2016 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

FAUST 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY 

2016 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Faust can be described as the next generation in classic Napa Valley Cabernet that’s a go-to on restaurant wine lists, in a similar way that old-school producers Heitz and Stags Leap have been for many years.  Created in Quintessa’s state-of-the-art winery in Rutherford, Faust’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has superior focus and unleashes a bounty of exquisite aromas infused with opulent black fruits, melted chocolate, graphite and crushed rock.  Created from the winery’s estate vineyards in Coombsville and Rutherford, combined with additions of Atlas Peak, Mount Veeder and Howell Mountain resulting in diverse flavors that continually unfurl new components with aeration.  At under $50 per bottle this is absolutely one of Napa Valleys best values in Cabernet Sauvignon.  
 
Pre-fermentation, the grapes are hand-sorted twice with full-attention to every detail.  Optimizing technology, Quintessa uses a gravity-flow method where are grapes are gently crushed on the winery roof before making their way to the fermentation room below using the force of gravity.  This provides a gentler, more grape friendly approach to winemaking and the results simply need to be tasted to be appreciated.
 
FAUST 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl
 
Winery Notes: “The 2016 vintage is a fierce reminder of why we love what we do, as it extended a run of five remarkable vintages in the Napa Valley. Even temperatures throughout the growing season produced excellent clusters, resulting in a bold and powerful wine. Fans of the 2015 Faust will love the 2016, with notes of dark chocolate, blue and black fruit, and dried herbs balanced by silky tannins and lifting acidity.“
 
Customers who enjoy Faust Napa Valley Cabernet enjoy these terrific wines from Huneeus Vintners…
 
2015 Quintessa Proprietary Red 2015 Faust Graffitti Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5 Ltr Magnum 
QUINTESSA
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
RUTHERFORD, NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $174.99/btl 

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From James Suckling: “Aromas of blue fruits, blackberries, tile and lead pencil. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh, bright finish. Layered and intense with white-pepper and salt undertones. Love the finish to this racy young wine. Beautiful blue fruits! Drink in 2020 and onwards. From biodynamic grapes.” 97 Points
FAUST 
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
“GRAFFITI EDITION” MAGNUM
 
Your Price: $99.99/(1.5L)

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “A barrel sample, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple colored, with a decadent cassis, baked blackberries and plum preserves-scented nose, plus hints of spice cake, cedar and Marmite toast. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and wonderfully spicy in the mouth, it has velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long”  92-94 Points
2017 Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert Proprietary Red

2017 Orin Swift ‘8 Years in the Desert’ Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtProprietary RedUSA

ORIN SWIFT

8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
2017 PROPRIETARY RED

2017 Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert Proprietary Red
A winemaker’s life experiences are what shapes their individual winemaking styles and gives them the tools and techniques to make great wine.  8 years in the desert is the direct result of the culmination of winemaker Dave Phinney’s trials and tribulations which began back in 1998 with two tons of Zinfandel.  It actually didn’t work out the first time and he sold the wine on the bulk market.  He tried again in 1999 and made 29 cases of Orin Swift Zinfandel…  In 2000, the Zinfandel wasn’t great on it’s own, so he blended other varietals and produced the inaugural vintage of The Prisoner, which he continued to make for the next 8 vintages before selling The Prisoner brand.  The 2017 8 Years In The Desert wouldn’t be here without everything he’s learned a long the way, and lucky for us, it is here… 
 
Riveting, seductive and sensual were the first words to come to my mind when I tasted the 2017 blend.  The wine is primarily Zinfandel heightened with Petite Syrah and Syrah.  Dave Phinney is clearly a master at blending and creating new and unique wines that are wildly delicious and irresistible upon release.  I highly recommend trying a case…     
 
ORIN SWIFT
8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
2017 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $45.99/btl 
 
Winemaker’s Notes: “Heady aromas of brambly raspberry, black fig and peppercorn dominate; time in glass exposes more dark chocolate, fennel and High Sierra forest floor.  The palate is lush and opulent with blackberries, dark plums and currants.  More flavors add to the quality of the blend – a visceral minerality and fresh herbs de Provence.  Fully integrated with puckering tannins, the wine bows out with finesse.” 
 
