2015 Selene 'Chesler' Cabernet Franc

2015 Selene ‘Chesler’ Cabernet Franc

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUncategorizedUSA

SELENE

2015 CHESLER
CABERNET FRANC

 
2015 Selene 'Chesler' Cabernet Franc
Mia Klein’s 2015 Chesler is so ridiculously good, that once you taste it, you might end up calling me back, wanting to pay more for it.  Sure!  Anyway, Chesler has been a staple in our Yountville store since we opened, and is easily one of the best wines on the shelf in the $50 range.  It’s a profound interpretation of New World Cabernet Franc and Merlot from ancient vines in the Frediani Vineyard.  The wine was composed by Mia Klein, who has a long history of making wines for Dalla Valle, Spottswoode, Araujo, Viader, and Chappellet, as well as being named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.  This perfectly choreographed dance between the dominant Cabernet Franc is softened by blending elegant, supple Merlot.  The 2015 Chesler engages your emotions with intense blueberry and vivid red raspberry notes pirouetting with white flowers, wild mint, chocolate and wild rose.
 
Sculpted from the historic Frediani Vineyard which was planted in 1905, Mia gives voice to the Cabernet Franc and Merlot vines from this vineyard, and the result has to be tasted to be believed.  A blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot, the 2015 is full-bodied and opulent with great depth and delineation.  The Merlot adds an opulence to the Cab Franc, softening any hard edges that might have otherwise existed, and the end result is simply stunning.  Don’t let this one ski by…
 
SELENE
2015 CHESLER
CABERNET FRANC
Retails at:  $50/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “Mixed berry pie, complete with crisp, buttery crust, dark chocolate dipped fresh strawberry, and light caramel in the aromatics. The aromas come through with impact and intensity in the mouth, especially the fresh strawberry. The tannins are just a half step in the foreground of the other flavors, showing a bit of chewiness, acting as the mortar cementing the parts into the whole.”  85% Cabernet Franc | 15% Merlot
2016 Dubois Bernard Chorey-Les-Beaune Clos Margot Red Burgandy
with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyFranceKevin VogtRed Burgandy

DUBOIS BERNARD & FILS 

2016 Dubois Bernard Chorey-Les-Beaune Clos Margot Red Burgandy

2016 CLOS MARGOT
CHOREY LES BEAUNE
RED BURGUNDY

 
Uncovering value in one of Burgundy’s most sought after vintages can make you lots of friends…  It’s as simple as uncorking a bottle of 2016 Chorey-les-Beaune Clos Margot from Dubois Bernard & Fils.  Just make sure you have a second bottle on hand because this wine opens up to irresistible velvety red fruits, subtle spices, and classic Burgundian flavors that induce an immediate smile.  The wine originates from 30+ year old Pinot Noir Vines, grown in a single vineyard in the Chorey-Lès-Beaune in Burgundy’s iconic Côte de Beaune region. 90% of Chorey-Lès-Beaune production is Pinot Noir, and in a vintage like 2016, there are some seriously great wines.  At $34.99 per bottle, you’ll want a case of this… 
 
Domaine Dubois Bernard is a microscopic producer in Chorey-Les Beaune, owning less than 18 acres of vineyards.   It’s owned by 5th generation winemaker Jacques Dubois who works to produce terroir-pure wines form their tiny parcels.  Their 2016 Clos Margot comes from a 5 hectare vineyard, planted in clay and limestone soils with just 77 centimeters of soil, before hitting pure limestone.  The wine is remarkably expressive, soft and velvety with lovely depth and persistence…  It’s absolutely delicious and overachieves at this price. 
 
DUBOIS BERNARD & FILS
2016 CLOS MARGOT
CHOREY LES BEAUNE
RED BURGUNDY
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 12%
 
Tasting Notes: “Aromas of redcurrant, strawberry and violet. Lythe and silky, offering expressive flavors of blueberry, licorice and spices.”
 
