extra great about a wine that exceeds expectations in terms of quality and has really cool packaging to back it up.  Heidi Barrett is not only innovative in her winemaking, but she also has some of the most creative packaging too. Vin Perdu is a great example and the label actually animates as you view it from different angles, which adds another element to the drama that ensues before tasting any Heidi Barrett made wine.  The 2016 is impressively deep and layered with lavish dark berries, sweet oak, spices and mocha.  It’s already earned 94 points from Vinous and you might want to grab a case of it before this hologram disappears…
 
Arising from Amuse Bouche, Au Sommet, La Sirena,  Fantesca and Barrett & Barrett vineyards, the 2016 checks in at 75% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.  As one of Napa Valley’s most talented winemakers, some of Heidi’s past and present clients includes Amuse Bouche, Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Grace Family, Revana, David Arthur and Barbour.  I strongly recommend  a case of this absolutely stunning Heidi Barrett made wine…
 
VIN PERDU
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $95/btl
 
 
From Vinous: The 2016 Vin Perdu is absolutely gorgeous. In 2016, Vin Perdu is once again based on a core of Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, ample and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2016 has a lot to recommend it. Mocha, plum, bittersweet chocolate, leather and spice meld together in a super-expressive, resonant wine from John Schwartz and Heidi Barrett. The Vin Perdu is technically the second wine of Amuse Bouche, but in many vintages I prefer it. It is one of the great values in Napa Valley wine.”  94 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Vin Perdu may also enjoy these two terrific Red Blends…
2014 Keever Inspirado Napa Valley Proprietary Red
2016 Coup De Foudre 37.2 Cuvee
KEEVER
2014 INSPIRADO
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

 

Occasionally, we offer a wine so great that it becomes an object of legend, and KeeverInspirado is at the top of that list.  Appropriately named Inspirado, which translates to Inspired, the wine was carefully constructed by Celia Welch who’s an absolute legend.  You might recognize her artistry from Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens, Barbour, Dalla Valle… The 2014 Inspirado is even richer and more opulent than the 2013, opening up to a basket of ripe berries intermixed with holiday spices, black chocolate and vanilla bean….

COUP DE FOUDRE
2016 CUVEE 37.2
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $75/btl

Click to Order

From Vinous:The 2016 Merlot Cuvee 37.2 is just as good from bottle as it was from barrel. Deeply layered and yet also super-polished, the 2016 has much to recommend it. A rush of dark cherry, plum, leather, smoke, licorice, grilled herb and earthy notes abound in this beautifully resonant and expressive Merlot-based blend. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 has terrific freshness.” 94 Points

2017 Flowers Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir

FLOWERS

ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR
2017 SONOMA COAST
 
Blooming with freshly picked strawberry, intense raspberry, wild lavender and rose petals, the 2017 Flowers Sonoma Coast Rosé of Pinot Noir cultivates feelings of energy and jubilation with a single sip. The 2017 was harvested from a selection of family-owned sites within the extreme Sonoma Coast, and including fruit from the winery’s Estate vineyard located in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA, which in 2011 was approved as its own Appellation within the Sonoma Coast.  The area is also a source for such notables as Peter Michael, Marcassin, Martinelli, Fort Ross and Pahlmeyer to list a few, and with a 95 Point score from California Wine Review, I strongly recommend planting some of this in your glass.
 
With attention to every detail, Flowers hand-sorts their fruit on their custom-built shaker table before gently dispersing the berries onto the next sorting table where six sorters assess every cluster before allowing only the best fruit to pass through by gravity flow into the fermenters.  The 2017 is fresh and vibrant and grows even more complex with aeration and at $29.99/btl it simply should not be missed.
 
FLOWERS
ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR
2017 SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

 Click to Order

 
From California Wine Review: “Layered aromatics of strawberry, raspberry, starfruit and rose petal highlight the complex palate, driven by orange marmalade countered with fresh citrus peels, and balanced by the signature coastal mineralogy and defined salinity.”  95 Points, CA Wine Review
 
Customers who enjoy Flowers Rosé, may also enjoy these two outstanding Rosés… 
2017 Chateau Des Garcinieres Provence Rose
2017 Azur Rose of Syrah
CHÂTEAU DES GARCINIÈRES
2017 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CÔTES DE PROVENCE
 
Your Price: $23/btl

Click to Order 

Importers Tasting Notes: “… Blessed by the same sun and sea breezes as Tahiti Beach, Cap 21, and the memory of Voile Rouge, it embodies the delicate, romantic taste of 45% Grenache, 45% Cinsault and 10% Rolle, marrying the refreshing flavors of strawberry and cherry, mixed with mineral nuances into one glass…”

AZUR
2017 ROSÉ
 
Your Price $31.99/btl

Click to Order

 
A remarkably compelling, Provençal inspired Rosé, brought to life by the ever talented Julien Fayard, who learned his craft at Chateau Lafite Rothschild as well as gained valuable, first-hand experience as Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka…  Offers elegant layers of raspberry, strawberry and watermelon…
2015 GRP Henry Brothers Vineyard Howell Mountian Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 GRO Henry Brothers Vineyard Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

