2020 Thierry Laffay Chablis Burgundy France

2020 Thierry Laffay Chablis Burgundy France

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyChablisFranceKevin Vogt

Thierry Laffay

Chablis 2020
Burgundy, France

2020 Thierry Laffay Chablis Burgundy France

Nestled amidst the serene slopes of the Serein River Valley, the vineyards of Chablis flourish upon a rare and storied terroir: Kimmeridgian marl, a sedimentary clay rich in limestone that imparts the wines with their signature bright, mineral character. This soil, coupled with the valley’s Atlantic-tempered climate, creates a harmonious balance. The cool air slows the ripening of the grapes, preserving the vibrant, racy acidity that defines Chablis wines.

Since 1978, Thierry Laffay has meticulously cultivated this remarkable landscape, nurturing just over 17 acres of Chardonnay. For Laffay, it’s not merely about growing grapes—it’s about embracing simplicity and authenticity and sharing the fruits of his labor. His family-run estate adheres to traditional methods, aging wines exclusively in stainless steel tanks and bottled a year after harvest, ensuring the purity of flavor. The 2020 growing season, marked by ideal weather conditions, yielded wines of exceptional quality with the potential for graceful aging.

The 2020 Thierry Laffay Chablis, a standout in recent tastings, exemplifies the brilliance of the vintage. With its vibrant acidity and elegant minerality, it showcases precisely what makes top-tier Chablis so captivating—an unforgettable expression of both land and craftsmanship.

Thierry Laffay
Chablis 2020
Burgundy, France

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“The Theirry Laffay 2020 Chablis opens with notes of chalky minerality, crushed seashells, chamomile, pears, and quince. On the palate, the wine is lively with a silky mouthfeel and flavors of golden apples, apricots, grapefruit, and lemon custard. The wine has a near-creamy texture balanced by fresh, vibrant acidity and a crisp, stony finish.”

95 Points

2021 Details by Sinegal Cabernet Sauvinon Sonoma County

2021 Details by Sinegal Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

Details by Sinegal

Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County 2021

2021 Details by Sinegal Cabernet Sauvinon Sonoma County

For those seeking exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon without the exorbitant price tag, Details by Sinegal is a must-experience. Renowned wine critic Jeb Dunnuck aptly describes it as a Sonoma wine that rivals Napa Cabernets costing two to three times as much.

How does Details by Sinegal achieve such remarkable quality at an accessible price? The winemaking team meticulously crafts each bottle, focusing on every detail to replicate the characteristics of premium wines. Hand-selected fruit from Sonoma County’s finest vineyards, under the guidance of winemaker Ryan Knoth, ensures that every bottle reflects the expertise gained from working alongside legendary winemakers like David Abreu, Michel Rolland, and Fredrik Johansson.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Sourced primarily from Sonoma Valley, with a touch of Knights Valley for added structure and freshness, this vintage delivers a Bordeaux-inspired experience with a distinctly Californian character.

At under $50, the level of quality in Details by Sinegal is truly exceptional and nearly unmatched.

Details by Sinegal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma County 2021
Retails at: $50

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“Coming from Sonoma and based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of Petit Verdot, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Details is a smoking bottle of wine, as well as an incredible value. Darker berries, currants, scorched earth, lead pencil, and hints of chocolate all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a plush, layered mouthfeel, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It’s from Sonoma but will stand toe to toe with any number of Napa Cabernet Sauvignons that run two to three times the price.”

93 Points

2020 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

2020 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

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

DOMAINE EDEN

PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

2020 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains

One of Santa Cruz Mountains’ most esteemed producers, Domaine Eden, was modeled after Mount Eden Vineyards and specializes in crafting exceptional Pinot Noir from a selection of Dijon clones 777, 667, and 828, alongside historical California clones like Mount Eden, Calera, and Swan.

Nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the winery thrives in a cool climate with diverse soils ideally suited for nurturing Burgundian varieties. The vineyard team adheres to rigorous sustainable farming practices, yielding limited yet intensely concentrated fruit that embodies the region’s identity. 

With a commitment to purity and site expression, the wines of Domaine Eden undergo fermentation with indigenous yeast, remaining unfined and unfiltered. The 2020 vintage emerges as a standout expression, capturing the region’s essence and delivering a beautifully harmonious fusion of fruit, earth, and minerality.

DOMAINE EDEN
PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
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“Fresh, with raspberry, damson plum and blood orange notes, carried by finely beaded acidity and backed by rooibos tea and savory notes through the lively finish. Shows taut underlying grip too, giving this a touch of old school. Drink now through 2030.”

