2021 Saddleback Chardonnay Napa Valley

2021 Saddleback Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

SADDLEBACK

CHARDONNAY 2021
NAPA VALLEY

2021 Saddleback Chardonnay Napa Valley
Nils Venge is a celebrated American winemaker and the first to achieve a perfect 100 Point score by making the 1985 Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, establishing a hierarchy of superior winemaking in Napa. Nils started Saddleback Cellars in 1976 on 14 acres of vineyards in Oakville, also home to Harlan Estate, Opus One, and Screaming Eagle.
 
Combining one of the country’s best winemakers, an impressive estate terroir, and a bit of sourcing from viticultural havens in Napa Valley, Nils crafts this outstanding Chardonnay, giving a frame of reference for what the variety is capable of in the right environment. 
 
Crafted in a quintessential Napa Valley style, Saddleback’s Chardonnay highlights Napa Valley character, combined with notes reminiscent of Burgundy, offering fantastic value at this price level. 
 
SADDLEBACK
CHARDONNAY 2021
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $45
 
 
 
“Saddleback Cellars 2021 Napa Valley Chardonnay opens with acacia blossoms, vanilla bean, apricot, peach, and nutmeg notes. On the palate, the wine has a silky-smooth texture and flavors of ripe stone fruits, vanilla cream, baking spices, and a hint of wet stone minerality. This wine is a bright, fresh example of California Chardonnay and showing off at the moment, making an excellent pairing for this summer.”
94 Points
2019 Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir North Canterbury

2019 Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir North Canterbury

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNew ZealandPinot Noir

MT. BEAUTIFUL

PINOT NOIR 2019
NORTH CANTERBURY

2019 Mt. Beautiful Pinot Noir North Canterbury
New Zealand is known for producing pure, fresh, consistent, and delightful Sauvignon Blancs. However, Pinot Noir is now garnering the attention it deserves for the same reasons.
 
Mt. Beautiful founder David Teece established his winery with the help of his close friend and geologist Ron Sutherland, who has walked nearly every square inch of the northern part of the South Island and has discovered 23 different soil types in the region. The various strata and microclimates create abundant and optimal vine-growing opportunities, as a result of which Pinot Noir is becoming one of the most planted varietals in the country.
 
The 2019 Pinot Noir release has spicy, earthy notes that balance and complement the fruit, giving depth to this easily drinkable and delightful wine.
 
MT. BEAUTIFUL
PINOT NOIR 2019
NORTH CANTERBURY
 
 
 
“Refreshment is the name of the game at this North Canterbury winery, located in the Waipara Valley, just north of Christchurch. The nose is heady and perfumed: vivid cherries, strawberries and florals, with whispers of white pepper, river stones, and vanilla bean. The medium weight palate is similarly vibrant, leading with fresh, silky red berries framed in savory tannins. Not the world’s most complex Pinot but totally delicious nonetheless. Drink now slightly chilled.”
92 Points
2022 Leto Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County

2022 Leto Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

LETO CELLARS

SAUVIGNON BLANC
SONOMA COUNTY 2022

2022 Leto Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County
Brad Warner, co-founder and winemaker at Leto Cellars, has over 50 years of dedication and experience in the wine industry. He began his career in the cellar at Charles Krug Winery, followed by nearly 30 years of tenure at Robert Mondavi Winery, where he served as the Vice President of Production. Brad’s wife, Lisa, was also at Mondavi and was in charge of all aspects of wine production for over 30 years, founding Leto Cellars in 2008 and leaning into their well-deserved knowledge and adoration for their work.
 
“Leto” translates to “the hidden one” in Greek, and Leto Cellars symbolizes finding a fantastic wine made with passion at an unbelievably low price point. 
 
The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc was stainless steel-fermented, giving a very aromatically pure character, bursting with concentrated flavors and crisp acidity, perfect for a warm summer day.
 
LETO CELLARS
SAUVIGNON BLANC
SONOMA COUNTY 2022
Retails at: $28
 
 
 
“The Leto 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is brilliantly aromatic with notes of white blossoms, lemon zest, pink grapefruit, white peach, passion fruit, and golden straw. On the palate, the wine has a lively intensity with concentrated flavors of lemon, Granny Smith apple, mandarin orange, and gooseberry and a long, playful finish.”
94 Points
2020 Dolum Estates Cabernet Sauvignoin Cask #11 Sonoma County

2020 Dolum Estates Cabernet Sauvignoin Cask #11 Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

DOLUM ESTATES

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
CASK #11 2020
SONOMA COUNTY

2020 Dolum Estates Cabernet Sauvignoin Cask #11 Sonoma County
Dolum Estates’ founders strive to create wines with undeniable character and all-embracing elegance that 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 terroir-focused wines with 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. It’s balanced with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville that ties in the rich, supple mouthfeel. This impressive wine, aged in French oak, offers immediate enjoyment and the structure to age for five to seven years.
 
