2018 Sans Liege The Offspring Proprietary Red

2018 Sans Liege The Offspring Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtProprietary RedSanta BarbaraUSA

SANS LIEGE

2018 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Sans Liege The Offspring Proprietary Red
Sans Liege The Offering is a fusion of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre that was inspired by the deliciously complex wines from the Southern Rhone Valley, and crafted with the New World winemaking freedom. Each subsequent vintage develops an even more intense following, and it’s the wines’ magnetic style, with a plush mouthfeel and abundance of complexity that makes it so unforgettable. All of that combined with a retail price of under $30, and the quality is unmatched when it comes to juicy red blends. 
 
With origins from top vineyards in California’s iconic Santa Barbara County, winemaker Curt Schalchlin selects each vineyard based on flavor characteristics and distinct qualities that add layers to the diversity of the overall blend. 
 
This remarkable and highly-expressive blend spent around 16 months in barrel, and Curt made it with a technique of utilizing partial whole cluster fermentation, contributing to greater depth and structure in the wine.
 
SANS LIEGE
2018 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
“The early fall breeze brushes through the orchard, bringing with it aromas of red plum, cinnamon bark, cocoa, and freshly oiled leather. The harvest table is bountiful; friends and family all gather round. Wooden bowls full of green olives and mixed berries are passed as you warm your hands on a rustic mug filled with anise black tea.”
2019 Brevity Pinot Grigio Santa Barbara County

2019 Brevity Pinot Grigio Santa Barbara County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSanta BarbaraUSA

BREVITY

2019 PINOT GRIGIO
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

2019 Brevity Pinot Grigio Santa Barbara County
As a fan of Pinot Noir, I can’t help but admire Pinot Grigio. After all, Pinot Grigio came from a genetic mutation of the Pinot Noir grape, removing the color pigmentation and making it a grayish-blue color, rather than purple. And this didn’t just happen yesterday; Pinot Grigio has been around since the Middle Ages. It’s now the second most popular white wine grape in the US, behind Chardonnay, and it’s also found a stronghold in Northern Italy and Alsace. We don’t feature them in our emails often, but then again, we’ve never tasted one as great as this…
 
There are many different styles of Pinot Grigio, from dry and minerally, (common in Northern Italy), to sweet & fruity which is common in Alsace (and also referred to as Pinot Gris.) In the New World, Pinot Grigio is often both fruity and dry. This wine stands out for having concentrated fruit, lively acidy, brilliant details, and powerful intensity. 
 
Brevity is a brand new project made by Bobby Moy, who got his feet wet in the wine industry mentoring under Thomas Rivers Brown before launching this label. It’s farmed organically, and the grapes were whole-cluster pressed and cold fermented for 42 days, which both contributed to the concentrated fruit and bright acid. If you know anyone that loves Pinot Grigio, they should not miss this one.
 
BREVITY
2019 PINOT GRIGIO
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $22
 
 
“The Brevity 2019 Santa Barbara County Pinot Grigio is an absolute delight to taste. This stunning wine is defined and focused on the nose with bright citrus, Spring flowers, and green apple hints. The palate is exceptionally concentrated, with intense key lime, passionfruit, and pomelo. There is a steeliness on the palate with this one combined with a very crisp acidity that keeps you coming back for more. It’s simply the best Pinot Grigio I’ve had the last few years.”  93 Points
2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso Di Montalcino Italy

2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso Di Montalcino Italy

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin VogtRosso

CASTELLO ROMITORIO

2018 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso Di Montalcino Italy
Rosso di Montalcino from a great producer can offer immense value, and provide one of the purest and most vivid interpretations of Sangiovese Grosso grape. Rossos require only one year of age before release, which often results in a fresher and more vibrant Sangiovese that can also be enjoyed young. Castello Romitorio Brunello gets monster scores, and they fashioned their Rosso from younger vines on the Estate. And, they made it with the same exacting standards that make their Brunellos so great. At about 1/2 the price of their Brunello, the value is abundant.
 
