Many countries have a signature grape varietal that separates them from the rest, and in Australia, that varietal is Syrah, also known as Shiraz. It’s the countries best known and most widely planted grape, with vineyards dating back to the Mid 1800’s. Australian Shiraz is revered for its intensity that’s often expressed through powerful, heady aromas, saturating flavors and full-bodied style. A perfect example is Shottesbrooke’s 97 Point 2013 Eliza Reserve Shiraz which is chillingly intense and brimming with vivid red berries, roasted meats, black chocolate and spices. Eliza was created from an individual patch of vineyard on the winery’s McLaren Flat property that naturally produces exceptionally low yields of high quality fruit. At $60/btl this wine absolutely has it all… We bought it all after tasting this wine and at $39.99 we know you’re going to love it.
Named after the founders daughter, Eliza is the top Reserve Shiraz produced by the winery, and is only made in exceptional vintages. Due to low yields and high-demand for Eliza, only a limited number of cases make their way to the US. The wine is kept for 19 months in oak before bottling and the 2013 shines with vivid details. I strongly recommend adding some to your cellar.
SHOTTESBROOKE
ELIZA RESERVE SHIRAZ
2013 MCLAREN VALE
Retails at: $60.00/btl
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 33%
Tasting.com Notes: “Cloudy indigo color. Attractive, roasted, meaty aromas and flavors of mocha maple fudge, smoked nuts, jerky, and toasty cedar and clay with a satiny, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a tingling, involved, long finish that exhibits suggestions of blackberry creme brulee, pomegranate-tomato chutney on rye raisin toast, beef consommé, and tamari with moderate oak flavor. A decadently delicious and savory shiraz that will stimulate and satisfy.” 97 Points, Platinum Medal, Superlative
Customers who enjoy Shottesbrooke Eliza Reserve Shiraz may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…
2016 Alexana Terroir Series Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
ALEXANA
2016 PINOT NOIR
TERROIR SERIES
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
It’s not easy making a killer 94 Point Pinot that’s not only a great value, but one that is also complex, balanced and jam-packed with character. Alexana’s Terroir Series Pinot was created from a diverse clonal selection, and encompasses fruit from five of Willamette Valley’s top AVA’s which lend volume to the wines complexity. At the winery, the fruit is triple-hand-sorted allowing only the best berries through. The wine was crafted by Bryan Weil who previously worked at Domaine Serene. On the palate the wine is exceedingly sensual and satiny-smooth, and at under forty per bottle, this Pinot has everything I look for in top-quality Oregon Pinot. But with the recent 94 Point score, I wouldn’t wait to secure yours.
As the sister winery to Revana in St. Helena, Alexana is quickly building it’s own stellar reputation of excellence… In 2013 their Dundee Hills Pinot earned the #17 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see their 2016 Terroir Series make the list this year too. It glides seamlessly across your palate leaving impressions of Morello cherries, pressed boysenberries, violets and dark chocolates. This absolutely brilliant interpretation of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is simply one of my favorite Pinots that I’ve tasted this year, in this wonderfully realistic price range.
ALEXANA
2016 PINOT NOIR
TERROIR SERIES
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Your Price: $36/btl
From The Wine Spectator:“Precise and harmonious, offering layered raspberry and cherry flavors laced with smoky anise and spice notes, building richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2025.” 94 Points, Highly Recommended
Customers who enjoy Alexana Terroir Series Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning Pinots…
2014 Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay
CHARLES HEINTZ
2014 CHARDONNAY
SEARBY VINEYARD
In a conversation about Russian River Valley’s most renowned vineyards, the name Charles Henitz never goes without mention. Many recognize Heintz Vineyard from luminaries like Williams Selyem, DuMOL and Pierson Meyer that have all purchased their revered grapes. Charles Heintz also produces a small amount of wine under their own label and under the guidance of Hugh Chappelle, former winemaker at Flowers and Lynmar to name a few… Their 2014 Chardonnay sourced from the Searby Vineyard bears striking balance, precision, detail, and exceptionally delicious complexity. This wine makes absolutely no excuses at it’s $48 retail price… At $39.99, it’s one of the greatest Chardonnays that I’ve tasted in a long time.