Customers that enjoy Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert may also enjoy these two fantastic Reds…
 
 
2015 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red 2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary Red
ORIN SWIFT
2015 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Papillon Proprietary Red features expressive crème de cassis, mulberries, plum preserves and chocolate box notes with wafts of underbrush, dried herbs and Indian spices. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and spicy in the mouth, it has a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long with a lively pepper and herbs lift.” 94 Points
ORIN SWIFT
2016 MACHETE
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 

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The 2016 Orin Swift Machete stampedes from the glass with a glorious and persistent perfume layered with blueberry velvet cake, dried violets, and incense, intertwined with a tinge of bacon fat and wood smoke.  Machete has clinched coveted positions on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list on three separate occasions. The 2016 is one of their best yet and I wouldn’t miss it… 
2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary Red

2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtProprietary RedUncategorized

ORIN SWIFT

2016 MACHETE
PROPRIETARY RED

2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary RedRobert Louis Stevenson wrote “wine is bottled poetry.”  There’s one wine brand that excites a certain “love affair” and devotion that would certainly be poem-worthy. Uniquely, there are a dozen different labels in each case of Machete and if you find the labels intriguing, wait until you taste the wine… The 2016 stampedes from the glass with a glorious and persistent perfume layered with blueberry velvet cake, dried violets, and incense, intertwined with a tinge of bacon fat and wood smoke.  Machete has clinched coveted positions on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list on three separate occasions. The 2016 is one of their best yet and I wouldn’t miss it…
 
Drawing from several celebrated regions throughout California, the 2016 Machete combines Petite Sirah, Grenache and Syrah into a hedonistic collision of deep, velvety and seductive flavors.  Don’t wait for the reviews to surface on the 2016…  We just tasted it, and it’s absolutely one of the best Machetes yet…
 
ORIN SWIFT
2016 MACHETE
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Violet ink in the glass, a nose of black plums, cassis, and cacao engage. The robust entry consists of a progressing palate of blackberry and boysenberry compote, a reduction of dark plum and ripe figs, and pure Amarena cherry. Flashes of vanilla and traces of minerality evolve into chalky tannins and a smooth lingering finish.“
 
Customers that enjoy Orin Swift Machete may also enjoy these two fantastic Reds…
2014 Dept 66 Cote Catalanes Grenache 2015 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red
DEPARTMENT 66
2014 GRENACHE
COTES CATALANES
 
Your Price: $37.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and a splash of Carignan… This inky colored, downright sexy 2014 offers terrific notes of blueberries, blackberries, violets and chalky minerality. Big, concentrated and textured, yet still playing in the more elegant style of the 2014 vintage, this beauty will drink well for a decade..” 93 Points
ORIN SWIFT
2015 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Very deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Papillon Proprietary Red features expressive crème de cassis, mulberries, plum preserves and chocolate box notes with wafts of underbrush, dried herbs and Indian spices. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and spicy in the mouth, it has a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long with a lively pepper and herbs lift.”  94 Points
2016 James Joseph Kathryn's Reserve Mt Veeder Proprietary Red

2016 James Joseph Kathryn’s Reserve Mt Veeder Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMt VeederNapaProprietary RedUSA

JAMES JOSEPH 2016 James Joseph Kathryn's Reserve Mt Veeder Proprietary Red

KATHRYN’S RESERVE
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 MOUNT VEEDER

In wine, greatness can come from a steadfast focus on your core strengths.  With James Joseph, we’ve scaled back production by 75% in 2016, producing just four barrels of the absolute best wine fathomable.  Born from a single vineyard located at 1,100 feet elevation on Mount Veeder, the 2016 is riveting, profound and deeply hedonistic. This Cabernet blend combines Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in a way that perfectly expresses Mount Veeder terroir with a vivid display of fine-grained tannins, focused berries, dried flowers, chocolate and stony minerality.  With rising costs to produce this truly top level Cuvee, the wine will only be available at $45/btl through October 1st. 
 
In the glass the 2016 draws you in with a dramatic, alluring perfume, laced in violets, mountainy berries, shaved chocolates and graphite.  The 2016 was authored by Grant Long Jr., winemaker at Witchery, Steps and Aonair and it was kept for 21 months in oak.  Those of you who tasted any of the previous vintages of James Joseph, know exactly what to expect… $100/btl quality at a price that’s an epic value… 
Orders are ready to ship After October 1st.
 