DOLUM ESTATES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
CASK #11 2020
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $82
 
 
 
“Massive notes of crushed stone, blackberry, earth, and licorice are gentled by the wine’s inherent elegance. It morphs from tightly wound to a tamed beast with lithe, lip-smacking tannins.”
94 Points, “Publisher’s Pick”
2020 Stemmler Pinot Noir BZ Vineyard Anderson Valley

2020 Stemmler Pinot Noir BZ Vineyard Anderson Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAnderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

STEMMLER

PINOT NOIR
BZ VINEYARD 2020
ANDERSON VALLEY

2020 Stemmler Pinot Noir BZ Vineyard Anderson Valley
Robert Stemmler began working at Charles Krug after moving to California from Germany in 1961, and later for Inglenook and Simi wineries before launching his winery focused on Pinot Noir in 1976. His Pinot Noirs rose to critical acclaim, being called the best in America in 1984. Although Robert sold in his winery 1989, he still steps in to ensure that the quality level he established over 40 years remains intact.
 
The BZ Vineyard sits near the Navarro River in the Anderson Valley, not far from the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the coolest sites the winery works and the last one harvested. Stemmler harvested wines from the 2020 vintage a little earlier than usual, allowing for a brighter character than past vintages, bringing zesty acidity and fresh red fruits from a co-fermentation of different Pinot Noir clones specially selected by the winemaking team. 
 
STEMMLER
PINOT NOIR
BZ VINEYARD 2020
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The Stemmler 2020 Bz Pinot Noir opens with bright notes of red berry and stone fruits with light florals. The palate continues with cotton-candied bright red cherries, ripe strawberries, cola bean, chalk, and white flowers. It is a fresh, easy-drinking Monday through Thursday wine.”
90 Points
2020 Maison Jessiaume Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy France

2020 Maison Jessiaume Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy France

with No Comment $30 and underBurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

MAISON JESSIAUME

BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
BURGUNDY FRANCE 2020

2020 Maison Jessiaume Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy France
Founded in 1850 in the Santenay region of Burgundy, Maison Jessiaume’s proprietors are unwaveringly committed to continuing the winery’s legacy and showcasing unique terroirs. Jessiaume controls thirty-seven acres of organically farmed vines across fifteen sub-appellations, with their Chardonnay vines predominant in the southern areas. These vineyards provide crisp, clean acidity, minerality, and floral notes to the wines.
 
The winemaking team relies on a minimalistic approach, removing human intervention as much as possible and utilizing techniques such as ambient yeast fermentation, gravity flow, and natural clarification. The 2020 Bourgogne Chardonnay is a blend of different plots that were delicately refined over ten months in neutral French oak, keeping the characteristics of the fruit intact while providing a bit more structure, spice, and a softer mouthfeel that is delightfully approachable.
 
MAISON JESSIAUME
BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
BURGUNDY FRANCE 2020
 
 
 
“The Domaine Jessiaume 2020 Bourgogne Chardonnay comes from a nearly perfect vintage for white wines, evident in this wine with concentrated aromas of honeysuckle, chamomile, apricot, custard, allspice, and wet stones. On the palate, the flavors or just as intense with peach, and pear, with a hint of butterscotch pot de crème. The wine is drinking fabulously at the moment, with or without food, and is impressively delightful.”
95 Points
 
2021 Bodega Atamisque Catalpa Malbec Mendoza Argentina

2021 Bodega Atamisque Catalpa Malbec Mendoza Argentina

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

BODEGA ATAMISQUE 

CATALPA MALBEC 2021  
TUPUNGATO-VALLE DE UCO
MENDOZA ARGENTINA

2021 Bodega Atamisque Catalpa Malbec Mendoza Argentina
Bodega Atamisque sits in the San José District along the western foothills of the Andes Mountains in the Uco Valley near Tupungato, one of Mendoza’s most highly regarded growing regions. The vineyards in Tupungato are at an average elevation of 4,200 feet above sea level, moderating hot daytime temperatures and exposing the fruit to more intense sunlight, resulting in grapes with concentrated flavors, elaborately structured tannins, and crisp acidity.
 