91 Points

2022 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

2022 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonomaUSA

ZIALENA

SAUVIGNON BLANC
GEYSERVILLE 2022

2022 Zialena Sauvignon Blanc Geyserville

Our tasting panel was immediately enamored by this wine and wondered how we’d never heard of it before. The winery sits on a 120-acre property in Alexander Valley that dates back to the early 1900s when Giuseppe Mazzoni immigrated from Carrara, Italy, and became a grape farmer and winemaker after joining the Italian Swiss Colony. 

The vineyards are situated in a prime location with exceptional terroir, including a combination of soil types, microclimates, and elevation changes that contribute to the unique characteristics found in Zialena wines.

The Winery is committed to sustainable farming practices and employs environmentally friendly methods in the vineyards, focusing on handcrafted, small-lot production wines. The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is the second vintage fermented in custom concrete eggs using the egg’s natural convection to stir the lees and create an elegant structure with a soft texture and ultimate concentrated flavor complexity.

ZIALENA
SAUVIGNON BLANC
GEYSERVILLE 2022

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“The Zialena 2022 Geyserville Sauvignon Blanc opens with beautiful aromatics, including elderflower, gardenia, ripe citrus and tropical fruits, and a creamy lemon custard. On the palate, the wine has zippy acidity balanced with concentrated flavors of Meyer lemon, grapefruit, passion fruit, melon, and wet stone minerality. The wine has a touch of creaminess on the mouthfeel and a long, dynamic finish.”

94 Point

2020 Remoissenet Pere Et Fils Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy

2020 Remoissenet Pere Et Fils Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyChablisChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

REMOISSENET PÈRE et FILS

BOURGOGNE BLANC
COTE-D’OR BURGUNDY 2020

2020 Remoissenet Pere Et Fils Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy

Remoissenet Père et Fils was founded in 1877 by Joseph Remoissenet in the town of Beaune, in Burgundy, France, and today, the Remoissenet name symbolizes elegant and timeless Burgundian wines. The winery excels as a high-quality, boutique négociant, nurturing close partnerships with vineyard owners and a respected vine-growing estate with an ever-expanding portfolio of celebrated vineyards, all sustainably farmed with biodynamic principles.

The fruit for the Bourgogne Blanc comes from Estate vineyards in Northern Burgundy, including declassified Chablis and plots from Puligny-Montrachet, creating a dynamic complexity.

The 2020 release was hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of French oak and stainless steel, giving the wine enticing aromatics and maintaining purity.

REMOISSENET PÈRE et FILS
BOURGOGNE BLANC
COTE-D’OR BURGUNDY 2020

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“The Remoissenet Père et Fils 2020 Bourgogne Blanc opens with succulent notes of honeysuckle, white blossoms, fresh cream, golden apple, and chalky minerality. On the palate, the wine has vibrant acidity and lively flavors of pear, peaches and cream, quince, cinnamon roll, and honeycomb. This wine’s concentrated flavors gracefully linger on the palate, leading to a delightful and enduring finish.”

95 Points 

2021 Sparkman Holler Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

2021 Sparkman Holler Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonColumbia ValleyKevin VogtUSAWashington State

SPARKMAN

HOLLER 2021
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COLUMBIA VALLEY

2021 Sparkman Holler Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

Sparkman Cellars is renowned for crafting concentrated yet gracefully balanced wines from Washington State. Their wines are continually turning heads, and in 2016, their 2013 Holler Cabernet ranked #21 on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list. The winery was also named one of Wine Spectator’s Rising Stars, Wine Enthusiast’s Cult Wineries, and Wine & Spirits’ Top 100 Wineries in the World, solidifying them as a top winery in the region. 

Winemaker Linn Scott carefully selected grapes from eight distinct vineyards within Columbia Valley for the Holler Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, resulting in a wine that delivers a well-rounded representation of Columbia Valley’s terroir.

Bordeaux-inspired, the 2021 Holler checks in at 77% Cabernet Sauvignon heightened with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Aged in a combination of French, Eastern European, and American oak for 18 months, the 2021 Holler thoroughly impresses at its modest $35 Retail price.

SPARKMAN
HOLLER 2021
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COLUMBIA VALLEY

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“The Sparkman Holler Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 begins with a rich nose of red, blue, and black fruits, roasted coffee, milk chocolate, pencil shavings, and lavender. The powerful, opulent palate continues with sweet black currants, tart red currants, ripe blackberries, toasted hazelnuts, chocolate-covered espresso beans, allspice, and dried bay leaves. This is a complex wine with a deep richness on the palate, combined with satiny tannins that lead to a long, supple finish, optimally framing a wine that drinks well above its price level.