JAMES JOSEPH
KATHRYN’S RESERVE
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at:  $50/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 
YOU SAVE 10%
 
Tasting Notes: “Deeply rich aromas of black raspberries, Bing cherries, black currants, cocoa powder, pipe tobacco and a hint of sweet vanilla.  On the palate, layers of crushed blackberries, liquid mineral, sweet blue fruits, freshly ground coffee and oak spice all in perfect balance.  The tannins support a long, opulent finish.  Drink now or over the next 12 years.” 100 Cases Produced
2014 Steps Winemaker's Reserve Proprietary Blend 2015 James Joseph Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
STEPS 
WINEMAKER’S RESERVE 
2014 PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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The 6 barrel production  Winemaker’s  Reserve is heavily based in Atlas Peak, and made transparent by its striking crushed rock minerality and dusty tannins that make the area so desired.  The final blend has a solid core of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak, magnified by 14% Cabernet Franc from Kenefick Palisades Vineyard, 9% Malbec from Oakville and 5% Petit Verdot from Coombsville.
JAMES JOSEPH
NAPA VALLEY RESERVE
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “An enchanting bouquet of ripe bing cherry, black plum, raspberry liqueur, mocha, violets and hints of sweet vanilla spice.  On the palate the wine is remarkably rich and densely concentrated.  Lavish layers of ripe blackberries, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and sweet black cherry are intertwined and compel you to another sip.  This wine can be enjoyed upon release or cellared for 10-15 years.”  150 Cases Produced
 
91% Cabernet Sauvignon | 6% Merlot | 3% Cabernet Franc
2013 Aveo Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet

2013 Aveo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

AVEO 2013 Aveo Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 ATLAS PEAK

 
There seems to be a direct correlation between Aerospace Engineers and many of the skills that it takes to become a world-class winemaker.  Just look at Brian Loring who wrote code for submarine missile launch and torpedo guidance systems and now produces a bevy of highly sought after Pinot Noirs.  Steve Jennings, winemaker at Aveo comes from a similar background as an Aerospace Engineer.  With aerospace engineering there’s extreme attention to detail and exact precision that’s needed.  When you take that same approach to winemaking the results speak for themselves.  Aveo‘s 2013 Atlas Peak Cabernet is riveting, deep and enchanting.  Even at the winery’s $75 retail price this wine will have you flying high with excitement…it kicks in the afterburners, and with the tiny production, don’t wait until it’s wheels up…
 
Given wings from one of Atlas Peak’s most revered vineyards… (If I could tell you which one, I’m certain you’d grab a case.)  Aveo co-ferments Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) with Merlot and Petit Verdot to allow the flavors to vector into a singular, rounded wine.  The wine spends an impressive 26 months in oak, and coming from one of Napa Valley’s greatest vintages, this one deserves a spot in your hanger or cellar.
 
AVEO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2013 ATLAS PEAK
Retails at:  $75/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “A dense, deep garnet color perfectly frames the intensely  concentrated yet laser-like focused flavors of red currants, fresh blackberries, Rainier cherries, Asian spice box along with a touch of smoke.  The penetrating flavors combine beautifully with the sweet yet dusty tannins, liquid minerals, cocoa powder and a touch of vanilla spice. The concentrated and generous flavors make it a delight to drink now, but the firm tannin structure promises well over a decade of future enjoyment too…” 95 Points
 
Cabernet Sauvignon 85% | Merlot 10% | Petit Verdot 5%
2013 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino

2013 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloItalyKevin VogtNobile di MontelpulcianoTuscanyUncategorized

FANTI

2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

2013 Fanti Brunello Di Montalcino
“The best Brunello is like an opera: powerful, dramatic, and sophisticated, with long-held notes and a plot-line of great weight and complexity...” Wine Enthusiast.  Fanti’s 2013 Brunello di Montalcino defines this statement with an opening act that effortlessly engages you, followed by a perfectly choreographed and dynamically elegant performance that will have your palate (and wallet) begging for an encore.  The Fanti family has been producing wine for nearly 200 years and the quality of their wines were elevated to new levels in the 1970’s when a new owner took the reigns.  Filippo soon redesigned the plantings and added an innovation-meets-tradition winemaking technique that propelled the wine to the next level.  At under $50 their 2013 Brunello is a tough act to follow…
 
With attention to every detail in the vineyard and the winery, their style is one of elegance, vibrant fruit, and stunning persistence.  And the 2013 comes from one of the area’s best vintage, one that the Wine Enthusiast alerts readers that, “If you want to experience the energy, elegance and age-worthy structure that first drew wine lovers and collectors to Brunello di Montalcino decades ago, then 2013 is your vintage.”   I highly recommend securing a case of this classic 93 Point Brunello.
 