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. It’s perfectly balanced and leaves your taste buds yearning for another sip.
CHARLES HEINTZ
2014 CHARDONNAY
SEARBY VINEYARD
Retails at: $48.00/btl
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 16%
Winery notes: “Intense stone fruit and tropical fruit aroma are prominent; followed by subtle ripe apple, orange blossom, white flower stoniness. The aromatics continue on the palate with complex notes of pastry and candied citrus. Acidity is brisk and racy, with a refreshing juiciness. A good match with boldly flavored international cuisines, this wine will show best from late 2018 through 2023.“
Customers who enjoy Charles Heintz Searby Vineyard Chardonnay may also enjoy these two outstanding wines…
2015 Blind Tasting Napa Valley Proprietary Red
BLIND TASTING
PROPRIETARY RED
2015 NAPA VALLEY
One of the fastest growing categories in our shop is New World style red blends that are built around a core of high-quality Zinfandel. This type of blend is always a crowd-favorite because they’re brimming with lush fruits, attractive spice, deep, succulent flavors and when everything is in perfect balance, they’re completely irresistible. A perfect example is the 2015 Blind Tasting which is unabashedly Californian. It has a core of Howell Mountain Zinfandel, amplified with ancient vine Petite Sirah, then ratcheted up even more with Cabernet Sauvignon from Spring Mountain. Fans of The Prisoner Red and Venge’s Scout’s Honor should not miss this wine and if you haven’t experienced a California Style Red blend, here’s a great opportunity to do so, but don’t wait too long because there were only 6 barrels produced.
The 2015 vintage lights up your palate with penetrating red and black fruits that come interwoven with wild rose, Mountain blueberries, hints of cinnamon and crushed granite. A deeply powerful wine with focused intensity that’s perfectly balanced by finely grained tannins. I strongly recommend you jump at the chance to secure a case. You’ll thank me later…
BLIND TASTING
PROPRIETARY RED
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Your Price: $39.99/btl
Tasting Notes: “Alluring aromas of ripe blackberries, red plums, sweet floral notes and a touch of vanilla spice seduce your nose. A compact core of perfectly balanced cherry preserves, muddled blueberries, wild blackberries and a touch of black pepper unfurl and expand across your palate. Opulent without being inky, the supple fruit tannins combine with a very long finish to simply make you smile. Drink right now, or you can hold until 2025.” 94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
Customers who enjoy Blind Tasting Proprietary Red may also enjoy these two terrific Blends…
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VENGE
2016 SCOUT’S HONOR
PROPRIETARY BLEND
Your Price: $37.99/btl
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “... 70% Zinfandel, 14% Charbono, 9% Petite Sirah and 7% Syrah. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it offers up baked raspberries, fruitcake, dusty soil and Chinese five spice scents with touches of tobacco and potpourri. Full-bodied with a velvety texture and loads of spice-laced berry preserves flavors, it finishes long and opulent.” 93 Points
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THE PRISONER
PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Your Price: $42.99/btl
Electric, jubilant, infectiously charming, the new 2017 Prisoner unshackles a posse of vibrant and elaborate flavors that are both intense and broadening, and become even more complex with aeration. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2017 permeates with unsweetened cherry cobbler, wild strawberries, chocolate dipped blueberries and liquid floral.
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2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
MARTINELLI
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Some of the best wines have a style of their own that’s so recognizable that they literally carve out their own category, and in turn change the entire industry for the better. Martinelli’s larger-than-life style of producing weighty, plump and full bodied wines has become a hallmark of their brand and over the years they’ve amassed a large following, along with a string of stellar reviews for them. Their 2014 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is an absolute classic and has earned a monster 95 Point score from Wine Enthusiast. At under $40, the level of quality/value is made abundantly clear the moment this wine splashes into your glass, as the bouquet grabs you and doesn’t let go. By the time it’s hits your palate, you’ll wish you had ordered more…
Composed of fruit from Blue Slide Ridge, Three Sister’s and a touch of Bondi Ranch, their 2014 Sonoma Coast bottling embodies Martinelli’s signature style, which has made them one of the Russian River Valley’s most beloved producers. With the help of consulting winemaker Erin Green, whom worked alongside Helen Turley in the early ’90’s on some of her projects, the winery has remained a paragon of the Russian River Valley. If you love BIG, rich, California Pinot Noirs, you’ll want to secure a case of this one, yesterday.
