2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville

2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

POP 300

CHARDONNAY
OAKVILLE 2021

2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville
The Oakville AVA produces some of the world’s most enchanting and complex Cabernet Sauvignon, but very few people know that Chardonnay also exists in the region. Proprietor Luke Russ was raised in Oakville and maintained close relationships with his neighbors, allowing him to obtain Chardonnay grapes from a hidden parcel near a creek, offering the much-needed cooling influence for the Chardonnay grapes.
 
Luke is the Commercial Director at O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery on Howell Mountain, and with this wine, he showcases his deep roots and impressive connections. Crafted in a rich, opulent, California-style, POP 300’s 2021 vintage was aged on the lees for ten months in new French oak barrels, adding body and creaminess to this delightful Oakville Chardonnay.
 
POP 300
CHARDONNAY
OAKVILLE 2021
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The 2021 Pop 300 Oakville Chardonnay begins with rich aromas of honeysuckle, peach, melon, toast, and meringue. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with flavors of apricot, nectarine, passion fruit, and roasted marshmallow. The finish is long and strong with deep flavor intensity and a round mouthfeel.”
91-92 Points
2018 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2018 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

SIXTEEN by TWENTY

CHARDONNAY 2018
SONOMA COAST

2018 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
Sixteen by Twenty Winery gets its name from an artist’s most common canvas size used for oil paintings because the dimensions create an ideal balance for displaying their artwork. As artists, owners David and Karen Dunphy apply this balance philosophy to every wine they produce.
 
The vineyard team is hands-on in the vineyards, individually positioning each vine shoot, removing unhealthy or damaged clusters, and ultimately harvesting by hand for utmost quality fruit. The Sonoma Coast AVA is their favorite region for Chardonnay because of the oceanic influence that gives a distinct minerality, ripe fruits, and fresh acidity. The 2018 vintage is noticeably softer and more elegant than previous vintages and celebrates the unique personality of the vineyards, displayed brilliantly.
 
SIXTEEN by TWENTY
CHARDONNAY 2018
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The 2018 Sixteen by Twenty Sonoma Coast Chardonnay has inviting aromas of acacia blossoms, peach, passion fruit, butterscotch, sweet baking spices, and wet stones. On the palate, the wine is rich and creamy in texture with flavors of apricot, melon, vanilla cream sauce, and honeycomb. The pronounced flavors are balanced by bright acidity that promotes a long-lasting finish.”
93 Points
Goldeneye Brut Rose North Coast NV

Goldeneye Brut Rose North Coast NV

with No Comment $30-$40Champagne/SparklingKevin VogtNorth CoastSonoma CoastUSA

GOLDENEYE

BRUT ROSÉ
NORTH COAST NV

Goldeneye Brut Rose North Coast NV
Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Goldeneye Winery in 1996 to expand their winemaking repertoire into cool-climate, Burgundian varietals in Northern California. The Pacific marine influence brings mild temperatures, fog, and wind to the vineyards, providing an ideal environment for growing classic sparkling wine grapes Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.
 
The fruit for this wine was sourced from some of the finest and coldest vineyard sites in the North Coast AVA, maintaining high levels of refreshing acidity and brightness. The North Coast Brut Rosé was made in the traditional Champagne method with 26 months en tirage creating a beautiful balance of vibrant fruit and yeasty brioche notes that are almost too easy to enjoy. This lovely wine is my new favorite domestic sparkler.
 
GOLDENEYE
BRUT ROSÉ
NORTH COAST NV
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The Goldeneye North Coast Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine opens with aromas of orange blossom, strawberry cream cheese, sour cherry, apricot, and brioche. On the palate, the wine has a creamy, supple mousse and flavors of strawberry, grapefruit, and toasted pastry dough. The depth of flavors is impressive and contributes to a long, delightful finish.”
94 Points
2018 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

2018 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

with No Comment $30-$40Central CoastKevin VogtPinot NoirSanta CruzSanta Cruz MountainsUSA

DOMAINE EDEN

PINOT NOIR 2018
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

2018 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
Domaine Eden is an estate owned by iconic Santa Cruz Mountains producer Mount Eden vineyards that focuses on high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production. Their team adheres to strict sustainable farming standards, producing small, concentrated yields of remarkable fruit. The vineyards are planted with Dijon clones 777, 667, and 828 and the historic California clones Mount Eden, Calera, and Swan, resulting in remarkably complex, aromatically indulgent wines that have become a signature of the brand.
 
