2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaRutherfordSaint HelenaUSA

HEIR APPARENT

RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Grand Napa Winery in Rutherford produces Heir Apparent wines, and winemaker Dwight Bonewell’s expert blending skills and access to exceptional vineyards paired beautifully with another outstanding vintage. Dwight crafts his Reserve Cabernet from a rigorous selection of high-quality sites in Rutherford, St Helena, and Calistoga, resulting in a multi-faceted wine embodying Napa Valley’s distinctive personality.
 
The 2019 growing season saw few challenges and a mild autumn, giving the grapes a long hang-time resulting in exceptional flavor development while retaining acidity. This particular vintage is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc added to accent the mid-palate and maintain balance, just like many of the great wines of Bordeaux.
 
HEIR APPARENT
RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“Aromas of raspberries, sour cherries, kirsch, lemon zest and sweet spices. It’s full-bodied with sleek tannins framing a juicy, sweetly fruited core. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtOld Vine ZinfandelRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley
Gus Gamba farms some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California, planted by pioneering immigrants from the turn of the 20th century. The winery’s vineyards are farmed organically and rely solely on rainwater for irrigation, just as they did over 100 years ago. 
 
Planted in 1920, the Starr Road Ranch Vineyard produces tiny yields of highly-concentrated Zinfandel fruit with stunning depth of flavor and remarkable complexity. The grapes are double sorted by hand, ensuring only the highest quality fruit is selected to make this profound expression of Old Vine Russian River Valley Zinfandel.
 
GAMBA
ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Gamba 2021 Starr Ranch Road Zinfandel begins with notes of Christmas spices, red licorice, clove, marzipan, and red cherry. On the palate, the wine has a bright red fruit accented by nutmeg, allspice, and fresh acidity. This wine is perfect for a casual afternoon and makes an excellent match for barbequed foods.”
94 Points
2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley Oak Knoll District

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2018

2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley
Harold Kelly was a founding member of the Land Trust of Napa County, and the Kelly family has been a massive part of Napa Valley’s agricultural land preservation for over 40 years. Harold’s son,Gene Kelly, is the proprietor of Kelly Family Vineyards, and he works closely with winemaker Bob Pepi to create a “wine worthy of being shared with close family and friends while you tell your family story.”
 
Mario Bazán was charmed by Napa’s energizing beauty in the early 1970s and is the Vineyard Manager of Kelly Family, placing emphasis on sustainable agriculture resulting in wines with greater depth and personality. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon speaks volumes from this small production, typical of the winery, whose quality is maintained by the undivided attention of a small, intimate team.
 
KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2018
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“The 2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 begins with focused aromas and flavors of blackberry pie, sweet black cherry, savory black olive, boysenberry jam, dusty minerals, sweet vanilla spice, and dried herbs. This offering from the fabulous 2018 vintage is an intensely concentrated wine on the palate with a beautiful balance of deep fruit and a bright, fresh, elegant style combined with a long, lingering finish.”
94 Points
2019 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red Sonoma County

2019 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red Sonoma County

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

WESTWOOD

LEGEND PROPRIETARY RED
SONOMA COUNTY 2019

2019 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red Sonoma County
Sustainability is the heart and soul of Westwood’s philosophy, centered around sourcing fruit from vineyards farmed organically or biodynamically, becoming one of just a few Demeter-certified Biodynamic vineyards in North America. Famed winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky are the vintner team at the helm of Westwood wines, bringing forth their knowledge and experience gained at top wineries, including Bryant Family, Quintessa, Hundred Acre, Screaming Eagle, and Dalla Valle.
 
Like the three previous releases, the 2019 Proprietary Red Wine Legend blends the biodynamically farmed Westwood Estate Annadel Gap Vineyard fruit with specially selected organic, sustainable fruit from Sonoma County and Napa Valley. This rich, sultry red wine is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon enhanced with Syrah and with small amounts of Counoise, Grenache, and Tannat that spent twenty months in French oak, giving a divine drinking pleasure for at least the next seven to eight years.
 
