2018 Waterstone Merlot Napa Valley

2018 Waterstone Merlot Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

WATERSTONE

MERLOT 2018
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Waterstone Merlot Napa Valley

Founded on a singular goal to craft luxury wines at affordable prices by putting enological knowledge at the forefront, Waterstone Winery launched in 2000. The quality of their wines and brand’s success centers on relationships with some of Napa Valley’s best growers and long-term grape growing contracts throughout Napa Valley.
The Truchard Vineyard in Carneros ascends into the Mayacamas mountains with low-yielding vines that give this Merlot ultimate character, complexity, and freshness. The extra-long hang-time in the 2018 vintage created dynamic flavors and aromas, retained bright acidity, and provided a solid structure for this wine to stand the test of time.
WATERSTONE
MERLOT 2018
NAPA VALLEY
Your Price: $29.99
“The Waterstone 2018 Merlot opens with enticing aromas of red plum, black cherry, clove, mocha, cinnamon, and crushed rocks. On the palate, the wine’s intense depth coats the mouth with flavors of blackberry, milk chocolate, and sweet baking spices. The round mouthfeel and sultry texture warm your soul like a cashmere sweater on a cool, breezy night.”
93 Points
2020 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2020 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

ANGELINE

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
PINOT NOIR 2020

2020 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Centered in the heart of the Russian River Valley, Angeline winery specializes in fermenting small lots of fruit from some of the best regions in California. Their winemaking philosophy involves minimal intervention and sustainability, recycling stems, seeds, and skins from the pomace back into the vineyard, and solar energy supplying 80% of the winery’s power, resulting in wines you can feel even better about drinking. 
 
Angeline’s 2020 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir grapes come from various specially selected sites blended to accentuate Pinot Noirs’ most desired characteristics. Yields were lower for Pinot Noir in 2020, resulting in more concentrated flavors, proving that sometimes less is more, resulting in this beautifully-built, lush, easy-drinking, and delightful value.
 
ANGELINE
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
PINOT NOIR 2020
Retails at: $25
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
“Aromas of cherries, ripe raspberries, toasted bread and baking spices with mushroom undertones. Medium body with fine tannins and bright acidity. Lively and sharp on the palate with a fresh, dry finish. Drink now. Screw cap.”
92 Points
2020 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills

2020 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSanta BarbaraSanta Rita HillsUSA

LULI

SANTA RITA HILLS
PINOT NOIR 2020

2020 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
Pursuing a new line of handcrafted wines from top fruit sources at affordable prices, Luli was launched in 2007 and propelled by the combined knowledge, skills, and experience of Master Sommelier Sara Floyd, vineyard manager Mark Pisoni, and winemaker Jeff Pisoni. The Pisoni brothers grew up farming in the Santa Lucia Highlands with their father Gary, one of California’s most respected growers, sourcing fruit for Luli from vineyards in or near the same land they call home.
 
Wine is life for Sara and the Pisoni brothers, so the desire to bring family and friends together to swirl a glass of fine wine for a reasonable price is a passion for all three. Possibly one of the best winemaking teams in history, this successful partnership illustrates the talents and strengths of three different masterminds, causing many Pinot Noir lovers to reconsider how great Pinot Noir can be at this price level.
 
LULI
SANTA RITA HILLS
PINOT NOIR 2020
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2020 Luli Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir begins with an intriguing nose that includes fresh strawberries, English rose petals, cotton candy, and Autumn baking spices. The palate mimics these traits, adding cherry cola, red plums, liquid minerals, and a bright freshness combined with a supple texture that beautifully rounds this wine out. Drink it now, and over the next six to eight years.”
92 Points
2020 Tablas Creek Patelin De Tablas Rouge Paso Robles

2020 Tablas Creek Patelin De Tablas Rouge Paso Robles

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

TABLAS CREEK

PATELIN DE TABLAS ROUGE
PASO ROBLES 2020

2020 Tablas Creek Patelin De Tablas Rouge Paso Robles
The founders of Tablas Creek include the Perrin family, the proprietors of the renowned Château de Beaucastel in Chäteauneuf-du-Pape, and the Haas family of the legendary American importing company Vineyard Brands. The property is in the remarkably Rhône-like climate of Paso Robles, where the shallow, rocky, limestone soils are of similar geologic origin as the soils found in the vineyards of Beaucastel.
 
They imported clones of Mourvédre, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Counoise, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, and Picpoul Blanc to ensure the highest quality and allow Tablas Creek to replicate the clonal selection of an established vineyard. The Patelin de Tablas is an homage to the classic blends of the Southern Rhône with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Tannat, and Counoise in a pleasantly bright and spicy, easy-to-drink wine with a range of complexity and depth of character.
 
