2017 Court Rollan Pater Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Totihue

2017 Court Rollan Pater Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Totihue

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonChileKevin Vogt

COURT ROLLAN

PATER CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 ALTO TOTIHUE

2017 Court Rollan Pater Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Totihue
Court Rollan’s roots are deep in Chile’s Cachapoal Valley, but Bordeaux heavily influences their wines. The winery is a partnership between the Court family and historic Bordeaux producer Chateau Larose Trintaudon. Together they produce the brand Court Rollan, and their wine Pater, which is Latin for father, is a pillar of their portfolio and is crafted to showcase the region’s incredible power and strength. Their 2017 vintage is a stunning example of a winery harnessing Chilean fruit’s power and delivering it with balance and elegance. 
 
Pater comes from the high elevation region of Alto Totihue in the Cachapoal Valley, where the alluvial soils and Mediterranean climate create a micro-terroir that produces wine with intense color, bright acidity, and restrained tannins. 
 
The 2017 Pater is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and spent 18 months in barrels. The wine offers a remarkable balance between power and elegance, and at $33, it delivers immense value and enjoyment.
 
COURT ROLLAN
PATER CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 ALTO TOTIHUE
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $33
 
“This small-production Cabernet is muscular on the nose, with dusty, spicy berry aromas. A full yet fresh palate is balanced and healthy, while this tastes of spicy currant and plum. A smooth finish with silky tannins isn’t overly demanding, indicating that this is more or less ready to drink; enjoy through 2025.”
93 Points
 
“Blackberry, sandalwood and light tile aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Tangy acidity to the juicy fruit. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District

2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

DAYNA ESTATE

2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 

2018 Dayna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District
Fans of elegantly styled Cabernet Sauvignons with profound aromatics, soft tannins, and long, expansive flavors should look closely at Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll AVA. The region is one of the coolest in Napa Valley and has a strong marine influence from the San Pablo Bay. This microclimate creates one of the longest growing seasons in Napa Valley, optimal for flavor development, maintaining freshness, and overall balance. Dayna Estate’s 2018 Oak Knoll Cabernet is a stunning example of how great they can be, and at the winery retail price of $80, it’s a solid bottle of wine. Of course, at our price, you can’t have too much of this in your cellar.
 
Dayna Estate is a joint venture between Silenus Vintners and Paul Segas. Paul is an experienced grape grower that sold fruit to Chateau Montelena, Robert Mondavi, and Joseph Phelps, and he also runs the show at Highlands Winery on Howell Mountain. His wines are becoming increasingly known for being classic examples of their origins and exceptional values. 
 
The vineyard is on Oak Knoll’s Western Bench that sits at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountains, where complex soils derived from the large Dry Creek alluvial fan helps produce gorgeous fruit of incredible character. This wine is textbook Oak Knoll Cabernet with an elegant presence on the palate, subtle details, and long, lingering flavors. 
 
DAYNA ESTATE
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT
Retails at: $80
 
 
“The Dayna Estate Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 begins with a lively nose of ripe blackberry purée, Italian glove leather, sweet vanilla spice, and light Spring florals. The palate continues with rich black cherries, juicy pomegranate, and mixed berries, combined with a liquid mineral character, freshly milled black pepper and crushed velvety tannins. The finish is long, focused, energizes your palate and is a delight to enjoy.”
94 Points
 
“Intense ruby red in color with aromas of cassis, plum, black cherry, and cocoa powder. The wine dances on the palate with rich fruit flavors of black cherry, ripe pomegranate, and black violets enhanced with black pepper notes. The rich fruit flavors evolve into a graceful finish loaded with red fruit and smooth tannins. The wine is lush while maintaining a bright freshness.”
2017 Chateau Moulin De La Grangere Bordeaux Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

2017 Chateau Moulin De La Grangere Bordeaux Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin VogtSaint Emilion

CHÂTEAU MOULIN DE LA GRANGERE

2017 BORDEAUX  
SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU 

2017 Chateau Moulin De La Grangere Bordeaux Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
On paper, Château Moulin de la Grangère has everything you would want from a great Bordeaux. Their location is next to Château Pavie, one of Saint-Émilion’s most revered wineries that earns regular 100 point scores. Next, their consulting winemaker is Michel Rolland, whom many would argue is the world’s top winemaker. Their 2017 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru follows through with penetrating fruit, beautifully integrated tannins, and perfectly balanced acidity on the palate. At $33, the only thing this wine doesn’t have is a high price to match its tangible pedigree.
 