Customers that enjoy Dubois Bernard & Fils Clos Margot Red Burgundy, may also enjoy these two terrific wines..
2013 Paul Jaboulet Aine Gigondas 2015 Domaine Tortochot Morey-Saint-Denis Red Burgandy
PAUL JABOULET AINÉ
2013 GIGONDAS
PIERRE AIGUILLE
Retails at:  $35.00/btl
 
Your Price: $27.99/btl 

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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
DOMAINE TORTOCHOT
MOREY-SAINT-DENIS
2015 RED BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis from Domaine Tortochot was matured in toasty French oak and has an elegant, fresh, yet minerally bouquet with wild forest mushrooms and white flower scents swirling through the red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with subtle tannins, supple blackberry and delicate raspberry fruit. It then finishes with a very pretty touch of cola and hints of sweet vanilla during the very satisfying, complex finish.”
2015 CRU9 See You In Your Dreams Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2015 CRU⁹ See You in Your Dreams Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

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

CRU⁹

2015 CRU9 See You In Your Dreams Russian River Valley Pinot Noir2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
SEE YOU IN YOUR DREAMS

Thinking of wine brands that best reflect the best of what I’m always looking for, CRU⁹ is a reference standard.  With pristine balance and lovely detail, when I first tasted their Pinot it was love at first taste…  Truth be told, if I could tell you the vineyard source for this tiny 200 case production Pinot you would likely top off your cellar immediately.  However, with a non-disclosure agreement in place, the fruit source remains a secret… but one taste (and your ensuing grin) will tell you everything you really need to know.  The instant this wine touches your palate, the energetic detail and definition lets you know you’re getting into something special…
 
With a complete production of just 8 barrels, the 2015 models precisely what I look for in absolute top-level Russian River Valley Pinot, with vivid red fruits, crushed blueberries, beautifully integrated wild rose, spiced cola beans and tea.  Notably, CRU⁹ also gives back and helps support two nonprofit women shelters, Ruby’s Place in CA and House of Hope in IA (read more).  Every time you buy a bottle of CRU⁹, you also help level the playing field for survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse, and homelessness.  At $50/btl this Pinot truly has it all, and you’re going to want it all. 
 
Make sure to join our email list and unlock special offers…
 
CRU⁹
2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
SEE YOU IN YOUR DREAMS
Retails at: $50.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “A sweetly perfumed Pinot Noir with a compellingly sultry nose of dried violets, ripe raspberries, tart red cherries, spiced cola beans and dried green tea.  On the palate, it is supple and lush with crushed blueberries, tart cranberry, candied lime peel and an exceptionally long finish that lasts for over a minute.  An exceptional effort that drinks great now, but will age gracefully for years… Drink now through 2024.“
 94+ Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier 
 
Customers that enjoy CRU⁹’s Pinot Noir, may also enjoy these two terrific wines from CRU⁹…
 
2016 CRU9 As Ever Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2015 CRU9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
CRU⁹
2016 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
AS EVER…
Retails at: $38.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “This lovely, graciously styled Chardonnay has a beautiful nose of orange marmalade, lemon blossom,  citrus oil, wild flowers and chamomile tea. The palate follows through with a mouth watering array of ripe pear, toasted hazelnut, butter cream, subtle toasted oak notes, combined with lively acidity. Nuanced, sumptuous and nicely layered, it has a beautifully soft-textured finish. Drink this classically styled Russian River Chardonnay now and over the next few years...”

93 Points,  Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
CRU⁹
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes, “CRU⁹ Stop Talking Cabernet 2015 has a deep purple color offering a penetrating nose of crushed blackberries, bing cherry, deep black currants scorched minerally earth and hints of cinnamon spice box.  A stunning example that is penetrating and focused with a taught, broad shouldered structure and linear style, balanced with concentrated red and black fruits and dusty tannins that cut a swath across your palate and lingers on and on.  Drink now through 2028.” 
95 Points Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2015 Prisoner Wine Co. Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Prisoner Wine Co. ‘Cuttings’ Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSpring MountainUSA

PRISONER WINE CO.