TABLAS CREEK
PATELIN DE TABLAS ROUGE
PASO ROBLES 2020
 
Your Price: $27.99
 
 
“The Tablas Creek 2020 Patelin de Tablas opens with notes of rose petals, lavender, rosemary, red cherries, white pepper, and smoked meat. The palate bursts with fresh juicy flavors of red plums and cranberries with hints of sarsaparilla and wet stones after a rainstorm. The wine’s ripe fruit flavors are intricately balanced by fresh acidity, and spicy undertones provide ultimate complexity and exciting drinkability.”
93 Points
2018 Frescobaldi Castello Di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva

2018 Frescobaldi Castello Di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

FRESCOBALDI

CASTELLO DI NIPOZZANO
CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA 2018

2018 Frescobaldi Castello Di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva
Castello di Nipozzano is an ancient stronghold of Florence over 1000 years old and the most prized of the Frescobaldi family’s land holdings. Historical documents about the fine wines of Nipozzano date back to the Renaissance period, when famous artists such as Donatello were among the regular clientele.
 
Frescobaldi wines represent the heritage of the Tuscan landscape, and their Sangiovese-dominate 2018 Chianti Rufina Riserva has an authentic, rustic Italian charm. Fermented in stainless steel before maturing for a minimum of two years barriques, this remarkable 96 Point Chianti Riserva enchants with penetrating fruit, classic spice, vast complexity, and structure that’s easy to enjoy for less than $30.
 
FRESCOBALDI
CASTELLO DI NIPOZZANO
CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA 2018
 
Your Price: $26.99
 
 
“A crunchy Rùfina mainly from 1970s Sangiovese vines with dashes of both local heritage and international varieties, too. Fermentation in stainless steel precedes 24 months in concrete and large, second-fill oak vats. Its bright scarlet hues mirror equally bright and deliciously savoury fruit. The compact palate provides coherent interplay between fruit and tannin with no sense of overripeness or oaky angularity. It’s mouthwatering now, but resist so its texture evens out fully. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.”
96 Points
2018 Kracher Trocken Zweigelt Burgenland

2018 Kracher Trocken Zweigelt Burgenland

with No Comment $30 and underAustriaKevin VogtZweigelt

KRACHER

TROCKEN ZWEIGELT
BURGENLAND 2018

2018 Kracher Trocken Zweigelt Burgenland
Alois Kracher of Kracher Winery was one of the greatest visionaries in Austrian winemaking, being honored as the “Wine Maker of the Year” by Britain’s highly regarded Wine Magazine seven separate times between 1994 and 2008. After Alois’s passing in 2007, his son Gerhard realized he had big shoes to fill, so he stepped up as the winemaker and continued his father’s legacy ensuring only the best quality.
 
Zweigelt, the most widely planted red wine grape in Austria, is a cross between St. Laurent and Blaufränkisch, sharing similarities with Pinot Noir in body and acidity levels but with more black fruits and exotic spices. Only about a century old, Zweigelt is a very young variety that has quickly risen to the top of Austrian red wines, so if you’re pining to try something new and seeking value, look no further!
 
KRACHER
TROCKEN ZWEIGELT
BURGENLAND 2018
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2018 Kracher Zweigelt Trocken is a very interesting wine that begins with a complex nose of wild red and black berries, exotic spices, and light florals. On the palate, loganberries and black currants combine with white pepper, hints of cardamom, white flowers, and liquid minerals. The fruit is lighter bodied, but with a firmer structure, giving it slightly a dusty mouthfeel. This is a very fun, unique wine that offers a lot of complexity at a very modest price.”
91 Points
2021 Leto Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County

2021 Leto Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

LETO CELLARS

SAUVIGNON BLANC
SONOMA COUNTY 2021

2021 Leto Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County
Brad and Lisa Warner share more than 80 years of experience in the wine industry, taking everything they’ve picked up along the way and pouring it into their boutique brand. Brad began his career at Charles Krug, leading him to a full-time position and nearly 30-year tenure as the Vice President of Production at Robert Mondavi Winery. Lisa, also at Mondavi, was in charge of all aspects of wine production for over 30 years, and together they have the skills and expertise needed to produce wines of outstanding merit.
 
Leto is Greek for “the hidden one” and also expresses the goals of Brad and Lisa’s newest endeavor as they source fruit from single, small, family-owned vineyards. Their 2021 Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Norte Vue Sonoma Coast AVA, where the vines are grown in well-drained, cobbled clay or stony decomposed volcanic soils. This wine is the perfect way to kick off Spring with its vibrant freshness that will liven any occasion!
 
