2017 Farella La Luce Estate Coombsville Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Farella La Luce, Estate, Coombsville Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

with No Comment $30 and underCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaSauvignon BlancUSA

FARELLA 

SAUVIGNON BLANC
2017 LA LUCE, ESTATE
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY

2017 Farella La Luce Estate Coombsville Sauvignon Blanc
In a world where clarity is hard to find, I will say with absolute clarity that you’d be hard pressed to find a better Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc at anywhere near this price.  Tom Farella’s 2017 Estate Sauvignon Blanc has mesmerizing nuances of Loire Valley-like honeydew melon, ripe tangerine and light tropical notes that flow from the glass.  One of the most balanced domestic Sauvignon Blancs that I’ve ever tasted, the 2017 reveals wonderful energy, freshness and profound purity.  The 2016 was our most loved Sauvignon Blancs on our tasting menu in Yountville, and the 2017 is even better… 
 
Keeping only 15-20% of their single-block Sauvignon Blanc grapes, the balance goes to high powered producers like Lail and Realm for their award winning Sauvignon Blancs.  The 2017 is dreamlike, with remarkable balance, focused fruit and a long, palate refreshing finish.  The wine was fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness, the wine’s uplifted aromatics and fabulous notes of citrus oil, crushed rock, white flowers, honeyed melon and tangerine are generous and frankly hard to resist.  If you’re in pursuit of a Sauvignon Blanc that will be a palpable stand-out at Summer and Fall festivities, you’ll want to pick this beauty up by the case.
 
FARELLA 
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2017 LA LUCE, ESTATE
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $25.99/btl
 
Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of light tropical fruits, white flowers and bright citrus, lead to vivid flavors of honeydew melon, Island mango, blood orange and minerals culminating in crisp lively finish.”
 
Customers who enjoy Farella Estate Sauvignon Blanc, may also enjoy these two Sauvignon Blancs…
2016 Picayun Napa County Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Grey Stack Rosemary's Block Sauvignon Blanc
PICAYUNE
2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA COUNTY & 
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $20.99/btl 

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Taking things to the next level with their 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Picayune’s 2016 comes alive in the glass with remarkable clarity, focus and penetrating fruit.  Picayune is a stand-out in affordable, premium quality Sauvignon Blanc, and originates from declassified barrels from top Sauvignon Blanc producers around Napa and Sonoma Counties, and retails for just a fraction of the price.
GREY STACK
2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC
DRY STACK VINEYARD
ROSEMARY’S BLOCK
 
Your Price: $31.99/btl 

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From The Wine Enthusiast: “This block is home to a mysterious clone of Sauvignon Blanc that appears to be the only one of its kind in the region and thought to hail originally from Northern Italy. The resulting wine is citrus-driven on the nose and on the palate-a pure expression that shows complexity and rich layers of flavor, with an intensity of lemongrass.”  94 Points
2017 Chateau Des Garcinieres Cotes De Provence Provence Rose

2017 Châteu Des Garcinières Côtes De Provence Provence Rosé

with No Comment $30 and underFranceProvenceRosé

CHÂTEAU DES GARCINIÈRES 

2017 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CÔTES DE PROVENCE

2017 Chateau Des Garcinieres Cotes De Provence Provence Rose
More often then not, the best wines that we discover come from close friends in the wine industry.  When Roger Roessler, whom you might know from Black Pine first told us about this Rosé that he was importing from France, his excitement was so contagious that we immediately tasted it.  It seems like Roger found a wine that has bottled excitement and intermixed it with vivid coastal breeze, bright, sun-drenched acidity, warm red fruits and soft, delicate flavors.  At $23/btl the quality is unrivaled.
 
Provence is a region in Southeastern France which is perfectly suited for producing profound Rosé wines.  Chateau des Garcinieres has been family owned and operated since 1898 and their family has been caring for the grapes for four generations.  Their 2017 Rosé combines Grenache, Cinsaut and Rolle varietals and on the palate the balance of warm Orchard fruits, bright acidity and delicate sea-like nuances bring a smile to my face every time I taste it.  
 