GRO 2015 GRP Henry Brothers Vineyard Howell Mountian Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
HENRY BROTHERS VINEYARD
2015 HOWELL MOUNTAIN

 
One of the greatest benefits of having our shop in Yountville, is the people that we meet. The connections that we make often result in discovering great wines that are somewhat unknown in the wine world, and one of the best examples is the 2015 GRO Howell Mountain Cabernet.  It’s a tiny project by Lars Bjorkman and Molly Hill. Lars’ day job is crafting the iconic Saddleback wines in Oakville where he works alongside legendary California winemaker Nils Venge.  He produced a whopping 80 cases of Howell Mountain Cabernet from a vineyard next-door to Dunn… The 2015 oozes with intense mulberry, blackberry cassis, freshly ground coffee, pencil shavings and black chocolates.  At $90/btl this wine competes with the best…but join our (free) Insider’s Club and unlock special offers!
 
This stunning  interpretation of boutique Howell Mountain Cabernet showcases all of the hallmarks that make the area so desired with authoritative power, towering structure remarkable detail.  Commanding a presence from one of the valley’s best vintages, one that the Wine Spectator describes as “Short crop delivered big quality surprise; rich, supple and deeply colored”, this wine is absolutely exemplarily.  This wine will likely sell out in a matter of hours, so if you’d like to add some to your cellar, time is of the essence.
 
GRO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
HENRY BROTHERS VINEYARD
2015 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $90/btl
 
 
Winery Notes:The 2015 vintage from Henry Brothers Vineyard is an intense year from an intense site.  Cabernet Sauvignon lovers will rejoice in this rich, inky, wine from a vintage that developed during the end of the drought years, when vines had to push through the red, volcanic soil to find water and nutrients in order to survive.  Tonnage was extremely light this year, on average 10 clusters per vine, so get this wine while you can.”
 
Customers who enjoy Gro Howell Mountain Cabernet may also enjoy these two outstanding Cabs…
 
2015 Juslyn Perry's Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red 2014 Laird Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
JUSLYN
2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Perry’s Blend is deep garnet-purple colored and reveals fragrant kirsch, stewed tea and rose scents with touches of sandalwood, preserved plums, blackberry pie and mulberries plus eucalyptus and tilled soil. The palate is full-bodied and boldly fruited with a firm, velvety frame and a very long, multilayered finish.”  95 Points
LAIRD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Vinous:A rich, unctuous wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is sweet, layered and enveloping in feel. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, cloves and new leather are all fused together. This is an especially intense, flamboyant expression of the vintage.”  90 Points
2016 Sans Liege The Offering Proprietary Red

2016 Sans Liege The Offering Proprietary Red

SANS LIEGE 2016 Sans Liege The Offering Proprietary Red

2016 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY RED

 
Over the years, Sans Liege The Offering has been a staple in our shop and a favorite among customers. Unsurprisingly, the 2016 vintage recently earned 94 Points from the Wine Spectator.  The wine is inspired by the deliciously complex wines from the Southern Rhone Valley and it’s made in a magnetic style that draws you in with lavish aromas.  The blend is a fusion of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre and the 2016 washes over your palate with vibrant black fruits, smoked bacon, crème de cassis, juicy blackberries, and savory spices that you coming back for more…  The 2016 is absolutely rocking and at under thirty per bottle the quality is unmatched when it comes to juicy red blends.
 
Bursting onto the scene from top vineyards located in California’s iconic Santa Barbara County… this expressive blend spends an optimal 22 months in barrel and blossoms for more than a year in bottle before release.  Always a terrific value, an earlier vintage of The Offering commanded national attention when it ranked #34 in the world on the 2011 Wine Spectator Top 100, and if you’re searching for a unique and delicious blend to share with your friends and family this year…  Seriously, grab some of this and you will be thanking me later.
 
SANS LIEGE
2016 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $29/btl
 
From The Wine Spectator:Distinctive, refined and well-built, offering expressive black cherry, cigar box, green olive and cured meat accents that build richness on the long finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Viognier. Drink now through 2026.” 94 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Sans Liege The Offering may also enjoy these two stunning blends…
2013 Paul Jaboulet Aine Gigondas
2016 Clos Du Caillou Cotes du Rhone Cuvee
PAUL JABOULET AINÉ
2013 GIGONDAS
PIERRE AIGUILLE
 
Your Price: $27.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Vinous: Limpid ruby. Perfumed aromas of ripe red berries, peppery spices and potpourri, complicated by a woodsmoke nuance. Silky, expansive and gently sweet, offering concentrated raspberry liqueur and lavender pastille flavors and an allspice quality that builds on the back half. Finishes sweet, sappy and persistent, with firming fine-grained tannins adding grip.”  90 Points
CLOS Du CAILLOU
2016 COTES Du RHONE
CUVEE UNIQUE VV
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

