2018 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

BERINGER

PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Jacob and Frederik Beringer purchased 215 acres of prime Napa Valley land in 1868, solidifying Beringer’s reputation as a critical player among the first wineries in the valley. Later on, Beringer purchased a handful of other premium vineyard locations ranging from the valley floor to the highest peaks, garnering extreme complexity and versatility in winemaking styles.
 
The Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is selected from the best plots of their reserve vineyards, vinified separately, aged 18 months in new French oak, and another 16 months in the bottle. The winery is the first and only in history to have a red wine and white wine honored as the #1 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine. The fabulous 2018 vintage is already gaining enthusiastic praise, with many scores in the very high 90s.
 
BERINGER
PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $170
 
Your Price: $165
 
 
“Wild blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, tobacco and dark spice on the nose. Dried violets, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins and a creamy texture. Intense, yet restrained and refined, with a solid core of dark berries and bitter chocolate. Really focused and crafted with exemplary Napa cabernet character…”
98 Points
 
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 90% new French oak. It’s a beautiful wine that shows the vintage’s pure, elegant, yet concentrated style perfectly. Gorgeous crème de cassis, violets, blueberries, and cedar pencil notes emerge from the glass, and this beauty builds incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a lively, pure, layered texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It can be enjoyed any time over the coming 20-25 years.”
97 Points
 
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is every bit as impressive today as it was last year. It might very well be the finest Private Reserve I have ever tasted. More than anything else, the 2018 impresses with its energy and total sense of finesse. It’s a wine that marries power with vibrancy in grand style. As always, most of the fruit is sourced from Beringer’s ranches on Howell Mountain.”
97 Points
2018 Les Hauts De Granget Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux

2018 Les Hauts De Granget Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin VogtSaint Emilion

LES HAUTS DE GRANGET

SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU
BORDEAUX 2018

2018 Les Hauts De Granget Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux
The Union de Producteurs de Saint Emilion was established during the economic crisis of the 1930s to unite several vineyards and estates in the means of production. For over 80 years, the emphasis has been on quality and responsibility, as evidenced by their multiple certifications and state-of-the-art facility.
 
Les Hauts de Granget produces elegant wines with sophistication, reflecting the subliminal terroir of St Émilion. With the help of four oenologists and a viticultural expert, their 2018 vintage won the Medaille d’Or in France, a blind tasting celebrating the most impressive wines in the country. It also charmed the Decanter World Wine Awards, receiving an incredible 96 point score.
 
LES HAUTS DE GRANGET
SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU
BORDEAUX 2018
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“Ripe black cherry, blueberry, cedar and cinnamon on the nose. Full bodied with fine grained ripe tannins. Cabernet Franc helps to give some refreshing acidity that balances the depth of fruit concentration.”
96 Points
2019 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

2019 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesUSA

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2019

2019 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo
Turning heads with yet another massive score, Eric Jensen of My Favorite Neighbor created an ideal combination of perfectly ripe fruit, flavor intensity, and lavish textures, giving some of the best $50 Cabernets anywhere a real challenge. As a homage, he created this Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from exceptional vineyards around Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Edna Valley, crafted to deliver unreal quality and shake up domestic the Cabernet Sauvignon market in this price range.
 
Eric is dedicated to growing fruit for some of the best wineries in Paso Robles, gaining experience from neighboring farmers and vintners, particularly from his original favorite neighbor, Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery. Farming is life for him, and the farmers he works with all share the common goal of growing the best fruit possible using organic or biodynamic practices, coaxing the vines to perform at their ultimate best. The results are simply stunning, and with the new 96 point score, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2019
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Blended with a bit of Syrah and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep ruby-purple color and an alluring fragrance of cassis, violet, aniseed, bitter chocolate and coffee beans. It’s notable this vintage for Goldilocks ripeness and seamless lift, offering a chocolate-like texture and very long finish.”
96 Points
 
“…more elegant and focused, with medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, redcurrants, green tobacco, and cedary spice. I love its texture, it has ripe, polished tannins, plenty of sweet fruit, and a great, great finish, all while staying in a relatively compact, and again, elegant package. As I’ve written in the past, it would cost three to four times the price from Napa. It’s worth noting the change in appellation from Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo County, which probably allows for a wider range of fruit.”
95 Points
 
“2019 My Favorite Neighbor is deeply aromatic with incense, ripe black plums, blackcurrants, and chocolate-covered cherries. The wine has a rich, decadent mouthfeel with voluminous flavors of blueberry crumble, mocha, and butterscotch. The wine has an edgy minerality, like wet stones after a rainstorm, enhanced by the soft, chalky tannins, finishing with a succulent, velvety texture. Drink now until 2031.”
94 points
2019 Baxter Chardonnay Oppenlander Vineyard

2019 Baxter Chardonnay Oppenlander Vineyard

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtMendocinoUSA

BAXTER

OPPENLANDER VINEYARD
CHARDONNAY 2019

2019 Baxter Chardonnay Oppenlander Vineyard
Philip Baxter gained inspiration for winemaking as a young boy working alongside his father, an influential figure and a supporter of his endeavors. After attending UC Davis, Phil took an internship in Burgundy. In France, he contributed to wine production from more than 30 vineyards ranging from village level to Grand Cru, developing French-winemaking techniques he would later bring to California.
 