CHÂTEAU DES GARCINIÈRES 
2017 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CÔTES DE PROVENCE
 
Your Price: $23/btl 
 
Importers Tasting Notes: “St. Tropez lies just around the corner from the birthplace of this wine on 44 acres tended by just one family since 1898. Blessed by the same sun and sea breezes as Tahiti Beach, Cap 21, and the memory of Voile Rouge, it embodies the delicate, romantic taste of 45% Grenache, 45% Cinsault and 10% Rolle, marrying the refreshing flavors of strawberry and cherry, mixed with mineral nuances into one glass…”

 

Customers who enjoy Chateau Des Garcinieres Rosé, may also enjoy these two outstanding Rosés… 
2017 Azur Rose of Syrah 2017 Domain La Croix Saint-Laurant Sancerre Rose
AZUR
2017 ROSÉ
 
Your Price $31.99/btl

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A remarkably compelling, Provençal inspired Rosé, brought to life by the ever talented Julien Fayard, who learned his craft at Chateau Lafite Rothschild as well as gained valuable, first-hand experience as Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka…  Offers elegant layers of raspberry, strawberry and watermelon…
DOMAINE LA CROIX
2017 SANCERRE ROSÉ
SAINT-LAURANT
 
Your price: $29.99/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “Nose is a cornucopia of fruit aromas, a full on attack. Supple, smooth, elegant in the mouth, shows great tension, with flavors of blood orange, white grapefruit, green melon. Great balance, incredibly long finish, a balanced, full flavored, clean, crisp wine.”
2017 Black Pines Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2017 Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUncategorizedUSA

BLACK PINE

2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

2017 Black Pines Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
There can only be one Best Ever value Pinot Noir, and for me, Black Pine has owned that title for years.  One taste of the new 2017 and you’ll know why…  It delivers outstanding weight, balance and a stunning presence on the palate, then opens up to a tapestry of vivid dark berries, candied plum, caramelized cherries, dried rose and hints of clove. There’s one simple reason why it’s constantly re-ordered and it’s because it truly drinks like a Pinot Noir that should be about double the price.
 
Brought to life by Drew Huffine, whose experience includes working with many elite Pinot Noir producers including Kosta Browne, DuMOL, Auteur, Copain and Donum, the 2017 was conceived from carefully chosen vineyards located in the Petaluma Gap, Russian River and Sonoma Coast.  If you’ve tasted any of the earlier vintages of Black Pine, you already know what to expect… This is yet another big score from a winery that we adore.
 
BLACK PINE
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $30/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl 
YOU SAVE 23%
 
Winery Notes: “The wine shows appealing aromas of Bing cherry mixed with vanilla and baking spice. The deep ruby and purple wine reveals candied red plum that lingers in the glass…. sensuous and mouth filling and shows black cherry and strawberry flavors. Medium bodied flavors of perfumed Cherry, lush red fruit and clove give way to the bright natural acidity and fine tannins that draw out a long and impressive finish.”
 
Customers that enjoy Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
 2014 Matias Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
COSA OBRA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

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It’s telling when any one wine is still requested and praised months or even years post offering…  When this happens, some might call it storied or legendary, but when a value Pinot Noir makes this list, it simply speaks to the above average quality of the wine.  For those of you who tasted, loved and are still talking about 2013 Cosa Obra Pinot, all I can say is, wait until you taste the 2015…
MATIAS
2014 PINOT NOIR
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $40/btl
 

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From Wine Enthusiast: “Dark and concentrated pomegranate and rosebud aromas meet with juniper and sweet pine needle on the nose of this bottling. The attack is a clean and flavorful, mixing dried cranberry and tangy cherry with thyme, marjoram and peppercorn, culminating in a camphor-like finish.”  92 Points
2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY

 
I’m often asked what’s the best Cab under $20.  I can honestly say that I haven’t found one that I like better than this Katherine Goldschmidt at this price point.  The wine also earned an incredible 94 Point score in the January issue of Tasting Panel Magazine and at $19.99/btl, there’s simply nothing like it.  Great wines never last long, especially when they’re drinking as well as this one is right now.  The winery has already released the 2016, but we couldn’t say goodbye to this one yet…  It comes from a single vineyard which for years went to Simi for their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)…  At just $19.99/btl, Katherine Goldschmidt’s Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon perfectly expresses just how inspiring Cabernet Sauvignon can be from Alexander Valley.
 