MARTINELLI
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $45.00/btl
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 11%
From Wine Enthusiast: “This wine is memorable and impressive-a ripe exploration of earthy goodness that’s rich and velvety smooth. Spicy red fruit seduces amidst a well-developed core of complex orange peel and cardamom highlights, the oak well-integrated and supportive.” 95 Points
Customers who enjoy Martinelli’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding Pinots…
2016 Gamba Family Ranches Zinfandel
GAMBA
Throughout my career I’ve offered some truly memorable wines that have developed amazing followings, but only a handful have inspired the kind of love affair that Gamba has. After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers, “… Gamba’s name is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma, such as Hartford Court, Carlisle, Bedrock and even the superstar Turley over in Napa.” Absolutely bursting at the seams with magnificent levels of jammy black raspberries and briary red fruits, Gus Gamba’s new 2016 Family Ranches could be the poster child for Gus Gamba’s Zinfandel. They’re always charming and hedonistic, with stunning opulence and full of extracted detail. At this price, their 2016 Family Ranches should not be missed.
Designed from a unique correlation of estate and neighboring vineyards, as well as merging young and old vines, the Family Ranches bottling creates a lush, fruit-forward Zin that’s laced with compelling depth and precision. Many of my Zin loving clients have proclaimed that Gamba Zin is The BEST wine in the world, and if you love elaborately flavored, delicious Zinfandel decadence, you’ll want to grab a case of Gamba’s Family Ranches while you still can.
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL
FAMILY RANCHES
Retails at: $45.00/btl
Winery Notes: “The 2016 Family Ranches Zinfandel is a bold, well structured wine with an aromatic nose of ripe berries, brown spice, and black licorice. The color is a beautiful and vibrant dark crimson. The wine is deftly balanced, with flavors that burst on the palate, offering well defined dark cherry, raspberry and blueberry that give way to dark chocolate, spicy pepper and a hint of nutty oak. The frame is firm yet round without harsh edges, with an appealing, weighty, yet buoyant mid palate, and a refreshing lift on the lengthy, enjoyable, toasty finish.”
Customers that enjoy Gamba’s Family Ranches Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins…
2015 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir
BRULIAM
2015 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD
If an individual vineyard’s unique terroir along with all of the nuances and complexities that it’s capable of producing were a voice, the Soberanes Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands would be one of the loudest and most beautiful in the New World. The vineyard has become synonymous with excellence and is becoming more and more well known for producing fruit with otherworldly complexity. It’s easy to get excited when you see its name printed on a label, and wineries like Roar, Lucia and Black Kite all make single vineyard Pinots from it. Bruliam Soberanes embraces clarity and definition and leaps from the glass with ripe boysenberry, mineral-laced cherries, wild rose, dark plum and holiday spices. With the average price of Pinot Noir from Soberanes estimated to be upwards of $50/btl, I strongly recommend making some serious room for this one..
Created from 100% Pisoni Clone, Soberanes is the latest vineyard planted by the Pisoni’s & Franscioni’s, whose families have been farming the area for over 100 years. Bruliam brilliantly expresses the remarkably distinct flavors and textures that this vineyard is becoming known for. It was strategically guided from grape to bottle by medical doctor-turned-winemaker Kerith Overstreet and this charming and sophisticated Pinot Noir should not be missed.