Baxter wines are exclusively handmade, benefiting from Philip’s 17 years of experience and gentle, traditional French techniques that celebrate the varietal and the terroir. The grapes came from a small block on the Oppenlander vineyard. They were harvested by hand, fermented in neutral French oak, and aged on the lees for 12 months, adding body to the fresh, pure fruit flavors for a domestic Chablisienne-style Chardonnay that’ll rock your world when you try it.
 
BAXTER
OPPENLANDER VINEYARD
CHARDONNAY 2019
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The 2019 Baxter Oppenlander Chardonnay has an alluring nose opening with chamomile, orange zest, green apple, Meyer lemon, brioche, vanilla ice cream, and crushed rocks. The aromas transfer to the palate with the added complexity of white peach, apricot, and nectarine with a hint of freshly baked brioche. The bright acidity complements the zesty minerality and crisp fruit flavors that portray elegance in a glass and varietal purity.”
94 Points
2019 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

LEWIS CELLARS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Randy Lewis was a professional racecar driver for over two decades and raced in the Formula Three in Europe, where he serendipitously fell in love with wine. Driven to create wines that would compete with the best in the world, Randy’s competitive drive led him to open a Napa Valley winery. He built a talented winery team and grower relationships that would lead him to clinch the #1 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list in 2016.
 
Lewis Cellars is a very hands-on operation from the vineyard to distribution, ensuring the highest quality standards in their goal of producing truly exceptional wines. Winemaker James McCeney monitors the vineyard’s progress year-round, with each developmental stage meticulously observed so that the grapes are picked at full maturity, guaranteeing the hedonistic flavor profile that’s become their house-style.
 
LEWIS CELLARS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Layered with ripe berry, red currant and ambrosial “on the vine” character, our 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet is deliciously complex. Inflected with dusty ripe fruit and chocolaty floral aromas, the wine is concentrated yet classic with remarkable silky texture spanning the palate and augmenting the finish.
 
“Ripe black fruit, dried coconut, walnut and bark on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Ripe and dense with a spirited finish. Slightly old school but attractive and intense. Try after 2023.”
92 Points
2020 Kindred Rose Sonoma Coast Sangiacomo Vineyard

2020 Kindred Rose Sonoma Coast Sangiacomo Vineyard

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtRoséSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

KINDRED

SONOMA COAST ROSÉ
SANGIACOMO VINEYARD 2020

2020 Kindred Rose Sonoma Coast Sangiacomo Vineyard
Kindred Rosé celebrates the deep spiritual connection established over a glass of wine, bringing people from all walks of life into the same time and place. Proprietor Kevin Jones and winemaker Mike Smith met at a summer party over wine samples provided by Mike that instantly ignited their partnership, resulting in this glorious Rosé.
 
Mike is an innovative genius who’s made wine for Myriad, Quivet, Ancillary, and Carter, to name a few. Regardless of current trends, he follows his instincts, year after year, turning out killer wines scoring 95 points and above. This opulent, concentrated rosé is 100% Tallgrass Clone 113 Pinot Noir from the remarkable Sangiacomo Vineyard and was the Gold Medal winner at the AFW International Rosé competition.
 
KINDRED
SONOMA COAST ROSÉ
SANGIACOMO VINEYARD 2020
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The 2020 Kindred Rosé is like a flower just before bloom, with each petal adding an additional layer of complexity. The wine opens with aromas of orange blossoms, rose petals, strawberry yogurt, raspberries, white peaches, and seashells. The palate brings additional fruit flavors such as ripe cranberries, watermelon, and nectarines that add to the repertoire of diversity and accent the medium to full-bodied rosé in all the right places.”
95 Points
2020 Bodegas Pinea 12 by Pinea Ribera del Duero

2020 Bodegas Pinea 12 by Pinea Ribera del Duero

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSpainTempranillo

BODEGAS PINEA 

“12” by PINEA
RIBERA del DUERO 2020

2020 Bodegas Pinea 12 by Pinea Ribera del Duero
Located at an average elevation over 3,000 feet, Bodegas Pinea cultivates some of Spain’s most outstanding examples of Tempranillo. The harsh continental climate of the Ribera del Duero region forced Tempranillo vines to adapt to frigid winters and blistering summers, causing a thicker skin that contributes to a boost of tannins and deeper color that Rioja fans seek.
 
The “12” is a collaboration between Bodegas Pinea and Texas A&M Athletics devoted to creating a luxury product for an everyday price. The 2020 vintage experienced ideal conditions with a typical rainy spring, perfectly sunny summer days, and cool nights resulting in a perfect balance between flavors, acidity, and tannins that complement anything from pizza to a ribeye steak for under $20.
 