LETO CELLARS
SAUVIGNON BLANC
SONOMA COUNTY 2021
 
Your Price: $22
 
 
“The 2021 Leto Sauvignon Blanc is a breath of fresh air in the California sun with aromas of white blossoms, golden hay, gooseberries, lime zest, and lychee. The flavors are even fruitier, adding green apples and passion fruit with a fresh burst of acidity and a lengthy finish. This wine couldn’t be more perfect for the soon-to-be summer months to keep you cool and refreshed whenever and wherever.”
94 Points
2019 Domaine De La Ville Rouge Crozes Hermitage Inspiration

2019 Domaine De La Ville Rouge Crozes Hermitage Inspiration

with No Comment $30 and underFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone ValleySyrah

DOMAINE DE LA VILLE ROUGE

CROZES-HERMITAGE
INSPIRATION 2019

2019 Domaine De La Ville Rouge Crozes Hermitage Inspiration
Established in 1919, Domaine de la Ville Rouge sits on the banks of the Rhône River in the Crozes-Hermitage AOC, an area famous for producing wine with explosive, complex flavor profiles. They’ve organically farmed the vineyards since 2009 and converted to biodynamic in 2013, which helps translate the region’s authentic aromas and flavors into your glass.
 
Inspiration is 100% Syrah crafted from 20-year-old vines that were cold-soaked for 3-4 days before fermentation to extract deeper color without accumulating harsh tannins. The wine team fermented the wine with natural yeasts followed by 18 months in stainless steel for a serenely idyllic wine that’s impossible to forget as it proudly speaks of its origin with each sip.
 
DOMAINE DE LA VILLE ROUGE
CROZES-HERMITAGE
INSPIRATION 2019
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2019 Domaine de la Ville Rouge, Crozes-Hermitage “Inspiration” opens with fresh notes of garrigue, anise, blackberries, smoked meat, and caramelized sugar. The bright acidity on the palate balances the flavors of black raspberries, plums, and freshly baked brownies. This wine is ready to drink now and great with barbecued meats but will gain a more earthy complexity with a few years in the cellar.”
93 Points
2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

MATIAS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
For years, Matias was a paragon producer of value Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, beloved for their sophistication and balance, far exceeding their price level. Now entering the Cabernet Sauvignon market, Matias sources fruit from Yountville AVA, with a small portion coming from north of Calistoga, combining depth, concentration, and balance, making anyone do a double-take when they try it at this price.
 
The wine was aged in 66% new French oak from Saury and Taransaud, striking an optimal balance between the fruit and oak. This 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has silky smooth tannins that make it easily drinkable at the moment but also has the depth and intensity of a wine that can easily lay down for a decade or so.
 
MATIAS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Rich boysenberry, opulent black plum, dark chocolate, and crushed granite combine with purple flowers and hints of vanilla spice. The satiny tannins and supple mouthfeel help make this an extraordinary value. It is rare to find a wine of this quality at this price.”
92 Points
2019 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz South Austrailia

2019 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz South Australia

with No Comment $30 and underAustraliaKevin VogtSyrah

MOLLYDOOKER

THE BOXER SHIRAZ
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2019

2019 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz South Austrailia
“Mollydooker” is Australian slang for a left-hander, as referenced by the double left-handed boxer on the label. It also represents the punch of intensity the wine consistently delivers. Sarah and Sparky Marquis studied winemaking and began working for Sarah’s parents at Fox Creek in 1994, developing the Marquis Vineyard Watering Program that led to many award-winning wines.
 
The two began their label in 2006, with their first vintage of Mollydooker named the “Best Value Red Wine in the World” by Robert Parker. The grapes for this unabashedly bold Shiraz were grown in McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek, fermented and aged in 100% American oak for seamless integration of flavors and a sultry texture on the palate at a fantastic value.
 
MOLLYDOOKER
THE BOXER SHIRAZ
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2019
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Thick, with sink-your-teeth-into-them tannins and powerful, ripe blackberry, huckleberry and blueberry flavors that show aromatic accents of allspice, Earl Grey tea, vanilla bean, milk chocolate and dried violet on the finish. Drink now through 2036.”
92 Points
 
“Mollydooker’s 2019 The Boxer Shiraz is—no surprise here—a big, plush wine that’s labeled at 16% alcohol. Despite that, it’s only a bit warm on the palate, with sufficient masses of blackberry fruit and vanillin oak to stand up to the alcohol. Full-bodied and supple, it’s barrel fermented in nearly 50% new oak, all of it American, but somehow comes across as pretty and harmonious, an oversized version of Fantasia’s Hyacinth Hippo dancing to its own beat.”
90 Points