2015 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

2015 Prisoner Wine Co. Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon
As the big, masculine brother to the popular Prisoner blend, the 2015 Cuttings is a larger-than-life Cabernet Sauvignon that immediately grabs you with decadent levels of richness and unbridled depth.  Hailing from high-elevation vineyards, including Bella Vista, Obsidian Ridge, and the York Creek Vineyard on Spring Mountain, Prisoner Wine Company’s Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon is a one-of-a-kind, dramatic, ostentatious effort that oozes with otherworldly intensity, wrapped in a voluptuous, satin texture.  Bursting with intense mulberries, unsweetened blackberry cobbler, decadent creme de cassis and forest floor, at $39.99/btl this is a wine that truly has it all.  
 
A forever frontrunner on our tasting menu in Yountville, the 2015 is built around a core of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel.  The 2015 has already won Best of Class in the $55-$58.99 Cabernet category at the San Francisco Chronicle and at $39.99/btl it will completely redefine what you may have thought possible for Cabernet at this price point… Created in an extravagant and velvety style, plush tannins blanket your palate ushering forth a finish that lasts for more than 30 seconds…
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 27%
 
Winery Notes: “Inspired by the age-old method of using cuttings from idyllic sites for the propagation of new vines, this Cabernet Sauvignon showcases some of our favorite hillside vineyards. Cuttings combines the deep, intense flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon with the structure and richness of Petite Sirah and Syrah. A small amount of Zinfandel adds a nice layer of complexity and spiciness.  Deliciously smooth with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, and cocoa. Aromas of fresh roasted coffee, black currant, vanilla bean, brown spice, and wild berries.”
2016 Hilary Goldschmidt Charming Creek Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Hilary Goldschmidt Charming Creek Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUncategorizedUSA

HILARY GOLDSCHMIDT

2016 Hilary Goldschmidt Charming Creek Oakville Cabernet SauvignonCABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 CHARMING CREEK
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY

 
How much would you expect to pay for a bottle of Oakville Cabernet from a vineyard bordering Opus One? I’m sure you know that Oakville is Napa Valley’s crown-jewel AVA and it’s widely considered the epicenter of Grand Cru quality Cabernet Sauvignon.  But this particular Oakville Cabernet comes from a secret vineyard that borders OPUS ONE on the North Side…  Sounds expensive right?  Fortunately for us, this one was created by Nick Goldschmidt whom many of you recognize from his Crazy Creek Cabernet which is arguably the best value in California Cabernet.  The 2016 Hilary Goldschmidt Charming Creek Cabernet is a classic representation of Oakville Cabernet with plenty of blackberry, plush tannins, depth and charisma.  The only thing missing is the high price… At $34.99/btl, you’ll definitely want a case.
 
Nick Goldschmidt’s 2016 Charming Creek is a wine with enormous upside potential.  It’s made obvious by the wine’s dense and extracted core, which unfurls a flurry of mountain berries, crushed rock, spice box and subtle tobacco.  With little coaxing in the glass the wine begins to impersonate some of Oakville’s giants, with remarkable detail, poise and extraction.  It’s easy to forget that you only paid $35/btl, when this wine starts showing off…  Just don’t wait too long, because values this great are always in high demand.
 
HILARY GOLDSCHMIDT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 CHARMING CREEK
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 30%
 
Tasting Notes: “Inky black intensity with an opulence and richness carrying a complex center core of fruits that include black mountain berries, red raspberry, and minerals. The palate further unfolds with crushed dewberries, kirsch, and ripe black cherry and tobacco flavors. The perfect balance of both red and black fruits perfectly defines the signature style that makes Oakville so famous.”
 