Château Moulin de la Grangère sits at the foot of the finest slopes of Saint-Émilion, where they planted their certified organic vines in clay-limestone soils. The winery excelled in 2017, and it was a vintage the Wine Spectator described as follows… “Cloudy July kept wines on the fresh, pure side, with good acidity and modest tannins. St.-Emilion atop the limestone plateau is excellent.” 
 
This wine is often 100% Merlot, but in 2017, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon increased structure in the final blend. Before fermentation, the wine team used vibrating tables to meticulously sort the most pristine berries, which shows in this stunning Grand Cru. 
 
CHÂTEAU MOULIN DE LA GRANGERE
2017 BORDEAUX  
SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU
 
Your Price: $33
 
“The Château Moulin de la Grangère 2017 is a beautifully elegant Bordeaux, beginning with a nose of red currants, pomegranates, crushed granite, freshly turned earth, and light florals. There is an intriguing tension between red currants, mountain blackberries, crushed minerals, and cool blue fruits on the palate. It is elegant and focused with a seamless, supple mouthfeel and a long finish. Drink now through 2028.”
93 Points
2015 Maxville Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2015 Maxville Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

MAXVILLE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Maxville Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Chiles Valley Cabernet grapes are a recurrent source for many of Napa’s top producers. That’s because the area lies East of Rutherford at elevations ranging from 600-1200 feet, and it’s cooler than the Valley floor, providing ideal conditions for the grapes to retain their natural acidity. Wineries like Volker Eisele and Brown Estate have been making hits there for years, and Maxville, which burst on the scene in 2014, is positioning themselves to be at the top.
 
Maxville hired renowned winemaker Jean Hoefliger to give voice to their incredible Estate. Jean trained in Bordeaux and South Africa before working at powerhouse producers Hartford Court, Newton, and Alpha Omega. 
 
The Estate Vineyard was planted in 1974, and the almost half-century-old vines produce small yields of concentrated and intensely flavored fruit. Their highly distinctive terroir comes through with deep, expressive flavors, finely grained tannins and natural, fresh acidity. 
 
MAXVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $65
 
 
“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is another sexy, sweetly fruited effort. Blackcurrants, blueberries, charred earth, and leafy herb notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, nicely balanced, concentrated 2015 that has present tannins and good purity of fruit. It’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
89 Points
 
“There is a considerable amount of Petite Sirah (11%) blended within this wine, which helps emphasize its big power and concentration. Earth, soy, currant, cedar and graphite accent a core of juicy blackberry and chocolate-covered cherry.”
89 Points
 
“Dark opulent ruby and garnet hues with tantalizing aromas of black currant jam, earthy and ripe dark fruits layered with hints of vanilla, cassis and black pepper. The palate has a supple entry that lingers to the back of the mouth with firm tannin structures.”
2017 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay Napa Valley

2017 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaSaint HelenaUSA

HEITZ CELLAR

2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY

2017 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay Napa Valley
Heitz Cellar crafts their Napa Valley Chardonnay in a clean and refreshing style that highlights the fruit’s purest expression. They’ve been perfecting their craft for nearly 60 years, and back in the 60s and 70s, they labeled their Chardonnay “Chablis.” In the 80s, they began bottling single-vineyard Chardonnays from Trailside and Heitz Vineyard. Their 2017 is a timeless classic that harkens to the old days of Napa Chardonnay with delicate details and outstanding balance. 
 
The 2017 release combines fruit from Oak Knoll, Rutherford, St Helena, and Yountville. It highlights the rich, ripe fruit characteristics of the warmer climates up-valley and balances them with the structure and acid from the cooler Oak Knoll District. 
 
Aged for an impressive three years in a combination of stainless steel, French oak, and in the bottle before release, the 2017 vintage is fresh and lively, offering vivid island fruits, Meyer lemon, toasted hazelnut, and Key lime. I strongly recommend a case of this classic Napa Chardonnay for your cellar.
 
