2018 Hanzell Sebella Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2018 Hanzell Sebella Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

HANZELL

SEBELLA PINOT NOIR
2018 SONOMA COAST

2018 Hanzell Sebella Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Hanzell’s winemaking technique is simple; to nurture the vines and vinify without compromising the distinct qualities Mother Nature provides. This natural approach resulted in Hanzell becoming a reference standard for producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with uncanny longevity and remarkable balance. They’ve been the home of great innovation and invention in winemaking for more than a half-century, and their Sebella Pinot Noir is crafted with the same exacting standards as their top Estate wines, offering substantial value at around 1/3 the cost. 
 
Marked by their refreshing acidity, dynamic complexity, succulent fruits, and perfect balance, Hanzell’s Pinot Noirs illuminate each vineyard’s unique personality and those that farm it. The winemaking team ages this Pinot in primarily neutral oak barrels, preserving the most natural essence of the fruit. 
 
2018 was a record vintage for Sonoma County Pinot Noir, described the Wine Spectator as, “Nearly perfect conditions; full-flavored wines backed by crisp acidity.” Ideal conditions resulted in Hanzell’s latest harvest since 2011, resulting in spectacular flavor development.
 
HANZELL
SEBELLA PINOT NOIR
2018 SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $32
 
 
“Robust in firm, integrated tannin, this wine is textured, lengthy and complex. Tangy red cherry, strawberry and pomegranate wrap around punchy acidity and structure with a stone-like minerality and elements of dried herb, cardamom and white pepper beckoning and developing in the glass.”
93 Points
 
“An elegant, burnished version, with lively acidity backing the flavors of plum compote and dried cherry, featuring minerally accents. Cedar and spice details show on the finish. Drink now through 2024.”
92 Points
2018 Harvey & Harriet Proprietary Red Paso Robles

2018 Harvey & Harriet Proprietary Red Paso Robles

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

HARVEY & HARRIET

PROPRIETARY RED 
2018 PASO ROBLES

2018 Harvey & Harriet Proprietary Red Paso Robles
Designed for wine lovers seeking elegant, collector-worthy wines that are accessibly priced, Eric Jensen created Harvey & Harriet as a homage to his parents, who could never afford most of the top-level Cabernet blends today. He diligently creates this wine from premier sites in Paso Robles, blending it to showcase the depth, intensity, charisma, and character expected from much higher-end wines. With mid-90s scores, this is, as Jeb Dunnuck writes, a “polished, elegant beauty,” and at $32, you can’t go wrong with a case. 
 
Gaining experience from neighbors Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure, and friend Justin Smith of Saxum, Eric Jensen’s wines make a powerful statement of quality, value and do so without pretension. 
 
Eric thoughtfully crafts Harvey and Harriet in a rich, showy style by blending 40% Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. This unique blend walks a tightrope of elegance and intensity, delivering a high level of enjoyment at a realistic price.
 
HARVEY & HARRIET
PROPRIETARY RED 
2018 PASO ROBLES
 
Your Price: $32
 
 
“Deep ruby-black in color, it has a very layered nose with aromas of exotic spices, crème de cassis, blackcurrant bud, tar and tilled black soil with hints of violet, lilac, cardamom and baking spices. The medium to full-bodied palate is silky and has a great interplay of fruit and spice. It has a firm, pleasantly chalky frame and just enough freshness, finishing long with a youthful cloaking of oak spice.”
93-95+ Points
 
“…the entry-level Harvey and Harriet is always made in a richer, softer style compared to the classic My Favorite Neighbor cuvée. The 2018 offers a big, juicy bouquet of crème de cassis and jammy blackberries interwoven with lots of tobacco, cedar pencil, and earthy, foresty aromas and flavors. This ripe yet medium to full-bodied, polished, elegant beauty will drink nicely for at least a decade.”
94 Points
2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley

2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50CalistogaCarnerosKevin VogtMerlotNapaOak KnollUSAYountville

DUCKHORN 

2018 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley
Inspired by Bordeaux and a foundational focus of Duckhorn Winery since 1978, Merlot’s mesmeric identity and profound elegance were recognized by Dan Duckhorn as underappreciated in North America, and he set out to fix it. Having unwavering consistency and exemplary varietal character, Duckhorn dominates California Merlot. The 2018 release is a consummate example of the winery’s cumulative growth over the past four decades, and at $45, this deserves a spot on the table. 
 