Ramping everything up a notch or two in terms of sheer power and concentration, the 2015 Crazy Creek releases a dense core and remarkable palate presence, unlike anything I’ve tasted at this price.  It saturates your palate in an abundance of chocolate covered cherries, crushed blackberries, roasted coffee and black currants, and just like the previous two vintages, this beauty out-performs most Cabernets at double its price…   
 
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 
2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY 
Retails at:  $24.00/btl
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 16%
 
From The Tasting Panel: “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

 

Customers that would enjoy Katherine Goldschmidt’s Crazy Creek Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…

   

2016 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red Sonoma County Proprietary Red 2014 Arbor Bench Cabernet Sauvignon
SEBASTIANI 
GRAVEL BED RED
2016 SONOMA COUNTY 
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl 

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Named for the gravelly soils that are key components in this exciting Cabernet Blend, the 2016 blankets your taste buds in a velvety embrace that comes threaded with mineraly red and black fruits, pipe tobacco, pencil lead and vanilla.  With fruit sourced from famed sites such as the iconic Cherryblock Vineyard, this wine delivers serious bang for your buck and with the growing following, I wouldn’t wait to secure yours.    
ARBOR BENCH
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY, ESTATE
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
From the Wine Enthusiast: “Full bodied and fleshy, this 100% varietal wine offers polished tannin and toasty oak, the flavors lean and classically defined in pencil, cedar and soy. Notes of black pepper and tobacco etch themselves onto a lengthy finish.“  90 Points
2016 Prisoner Wine Co Blindfold Proprietary White

2016 Prisoner Wine Co ‘Blindfold’ Proprietary White

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary WhiteUSA

PRISONER WINE CO.

2016 BLINDFOLD
PROPRIETARY WHITE

2016 Prisoner Wine Co Blindfold Proprietary White
In the wine world, thinking outside the box, creativity, experimentation and innovation is the best way to create something that people will remember. Prisoner Wine Company embodies all of these qualities.  As the sister version to the popular Prisoner Red, the Blindfold White projects what feels like Cirque du Soleil performance on your palate and the wine encompasses a truly unique varietal combination, built around a core of Chardonnay and enhanced with Rhone varietals that add energy, lift and a myriad of complex nuances.   This wine is surprisingly delicate and nuanced, and simply fascinating to swirl and taste, and even better, finding a wine of this level, at under thirty per bottle is enough to make even red wine only drinkers smile with delight.
 
Formulated from dozens of distinguished vineyard sites throughout California, Prisoner Wine Company’s  Blindfold the 2016 leaps enthusiastically from the glass with apricot preserves, yellow orchard fruits, mineral-infused pear, and notions of honeysuckle. Resting for 10 months in a combination of fermentation vessels, the new Prisoner white casts a tremendous amount of enjoyment and simply has to be experienced to truly be appreciated.
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2016 BLINDFOLD
PROPRIETARY WHITE
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl
YOU SAVE 15%
 
From The Wine Spectator: “Opens with a smoky, buttery brioche note, which lingers in the background as a spicy accent to the vanilla pudding and lemon curd flavors and opulent core of apricot preserves. Not a shy wine, but has a supple texture and plenty of expression on the long finish. Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Chenin Blanc. Drink now.”  89 pts
 
2015 Prisoner Wine Co 'Cuttings' Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Prisoner Wine Co 'The Prisoner' Proprietary Red
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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PRISONER WINE CO.
2016 THE PRISONER
PROPRIETARY BLEND
Retails at:  $47.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl  

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A wine of unrestrained jubilance and infectious charm, the new 2016 Prisoner unshackles a bounty of deliciously elaborate flavors, and with even more vibrancy and determination. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2016 escapes powerfully from the glass, permeating with beautifully focused ripe cherries, wild strawberry, chocolate, and crushed violets.
Giornata Mixed 15 Pack

Giornata

with No Comment $30 and under$30-$40$40-$50Central CoastKevin VogtNebbioloUSA

GIORNATA

Giornata Mixed 15 Pack
Proving that Italian varietals can produce stunning wines outside of Italy… Winemaker Brian Terrizzi is on a mission to give these varietals a voice, from an area that he found perfectly suited for Italian grape varieties.  With cuttings from some of Italy’s top wine Estate’s planted in the similar soils of Paso Robles, his wines are gaining world-wide acclaim.  After honing his skills at Rosenblum Cellars, winemaker Brian Terrizzi gained more valuable first-hand experience with Italian varietals, working for Paolo DeMarchi at Isole e Olena in Tuscany.  Each of his new releases has stunning purity, balance and delineation, and each one simply put a smile on my face.  If you haven’t experienced these sacred Italian varietals grown in the perfect California climate, you’ll want to try a mixed case.  You’ll be surprised by how profound each wine is.
 
