2019 Alma De Cattleya Pinot Noir Sonoma County

2019 Alma De Cattleya Pinot Noir Sonoma County

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

ALMA DE CATTLEYA

2019 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY

2019 Alma De Cattleya Pinot Noir Sonoma County
At 14, how many of us knew what we wanted to do for a career? Despite growing up in Columbia with very little exposure to wine, Bibiana González Rave knew she wanted to become a winemaker. Graduating with honors from the University of Bordeaux, Bibiana gained invaluable experience at Château Haut-Brion in France, Soronsberg in South Africa, Lynmar Estate, and Peay in California before climbing the ranks at Pahlmeyer. Proving fantastic wine can be had at an accessible price, Bibiana crafts Alma de Cattleya to represent the purity of their varietals. 
 
Founded equally from Russian River and Sonoma Coast Vineyards, favoring maritime influenced sites, Bibiana’s 2019 Pinot Noir is vibrantly detailed, superabundantly fragrant, and expertly balanced. 
 
Fermenting in stainless steel open-top tanks to allow for hand-punch-downs and preserve freshness, Bibiana’s commitment to the highest quality is evident in every aspect of production. This Pinot embodies the soul of Sonoma County, and at $30, everybody should try it.
 
ALMA DE CATTLEYA
2019 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Exploding with aromas of raspberries, cherries, wild strawberries and a hint of vanilla, the mouthfeel is rich, with great texture and a supple finish.”
2017 Ventisquero Grey [Glacier] Garnacha-Carinena-Mataro Colchagua Valley

2017 Ventisquero Grey [Glacier] Garnacha-Carinena-Mataro Colchagua Valley Chile

with No Comment $30 and underChileGrenacheKevin Vogt

VENTISQUERO

GREY [GLACIER] 2017 GARNACHA-CARINENA-MATARO 
COLCHAGUA VALLEY CHILE

2017 Ventisquero Grey [Glacier] Garnacha-Carinena-Mataro Colchagua Valley
Ventisquero winery is where Chile’s most renowned growing regions merge with creativity, drive, and honoring tradition. Global winemaker Felipe Tosso guides them to craft accessibly priced wines representative of their origins. Their Grey [Glacier] Single-Block Garnacha-Cariena-Mataro seizes the essence of the La Roblería Vineyard in Colchagua Valley and transports it to your glass with expert balance, rich flavors, and site-specific nuance. Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate notes, “concentration and power,” and at $23, the value is apparent. 
 
Carved from a single hillside Block within the La Roblería Vineyard and selected for its colluvial, rocky, nutrient-deficient soils and western exposure, which is very important for Cariñena and Mataro to reach their optimum maturity. 
 
Stretching value to the limits, Ventisquero’s avant-garde approach to winemaking emphasizes blending unique varieties. Creating an alliance of Spanish grapes Garnacha, Cariñena, and Mataro, this traditional Mediterranean blend matches New World fruit with Old World balance and complexity.
 
VENTISQUERO
GREY [GLACIER]
2017 GARNACHA-CARINENA-MATARO 
COLCHAGUA VALLEY CHILE
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
“I found ripe red fruit in the 2017 Grey GCM, a Mediterranean blend of 62% Garnacha and 19% each Cariñena and Mataró (Monastrell) with more concentration and power, still fresh for a warm year and a warm place like Apalta. It has fine-grained tannins and a soft texture, nice balance…”
92 Points
 
“A clean and fruity wine with juicy fruit, lemon rind and apple skin aromas and flavors. Medium body, light tannins and a flavorful finish. A blend of garnacha, carinena and mataro… ”
91 Points
2017 Alma Rosa Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

2017 Alma Rosa Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastChardonnayKevin VogtSanta BarbaraSanta Rita HillsUSA

ALMA ROSA

2017 CHARDONNAY
STA. RITA HILLS 

2017 Alma Rosa Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills

 
Alma Rosa’s story is of an unparalleled wine region with cool Pacific breezes, unique geography, a winery’s commitment to land stewardship, and crafting balanced wines expressing their origin. Top-level winemaking and unwavering standards of excellence merge, resulting in vibrant, layered wines that exude value. Selected as Editors’ Choice with a 93 Point Score by Wine Enthusiast, this $24 Chardonnay is something special. 
 