FANTI
2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
Retails at:  $50/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 
YOU SAVE 10%
 
From James Suckling: “Plenty of black cherry and berry character with hints of flowers. Medium to full body, soft and fresh tannins and a clean and delicious finish. Lovely now.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Fanti Brunello di Montalcino may also enjoy these two Italian wines…
2013 Giovanni Ross Barolo 2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimalli Brunello Di Montalcino
GIOVANNI ROSSO
2013 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From The Wine Spectator: “A fruit-driven style, this red also displays ample tannins. Cherry, strawberry, floral and leafy tobacco flavors are backed by a vibrant structure, and this winds down with hints of mineral, earth and tobacco…”  93 Points
LIVIO SASSETTI
2011 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl

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2016 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red

2016 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

HOURGLASS

2016 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED 

2016 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red
The best wines only take your palate an instant to recognize that it’s something remarkable, and that’s exactly what we look for in our tastings each week.  In fact, we taste nearly a wine a minute at our group tastings because it happens that quickly when you come across something profound.  Sometimes you know just based on the aroma, but when it hits your palate it should light you up with excitement, which is exactly what happened when I tasted the new Hourglass HG III.  The wine was authored by legendary winemaker Toni Biagi… Tony spent nearly 10 years crafting the high-scoring Plumpjack wines, which rank among the best in Napa Valley, and their top Estate wines can go for around $200/btl…  At under fifty, the HG III is a low price of admission for wine of this outstanding pedigree.  
 
With an exhilarating velvety texture, and endless layers of sweet blueberries, cherry pipe tobacco, dried flowers and black chcolate, the HG III combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah into an exhilarating wine of pure brilliance.  
After spending around 16 months in French oak, the 2016 is stunningly gorgeous now, and it’s undoubtably the best version of HG III yet.  Don’t hesitate to secure your case… 
 
HOURGLASS
2016 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $53.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl
 
 
“Showing the quality of this vintage, the 2016 HG III is a big, opulent, incredibly sexy effort that boasts a deep purple color and terrific notes of black cherries, chocolate, dried flowers, and spice. Made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah (that’s the III of HG III), it’s one heck of a red blend and well worth seeking out.”  91-93 Points
“A barrel sample, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Proprietary Red Hourglass H. G. III is beautifully scented at this nascent stage of crushed plums, mulberries, kirsch and black cherries with wafts of spice cake and chocolate box. Full-bodied, rich, soft and seductive at this youthful stage, it offers lovely plush tannins and plenty of vivacity on the finish.”  91-93 Points
Customers who enjoy Hourglass HG III may also enjoy these two stunning Reds… 
2015 Juslyn Perry's Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
JUSLYN
2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 

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The first impression I had when I tasted Juslyn’s 2015 Perry’s Blend was one of shattered expectations, and those were set high, given the high quality of wines that the winery has produced over the last several vintages. They’ve also attracted some incredible talent…  Assisting in their constant pursuit of perfection, consulting winemaker Angelina Mondavi, who’s worked alongside Jayson Woodbridge at Hundred Acre…
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 

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2016 Martinelli Bella Vigna Pinot Noir

2016 Martinelli ‘Bella Vigna’ Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

MARTINELLI 

2016 PINOT NOIR
BELLA VIGNA

2016 Martinelli Bella Vigna Pinot Noir
After earning a monstrous 96 Point score on their 2015, you might be wondering if this $45 Pinot could get any better… Take one sip of their 2016 and you’ll have a definitive answer.  The 2016 combines fruit from several of the winery’s top sites including Bondi, Lolita and Zio Tony Ranches, with the largest share being from Bondi.  They produce single vineyard Pinots from each of these incredible vineyards which sell for around $70/btl.  At $45 the Bella Vigna offers a stunning value…  The level of quality/value is made abundantly clear the moment this wine splashes into your glass as the bouquet grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go.  By the time it’s hits your palate, you’ll wish you had ordered more… 
 
The Bella Vigna Pinot embodies all the hallmarks that made Martinelli one of Russian River’s most beloved producers.  With the help of consulting winemaker Erin Green whom worked alongside Helen Turley in the early ’90’s on some of her projects, including Bryant Family & Martinelli, the winery has remained a paragon of the Russian River Valley.  If you love BIG, rich, California Pinot Noirs, you’ll want to secure a case of this one, yesterday.
 
MARTINELLI 
2016 PINOT NOIR
BELLA VIGNA
 
Retails at: $45/btl
 
Tasting Notes: “Deep and enchanting aromas of intense black-cherry, wild plum and holiday spices engage your senses. On the palate, lavish and vibrant flavors envelope your taste buds and unlock vivid flavors embedded in wild berries, black tea, spring flowers, rhubarb and forest floor.  The texture is velvety and with plenty of body, concentration and richness.  Drink this beauty now and over the next 10 years.” 
 