Indigenous yeasts carry out the fermentation in French Burgundian barrels without fining, filtration, or manipulation, allowing complete transparency and purity true to the varietal. The 2018 Pinot Noir lives up to its sister winery’s hierarchy with a suave mouthfeel and polished balance reflective of the site’s terroir in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
 
DOMAINE EDEN
PINOT NOIR 2018
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“Gamy aromas of roasted pork and a wet stone mineraliy surround the plush cranberry fruit on the nose of this bottling. There’s a floral edge to the palate, from rose petal to violet, as well as light red-currant and more game flavors.”
93 Points
2019 Lichen Pinot Noir Moonglow Vineyard Anderson Valley

2019 Lichen Pinot Noir Moonglow Vineyard Anderson Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Anderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

LICHEN

PINOT NOIR
MOONGLOW VINEYARD
ANDERSON VALLEY 2019

2019 Lichen Pinot Noir Moonglow Vineyard Anderson Valley
In 2008, Lichen Estate planted 7 acres of vines in the Anderson Valley with meter-by-meter spacing, modeling the Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy and Champagne, resulting in nearly four times the amount of vines per acre than neighboring vineyards. This style of planting increases the competition between each vine, forcing the roots to dig deeper into the earth in search of nutrients and moisture. This type of farming lowers yields and concentrates aromas and flavors. 
 
This estate was initially named Breggo, the Breggo brand sold in 2009, and the fruit then went to Cliff Lede’s Fel Pinot Noir for years before the lease ended in 2014. The vineyard has always been organically farmed, with six blocks of Pinot Noir from the Martini, Wadenswil, Pommard, and 667 clones. The 2019 Moonglow Pinot Noir displays notes of red cherries with a refined focus and savory spice typical of the cool-climate region, one of the top Pinot Noir regions in the New World.
 
LICHEN
PINOT NOIR
MOONGLOW VINEYARD
ANDERSON VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“Aromas of dried orange peel, strawberry and wet stone. Medium-bodied with silky tannins. Good depth and intensity on the steady, mineral finish. Pleasantly salty, too. Drink now.”
92 Points
2016 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville

2016 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville

with No Comment $30-$40CoombsvilleKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

FARELLA

ESTATE MERLOT
COOMBSVILLE 2016

2016 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville
This beauty is one of those “trust me” wines, and if you do indeed trust me and try it, you’ll be thanking me too. Tom Farella developed an affinity for wine early on, and his ardor led him to pursue a degree in Enology from UC Davis. After graduating in 1983, he worked in Burgundy and Oregon before returning home to his father’s small Farella-Park Vineyards in the Napa Valley. Once back home, he began crafting distinct and memorable wines that helped put Coombsville on the map.
 
Farella’s hillside vineyard, planted in 1979 in what is now the Coombsville AVA, speaks through this 2016 Merlot, which has a Right Bank Bordeaux finesse with velvety tannins and a signature, rich Napa core. Notably, it’s been a couple of years since critics reviewed this wine, and it’s blossomed into something much more extraordinary in that time.
 
FARELLA
ESTATE MERLOT
COOMBSVILLE 2016
Retails at: $45
 
 
 
Tasted February 2020: “Fresh with lots of polished and chewy tannins that give the wine focus and texture. Berry, chocolate and spice character. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”
92 Points
 
Tasted October 2020: “Sporting a medium to deep garnet color, the 2016 Merlot charges out of the glass with notions of plum pudding, blueberry pie and fruitcake plus hints of tobacco leaf, bay leaves and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers evolving black fruit preserves flavors with loads of savory accents and a frame of rounded tannins, finishing earthy/savory.”
90 Points
2019 Edict Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2019 Edict Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

EDICT

PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Edict Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Edict’s team mindfully crafts boutique wines that remain true to their geographic character, offering a sense of place in each wine produced. Their approach begins with their vineyard manager’s 30 years of expertise and a collaboration with some of Napa Valley’s top growers to ensure a selection of the healthiest fruit with the most significant varietal expressions, giving their winemaker the ingredients to craft memorable wines.
 
The 2019 Proprietary Red wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend that exhibits a dynamic balance of Napa Valley terroir from several different soil types. This wine’s complex structure allows for a few years in the cellar but is already welcoming and drinking beautifully, making it the perfect wine to open anytime.
 