Duckhorn’s Napa Valley Merlot reflects the diversity of Napa Valley terroir, enriched by Estate Vineyards and other top sites in Carneros, Oak Knoll, Calistoga, and Yountville. A quarter of the blend is harvested from the winery’s Three Palms, Rector Creek, Stout, Monitor Ledge, Patzimaro, and Cork Tree Vineyards, balanced with other renowned sites like Stagecoach, Hyde, and Hudson. 
 
A hallmark of Duckhorn’s Napa Merlot is the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon for added depth, structure, and signature black cherry, plum, and spice characteristics. Quality was propelled even further by the 2018 vintage, and after resting for 15 months in barrel, this wine is ready to delight.
 
DUCKHORN 
2018 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $56
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“From its tempting aromas of ripe cherry and black raspberry to its sweet, dusty tannins and supple texture, this a lush and expansive expression of Napa Valley Merlot. Luxurious flavors of black plum, rhubarb crumble and chocolate-covered raspberry mingle with hints of graphite and clove on the long, vibrant finish.”
2016 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red

2016 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

LA SIRENA

PIRATE TREASURED
2016 PROPRIETARY RED

2016 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red
La Sirena’s Pirate TreasuRed is a unique seven varietal blend reimagined each vintage, constructed through Heidi Barrett’s meticulous blending skills and connections for high-quality grapes. The varietal composition changes with each new year, but the exquisite, deep, multilayered, fresh style remains constant. 2016 vintage marks her 10th vintage of Pirate TreasuRed and is one of the biggest, most concentrated versions yet. 
 
Heidi Barrett was immersed in wine from a young age and worked alongside her father, Dick Peterson, at various wineries. She started La Sirena in 1994 after honing her skills at Dalla Valle and Screaming Eagle. 
 
With seven varietals to work with, each plays an essential role in the wine’s aromatics, structure, textures, and fruit characteristics. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides the framework, while Grenache contributes seductive fruits, Cabernet Franc adds power and definition, and the list goes on.
 
LA SIRENA
PIRATE TREASURED
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The 2016 Pirate delivers a deep ruby colored wine with lush, ripe aromas of black and red fruit like plum and berry, accompanied by notes of fine leather, toast and spice. A complex blend with lots of interesting layers playing off of each other. Flavors persist as does the texture of the wine. Extracted and big but not heavy, with moderate silky structural tannins and a round, well-balanced finish that lingers. A versatile wine that, above all else, is fun to drink! 2016 marks our 10th release of this blend – a picture-perfect vintage known for producing classic expressions of Napa Valley wines.”
2019 Chalone Pinot Noir Chalone Appellation

2019 Chalone Pinot Noir Chalone Appellation

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirUSA

CHALONE

2019 PINOT NOIR
CHALONE APPELLATION 

2019 Chalone Pinot Noir Chalone Appellation
Encountering dramatic climate changes and sweeping ocean breeze, Chalone Vineyard tops the Gavilan plateau on Chalone Peak’s North Slope of the Gavilan Mountain Range. Monterey County’s oldest winery, Chalone, is a historic winery that played a pivotal role in the 1976 judgment of Paris, ranking #3, besting some of Burgundy and California’s top producers. Chalone ranked #1 two years later at the re-creation of the Paris tasting in San Francisco. Their Pinot Noir is made in a clean, focused, and linear style, matching power with balance, with everything in the right place. 
 
Rich in limestone, decomposed granite, and clay, Chalone Vineyard’s significant levels of calcareous rock contribute to the wine’s intensity, powerfully reflecting the vineyard’s unique terroir. It’s so special that Chalone was granted appellation status in 1982 and remains the only winery in the Chalone appellation. 
 
Chalone’s sizeable diurnal temperature swings encourage fully developed and expressive flavors while maintaining healthy natural acidy, resulting in an outstanding freshness and producing age-worthy Pinot Noirs of remarkable quality.
 
CHALONE
2019 PINOT NOIR
CHALONE APPELLATION
Retails at: $40
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Tight aromas of boysenberry and black raspberry meet with a wet soil minerality, red flowers and a touch of mace on the nose of this bottling. Tart cherry and cranberry flavors are fresh on the palate, where mixed dried herbs and a light vanilla finish make for a complex experience.”
93 Points
2019 Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Stonemason Hill

2019 Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Stonemason Hill

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT

2019 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
STONEMASON HILL
ALEXANDER VALLEY 

2019 Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Stonemason Hill
Designed to expose a vineyard’s most defining characteristics and deliver them with transparency, richness, intensity, and balance, Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet offers relentless value, unprovoked by trends or production costs. Nick Goldschmidt hand-selected Stonemason Hill Vineyard after recognizing the distinct character and terroir of the vineyard would ensure the continued stylistic goals that made the brand so successful.
 