HEITZ CELLAR
2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $38
 
Your Price: $35
 
“This is one of the last bastions of Napa Chardonnay that retains the ethos of winemaking from the 1970s and ’80s. A blend of mainly Rutherford and Oak Knoll fruit, it undergoes no malolactic fermentation and is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Aromas of lemon meringue, key limes and orchard fruit blossoms lead to an angular, focused and pure palate. An authentic example of a past time. Drinking Window 2020 – 2035”
92 Points
 
“The Palate expresses hints of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and freshly baked sweet apple tarts. The fresh fruit aroma is complemented by subtle notes of toasted hazelnut, honey suckle, and white floral characteristics. Its fresh, bright acidity pleases the palate while balanced by a smooth richness that we obtain through sur-lie aging.”
2015 Chateau Soussans Margaux

2015 Chateau Soussans Margaux

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHÂTEAU SOUSSANS

2015 MARGAUX 

2015 Chateau Soussans Margaux
Our weekly tastings are done unbiased, with the retail price often unknown until after a wine makes our selection. We choose them based on quality, varietal and regional standards, and many other determining factors. Once a wine passes that test, the price comes into play, and we look for wines that outperform others in the same price category. I had pegged Château Soussans 2015 Margaux as a $50-$60 outstanding and classic representation of the region and vintage. When I found out that I could offer it to you for $36, I grabbed all I could…
 
Shaped from the highly sought after 2015 vintage, which the Wine Spectator describes as “truly special” in Margaux, Château Soussans is the second wine of Château Deyrem Valentin. Christelle Sorge tends the vines and manages both Estates, and she stands apart for her pure, traditional processes in the vineyards and winery, where her wines are 100% organic and natural. 
 
Christelle’s wine team forged Château Soussans from a small 5-acre parcel planted equally to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and located within the Deyrem-Valentin property. The 25 + year-old vines follow the same routine as Deyrem-Valentin, and the wine balances elegance with power and beautifully defined flavors that are classic to the region. 
 
CHÂTEAU SOUSSANS
2015 MARGAUX
 
Your Price: $36
 
“The Chateau Soussans 2015 is a beautiful, elegant achievement that begins with an intriguing nose with red plums, powdered stone, white flowers, forest ferns, and saddle leather. The palate has waves of mixed berries, red cherries, liquid minerals, and vanilla spice. It is a beautiful balance between power and elegance, which is everything you want from a Margaux.”
94 Points
 
“Made with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot the wine is soft and silky with perfumed strawberry jam on the nose. Ripe plum and cream come through on the palate which has supple tannins and an attractive, lively red fruit finish. This elegant Margaux will be lovely to drink, share and enjoy over the next decade.”
2016 Rafael et Fils Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2016 Rafael et Fils Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

RAFAEL et FILS

2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ESTATE, NAPA VALLEY

2016 Rafael et Fils Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
In winemaking, state-of-the-art equipment and acclaimed fruit sources never hurt, but the human element of having passionate people involved can be as evident as the terroir itself. Marc Rafael is infectiously passionate, spirited, and an all-around nice guy. His wines are some of the most balanced, honest, and well-rounded interpretations of Oak Knoll terroir that I’ve tasted. Even at the winery retail price of around $70, this wine is memorable and overachieving. At our price, it’s one of my favorites in the shop. 
 
Fans of a more Bordeaux styled Napa Cabernet that’s long and persistent, with remarkable balance and subtle early qualities, should look closely at the Western side of the Oak Knoll district. The area’s complex soils and micro-climate that’s one of the coolest in Napa Valley enable the fruit to develop concentrated flavors at ripe sugar levels with refreshing, balanced acidity. 
 
Rafael et Fils Cabernet is all about balance, with complex, lengthy, lingering flavors. Marc ages the wine for 23 months in 30% new French oak barrels to showcase the fruit’s purity. If you’re looking for a Cabernet that will impress even the most discerning palate, give this boutique producer a shot, and I’m confident that you’ll be delighted that you did.
 
RAFAEL et FILS
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ESTATE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $69
 
 
“The 2016 Rafael et Fils Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 perfectly reflect Marc Rafael’s humble style and grace. It is a refined and elegant wine with absolutely every element beautifully arranged and styled in a stunningly harmonious fashion. It begins with deep, seamless aromas of dried currants, blackberries and cassis, combined with subtle tobacco and cedar. On the palate, it is a symphony of red and black fruits, with every nuance in perfect balance. The rich, smooth, complex finish drifts off into infinity with amazing poise, leaving me with a captivating, warming glow.” 93 Points 
2018 Domaine Guy Robin Chablis Vieilles Vignes

2018 Domaine Guy Robin Chablis Vieilles Vignes

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyChablisFranceKevin Vogt

DOMAINE GUY ROBIN

2018 CHABLIS 
VIEILLES VIGNES

2018 Domaine Guy Robin Chablis Vieilles Vignes
Vieilles Vignes means old vines, and Guy Robin is one of my favorite producers of old vine Chablis. He began collecting old Chablis parcels back in the 60s, and few other Chablis estates have such a rich collection of older vines. As a result, few wineries can deliver Chablis wines of such character and complexity. At $33, his Chablis VV offers dynamic complexity, laser focus, and optimum balance.
 