WESTWOOD
LEGEND PROPRIETARY RED
SONOMA COUNTY 2019
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“With 66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Syrah, this 20-month French oak barrel-aged blend has a dep, opaque purple hue. Notes of spiced blackberry, licorice, and new leather. Creamy, with heather and soy sauce – it’s penetrating and concentrated – but generous in its juicy, floral nature. Dark chocolate lingers on the juicy finish.”
95 Points
2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

with No Comment $40-$50ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

RUBIA

CHARDONNAY 2019
RITCHIE VINEYARD

2019 Rubia Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
Margaret and Joe Valenzuela founded Rubia Wine Cellars as a tribute to their love and a deep desire to become a part of the winemaking world. They built strong friendships throughout Napa and Sonoma, allowing them access to renowned vineyards like Kent Ritchie’s Vineyard. Considered one of the top locations for Chardonnay in the Russian River Valley, Ritchie Vineyard fruit produces award-winning wines from Aubert, Ramey, DuMOL, and Paul Hobbs.
 
Furthering their dream, Margaret and Joe hired Julien Fayard as their winemaker. Julien worked for Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in France before moving to the US, then became the Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka. Rubia’s 2019 vintage Chardonnay was fermented in new French oak and kept on the lees for 16 months with a monthly batonnage creating a round, creamy mouthfeel and a long, flavorful finish.
 
RUBIA
CHARDONNAY 2019
RITCHIE VINEYARD
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The Rubia 2019 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay begins with notes of chamomile and honeysuckle with ripe peaches, apricots, marzipan, and vanilla custard. On the palate, the wine has a rich texture and creamy mouthfeel with flavors of honeydew, pear, baking spices, and toasted brioche. The roundness on the palate rolls into a smooth yet bright finish.”
93-94 Points
2019 Bruliam Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Roberts Road Sonoma County

2019 Bruliam Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Roberts Road Sonoma County

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPetaluma GapPinot NoirSonomaUSA

BRULIAM

PINOT NOIR 2019
SANGIACOMO ROBERTS ROAD
PETALUMA GAP, SONOMA COUNTY

2019 Bruliam Pinot Noir Sangiacomo Roberts Road Sonoma County
After completing medical school, Kerith Overstreet decided winemaking sounded more exciting and enrolled to study enology at UC Davis leading to her first harvest in 2008. Launching Bruliam with a single barrel, Kerith now produces around 1000 cases annually of primarily single-vineyard Pinot Noir from cherished grower relationships in Sonoma County, Santa Lucia Highlands, and her own Torrey Hill vineyard in the Russian River Valley.
 
The Sangiacomo Roberts Road Vineyard was planted in 1998 and is the first area to receive fog in the Petaluma Gap and the last to burn it off, extending the growing season. This cool microclimate ripens about two weeks later than Gap’s Crown, giving fully ripe fruit without raising sugar levels and preserving crisp acidity, which the 2019 vintage represents beautifully with dynamic precision and elegantly nuanced flavors.
 
BRULIAM
PINOT NOIR 2019
SANGIACOMO ROBERTS ROAD
PETALUMA GAP, SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“This wine wowed me from the first sip, starting with an elegant nose including bright red fruits, holiday baking spices, light florals, and minerals. The vibrant palate starts with tart cranberries, pomegranate, red cherries, and spice box character combined with an intriguing saline quality. This medium-bodied Pinot Noir has beautifully concentrated, crunchy red fruit combined with elegance, grace, and length that is ultimately satisfying. Bravo!”
94 Points
2020 Edict Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2020 Edict Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

EDICT

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE 2020

2020 Edict Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Edict’s winemaking mantra of “truth, generosity, and love” guides each decision from the vineyard to the winery, ensuring premium quality in their finished wines. With 30 years of experience and partnerships with some of the best growers from Carneros to Calistoga, Edict’s Vineyard Manager carefully selects the healthiest fruit with the most significant varietal expression.
 
Edict’s winemaking team focuses on bringing out those unique varietal expressions, highlighting the fruit and harnessing ripe, almost chewy tannins, a smooth texture, and deep, bold aromatics. The 2020 Oakville Collinetta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with rich layers of flavor, power, and energy, and with all Edict wines can age but is ready to be enjoyed now.
 