Castello Romitorio has Italian history embedded in its DNA. The Estate dates back to the Middle Ages, and through time, transitioned from a temple to a fortress, a monastery, a castle, a Manor House, and now, lucky for us, a winery… 
 
Located northwest of Montalcino’s town, the vineyard has soils composed of clay and Albarese, from which fossils and shells emerge, evidence of an ancient coastal seabed. Their 2018 Rosso is robust, vibrant, and unleashes a flurry of concentrated red and blue fruits, rose garden, and intriguing spice. 
 
CASTELLO ROMITORIO
2018 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso di Montalcino takes time to blossom in the glass, yet it is totally worth the wait. A pretty and understated display of cherry and strawberry mixed with dusty earth, roses and hints of undergrowth opens nicely. Soft, silky textures flood the palate with ripe red and hints of blue fruit, sweet yet perfectly contrasted by saline-minerality, along with hints of fine tannin that slowly mount toward the close. The finish is remarkably long, as notes of dried wild berries, blueberry skins and hints of violet florals linger.” 91 Points
 
 
“Limpid garnet color, translucent. Appetizing nose so typical for Sangiovese: the tangy aroma of Marasca cherry. With increasing bottle age, this cherry fruit turns from fresh and crisp to mellow and dried, in the young wines the fruit is pristine, varying in intensity with each vintage. The body is sinewy and bone-dry: not a prettified, mollified Sangiovese but a wine as rugged as the land. There is fine, bright acidity and a lovely tannic grip. This has impact but is not heavy. A little age sits wonderfully on this rustic charmer: bottle age will give you scents of leather, wild thyme and polished wood.” Anne Krebiehl MW
2016 Waterfall Proprietary Red Old Vine Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley

2016 Waterfall Proprietary Red Old Vine Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

WATERFALL 

2016 PROPRIETARY RED
(OLD VINE CABERNET FRANC)
SONOMA VALLEY

2016 Waterfall Proprietary Red Old Vine Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley
At $23, we knew Waterfall’s 2016 Red would be an instant hit, and based on the torrent of re-orders and glowing feedback, we were right. After all, it’s made by Helen Keplinger, whom you might recognize from her work at Bryant, Carte Blanche, and Grace Family, and even at the winery retail price of $42, a wine of this caliber would make anyone do a double-take. At $23, very few can compete.
 
Waterfall’s 2016 Proprietary Red is composed of 100% Cabernet Franc, and Helen crafted it from ancient 80-year-old vines. On the palate, the wine is stunningly balanced, finely detailed, long, and expansive. 
 
This beauty comes from the incredible 2016 vintage, bringing a supple and inviting style that envelopes your palate with rich, enchanting flavors, silky tannins and perfectly ripened dark berries. At this price, you can’t have too much of this in your cellar. 
 
WATERFALL 
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
(OLD VINE CABERNET FRANC)
SONOMA VALLEY
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
“Polished textured with melted tannins. Balancing acidity with aromas of raspberry pie, blueberry and strawberry jam combined with nuances of rose petal and violets + spicy notes on the finish.”
2019 Leto Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

2019 Leto Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaPope ValleySauvignon BlancUSA

LETO

SAUVIGNON BLANC
2019 NAPA VALLEY

2019 Leto Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
Proprietor Brad Warner proves again that he’s got a talent for identifying vineyards capable of producing powerfully compelling, memorable wines. For his 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, he discovered a vineyard in Pope Valley, a remote, high-elevation region positioned behind Howell Mountain, that falls within the greater Napa Valley Appellation. The 2019 vintage is loaded with concentrated stone fruits and is finely sculpted and full of energy. With only 115 cases made, you might want to order yours before sharing…
 
The 2019 vintage arose from a single, high-elevation site in Pope Valley, where a dramatic diurnal temperature shift helped the fruit maintain natural acidity, but gain full ripeness. 
 