Catalpa is the winery’s flagship wine produced from vines over 90 years old, taking advantage of the unique climate that contributes to some of the world’s most outstanding Malbecs. The 2021 vintage was aged for 14 months in Taransaud-Demptos French oak, giving the wine added complexity and age-ability, sustaining the winery’s standards and continuing Malbec’s legacy in Argentina.
 
BODEGA ATAMISQUE 
CATALPA MALBEC 2021  
TUPUNGATO-VALLE DE UCO
MENDOZA ARGENTINA
 
 
 
“Quite a ripe nose with plenty of black cherries, stewed blueberries, black licorice and violets. Juicy and chalky on the palate with a medium to full body and floral fruit coming through alongside the purple, pulpy fruit. Drink now.”
91 Points
2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand

2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNew ZealandProprietary Red

TRINITY HILL

THE GIMBLETT RED 
GIMBLETT GRAVELS 2020
HAWKES BAY NEW ZEALAND

2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand
The soil composition of Gimblett Gravels, a Hawkes Bay, New Zealand subdistrict, is like a little slice of Bordeaux. As this region’s name suggests, the soil consists of gravel, which Cabernet Sauvignon vines love. Trinity Hill has been growing grapes in this area for over 25 years and is a certified Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand member. They’re committed to biodiversity and reducing their environmental impact.
 
Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson has been with Trinity Hill since 1997 and has won the New Zealand Winemaker of the Year title from Winestate Magazine. Since 2005, The Gimblett has been a Bordeaux-styled red wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The 2020 release is no exception. It’s a beautiful wine that captures the nuances of the growing season and reflects the region’s terroir.
 
TRINITY HILL
THE GIMBLETT RED 
GIMBLETT GRAVELS 2020
HAWKES BAY NEW ZEALAND
 
 
 
“Very deep, bold and bright purple-colour and the aromas are wonderfully clear and pure, speaking loudly of cabernet sauvignon subtly backed with classy oak. The palate is supremely elegant and beautifully proportioned, with concentration but also elegance and style. A wine of real panache and great potential for cellaring. (50% cabernet franc, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot).”
97 Points
2015 Altanza Rioja Reserva Rioja Spain

2015 Altanza Rioja Reserva Rioja Spain

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRiojaSpainTempranillo

ALTANZA

RIOJA RESERVA
RIOJA, SPAIN 2015

2015 Altanza Rioja Reserva Rioja Spain
Founded in 1998 by close friends who shared the dreams and ambitions of making classic Riojan wines, Bodegas Altanza’s state-of-the-art winery is located in Rioja Alta, where many of the region’s oldest wineries thrive. The winery combines tradition with modernity to offer sensibly priced wines of the utmost quality.
 
Tempranillo is Rioja’s most predominant and highly praised red grape variety and has influenced the region’s style for over a century and a half. This 2015 Reserva is one hundred percent Tempranillo that was fermented with natural yeasts and matured in French oak barrels renewed every five years to provide an array of complexity without overwhelming the fruit. 
 
ALTANZA
RIOJA RESERVA
RIOJA, SPAIN 2015
 
 
 
“A fruity red with toasted oak and some chocolate and spice. It’s medium-bodied with medium round tannins and a lightly chewy, fruity finish. Drink or hold.”
92 Points
2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast

2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

SANS LIEGE

THE OFFERING RED
CENTRAL COAST 2020

2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast
Inspired by wines from the Southern Rhône and aligned with the freedoms of the New World, winemaker Curt Schalchlin seeks terroir with finesse and unrestrained character from the Central Coast that embody his vision. Curt relies on his intuition and carefully monitors each vineyard from Paso Robles to Solvang to ensure that only the highest quality fruit with distinct characteristics makes it to the winery.
 
The Offering is a quest for independence that embraces New World liberties in winemaking but pays tribute to one of France’s most renowned winegrowing regions. The 2020 blend marries Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with a small portion of stem inclusion that induces a spicy, herbal complexity and complements the alluring, elegant fruit flavors. It’s been a personal favorite of mine for over a decade.
 
SANS LIEGE
THE OFFERING RED
CENTRAL COAST 2020
Retails at: $33
 
 
 
“The Sans Liege The Offering 2020 begins with a bright nose that includes spicy red plums, fresh strawberries, wet stone, iodine, cocoa nibs, and fresh sage. The vibrant palate continues with lively black raspberries, preserved plums, sweet black cherries, spicy cedar, and fresh mint. Its finish is medium long, with a bright freshness, a liquid-saline complexity, and a lingering mouth-quenching quality that brings you back for more.”
94 Points