Customers who enjoy Hilary Goldschmidt Charming Creek Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…
2014 Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
GOLDSCHMIDT
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
GAME RANCH VINEYARD
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $89.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

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Napa Valley has an untold number of microclimates, which are small pockets of land where the climate differs substantially from the surrounding areas.  This is one of the leading factors why some of the best Napa Valley wine Estates are clustered closely together. Hence, Goldschmidt’s Game RanchVineyard in Oakville… It has immediate neighbors that include Plumpjack, Rudd, Groth and Screaming Eagle.
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT
2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at:  $24.00/btl
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl

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From The Tasting Panel: “Named for Goldschmidt’s middle daughter, the wine’s grapes hail from Crazy Creek, a vineyard known to produce some iconic wines. Big, bright, blue fruit notes on the nose are meaty, with a chocolate espresso twist and dry tannins showing on the palate.  It’s a little masterpiece with a dark chocolate finish that way over delivers on price-to-quality.“ 94 Points
2012 Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva Rioja

2012 Muga Selección Especial Rioja Reserva

with No Comment $30-$40HaroKevin VogtProprietary RedSpain

MUGA

2012 Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva Rioja

2012 RIOJA RESERVA
SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL

 
When I tasted Muga’s 2012 Selección Especial, the first three adjectives that came to mind were appealing, engaging and irresistible.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve tasted a Rioja that I love this much.  It immediately dazzles your palate with seductive black fruits, intriguing complexity, and focused, penetrating flavors that simply make you want to keep sipping.  Muga is one of Rioja’s most idolized producers and they have the scores to back it up.  At under forty per bottle the 2012 Selección Especial has already earned a monster 95 point score, and I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours.  
 
Muga’s Selección Especial comes from a high elevation vineyard located in the Rioja Alta region of Haro.  The blend is dominated by 70% Tempranillo, enhanced with other indigenous varietals.  The wine spends 26 months in oak and now with a few years in the bottle the 2012 is firing on all cylinders… Don’t miss it…
 
MUGA
2012 RIOJA RESERVA
SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 20%
 
From James Suckling: “A linear and super-fine wine with black cherry and berry character and hints of flowers. Full body yet very tight and closed. Beautiful texture.” 95 Points
 
 
Customers who enjoy Muga Selección Especial Reserva Rioja  may also enjoy these two fantastic wines…
2012 Vik Milla Calla Proprietary Red 2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro
VIK
2012 MILLA CALA
PROPRIETARY RED
MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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From The Wine Spectator: “Rich and refined, delivering unctuous dark fruit and spice flavors that offer a creamy svelteness. Slate and mineral accents linger on the complex finish, with dark chocolate and olive notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Drink now through 2022…”  94 Points
QUINTA DO VALLADO
2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL
Retails at: $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Reserva is a field blend of very old vines (100+ years old)… Reasonably concentrated for the producer’s subregion and the vintage, this actually has fleshed out since I last saw it. Yet it retains that graceful, textured feel, the freshness and the fine fruit. I suspect the wine will show even more elegance as it continues to age… This is going to be a hard-to-resist wine when it hits the table at dinner.”  93 Points
2013 Xtant Petit Batard Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2013 Petit Batard Napa Valley Red by Xtant

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUncategorizedUSA

PETIT BATARD

2013 NAPA VALLEY RED
by XTANT…

2013 Xtant Petit Batard Napa Valley Proprietary Red
As the second label for Xtant, an ultra-premium producer whose reds go for $85-$175/btl, Petit Bâtard delivers a wine of remarkably high quality, and without the lofty price tag that generally accompanies them.  With access to the same tools, techniques and terroir that go into creating their flagship wine, the 2013 Petit Bâtard merits significant attention at $39.99.  It was forged from the same three iconic vineyards that go into Xtant, Lewelling, Kletter  and Oakville Station, and after a meticulous sorting process, each wine spends an identical 40 months in barrel before the blends are complete…
 
Created with three of the five Bordeaux Varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, this deep and enchanting blend was thoughtfully composed by winemaker Jeff Gaffner.  You might recognize Jeff from Saxon Brown and Black Kite.  He was responsible for making the renowned 1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages, which was the Wine Spectator’s #1 wine of the year.  If you love deep, richly layered red blends, you’ll want a case of Petit Bâtard before it disappears…
 
PETIT BATARD
2013 NAPA VALLEY RED
by XTANT…
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 27%
 