Once harvested, Brad fermented the juice at cool temperatures and aged it in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness. On the palate, it’s pristinely focused, alluring, and full of energy, and at $22, you should grab some while you can…
 
LETO
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2019 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $22
 
 
“Pale yellow robe. The bouquet fresh, with notes of white flowers and citrus fruit. The mouth dynamic, with crisp acidity and stone fruit. A pleasant finish.”
2016 Ciavolich Divus Montelpulciano D'Abruzzo

2016 Ciavolich Divus Montelpulciano D’Abruzzo

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin Vogt

CIAVOLICH

2016 DIVUS 
MONTELPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO

2016 Ciavolich Divus Montelpulciano D'Abruzzo
If you love Italian reds and enjoy finding great value, you should know about the Montepulciano grape, which is the second most widely planted varietal in Italy. According to Jancis Robinson, the variety likely originated in Tuscany and is related to Sangiovese. Revered for producing deeply colored wines with supple fruit, natural acidity, and muscular tannins, Montepulciano may become your new favorite value grape. The very best come from the village of Abruzzo, and at $23, the Ciavolich 2016 Divus is a remarkable example of just how great they can be. 
 
The Ciavolich Estate sits in the Abruzzo Hills and faces the Adriatic Sea, and they made Divus from the oldest vines on the property. The 60-70 year-old vines grown are in calcareous clay soils and planted on a Tendone system, where the grapes are trained overhead, which is beneficial for frost protection.  
 
The 2016 vintage was a solid one in Italy, and they harvested the grapes under ideal conditions. On the palate, the wine is incredibly elegant and offers supple fruit, with really interesting licorice and black pepper notes. 
 
CIAVOLICH
2016 DIVUS 
MONTELPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
 
“Black raspberries, citrus, licorice and bilberries make for a beautiful nose. While the medium-bodied palate certainly isn’t the most concentrated for Abruzzo, it is all about elegance, purity and finesse. Drink now.”  92 Points
2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 

2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander ValleyAsk me “What’s the best Cab under $20?” and I can honestly say that I haven’t found one that I like better than Katherine Goldschmidt’s 2015 Crazy Creek. When you take a closer look at the vineyard, it’s easy to see why. For years, fruit from Crazy Creek went to Simi for their Reserve Cabernet ($75), and in 2016 Silver Oak recognized the significance of this site and added it to their holdings. The days of finding a Cabernet from Crazy Creek at under twenty bucks are soon to be a thing of the past, and with a 94 point score on top of everything else, you may want to double down, or better… 

Crazy Creek Vineyard got its name from the seasonal creeks that furcate the land, and the earth beneath results from hundreds of thousands of years of erosion. Before they replanted the vineyards in 2017 and 2018, the older, low vigor vines produced tiny yields of Cabernet with more power and depth than what’s typically found in the region.  
 
The 2015 vintage releases a dense core and remarkable palate presence and saturates your palate in an abundance of chocolate-covered cherries, roasted coffee, and black currants. This wine perfectly expresses just how inspiring Cabernet Sauvignon can be from Alexander Valley, and it does so at a price that will make you smile. 
 
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 
2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at: $24
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
 
 
“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
 
 
 
 
“Rich and robust with aromas of black cherry, black tea, dark spices, and mocha. Bold and structured showing ripe black currant, cherry, and plum flavors. Very smooth, soft, and supple finish.”
2018 Hunter Glenn Chardonnay RRV

2018 Hunter Glenn Chardonnay RRV

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

HUNTER GLENN

2018 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Hunter Glenn Chardonnay RRVWhen you find a tiny producer making stratospherically high-quality wines from great vineyards, AND, they price them like they’re making them for friends and family, enjoy it while you can… Hunter Glenn sources their 150 case production Chardonnay exclusively from the Starscape Vineyard, located near icons Ritchie and Kistler. The Vineyard was previously known as Floodgate, and Gary Farrell fans likely recognize it. At $30, this micro-produced Chardonnay is ridiculously good. 

The Shifflett family’s home ranch neighbors icons Dominus and Trethefen in Napa Valley, but they source their grapes from Starscape for their Chardonnay. The Vineyard’s maritime influence and Pájaro Clay Loam soils make it perfect for ripening Chardonnay to the peak of perfection. 
 
Proprietor Jeff Shifflett isn’t just a talented grower, but he’s also a gifted winemaker. Jeff worked harvest in Australia before spending time at both Cakebread and Elyse. His Chardonnay has vibrant, opulent fruit that is perfectly balanced, and an absolute joy to drink. 
 