Winemaker Samra Morris’s skills gleaned as harvest-intern for Thomas Brown and on the cellar team at Michael Mondavi winery are met with consulting winemaker Tony Biagi’s decades of experience at Paraduxx, Plumpjack, Cade, and Hourglass.
 
Ample winter rain and a warm 2017 growing season yielded powerfully complex Chardonnay in Santa Barbara, as noted by the Wine Spectator. Alma Rosa’s version sports a wide range of tropical fruits, rich texture, and balance far exceeding expectations at its value price.
 
ALMA ROSA
2017 CHARDONNAY
STA. RITA HILLS
Retails at: $30
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“Especially for an appellation blend, this is a wondrous, regionally indicative bottling, starting with clean and fresh aromas of honeysuckle, Asian pear and lime pith. There’s a flashy sizzle of acidity on the sip, where lily and honeysuckle flavors meet with kiwi and restrained guava, wrapped up in a delicate texture.”
93 Points, Editors’ Choice
2018 A. Viloria Pinot Noir Black Knight Vineyard Sonoma Coast

2018 A. Viloria Pinot Noir Black Knight Vineyard Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastSonoma MountainUSA

A. VILORIA

2018 PINOT NOIR
BLACK KNIGHT VINEYARD
SONOMA COAST

2018 A. Viloria Pinot Noir Black Knight Vineyard Sonoma Coast
As the wine buyer at Willi’s Wine Bar, self-taught winemaker Anthony Viloria’s connections with local growers planted the seed for conceiving his brand. This inside scoop of hidden vineyards was advantageous in laying the groundwork for his brand’s success, furthered by a deep commitment to limited production and hands-off winemaking. Pinot Noir’s most significant values can often come from the small, undiscovered producers, and A Viloria is a perfect example. 
 
Anthony sourced his Pinot Noir from Black Knight Vineyard, located in the foothills between Taylor and Sonoma Mountains. He chose the site for its proximity to the gap between the two Mountains and the tunnel of cooling air and maritime winds that are ideal for slowly ripening Pinot Noir and maintaining balanced acidity.
 
Combining four unique clonal selections, A Viloria Pinot Noir elaborates its complexity delicately, subtly escalating in intensity while remaining perfectly balanced from start to finish. The wine is delectable at its $45 retail price but irresistible at $24.
 
A. VILORIA
2018 PINOT NOIR
BLACK KNIGHT VINEYARD
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“The A Viloria Black Knight Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 begins with a fresh nose of mixed red berries, delicate florals, and hints of spice. On the palate, it is elegant with ripe raspberries, black tea, and bright red fruits. The mouth-quenching finish leaves you wanting more.”
91 Points
 
“Dark juicy raspberries, black cherries & minty blueberry. Medium bodied, fresh and lively on the palate with soft tannins and a long fruit driven finish. 70 Cases Produced”
2018 Portalupi Petite Sirah L Venturi Vineyard

2018 Portalupi Petite Sirah L Venturi Vineyard

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMendocinoMendocino RidgePetite SirahUSA

PORTALUPI 

2018 PETITE SIRAH
L VENTURI VINEYARD

2018 Portalupi Petite Sirah L Venturi Vineyard
Portalupi Winery specializes in site-specific wines made from exotic varieties. Winemaker Tim Portalupi has 40 years of experience, and he uses his skillset to give unorthodox varietals a voice that transcends the status quo. He made his 94 Point Petite Sirah from the L Venturi Vineyard in a deeply enchanting style that’s rich in supple fruits, intriguing complexity, with soft, velvety tannins. At this price, it’s an otherworldly value that’ll further the following of this remarkable grape and bring attention to this incredible vineyard. 
 
Tim sourced his Petite Sirah from the organically farmed L Venturi Vineyard in Mendocino, which he chose for its unique climate that creates a balance between acidity and tannins. The half-century-old vines are dry-farmed in well-drained Pinole gravelly loam soils and produce fruit with an intense sense of place. 
 