Click to Order

 
Robert Parker’s Review on the Regular Cotes to Rhone (The VV is Even Better)…  “The estate’s entry-level wine, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone Le Caillou is a stunning value, offering gluggable cherry and blueberry fruit, ample weight and a velvety texture. This Grenache-dominated blend should drink well for the next 5 years.”  90 Points
2014 Enos Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvingon

2014 Enos Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

ENOS 2014 Enos Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvingon

2014 ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY

We know that we’ve done our job when we introduce a wine that performs so far beyond its modest price level, that it immediately generates an avalanche of re-order requests that begin nearly simultaneous with the delivery notices. That’s exactly what happened when we offered Enos’s Knight’s Valley Cabernet in January, and the demand was so vast that there wasn’t nearly enough wine to satisfy it.  Fortunately the winery’s Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is even better, and comes from a 5 acre hillside vineyard in Sonoma County that’s perfectly suited for Bordeaux varietals.  At $60 this is a memorable Cabernet that delights even the most particular wine aficionado… It’s unfathomably great and competes with many of the best wines in the shop for greatest ever value wine.
 
Commanding a presence from one of the valley’s best vintages, one that the Wine Spectator describes as producing “dense, charming, cellar-worthy wines,” the 2014 vintage brought a fuller, richer and more structured wine.  When you taste it for the first time you’ll be shocked by the level of quality, which is amplified in all the right places… A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that’s densely compact and opens up to a melody of pulverized berries laced with crushed granite, dried spices and mixed chocolates.  I recommend doubling up on the 2014 Estate… You’ll be glad you did…
 
ENOS
2014 ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $60/btl
 
Your Price: Insider’s Club Member’s Only

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

 
Tasting Notes: “This intriguing Cabernet begins with a compelling nose of black cherries, red currants and cocoa powder, followed by pipe tobacco, toasted hazelnuts and sweet vanilla spice.  On the palate, focused blackberry and chocolate covered cherries intertwine beautifully with a complex, earthy wet clay character along with slightly dusty tannins.  The finish is detailed, long and fresh, without be heavy or cloying. A delight to enjoy now and will age beautifully for a decade or so. Serious wine at a not-so-serious price…93+ Points
2016 Coup De Foudre Napa Valley 37.2 Cuvee

2016 Coup De Foudre Napa Valley Cuvee 37.2

COUP DE FOUDRE 2016 Coup De Foudre Napa Valley 37.2 Cuvee

2016 CUVEE 37.2
NAPA VALLEY

 
With a name like Coup de Foudre  (pronounced koo dah foo drah) meaning the moment when lightning strikes, or when something unforgettable occurs that you want to capture forever, my expectations were set high…  They were made even higher by knowing who’s behind the project… Coup de Foudre is owned by John Schwarts whom you might recognize from Amuse Bouche, Au Sommet, Vin Perdu and PharaohMoans.  John has an eye for exceptional talent, working with the likes of Heidi Barrett, et.al.  The 2016 Cuvee shattered my absolutely stratospheric expectations, starting with a unique double label design where you can peel the top layer off to keep, leaving one more below it, to a riveting bouquet and dense, polished core that’s stunningly balanced, poised and polished.  At $75 this wine has everything that I look for in an Ultra Premium Napa Valley Blend.
 
The wine was pristinely constructed by talented winemaker Kent Jarman who perfected his craft at Kenefick Ranch Winery and Duckhorn Vineyards in the early 2000’s.  This distinctive Bordeaux styled blend is built around a core of top-quality Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot.  The 2016 has already earned 94 Points from Vinous and with 450 cases produced, this one most certainly won’t be available for long.
 

 

COUP DE FOUDRE 
2016 CUVEE 37.2
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $75/btl
 
From Vinous:The 2016 Merlot Cuvee 37.2 is just as good from bottle as it was from barrel. Deeply layered and yet also super-polished, the 2016 has much to recommend it. A rush of dark cherry, plum, leather, smoke, licorice, grilled herb and earthy notes abound in this beautifully resonant and expressive Merlot-based blend. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 has terrific freshness.”  94 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Coup de Foudre Cuvee 37.2 may also enjoy these two terrific Red Blends…
2015 Rapp Ranch Cutter's Reserve Napa Valley Proprietary Red
2016 Vin Perdu Napa Valley Proprietary Red
RAPP RANCH 
CUTTERS RESERVE 
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

Click to Order

Tasting Notes:This Napa Valley red blend is uniquely driven by 45% Petit Verdot.  Blueberry , licorice, and rose petal entice the nose with secondary aromas of rhubarb, mint and graphite.  Medium bodied on the palate, a burst of mixed berries, anise, and kirsch kiss the tongue.  Balanced, firm tannins lead to a bright, long, lingering finish.

VIN PERDU
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $75/btl 

Click to Order