Winery Notes: “Rich and supple, our 2013 Petit Bâtard is a beautiful reflection of a premier Napa Valley vintage. Deep purple hues set the stage for layers of blueberry, cranberry, and bing cherry on the nose. On the palate smooth tannins give way to notes of sweet tea, clove and black licorice. Well balanced acid and bright fruit ensure that this will be a wine to be enjoyed for many years to come!“
 
Customers who enjoy Petit Bâtard may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
2013 Kobalt Window Pane Proprietary Red 2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red
KOBALT
WINDOW PANE
2013 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $37.99/btl

Click to OrderCo-authored by Kevin Carriker, who’s been in the wine industry for nearly 40 years and Mark Herold who’s responsible for having crafted some of the greatest wines in California including Merus, Hestan, Buccella, and his own label Herold. At under forty bucks, Kobalt’s Window Pane packs enormous value…
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

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When Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.

 

2015 Daniel Grand Vent Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 Daniel Grand Vent Vineyard Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPetaluma GapPinot NoirSonomaUSA

DANIEL 2015 Daniel Grand Vent Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
GRAND VENT VINEYARD

Many of the most profound examples of Pinot Noir come from areas where there’s a gap between two land masses, creating a funnel that allows cool coastal air in.  This keeps the wine’s natural acidity higher and allows the grapes to achieve their highest overall potential.  One prime example of this geological masterpiece is the Petaluma Gap. Wineries like Kosta-Browne and DuMOL source fruit from this area, and vineyards like Gap’s Crown and Grand Vent have become notorious for producing world-class Pinot Noir grapes.  Fruit from these areas will typically go for a premium, so when you can find one at under forty, and from a great producer, go all in… We’ve introduced some stupendously high-quality single-vineyard Pinots from DANIEL, but this is by far the best bottling yet.  I’m buying a case… 
 
This profound Pinot was composed by accomplished winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start working at Williams-Selyem… Created in a remarkably deep and hedonistic style with a sturdy core of concentrated dark berries, exotic spices, liquid floral and maritime qualities.  With a total production four barrels, this Pinot Noir will only go to a lucky few.  
 
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
GRAND VENT VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 33%
 
Tasting Notes: “It is extremely rare for a wine to absolutely transcend what is possible at a certain price point, but the the Daniel Grand Vent Pinot Noir 2015 has done just that.  Sultry aromas of Bing cherry, tart cranberry and strawberry rhubarb pie combine with fresh sage, subtle green peppercorn, white rose petals and lavender to make your mouth water from the first whiff.  Next, wave after wave of complex flavors taunt your palate with Morello cherries, Desertnyi pomegranate, perfectly ripe Japanese black plum that beautifully intermingle with hints of cola and a touch of earthy dried porcini mushroom.  Densely focused red and black fruit flavors linger on your palate in such a compelling way, that you never want it to stop. I honestly cannot recall a more enticing Pinot Noir anywhere close to this price point.  This one is simply stunning!”  Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2013 Cavalier Barolomeo Altenasso Barolo

2013 Cavalier Bartolomeo ‘Altenasso’ Barolo Piedmont, Italy

with No Comment $30-$40BaroloBaroloItalyKevin Vogt

CAVALIER BARTOLOMEO

2013 ALTENASSO BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY

2013 Cavalier Barolomeo Altenasso Barolo
In wine, how important is the vintage?  A great vintage usually means the grapes had the ideal conditions needed to develop flavors gradually, and to optimal maturity.  Things like heat spikes can prematurely advance the fruit, affecting the depth, structure, acid and balance. Rains near harvest can balloon grapes with un-needed water, diluting flavors.  Weather is unpredictable and when an area experiences optimum conditions, it always piques my interest for the wines that will come out of it.  Hence, the 2013 Cavalier Bartolomeo Altenasso Barolo. The 2013 vintage in Piedmont is one of the areas best, earning a vintage rating of 97 Points. The Wine Spectator’s Vintage Chart goes back to 1978 and there have only been 3 other 97 point vintages and none that have scored higher.  Not only are 2013 vintage Barolos hard to find due to increased demand, but they’re nearly impossible to find under forty bucks…
 