BODEGAS PINEA 
“12” by PINEA
RIBERA del DUERO 2020
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
“The Bodegas Pinea “12” Ribera del Duero 2020 is an unbelievably powerful value that delivers concentration and complexity at a meager price. It begins with an intense nose of red and black fruits, dried tea leaves, subtle earth, and baking spices. The palate is juicy and rich, with balanced, ripe flavors, depth, and complexity. It is nearly impossible to find a wine that delivers so much for such a low price.”
94 Points
2019 Domaine Armelle Et Bernard Rion La Croix Blanche Red Burgundy

2019 Domaine Armelle Et Bernard Rion La Croix Blanche Red Burgundy

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyFranceKevin VogtPinot Noir

DOMAINE ARMELLE ET BERNARD RION

LA CROIX BLANCHE
RED BURGUNDY 2019

2019 Domaine Armelle Et Bernard Rion La Croix Blanche Red Burgundy

Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion’s parcels in Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Vougeot, are strategically located in some of Burgundy’s most desired wine-producing villages. The estate was founded in 1896 by Pierre Rion, who acquired the vines from Chateau de la Berchere from his years as a dedicated sharecropper and is still owned and operated by the same family.

The fruit for La Croix Blanche comes from vineyards planted with vines averaging 50 years old, just south of the village of Vosne-Romanée on the border with the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. The grapes were hand-harvested and fermented in cement before aging in oak barrels for 12 to 15 months, forming fine tannins and red fruit aromas, evolving into classic Burgundian notes of savory mushrooms and earth, ridiculously great at this low price.

 

DOMAINE ARMELL ET BERNARD RION
LA CROIX BLANCHE
RED BURGUNDY 2019

Your Price: $39.99

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“The 2019 Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion Bourgogne La Croix Blanche Vieilles Vignes 2019 begins with a gorgeous nose of bright red cherries, fresh red currants, dried wild mushrooms, white pepper, and light florals. The palate has concentrated, penetrating red fruits combined with a slightly savory earthy complexity, made in a focused, linear style that is perfectly balanced. My first thought when I tasted it was what an incredible find this is, and I can’t remember tasting a red burgundy this great at this low price.”

94 Points

2019 Fortune 1621 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Fortune 1621 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

FORTUNE 1621

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Fortune 1621 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Fortune 1621 is a value Cabernet Sauvignon founded by the Bump family, proud owners of Darms Lane Winery, located just South of Yountville in the Oak Knoll District. Their vineyards lay in the shadows of the Mayacamas Mountain Range, in an area cooler than many other parts of Napa Valley, where Bordeaux varieties flourish. 
 
The Bump family hired winemaker Brian Mox in 2003, elevating the quality of their wines to new heights. Mox gained his Enology degree from UC Davis and honed his skills at notable wineries Etude, Lewis Cellars, and Laird Family Estates. He creates this beautifully balanced Napa Valley Cabernet by combing estate fruit with small grower vineyards in Oak Knoll, St. Helena, and Rutherford, crafted to represent Napa Valley as a whole while offering uncompromising quality.
 
FORTUNE 1621
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Fortune 1621’s 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon hosts a variety of enticing aromas beginning with lavender potpourri, black currants, ripe blueberries, chai spice, and a melted Hershey’s milk chocolate bar. On the palate, the wine’s powerful flavors of red plums, gingerbread, and sweet balsamic reduction coat the mouth with plush, velvety tannins that help carry the sublime finish. To me, this wine says, “the door’s always open,” with its amiable approachability that will gain some savory complexity with aging but is ready whenever you are.”
92 Points
2018 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

2018 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

MT. BRAVE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MT. VEEDER 2018

2018 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder
Mount Veeder is Napa Valley’s largest sub-AVA, spanning over 15,000 acres; however, only 1,000 acres of it are grapevines making up just two percent of the valley’s total production. Viticulture on the mountain is challenging due to its rocky terrain of ancient seabed soils that are extremely thin, holding little water, making the capture of winter rains vitally important.
 
Celebrated winemaker Chris Carpenter is a mastermind with mountain fruit, producing classic vintages at Lokoya and Cardinale before the Mt. Brave endeavor began in 2007. The Mt. Brave vineyard produces fruit with tiny, concentrated berries full of flavor and structural components that will gracefully guide the wine down a beautiful aging path but vinified to allow the wine to be amiable and approachable right now.
 
MT. BRAVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MT. VEEDER 2018
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Lots of cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as classic Mount Veeder notes of lavender, violets, bouquet garni, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. A deep, full-bodied mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a plush, layered texture, beautiful tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. Another head-turning wine from this label, it’s a candidate for the best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon out there at the price point.”
97 Points
 
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Brave is fabulous. Inky, rich and explosive, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and tons of personality. Graphite, blue/purplish fruit, blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, sage, lavender, menthol give the 2018 tons of character to match its explosive feel. The brooding, backward wine is going to need quite a bit of time to unwind, but boy is it gorgeous.”
97 Points
 
“…Deep garnet-purple colored, it springs from the glass with vibrant crème de cassis, baked plums and Morello cherries scents, followed by nuances of sautéed herbs, clove oil, mocha and scorched earth. The full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black and blue fruits, sporting a rock-solid backbone of grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long and minerally.”
95+ Points