EDICT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE 2020
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“The Edict. Collinetta Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 begins with a generous nose including black currants, blackberry jam, baker’s chocolate, and crushed stones. The supple palate has a pretty combination of mouth watering bright red fruits, combined with deep, ripe black fruits – a textbook signature of Oakville Cabs. It has a long, linear styled finish leaving your palate begging for another sip.”
94 Points
2020 Raoul Gautherin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

2020 Raoul Gautherin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

with No Comment $40-$50BurgandyChablisFranceKevin Vogt

RAOUL GAUTHERIN

CHABLIS 1ER CRU
VAILLONS 2020

2020 Raoul Gautherin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons
Since 1585 the Gautherin family has cultivated vines on Chablis’ most exposed hillside sites, crafting beautiful wines that tell a detailed story of their origins. Because of low intervention in the vineyard and winery, natural yeasts, and limited or no use of oak, Chablis is one of the purest expressions of Chardonnay worldwide.
 
Raoul Gautherin’s father and son team relies on familial knowledge passed down over several generations and sustainable farming practices that focus on the vitality of the vines to produce world-class wines. The Vaillons Premier Cru vineyard produces wines with distinct minerality and delicate white fruit aromatics, making it one of Chablis’ most desired sites. The 2020 vintage provided wines with rich flavors and deep complexity that are dangerously easy to drink now and will pay tribute to those with the patience to cellar and age.
 
RAOUL GAUTHERIN
CHABLIS 1ER CRU
VAILLONS 2020
 
 
 
“The Raoul Gautherin 2020 1er Cru Chablis opens with expressive notes of chamomile, yellow apple, bread dough, chalky minerality, and oceanic salinity. On the palate, the wine has a silky smooth texture with flavors of apple, quince, apricot, and pastry. This wine has an impeccable balance of rich flavors and bright acidity that flows into a long finish.”
95 Points
2019 Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon Wulff Vineyards Napa Valley

2019 Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon Wulff Vineyards Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

LOBO

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
WULFF VINEYARDS
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon Wulff Vineyards Napa Valley
Founded on farming first and foremost, Lobo winery grows and sells fruit to premier Napa Valley producers from their Oak Knoll District vineyard, keeping a small number of rows for themselves. Vineyard Manager Mario Bazan has over 30 years of experience managing vineyards like Opus One, To-Kalon, and Stags Leap. He’s helped Lobo Winery transition from selling grapes to becoming a boutique winery making a small production of superb wines.
 
Winemaker Victoria Coleman has been at Lobo’s helm since 2008. She was hired on the spot because of her impressive background, beginning in production with Michael Silacci at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and working alongside Erick Tourbier at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The 2019 Wulff Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in stainless steel before aging 18 months in 70% new French oak giving the perfect balance of power and elegance with integrated tannins and a supple mouthfeel.
 
LOBO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
WULFF VINEYARDS
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $80
 
 
 
“Aromas of black fruit, plums, chocolate, sweet spices and cigar box. It’s medium-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Round and creamy with fruity character and a supple, sweetly spiced finish. Drink from 2023.”
91 Points
2020 Macauley Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley

2020 Macauley Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaOld Vine ZinfandelUSA

MACAULEY

OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
NAPA VALLEY 2020

2020 Macauley Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley
Ann Macauley Watson founded the Macauley winery in the early 1980s; her son Mac now runs the estate, working closely with his childhood friend Kirk Venge. Mac and Kirk share the same winemaking philosophy, aiming to create wines with depth and a range of complexity directly related to each site’s specific terroir, which means sourcing the best fruit from the best vineyards in Napa.
 
Macauley’s 2020 Old Vine Zinfandel arose from ancient vines averaging 115 years old from historic vineyards throughout Napa Valley, including Korte Ranch, Kenefick Ranch, and Luvisi. The old vines limit yields, resulting in fruit with concentrated and complex flavors, giving the best qualities of the variety and providing the Macauley signature flavor profile. 
 
MACAULEY
OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
NAPA VALLEY 2020
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“The Macauley 2020 Old Vine Zinfandel is a spice rack of aromas beginning with cinnamon, clove, sweet tobacco, and cedar with sweet fruit notes of black raspberry and strawberry. On the palate, the wine has bold flavors of ripe berries, vanilla, baking spices, and roasted hazelnuts that glide into a smooth, rich finish.”
93 Points