An absolute classic depiction of 2013 Barolo that offers up a flower-infused bouquet of dried rose petals, crushed violets, tart raspberry, pipe tobacco with hints of leather.  It’s unbelievably good for the price. And don’t just take my word for it…  This wine is poured by the glass at Michael Chiarello’s popular Bottega restaurant in Yountville.  Keep in mind that Barolos this good that are priced this low never stick around for very long…  
 
CAVALIER BARTOLOMEO
2013 ALTENASSO BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 50%
 
From The Wine Spectator: “This is spicy, with a touch of medicinal herbs shading the core of cherry, leather and tobacco. Tar and mineral elements chime in on the lengthy finish. Lean and sinewy. Best from 2021 through 2026. 800 cases made.”  91 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Cavalier Bartolomeo’s Altenasso Barolo may also enjoy these two Italian wines…
2011 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino 2013 Giovanni Rosso Barolo
LIVIO SASSETTI
2011 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl 

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GIOVANNI ROSSO
2013 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Wine Spectator, “A fruit-driven style, this red also displays ample tannins. Cherry, strawberry, floral and leafy tobacco flavors are backed by a vibrant structure, and this winds down with hints of mineral, earth and tobacco...”  93 Points
2016 Valdez Russian River Valley Chardonnay

2016 Valdez Russian River Valley Chardonnay

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

VALDEZ

2016 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2016 Valdez Russian River Valley Chardonnay
If you follow some of California’s preeminent Chardonnay producers like Paul Hobbs and Aubert, chances are you’ve seen the name Ulises Valdez, or UV on some of their top bottlings.  Ulises Valdez is one of California’s most sought after wine growers and when he’s not farming vineyards for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others, he’s cultivating his dream of building a successful brand. The elephant in the room is that at $34.99/btl, the 2016 Valdez Russian River Chardonnay is such a fantastic value, it’ll challenge what you think is even possible at this price point.  Upon entry the only thing on my mind was the rich, lavish mouthfeel, laced with notes of overripe pear, juicy yellow melon, French Bistro creme brûlée and subtle lemon bar.  
 
Combining fruit from three iconic Russian River Vineyards, Lancel Creek, Campbell and Laguna, the 2016 is wonderfully detailed and complex with terrific weight that’s perfectly balanced with bright acidity.  After developing for 15 months in French oak barrels the 2016 is stunning right now… We’re thrilled to pour this wine by the glass in our Yountville store, so I hope you can come in for a taste. 
 
VALDEZ
2016 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Smooth, full-bodied, and crisp; The 2016 chardonnay fills the palate with juicy citrus fruits, honey, and hints of vanilla. The 2016 vintage is slightly brighter than the 2015 with a touch more acidity that presents a nice freshness in the wine. This wine is fermented with wild native yeast, and aged for 15 months in 100% French Oak (20% new) before being bottled unfined and unfiltered…”
 
Customers that enjoy Valdez Russian River Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2014 Red Mare Dutton Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay
 2013 Valdez St Peters Church Vineyard Zinfandel
RED MARE
2014 CHARDONNAY
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
A luminous interpretation of Dutton Ranch fruit, the 2014 washes over your palate with classic Granny Smith apple, spiced pear, juicy yellow melon and subtle lemon bar.  Big and full across the palate and crafted in a plump, round style, if you’re searching for a top-level California Chardonnay without the high price tag that usually comes with one, I would saddle up and secure a case of Red Mare before this one rides off into the sunset
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 

Valdez winery is owned by Ulises Valdez, one of California’s most sought after wine growers.  When he’s not farming vineyards for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others, he’s cultivating his dream of building a successful brand.  This Zinfandel arose from a 5 acre vineyard in Alexander Valley that’s planted to nearly century old vines, this wine exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel.  Rosenblum fans might also recognize this vineyard from single vineyard Zinfandels that they produced in the 1990’s.