You may order each wine individually below, or click on the 3 bottle image above to order a mixed 15-Pack which includes 5 bottles of each.  His production is tiny with just 2 to 6 barrels of each of the below wines produced.  I strongly recommend securing some before they run out… 
 

Click to Order Mixed 15 Pack

2017 Giornata Coyote Glen Vineyard Vermintino

50 Cases Produced
 2015 Giornata Luna Matta Vineyard Anglianico

50 Cases Produced
 2014 Giornata Luna Mata Vineyard Nebbiolo

145 Cases Produced
GIORNATA
2017 VERMENTINO
COYOTE GLEN VINEYARD
Retails at: $30.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl

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Notes: “Sourced from Vermentino in the 30 year old Coyote Glen vineyard. The fruit is destemmed and placed directly in unlined terra-cotta amphora and fermented on the skins for three weeks with native yeasts. Elevage continues in the same vessel for about eight months where it racked to tank and then bottled by hand and labeled by Brian and Stephy’s 12 year old twin daughters.”
GIORNATA 
2015 AGLIANICO
LUNA MATTA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Aglianico Luna Matta Vineyard offers up an attractive bouquet of ripe cherries, dried herbs, sweet soil and pencil shavings. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with a chewy chassis of tannin and more weight and body than its sibling from the French Camp Vineyard. It’s a more complete wine.”  91 Points
GIORNATA 
2014 NEBBIOLO
LUNA MATTA VINEYARD
 
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Nebbiolo has expressive baked cherries, black raspberries and red currants on the nose with hints of black soil, charcoal and dried roses. Medium to full-bodied, with a racy acid backbone lifting the intense red berry flavors, it has a chewy frame and long, fragrant earth-laced finish.” 
90+ Points
 
2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

ORRIN-SAGE

2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA MOUNTAIN

2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

When we introduced the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir in April, we genuinely felt it was WAY too good to be priced where it was.  Of course that’s exactly what we strive to bring you, and it simply defines what our tasting panel looks for.  Of course, over the years we’ve discovered some truly stunning Pinots that have delivered exceptional quality, but Orrin-Sage set a new bar… This was and still is the best Pinot at this price that we’ve ever featured.  It sold out the day that we sent out the offer back in April, but as luck would have it, the winery had a distributor that did not take an order and we grabbed it immediately.
 
Arising from the rugged Sonoma Mountain AVA, a unique area which gains some of the cooling influence from the Petaluma Gap and produces brilliant Pinot Noir fruit.  Bevan, Siduri and Flowers are just a few of the wineries that have crafted Pinots from this unique area. This wine was expertly made by Justin Harmon who gained valuable experience as an intern under Russell Bevan.  It has an undeniable meaty character coupled with remarkable weight and perfect balance making it a wine that I truly can’t get enough of…  Of course with just 6 barrels produced, don’t wait… 
 
ORRIN-SAGE
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $49.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “One glance and the brilliantly shimmering transparent cherry red color starts pulling you in. Then comes the enticing nose with ripe black cherries, bright pomegranate, allspice, nutmeg, wet leather, fragrant dried lavender and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, a mesmerizing cascade of flavors including crushed black raspberries, tart cherry, fresh sage leaf, candied lime peel and hints of Asian spices.  It’s so alluring that your instinct to swallow will override your will to allow it to linger longer on your palate… and when you do, you’ll be left with a penetrating, long, highly pleasurable finish that absolutely begs for another sip.” 
96 Points and where have you been all my life…
Kevin M Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
Customers that enjoy the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning wines…

 

2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay
COSA OBRA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
It’s telling when any one wine is still requested and praised months or even years post offering…  When this happens, some might call it storied or legendary, but when a value Pinot Noir makes this list, it simply speaks to the above average quality of the wine.  For those of you who tasted, loved and are still talking about 2013 Cosa  Obra Pinot, all I can say is, wait until you taste the 2015…
ORRIN-SAGE
2015 CHARDONNAY
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
There’s something mystical about a wine so under-the-radar that all of the information available is written on the bottle… But, etched in your mind are the flavors which write a story of its origins, and the care that went into creating it.  That’s the feeling that washed over me when I tasted Orrin-Sage’s 2015 Chardonnay, and it was met with a feeling of blissful disbelief when I found out what we could offer this wine for. 
2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