Tim ages his Petite Sirah in American oak barrels, which he believes better settles the inherent acidity of the Petite Sirah grape. The 2018 vintage underwent a complete 100% Malolactic fermentation which results in rich, supple fruit and layers of complexity.
 
PORTALUPI 
2018 PETITE SIRAH
L VENTURI VINEYARD
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“This full-bodied wine is serious, powerful and age-worthy. The warm layer of fine-grained tannins that cloaks the enticing woodsmoke, game and blackberry flavors now will melt with time and bring out even more complexity. Best from 2025.”
94 Points
2019 Sailor's Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Sailor’s Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaStags LeapUSA

SAILOR’S GRAVE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2019 NAPA VALLEY 

2019 Sailor's Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Sailor’s Grave Cabernet highlights Michael Pozzan’s connections with many of Napa Valley’s premier growers and his ability to hand-select exceptional fruit each year. The 2019 vintage exemplifies his drive to produce an affordable Napa Cabernet packed with character, depth, and rich flavors far exceeding its value price. If you’ve been on a quest to find a full-bodied Napa Cab that doesn’t break the bank, this one inks it. 
 
The 2019 vintage was sourced from Stag’s Leap District and included fruit from Chiles Valley and Michael Pozzan’s home vineyard in Calistoga. This wine showcases the diversity in all three terroirs with precise definition, balance, and length.
 
Checking in at 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this vintage offers a well-rounded interpretation of Napa Valley terroir and the vintage as a whole. The wine hails from a year that produced richly concentrated flavors, fruit purity, and balanced acidity that’s delightful to drink.
 
SAILOR’S GRAVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2019 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $40
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2019 Sailors Grave Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is thoroughly a Napa Valley classic Cabernet. The nose is dark and inviting with aromas of blackberry, espresso, and the sweet char of French oak. The mouth is characterized by a core of pure Cabernet – cassis, boysenberry, and a hint of graphite, with soft, polished tannins and deftly integrated oak. The persistent finish sustains with delicate nutmeg.”
2019 Desoncierto Albarino Cambados Urban Winery Cambados, Spain

2019 Desoncierto Albarino Cambados Urban Winery Cambados, Spain

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary WhiteSpain

DESCONCIERTO

2019 ALBARIÑO
CAMBADOS URBAN WINERY
CAMBADOS, SPAIN

2019 Desoncierto Albarino Cambados Urban Winery Cambados, Spain
The delightfully refreshing nature of Desconcierto Albariño intersects with profound intensity, resulting in a stimulating, unique white that makes other varietals envious. The wine’s alluring qualities are fueled by great weather, causing it to move faster than any other white wine on our tasting menu. Desconcierto is beautifully opulent, loaded with brightly focused fruit, intriguing spice, and classic saline character that’s simply irresistible. 
 
Albarino grows best in areas with a strong maritime influence, which helps the grapes maintain a lively acidity. Desconcierto’s Vineyard is close to the Arousa Estuary’s shores, and the sea’s impact stands out in this classic Atlantic-influenced wine. 
 
Desconcierto utilizes partial Malolactic fermentation in their winemaking, which a technical method now widely used that gives the wine a rounder mouthfeel. There are less than 350 cases of this wine produced and trust me, you’ll wish you had ordered a lot more once you taste it.
 
DESCONCIERTO
2019 ALBARIÑO
CAMBADOS URBAN WINERY
CAMBADOS, SPAIN
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Lively and intense aromas of white peach, pear and apples. Light notes of vanilla and yeast, a result of aging and stirring in the vat. Full body, crisp, vibrant and refreshing with mouthwatering citrus notes. Long finish with dry mineral notes.”
2019 Martin Ray Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains

2019 Martin Ray Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtMontereySanta Cruz MountainsUSA

MARTIN RAY

2019 CHARDONNAY
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

2019 Martin Ray Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnays display dense aromas, rich fruit, remarkable intensity, complex minerality, and tantalizing acidity. Martin Ray’s version expresses these distinct characteristics with tropical melon, orange zest, and a leesy, textured mouthfeel that makes the wine, as James Suckling writes, “hard to resist.” 
 