EDICT
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $80
 
 
 
“Aromas of red and black fruit, espresso and crushed herbs. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity and silky tannins. Juicy and succulent on the palate. Charming. Drink or hold.”
92 Points
2019 Dolum Estates Cask #11 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

2019 Dolum Estates Cask #11 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

DOLUM ESTATES

CASK #11 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SONOMA COUNTY 2019

2019 Dolum Estates Cask #11 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
Dolum Estates’ founders strive to create wines with undeniable character and all-embracing elegance that will vividly portray their origin. Winemaker Chad Alexander’s background in soil science and experience making wine at Hess Collection and Robert Craig wineries brought their goal to fruition, producing wines with a profound depth of flavor that remain elegant and finely balanced.
 
Their 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Cask #11 embodies the classic Alexander Valley depth and complexity of the region’s ancient soils. Balanced with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville, tying in the rich and supple mouthfeel, this remarkable wine, aged in French oak, offers immediate enjoyment and the structure to age for a decade or more.
 
DOLUM ESTATES
CASK #11 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SONOMA COUNTY 2019
Retails at: $82
 
 
 
“Juicy, sumptuous, and silky, with blackberry preserves and round, supple tannins. So approachable, with a gliding, deep dive into tilled soil, espresso, and black beans beneath its soulful core.”
96 Points
2018 Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

2018 Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

JOSEPH JEWELL

PINOT NOIR 2018
HALLBERG VINEYARD
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Joseph Jewell Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley
Joseph Jewell wines are known for their approachability, balance, and natural varietal character derived from small, independently owned vineyard sites in Humboldt and Sonoma Counties that focus on sustainable farming practices. Owner and winemaker Adrian Jewell Manspeaker was delighted to begin working with the Hallberg Vineyard in 2010 and has produced this single-vineyard Pinot Noir ever since. Hallberg is a longtime vineyard source for Gary Farrell and Emeritus, both great producers.
 
The Hallberg Vineyard is known for its dry-farmed Gold Ridge soils that encourage deep root propagation, giving fruit with increased depth and complexity of flavors. This 2018 vintage is a prime example of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, highlighting the vineyard’s earthy terroir and opulent fruit that will leave your taste buds craving more.
 
JOSEPH JEWELL
PINOT NOIR 2018
HALLBERG VINEYARD
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Joseph Jewell Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2018 begins with an elegant nose of fresh raspberries, dried cranberries, cola bean, French lavender, and sweet vanilla. A supple, opulent palate follows with integrated flavors of pomegranate, red cherries, delicate fresh herbs, and a liquid saline complexity. This bottling is a lush, penetrating wine with depth and lots of character and length that rates as another fantastic Pinot Noir from Joseph Jewell.”
94 Points
2018 Gorman Proprietary Red Zacharys Ladder Red Mountain WA

2018 Gorman Proprietary Red Zachary’s Ladder Red Mountain WA

with No Comment $30-$40Columbia ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedUSAWashington State

GORMAN

ZACHARY’S LADDER
PROPRIETARY RED
RED MOUNTAIN, WA 2018

2018 Gorman Proprietary Red Zacharys Ladder Red Mountain WA
Chris Gorman has over 30 years of experience in the wine industry, working as an importer for several years before switching gears into wine production. He made several small batches of wine before going commercial in 2002, establishing Gorman Winery and releasing the first vintage of Zachary’s Ladder, highlighting Washington State’s Columbia Valley wine region.
 
The fruit for this Proprietary Red was grown in the Red Mountain AVA, located in Eastern Washington inside the larger Columbia Valley Region, an area recognized for some of the state’s most extraordinary wines. The 2018 Zachary’s Ladder is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend aged in neutral French oak for 20 months, allowing the fruit to be the main focus of this full-bodied, supple, beautifully structured red wine.
 
GORMAN
ZACHARY’S LADDER
PROPRIETARY RED
RED MOUNTAIN, WA 2018
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The 2018 Zachary’s Ladder is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that includes 15% Syrah and 5% Petit Verdot. It offers loads of darker fruits as well as notes of peppery herbs, violets, and spring flowers. It has a kiss of classy oak, is medium to full-bodied, and has a plush, mouth-filling texture. As with all of Chris’s wines, it brings the richness and texture yet stays beautifully balanced.”
93 Points
 
“It seems that 2018 was a bountiful vintage, and this wine offers its cornucopia of fruit. Cherry- and raspberry-gummy aromas are followed by plump, rounded fruit flavors that show impressive depth, layering and plenty of structure to support it all.”
92 Points, Editors’ Choice
 
“This broad-shouldered red offers both chutzpah and style. The backbone shows a density that’s typical of Red Mountain, suggesting time in the cellar, yet there’s just enough rich blackberry, cedar and mineral accents to make this approachable. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2027.”
92 Points