At 500 feet elevation in Alexander Valley, Stonemason Hill is near Rattlesnake Hill and Blue Rock Vineyards, where low-yielding 31-year-old-vines grown in Sandy and Bale loam produce concentrated fruit with striking characteristics. 
 
Nick Goldschmidt is a global winemaker with decades of experience making wine in California, New Zealand, and Argentina. His 2019 Stonemason Hill Cabernet is 100% single-varietal and out-performs most Cabernets at double its price.
 
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT
2019 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
STONEMASON HILL
ALEXANDER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“Intense purple and reds in color. The aromatics are opulent and very floral. Black fruits of black cherry and plum were a common theme. The mouth follows with rich dark fruits of blackberry, plum, and some licorice texture. Lush ripe tannins, full body and the nice creamy velvet tongue-wrapping flavor. Drink now or over the next 10 years… if you can wait that long!”
2014 Bernardus Marinus Carmel Valley

2014 Bernardus Marinus Carmel Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMontereyProprietary RedUSA

BERNARDUS

2014 MARINUS
CARMEL VALLEY

2014 Bernardus Marinus Carmel Valley
Designed for flattering your senses while simultaneously stimulating thoughts of Bordeaux and the serene Carmel Valley, Marinus is Bernardus’s proprietor’s instrument to achieve their goal of producing a red wine that can equal Bordeaux’s most refined. Maestro of sustainable farming, Mark Shea farms each block of Marinus separately, without compromise, in his pursuit of showcasing the vineyard’s most significant potential. The 2014 vintage is, as Vinous writes, “Highly Expressive,” and with a discount of $26 per bottle, a single case may not be enough. 
 
French-trained winemaker Dean DeKorth spent years at Olivier Leflaive, Comte Lafon, and Pierre Morey before coming home to Monterey and making wine at Morgan, David Bruce, and Talbott. He creates Marinus using Bordeaux varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, blending them with the impetus to be the best expression of the vineyard’s remarkable terroir. 
 
Dean employs traditional Bordeaux winemaking techniques like; fermenting in small individual fermenters, gentle pressing and handling of the fruit, long fermentation with regular punch-downs, and aging in French oak barrels. The resulting wine is very complex, well-balanced, a joy to drink, with a Bordeaux-like style.
 
BERNARDUS
2014 MARINUS
CARMEL VALLEY
Retails at: $75
 
Your Price: $49
 
 
“Opaque ruby. Highly expressive aromas of ripe cherry, red and black currant, candied flowers and pipe tobacco, along with vanilla and oak spice nuances. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering concentrated cassis, cherry-vanilla and licorice flavors that show no rough edges. Closes very long and spicy, with a hint of smokiness and rounded, even tannins that add gentle grip.”
93 Points
 
“Candied lilac and boysenberry-juice aromas make for a very fresh, floral and fruity entry to the nose of this blend of all five Bordeaux red varieties. The purple-flower flavors show on the sip too, mixed with açai, and the structure is still tightly woven six years into aging.”
92 Points, Editors’ Choice
2013 Roderer Estate L'Ermitage Brut Sparkling Wine

2013 Roderer Estate L’Ermitage Brut Sparkling Wine

with No Comment $40-$50Anderson ValleyChampagne/SparklingKevin VogtSonomaUSA

ROEDERER ESTATE

2013 L’ERMITAGE
BRUT SPARKLING WINE

2013 Roderer Estate L'Ermitage Brut Sparkling Wine
Roederer Estate is rooted in viticulture and centered around ownership of their vineyards. In France, their top Champagne is Cristal, but in California, their flagship Sparkling wine is their L’Ermitage, which they only make in exceptional vintages. Relying on age-old traditions, they’ve established a reputation as the top domestic Sparkling wine, and with its 95 point score and placement on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Cellar Selections list, here’s your chance to own it. 
 