WESTWOOD

2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red
In a conversation about the most recognizable blends in the world, it’s rare for the composition of varietals to come up. These wines are branded solely on taste and the location of the grapes. The components that make up the wine are eclipsed by the overall flavors and style.  Before we tell you what’s in Westwood’s Legend, we should tell you who’s behind it. The legend was made by Ben Cane who spent 6 years on the winemaking team at Twomey, and David Ramey, one of California’s most legendary winemakers, who helped put many iconic wineries get on the map including Dominus, Rudd Estate and Jericho Canyon…  The feeling that I had when tasting this wine was one of euphoria and sheer contentment.  When I found out I could offer this wine to you I jumped at the chance.
 
This legend arose from the bio-dynamically farmed Annadel Gap Estate Vineyard located between Mt Hood and Sonoma Mountain.  The area is heavily influenced by morning fog and high-winds, and the variety of soil types lend to the wines vast complexity.  The flavors are intriguing and balanced and introduce themselves in a silky and enchanting style that make this wine as unique as it is delicious.  It’s already earned 95 points from Tasting Panel Magazine, don’t hesitate to secure your case.   
 
WESTWOOD
2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $44.00/btl
 
 
From Tasting Panel: “This proprietary red blend (25% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 15% Zinfandel and 10% Tannat) is sourced [mostly from] the estate vineyard, situated between Mt. Hood and the Sonoma Mountains. The perfume is primarily floral: gardenia, red rose petals – with accents on red plum and an echo of black pepper. The palate is a silk road with gritty chocolate tannins. But the ruby slippers that carry you down the path bursts with red plum, dark chocolate cherries, exotic jasmine and grilled meat with soy sauce. The finish is pleasurable with a creamy cedar note.” 95 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Westwood’s Legend may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
2014 Horse & Plow Blockhouse Vineyard Napa Valley Grenache 2015 Sans Liege The Offering Proprietary Red
HORSE & PLOW
2014 GRENACHE 
BLOCKHOUSE VINEYARD
Retails at:  $34.00/btl
 

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Horse & Plow’s single vineyard Grenache is from Yountville, just a stone’s throw from our shop, and it completely rocked my world when I tasted it.  This beautifully proportioned and profoundly pleasing red should be the wikipedia reference for California Grenache.  With a round, velvet lined core, the 2014 envelopes your palate in a bumper crop of plump, juicy flavors with red plum, wild berries, mineral, cocoa and subtle spice.  
SANS LIEGE
2015 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $29/btl 

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Made in a magnetic style that draws you in with lavish aromas that become increasingly compelling with aeration, Sans Liege’s Southern Rhone inspired blend The Offering is wine that I simply love.  A remarkable fusion of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2015 saturates your taste buds with a velvety texture, intermixed with vibrant red fruits, crème de cassis, juicy blackberries, and savory spices that you coming back for more.
2106 Calculated Risk Santa Barbara Chardonnay

2016 Calculated Risk Santa Barbara Chardonnay

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtSanta BarbaraUSA

CALCULATED RISK

2106 Calculated Risk Santa Barbara Chardonnay

2016 CHARDONNAY
SANTA BARBARA 

 
What makes Santa Barbara Chardonnay unique? For starters, Chardonnay is Santa Barbara County’s most widely planted grape, surpassing Pinot Noir by more than 25%.  The varietal thrives in the cooler climate, caused by the transverse nature of the two Mountain ranges that sandwich this viticultural region.  Limestone soils also help maintain acidity, which helps create an exotic tropical fruit character, which is one of the signatures that I love about Santa Barbara Chardonnay.  I find many of my favorite Santa Barbara Chardonnays show bountiful yet delicate orchard fruits, exotic tropical fruits, vibrant acidity, and are laced in minerality.  Calculated Risk’s 2016 Chardonnay caught me by surprise. Not only did it showcase everything that I love about Santa Barbara Chardonnay, but I simply couldn’t believe how good it was at its $38 retail price.  At $23/btl, I jumped at the opportunity to share it with you.  
 