BRULIAM
2015 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD
Retails at: $48.00/btl
From Wine Enthusiast: “Deep and hearty aromas of boysenberry, hickory smoke, iron, bay leaf and forest floor show on this single-vineyard expression. Dark rhubarb, baked strawberry and red plum pop on the sip, with healthy pinches of mace and cinnamon spice. It is very complex.” 92 Points
Customers who enjoy Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning Pinots…
2016 Heir Apparent Cellar Selection Oakville Red
HEIR APPARENT
2016 OAKVILLE RED
CELLAR SELECTION
Have you ever wondered what makes the Oakville AVA so revered for producing Bordeaux Varietals? Over many thousands of years sediment has washed down from the hillsides creating notoriously complex earth. On the Western side of Oakville where icons Harlan, Martha’s Vineyard and Beckstoffer ToKalon Vineyards lie, the soils are sandy and gravelly, which result in exceptional drainage, which helps produce large root systems and healthy vines. On the Eastern side, near Screaming Eagle, Rudd and Plumpjack, the soils are red in color and loaded with minerals and volcanic composites. Some of the best wines produced in Napa Valley have Oakville origins and the average price per bottle is likely higher than any other AVA in the Valley. It’s rare to find an Oakville wine under $100/btl. Make sure to join our Insider’s Club (it’s free) to unlock special offers ~ or use the Click to Order button and see your price in the cart.
Heir Apparent’s 2016 Oakville Red seduces your senses with intense aromas of dark berries, exotic florals, minerals and hints of graphite. Calling on Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot all sourced exclusively from Oakville, the 2016 Cellar Selection offers stunning levels of pleasure, and should drink well over the next 12-15 years. I highly recommend locking up a case… You’ll be glad you did.
HEIR APPARENT
2016 OAKVILLE RED
CELLAR SELECTION
Retails at: $110/btl
Winery Notes: “Coming from the prestigious Oakville appellation, this carefully selected of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and a dash of Merlot shows firm tannins, a compact structure along with hits of black cherry, currant, plum and dark toast.“
2015 Daniel Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
If you’ve been reading my emails for the last few years, you know how I feel about Pinot Noirs produced by DANIEL. They’re simply some of the best micro-produced Pinot Noirs that I’ve tasted at this price point. I’m not the least bit surprised that their 2015 Anderson Valley Pinot earned a phenomenal 96 point score from the Wine Enthusiast last month… After all, their wines are composed by accomplished winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start by working at Williams-Selyem… And the 2015 Anderson Valley includes fruit from the iconic Ferrington Vineyard, which was made famous by producers like Williams-Selyem and McPhail. The wine is texturally compelling, bright and penetrating and transcends everything that you would hope for at this price level. As thrilled as I am to see that the winery is now they’re getting the accolades that they deserve, it also means you’ll want move quickly to get yours… 96 Point Pinots at this price are few and far between…
Combining fruit from both warm and cool portions of Anderson Valley, this brilliant Pinot has abundant energy, focus, stamina and complexity. It’s brimming with bright red fruits, holiday spices, candied cherries and sassafras. We’ve introduced some stupendously high-quality Pinots from DANIEL, and this is yet another profound example of Pinot Noir. With a total production of 200 cases, this Pinot Noir will only go to a lucky few.
From Wine Enthusiast: “Oodles of black cherry and sour cherry fill the aroma and flood the flavors of this full-bodied, concentrated and deeply fruity wine. The ripeness is balanced by good fruit acidity, making the wine both seductive and refreshing to sip. Made from Ferrington Vineyard and the old-vine Beaujolais Vineyard, it has the structure to age and improve…” 96 Points, Cellar Selection
Customers that enjoy DANIEL Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2013 Fort Ross FRV Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
FORT ROSS
2013 PINOT NOIR
FRV, SONOMA COAST
There are plenty of reasons why we love Fort Ross Pinot Noirs. Their winemaking is second to none with Jeff Pisoni calling the shots. Further, their prices have also remained realistic over the years, despite the growing fan base and well-deserved scores. The number one thing that keeps me coming back year-after-year is the ideal location of their vineyard… It’s centered in the idyllic 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, Flowers and Pahlmeyer, to list a few… Their 2013 FRV Pinot Noir is a wine marked by stunning detail, length and character, and at this price, I can’t wait to experience it again…
Beautifully expressing the exceptional terroir found in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA with perfectly nit flavors, If you’ve tasted any of the earlier vintages of Fort Ross, you likely need no further commentary, other than to know the 2013 is now available. If you haven’t tried a Pinot from this beloved producer, here’s a chance to enjoy one at a truly fantastic price.
FORT ROSS
2013 PINOT NOIR
FRV, SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $52.00/btl
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 23%
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
Customers who enjoy Fort Ross FRV Estate Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning Pinots…