Roederer’s winemaking style moves beyond science and chemistry into artistry measured by taste. Their team ages L’Ermitage for an impressive five years in oak casks, lending body, finesse, and depth, setting it apart from other California Sparkling wines.
 
Selecting Anderson Valley as the California outpost; The area was chosen for its proximity to the Pacific, inducing a gentle cycle of warm days and cool nights, allowing the grapes to slowly mature and develop full flavors. L’Ermitage’s choreographed union of 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir is domestic sparkling at the highest level.
 
ROEDERER ESTATE
2013 L’ERMITAGE
BRUT SPARKLING WINE
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“A panoply of subtle aromas and delicate flavors wrapped in a silky, slightly crisp texture give this medium-bodied wine a great sense of elegance. Fresh ginger, biscuits, toasted almonds and mild cherry nuances fill the palate. Best through 2025.”
95 Points, #42 Top 100 Cellar Selections
 
“The nose is open and inviting, golden apples mingling with toast, mushrooms, honey and crushed stone. The medium-bodied palate, with eight grams per liter dosage, has pure fruits tactfully accented by earthy, toasty notes. It’s energetic but rounded, supported by a finely beaded mousse, and it finishes long and layered.”
93+ Points
2016 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder

2016 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

ANTHEM 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 MOUNT VEEDER

2016 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
Steadfast on creating superior quality Cabernets from distinctive Mountain AVA’s in Napa Valley, Anthem winery assembled a powerful team led by highly-respected viticulturist John Truchard and winemaker Jeff Ames. The winery’s production team is free to vinify without regard for cost, making every decision solely on its impact on the quality of their wine. All of this is present in their wines, and the 2016 release is their best yet. 
 
Mount Veeder arose from an ancient seabed, and the soils at Anthem Estate are excessively well-drained and derived from sedimentary rock. Their vines yield just 1.9 tons per acre of super-concentrated berries that powerfully reflect their site-specific terroir.
 
Jeff crafts Anthem’s Cabernet Sauvignon to showcase the power and restraint, as well as a stunning level of depth and persistent intensity. The 2016 vintage produced an even richer version, and after 18 months in barrel and three years in the bottle, this wine rocks.
 
ANTHEM 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“Made by Winemaker Jeff Ames, this Cabernet Sauvignon includes 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak, it offers a seamless core of cassis, raspberry and dark cherry, with velvety richness forming a concentrated bond on the palate.”
94 Points
 
“…Deep garnet-purple in color, is offers up scents of crème de cassis, blueberry compote and Christmas cake with an undercurrent of plum preserves, camphor and cigar box. Big, rich and full-bodied on the palate, it delivers impactful, maturing black fruit and spicy flavors, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length.”
93 Points
 
“Lush and well-fruited, with lots of boysenberry, blackberry and plum flavors rolling through, laced with apple wood, anise, violet and sweet tobacco notes. Shows a tarry edge on the finish but the fruit keeps pace easily. Solidly built. Best from 2021 through 2032.”
93 Points
2018 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

2018 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

WESTWOOD

2018 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red
Legends of biodynamic viticulture, Westwood spares no expense raising the highest quality wines possible from their Estate. Their vineyard is one of a handful of Demeter-certified Biodynamic vineyards in North America. Westwood’s winemaker is Philippe Melka, named by the Wine Advocate as “one of the Top 10 Winemakers in the World,” and whose vast experience includes winemaking at Bryant Family, Quintessa, Hundred Acre, Mastery, and Dominus. Jeb Dunnuck writes, this wine has a “notable sense of class and balance,” and simply put, you don’t want to miss it. 
 
Westwood Legend arose from the cool, wind-swept Annadel Gap Vineyard, located between Mt. Hood and Sonoma Mountain, and includes specially sourced organic grapes from Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Formatted to bring out the best qualities of the Estate, the 2018 blend is exquisite.
 
Meticulously made, Philippe and his winemaking team harvest each clone at the pinnacle of ripeness before being carefully sorted by hand and fermented in individual lots. The wine was gravity-fed into French oak barrels, where it spent the next 20 months. The result is stunning.
 
WESTWOOD
2018 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2018 Legend Proprietary Red is an interesting blend of 45% Syrah, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Tannat, and a splash of Petit Verdot. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by loads of blackberry and blueberries fruit intermixed with plenty of peppery herbs, menthol, and graphite. This rich, full-bodied effort has a delicious juiciness, polished tannins, and a notable sense of class and balance.”
92 Points