A non-disclosure agreement prevents us from telling you the vineyard source, but the 2016 leaps from the glass with green & yellow apple, passionfruit, toasted pear and lemon blossoms, then carrying through on the palate with an elegant depth and pristine style.   At $23/btl your only risk will be not buying enough.  
 
CALCULATED RISK
2016 CHARDONNAY
SANTA BARBARA
Retails at:  $37.99/btl
 
Your Price: $23.00/btl 
YOU SAVE 39%
 
Winery Notes: “A brilliant, golden yellow look with hints of pineapple, white peach, pear and pomelo on the nose. The palate offers lime leaf, honeysuckle, lemon and a hint of subtle lavender.”
 
Customers who enjoy Calculated Risk Chardonnay may also enjoy these two outstanding wines…
2014 Matias Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay
 2014 Calculated Risk Mount Veeder Proprietary Red
MATIAS
2014 CHARDONNAY
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $35/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “… Clean, straight and focused, with bright acidity, medium-bodied richness and notes of citrus blossom, crushed rock and white peach, this beauty is elegant, beautifully fresh and crisp on the palate. It’s a great value and one to drink over the coming 2-3 years.”  90 Points 
CALCULATED RISK
PROPRIETARY RED
2014 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 

I’ve always found a mystical element in Mount Veeder fruit that always draws me in.  It’s the largest AVA within Napa Valley but the rugged terrain limits production to just 1.3% of Napa Valley grapes.  Yielding small, powerful berries, the sandstone and shale soils set this Mountain apart from all others in Napa.  It’s also the coolest Mountain which allows the grapes to have a longer hang-time so they can develop into something majestic.  
2014 Arbor Bench Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Arbor Bench Dry Creek Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonDry Creek ValleyKevin VogtNapaUSA

ARBOR BENCH

2014 Arbor Bench Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY, ESTATE

Most people might think of world-class Zinfandel when they think of Dry Creek Valley, however there’s a lot more to love about California’s oldest AVA.  With roots going back more than 140 years, it’s among the longest in the New World.  The fertile landscape provides exceptional fruit to over 70 wineries, the majority of which are family owned.  And while the area might be best known for Zinfandel, there are pockets that produce exceptional Cabernet.  With an obvious difference in terroir and micro-climate, this Cabernet has a hedonistic mix of majestic fruits laced with savory undertones that makes it unique. Arbor Bench had our entire panel nodding our heads in approval, and at the winery’s $48 retail price it’s a solid bottle of Cab and you’ll want to stock your shelves for near and long term enjoyment.
 
This beautiful Cabernet is created by veteran winemaker Christopher Markell, whose nearly four decades of winemaking experience shines bright. Peaking from nearly two years in French oak and made from 100% Estate grown fruit, it saturates your taste buds in brilliantly expressive, yet supple flavors of Mountain berries, black chocolates, tobacco leaf and baking spices.  This wine is irresistible now, yet will age gracefully for another 7-8 years.  I highly recommend a case. 
 
ARBOR BENCH
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY, ESTATE
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
 
From the Wine Enthusiast: “Full bodied and fleshy, this 100% varietal wine offers polished tannin and toasty oak, the flavors lean and classically defined in pencil, cedar and soy. Notes of black pepper and tobacco etch themselves onto a lengthy finish.”  90 Points
 
Customers that would enjoy Arbor Bench Estate Cabernet Sauvignon may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…
2015 Fortune 1621 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Sailor's Grave Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
FORTUNE 1621
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 

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Fortune 1621’s 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet reveals concentrated black fruits threaded together with crushed rock, espresso roast and violets, this absolutely classic Napa Cab was authored by Brian Mox, who spent several vintages at Lewis Cellars and he’s also the current winemaker at Laird.  The 2015 is marked by a dense, concentrated core that’s rarely found at this price… 
SAILOR’S GRAVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 

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The 2015 unfurls intense aromas of black raspberries, spring flowers, espresso roast, black chocolates.  Washing over the palate with dark berries, creme de cassis and camphor, deliciously governed by the wines voluptuous, rich texture.  Kept for 20 months in oak barrels, magnificent flavors cascade over your palate and tattoo a lasting impression in your mind…