94+ Points

2021 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

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

SOJOURN

PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST

2021 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Specializing in intensely flavored, terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Sojourn Cellars emerged as a top-tier artisanal winery in 2001, motivated to craft exclusive wines from California’s most vibrant and unique vineyards. Decades later, the winery continues turning heads by skillfully showcasing the brilliance of each carefully chosen site.

Sourcing high-quality Pinot Noir grapes from the windswept regions along Sonoma Coast and foggy Russian River Valley, the 2021 release intertwines fruit from Gap’s Crown, Sangiacomo, Walala, and Dorothy Cameron Vineyards. 

The optimal 2021 growing season offered exceptional quality grapes that were 100% destemmed, fermented in open-top fermenters, finished in French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered for ultimate purity.

SOJOURN
PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST
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“Juicy and engaging, with heavy mulled raspberry and blood orange flavors coursing through, carried by a bright mineral edge and a flurry of red tea and savory notes. The long, lingering finish has nice latent tension. Drink now through 2030.”

93 Points

2019 Rubia Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2019 Rubia Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40CalistogaCoombsvilleHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

RUBIA

PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Rubia Proprietary Red Napa Valley

Margaret and Joe Valenzuela founded Rubia Wine Cellars as a tribute to their love and deep desire to become a part of the winemaking world. The winery focuses on limited-production wines and strong friendships, allowing them access to renowned vineyards.

To pursue their vision, Margaret and Joe enlisted Julien Fayard as their winemaker, who had previously worked at much-heralded French vineyards such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte before relocating to the United States, assuming the role of Director of Winemaking under Philippe Melka. 

The 2019 production yielded 200 cases of powerful and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon from hillside vineyards in Calistoga and Howell Mtn blended with 45% Coombsville AVA Merlot. The wine matured for 20 months in French oak before release and is now drinking beautifully with a long, resonant finish.

RUBIA
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $85

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“The 2019 Red Blend is plush, dark and wonderfully inviting. Black cherry, plum, mocha, spice and licorice are all kicked up in this juicy, potent Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend. Soft contours add to the wine’s immediacy and allure.”

92 Points

2019 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Vineyard Napa Valley

2019 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Vineyard Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

SEQUUM

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
KIDD RANCH VINEYARD
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Vineyard Napa Valley

Hand-crafting powerful, terroir-expressive wines, Sequum is a boutique winery in Saint Helena led by Paul Skinner. With a Ph.D. in viticulture and soil science, Paul lives and breaths his Kidd Ranch Estate Vineyard, walking it daily. Knowing each vine like they are his children results in some of the most well-balanced wines that truly reflect their origin. 

The 2019 growing season saw a mild winter and spring followed by a warm summer and steady temperatures during harvest. This led to grapes reaching optimal ripeness levels, optimal concentration of flavors, and balanced acidity. 

Sequum’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a testament to the winery’s quality, showcasing power and depth for a sublime wine-drinking experience, with significant cellaring potential.

SEQUUM
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
KIDD RANCH VINEYARD
NAPA VALLEY 2019
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“The 2019 Sequum Cabernet is…” Spectacular.

2015 Coplan The Chairman Red Blend Sonoma Valley

2015 Coplan The Chairman Red Blend Sonoma Valley

with No Comment $30-$40CarnerosKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUSA

COPLAN 

THE CHAIRMAN
RED BLEND 2015
SONOMA VALLEY

2015 Coplan The Chairman Red Blend Sonoma Valley

Coplan is a limited-production, boutique winery in Sonoma, with an estate vineyard boasting Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in the Sonoma side of the Carneros region in the 1940s. The Chairman is their flagship red blend that pays homage to the founder’s father, representing the layers of flavors and aromas encountered when opening a beautiful, balanced bottle of wine.

Winemaker Jacqueline Yoakum, known for her past work at Littorai, Amaranthe, and Schramsberg and currently the lead winemaker for Keller Estate, expertly blends each vintage to capture the elements of the growing season and quality of the fruit. 

Drinking beautifully right now, the 2015 Chairman comprises 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, with a portion of the fruit harvested from 70-year-old vines, and 58% Merlot, aged in French oak for 24 months and producing a minuscule release of just 100 cases.

COPLAN 
THE CHAIRMAN
RED BLEND 2015
SONOMA VALLEY
Retails at: $55

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“The 2015 Coplan The Chairman Sonoma Valley Red Wine Blend 2015 begins with a supple, seamless nose with red and black currants, ripe blueberries, elegant lavender, sweet vanilla, cardamom, and Spring florals. The palate continues with smooth, deep, rich black and red berries, tart cherry, and black plum with light kitchen spices, coffee hints, saline, and more floral elements. The rich, round fruits are balanced beautifully with just enough bright freshness to keep the opulence from feeling heavy. Tasted in November of 2023, and is perfectly ready to drink now.”

93 Points