This Chardonnay comes from two 1000ft elevation vineyards on opposite sides of the Mountain and offers a stunning portrayal of the region’s dynamic terroir. Each site shares sizeable diurnal temperature shifts and excellent sun exposure, resulting in powerfully concentrated, expressive berries. 
 
Martin Ray’s winemaking team utilized a technique of stirring the lees bi-weekly during its 12 months aging in French oak. This technique results in a rich, leesy texture that perfectly contrasts the bright natural acidity.
 
MARTIN RAY
2019 CHARDONNAY
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $28
 
 
“Mouthwateringly intense aromas of salted butter and toast. Lemon curd, grilled pear, hazelnut and chalk, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with tangy acidity and a toasty, saline finish. Hard to resist. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
93 Points
 
“Ripe Bosc pear, lemon mousse, and grilled pineapple with touches of honey- suckle on the nose. Subtle baking spices, sweetgrass, a hint of quince paste and Tahitian vanilla overlay a broad palate framed by linear acidity and minerality.”
2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina Verona, Italy

2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina Verona, Italy

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin Vogt

TINAZZI

COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
2018 VERONA CORVINA
VERONA, ITALY

2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina Verona, Italy
Corvina is an Italian grape variety with an integral role, mandated by law in all Valpolicella wines, including Amarone, which must include a minimum of 45% in their blends. This late-ripening variety is low in tannin and high in acidy. Tinazzi’s version is varietally characteristic, manifested with bright cherry, transitioning to juicy dark cherry, spice, and classic hints of almond, a signature of the variety. Fans of juicy Rhone blends, Zinfandel, and of course Valpolicella wines would love this, and especially at $25 and with a 96 point score. 
 
Located near Verona in Northern Italy, Tinazzi sits in the heart of where the Corvina grape reigns supreme. Proprietor Gian Andrea Tinazzi is passionate about accurately expressing territorial character in his wines, and his Corvina from Verona is a classic example. 
 
Gian Andrea sourced this Corvina from hillside vineyards in Valpolicella with excellent sun exposure, resulting in deep, fully-developed flavors. Once harvested, the fruit is destemmed and gently crushed before aging in barrels for 12 months, preserving its natural acidity.
 
TINAZZI
COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
2018 VERONA CORVINA
VERONA, ITALY
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“Deep bright red; Ample and harmonious, ranging from red fruits to spices; Velvety, persistent and full, with great harmony.”
96 Points, Luca Maroni
2016 Simon Di Brazzan Cabernet Franc Friuli, Italy

2016 Simon Di Brazzan Cabernet Franc Friuli, Italy

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet FrancItalyKevin Vogt

SIMON DI BRAZZAN

2016 CABERNET FRANC
FRIULI, ITALY

2016 Simon Di Brazzan Cabernet Franc Friuli, Italy
Winemaker Daniele Drius of Simon de Brazzan crafts his Cabernet Franc in a captivating style that beckons thoughts of neighborhood bistros, porch swings, and conversation. The wine captures classic varietal traits, like herb-laced red fruits, subtle peppery characteristics, delivering them in a refreshingly easy-to-drink manner that’s reminiscent of Pinot Noir. 
 
Daniele protects the authenticity of his vines through organic farming practices. His thirteen hectares of vines project the sea influence, benefits of the Alps, and alluvial soils. The composition of the land and soils determine the division of each unique parcel. 
 
Tradition does not hinder innovation at Simon di Brazzan. Daniele harvests the fruit by hand and meticulously de-stems the berries before fermenting on the skins and lees for enriched depth and color. The resulting wine is a delicious drinker with a sense of place, balance, and suppleness that’s highly enjoyable.
 
SIMON DI BRAZZAN
2016 CABERNET FRANC
FRIULI, ITALY
 
Your Price: $26
 
 
“Intense ruby red color with purple shades; Distinctive herbaceous scent, elegant and spicy; Velvety flavor, soft, slightly bitter, young but full.”