Guy’s daughter Marie-Ange leads the Estate and shares her father’s passion for old vines. She creates their Vieilles Vignes Chablis from vines averaging four decades in age, and many of the neighboring plots are premier cru sites, sharing similar soils and climate. 
 
Guy Robin hand-harvests their Chardonnay grapes at the pinnacle of ripeness. He immediately presses them at the winery, where they’re held in a tank for 24 hours to settle naturally. The winery ferments in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks, and they also age in tanks to preserve the fruit’s most natural expression.
 
DOMAINE GUY ROBIN
2018 CHABLIS 
VIEILLES VIGNES
 
Your Price: $33
 
“Bright, citrusy aromas, with liquid minerals and white flowers, immediately grab you in the nose. On approach, the palate has an amazing richness, with concentrated, penetrating flavors including stone fruits, key lime, and an incredibly focused center palate. The finish is mesmerizing, with an amazing balance of richness and freshness. This is certainly one of my favorite Chablis, each vintage.” 94 Points
2018 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2018 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

BLACK POWDER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 HOWELL MOUNTAIN 

2018 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
With the average price of Howell Mountain Cabernet upwards of $150 per bottle, finding one at $40 will make just about anyone do a double-take. We found one, and the wine is dynamite. It’s everything that you’d expect from this iconic AVA and offers a blast of dark mountain berries, dominant focus, and towering structure. Occasionally, we’ll offer a wine that screams for you to stock-your-cellar, and this is undoubtedly one of them. This wine is ridiculously delicious now and will pay dividends in the cellar for 20 years if you can hang on to it that long…
 
Black Powder exploded from the Western Slopes of Howell Mountain at a staggering 2100 feet in elevation, where the vines produce potent berries. In 2018 mother nature helped guide them to the peak of perfection. 
 
This is a hot new project made by Bobby Moy, who passed the trial-by-fire in the wine industry mentoring under Thomas Rivers Brown. This 2018 is poised to blow-up all expectations of what you thought was possible for Howell Mountain Cabernet at a value price. 
 
BLACK POWDER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The Black Powder Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is an absolutely delightful wine, starting with a lush nose of blackberries, black plums, violets, crushed granite and baking spices. The palate beautifully displays mixed berry cobbler, dark chocolate, espresso roast and fresh sage. This is a textbook version of a Howell Mountain Cab, with firm, slightly dusty tannins, focused fruit, complex minerals, and a long finish. While it is drinking better at this point than I would expect for a 2018 Howell Mountain Cab, I see potential for even greater depth and complexity with bottle age and and/or more time in the glass.” 93-95 Points
2016 Chateau Odilon Haut-Medoc Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite)

2016 Chateau Odilon Haut-Medoc Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite)

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHÂTEAU ODILON 

2016 HAUT-MÉDOC
DOMAINES BARONS DE
ROTHSCHILD (LAFITE)

2016 Chateau Odilon Haut-Medoc Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite)
Domaines Barons de Rothschild is a wine empire centered around the world-renowned Rothschild winemaking dynasty. It owns many Estates in Bordeaux, including the iconic first growth producers Château Lafite Rothschild. The Rothschilds also own Château Odilon, which hails from the Listrac-Médoc sub-appellation of Haut Medoc. At $36, the 2016 vintage is fantastic and embodies the full confidence that you would expect from one of Bordeaux’s top houses.  
 
Château Odilon’s vines are on a limestone plateau, which, combined with the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, helps produce fruit with sublime clarity and freshness. This blend is 85% Merlot, balanced with Cabernet Sauvignon, and like many 2016’s, it’s profoundly structured, with beautifully integrated dusty tannins and perfectly balanced acidity. 
 
The Haut-Medoc is a wine-growing region on the left bank that’s adjacent to the appellations of Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien, Moulis, and Listrac. The 2016 vintage in Bordeaux is referred to by some winemakers as “the second coming of Bordeaux” due to the overall quality, and once you try one from a great producer, I think you’ll agree… 
 
CHÂTEAU ODILON 
2016 HAUT-MÉDOC
DOMAINES BARONS DE
ROTHSCHILD (LAFITE)
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“This wine offers aromas of black fruit, liquorice sticks, and delicate notes of orange blossom. On aeration, roasted scents and vanilla contribute to the nose’s complexity. The attack is direct and lively. The balance is characterized by good concentration with creamy tannins. This wine has remarkable elegance and its length suggests an excellent potential to age.”