HUNTER GLENN
2018 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
 
 
“Sunny pale yellow in color, with aromas of crisp, sweet apples and wet river rocks. A vein of minerality runs from the nose through the palate, supporting a creamy mouth of subtle tropical fruits combined with lemon curd and stone fruit. A pleasing, lingering finish is ripe, without being any bit oakey or buttery. This is the Chardonnay for everyone!” 
2018 Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve

2018 Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

VISTA

RUTHERFORD RESERVE
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

2018 Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford ReserveFollowing up on Vista 2017, our most successful wine of all time, there’s only one direction for us to go, and that’s up… Up in terms of concentration, quality, and length of finish, and up in terms of value for the region. How many Reserve Rutherford Cabernets can you list at $25/btl? I can’t think of another one. In the 2018 vintage, there was enough Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon available to label this vintage a Cabernet instead of a blend, and the wine powerfully reflects this. If you’re looking for a wine that tastes like it should be at least double the price, this is it…

This 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon originates from Rutherford’s Western side, where the soils and microclimate produce pristine, complex fruit. The Cabernet is clone 337, a clone often used in cult wines, and it’s balanced with 15% Oakville Cabernet Franc and 6% Rutherford Merlot. 
 
In the 2018 vintage, Mother Nature gifted the valley with a long, trouble-free growing season that allowed the grapes more time on the vines to develop more profound, complex flavors. Vista’s 2018 Reserve Cabernet perfectly reflects the vintage with a purity of fruit and striking complexity that expands into mineral-laced black fruits, blue violets, iron, and hints of Rutherford dust.
 
VISTA
RUTHERFORD RESERVE
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
 
“The Vista Reserve Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 has a gorgeous, powerful nose of blackberry pie filling, French lavender, sweet vanilla and brioche. On the palate, this opulent beauty is rich and concentrated, with a core of focused fruits and flavors including mountain blackberries, red plums, ripe blueberries, menthol, vanilla spice, and dark chocolate, all supported by fine grained fruit tannins. It is amazingly ready-to-drink now, but has the structure to cellar for a decade.” 
95 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2018 Brevity Pinot Noir Mission Ranch Vineyard Monerey County

2018 Brevity Pinot Noir Mission Ranch Vineyard Monerey County

with No Comment $30 and underArroyo SecoKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirUSA

BREVITY

2018 PINOT NOIR
MISSION RANCH VINEYARD
MONTEREY COUNTY 

2018 Brevity Pinot Noir Mission Ranch Vineyard Monerey County

 
Comparing Monterey to all of the top growing regions for Pinot Noir in California, their growing area stands out for producing wines with the most forward, succulent fruit. The best will perfectly balance lush fruit, minerality and bright acidity in a way that’s both refreshing and exhilarating to taste. Brevity is a stunning example and at $24, the brevity of this offer requires swift action. 
 
Brevity is a brand new project made by Bobby Moy, who got his feet wet in the wine industry mentoring under Thomas Rivers Brown. They source their Pinot from the Mission Ranch Vineyard, which is the oldest commercial vineyard in the Arroyo Seco AVA. The area is defined by its unique geography resulting from the Arroyo Seco River and its influence from the Pacific Ocean.
 
The 2018 vintage combines three iconic Pinot Noir clones, offering the powerful dark fruits and structure of Pommard, the richness and expressive fragrance of 777, and the concentrated cherry and bright acidity of 115. At $24, I’m getting a case.
 
BREVITY
2018 PINOT NOIR
MISSION RANCH VINEYARD
MONTEREY COUNTY 
Retails at: $28
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
 
“The Brevity Mission Ranch Vineyard Monterey Pinot Noir 2018 is a shimmering ruby color in the glass and begins with a nose of bright red fruits, elegant florals, cola, chalk, and light spice. The palate is medium-bodied yet lush, with cherry liqueur, red raspberries, black tea, cola bean, and hints of vanilla. There is a silky elegance to it that keeps you coming back for more.” 91 Points