Customers that enjoy Martinelli’s Bella Vigna Pinot Noir,  may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2014 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Martinelli Bella Vigna Chardonnay
TROMBETTA
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl 

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From The Wine Enthusiast: “The oak treatment is supportive only, with the wine aged in French oak, 25% of it new, for nine months. Restraint allows it to remain soft and silky on the palate, with inviting characteristics of white pepper, lavender, rose, cranberry, strawberry and vanilla bean.” 93 Points
MARTINELLI
2015 CHARDONNAY
BELLA VIGNA
 
Your Price: $45/btl

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2014 Cornerstone Cellars Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Cornerstone ‘Calistoga’ Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

CORNERSTONE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 CALISTOGA

2014 Cornerstone Cellars Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon
When a wine has literally every component necessary to be a world-class expression of it’s varietal, it’s difficult to find just one high-point to talk about because there are so many attributes that make it special.  Cornerstone’s 2014 Calistoga Cabernet is that wine.  You could start by mentioning winemaker Kari Auringer who worked under Celia Welch at Cornerstone as well as contributing to the fame of some of the Napa Valley’s most luminous names including Scarecrow, Keever, Kelly Fleming and Corra… to name a few.  Or you could talk about winemaker Charles Thomas who has more than 30 years winemaking experience crafting Robert Mondavi’s Reserve Cabernets, the first twelve vintages of OPUS ONE, or his work at Cardinale, Lokoya, Verité and Rudd.  And then there’s the vineyard… 
 
Arising from a single vineyard perched high on Calistoga Palisades, not far from Araujo where the areas well-drained volcanic soils and unique microclimates project fruit of remarkable quality.  The 2014 checks in at 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with extraordinary extraction and deep, expressive flavors that unwind methodically and tell a story of the areas extraordinary terroir.  At $75/btl you’d be thrilled by the quality. At $49, you’ll want to make room in the cellar, and go deep…    
 
CORNERSTONE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 CALISTOGA
Retails at:  $75/btl
 
Your Price: $49/btl
 
Winery Notes: “Dark, rich and ripe. This wine offers classic Cabernet aromas of blackberry, plum, boysenberry, cassis, mocha and smoky toasted vanilla. Round, rich and creamy on entry, with explosive flavors of ripe fruit that only comes with a near-perfect growing season in the warmer part of the valley. As the wine opens up, the fruit flavors give way to a seductive core, classic cassis, licorice and a hint of leather. The tannins are sturdy but integrated. It is opulent and plush on release but it has the backbone and structure to age beautifully. This wine will reward those with the patience to give it a little more time.” 
2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

LOBO

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 ATLAS PEAK

2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
What makes this Cabernet outstanding? For starters it’s an incredible value.  Even more special are the unique qualities, characteristics and nuances that can only be found in top-quality mountain Cabernet.  In the same way you choose different clothing each day, there’s something really special about having a distinctive bottle of wine you can select that simply makes you feel great.  Atlas Peak Cabernets have firm structure, infused with rocky mineral elements endemic to Atlas Peak.  At $80/btl this wine still puts a smile on your face…your hair will be bristling if you don’t pull the trigger.
 
The winery’s flagship bottling of the Atlas Peak Estate Cabernet was carved from Randy’s (currently being rebuilt after the ’17 fire) home vineyard which is perched at 1,350 feet elevation and planted in volcanic, rocky soils.  The vineyard architect selected tight spacing to encourage the vines to struggle, which in turn helps to create the incredibly expressive and deeply concentrated flavors.  Housed for 24 months in oak barrels, this 2014 is howlingly good now, with flavors that stalk your taste buds with perfect balance and precision.  Don’t be the lone wolf that misses out on this one…
 
LOBO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 ATLAS PEAK
Retails at:  $80/btl
 
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Showcasing classic Mountain fruit character, the Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 displays a pristinely focused and firm bounty of red currant, black cherry and red plum, perfectly balanced with the fine grained yet slightly dusty tannins.  Secondary characteristics of cherry cough drop, sweet tobacco leaf, spice box,  fresh sage leaf and sweet vanilla oak dance in perfect step with the concentrated fruit, then are followed by a long, velvety finish.  First impressions are always important and looking back at my initial tasting notes, I wrote ‘Wow, this is really killer stuff…’ Drink now through 2030.“
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier