2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50CoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

COHO

HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley
Gary Lipp worked in the California wine industry for over 35 years, founding Coho in 2002 with the principles he learned from his experiences working in multiple aspects of wine production. He started strong and continued down a path of excellence by hiring renowned winemaker Phillip Titus to help achieve his goal of crafting flavorful yet balanced wines. Philip has been with Chappellet for nearly 30 years and has produced some of California’s most sought-after wines. 
 
Gary introduced Headwaters Proprietary Red in 2005 after a fire destroyed the winery’s inventory of Cabernet Sauvignon for their 100% varietal wine. Thanks to the wine community’s generosity, Coho produced a red blend from Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. This Bordeaux-style blend still focuses on fruit from Coombsville, and the cooler 2018 vintage is already exquisite with layers of delicate complexity, creating aromas and flavors reminiscent of the Old World.
 
COHO
HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Dark plums, mulberries, cloves and earthy undertones. It’s full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Full and fruity with structure and freshness on the palate. Long finish. Very polished. Drink in 2023.”
93 Points
2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino

2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

PATRIZIA CENCIONI SOLARIA 

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO 2016

2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino was one of the first regions in Italy to receive DOCG status in 1966 and is one of the most sought-after Italian wines. Fifty years later, the Wine Spectator ranks Brunello’s 2016 vintage as one of the highest-rated vintages in the region’s history, earning an overall vintage rating of 99 Points and noting a “Textbook growing season resulting in wines of finesse and elegance, balance and harmony.”
 
Winemaker Patrizia Cencioni knows Montalcino’s best wines are born in the vineyard and developed in the cellar. Solaria Vineyard, planted in 1989, sits 300 meters above sea level on a natural plateau composed of coarse tuff and clay soils, contributing to the wine’s incredible depth. Patrizia ages this wine for 30 months in a cask to fully integrate the flavors, and now, after extended time in the bottle, the wine is singing brilliantly.
 
PATRIZIA CENCIONI SOLARIA 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO 2016
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino holds your attention with a gorgeous bouquet of lavender giving way to cherry, blackberries, earthy minerals and white smoke. This is dark in character and silky in feel with a savory, almost-salty display of polished black fruits and minerals. Brisk acids provide grip and lend a cheek-puckering tension. Fine tannins add to the 2016’s already-youthful poise, yet they don’t get in the way. A mix of sweet violet florals and lingering ripe fruit satiate the palate. I love the balance here. The 2016 almost tricks you into thinking that it doesn’t need time in the cellar to show its best. But don’t be fooled; this will only get better with time.”
93+ Points
2021 Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Zinfandel Blend

2021 Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Zinfandel Blend

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtUSAZinfandel

ORIN SWIFT

8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
ZINFANDEL BLEND 2021

2021 Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Zinfandel Blend
In 2000 Dave Phinney released the inaugural vintage of a Zinfandel-based red blend called The Prisoner, which he continued to create for the next eight years until he sold the brand to Huneeus Vintners. The sale came with an eight-year non-compete agreement, preventing Dave from producing Zinfandel blends under his brand, Orin Swift.
 
Orin Swift’s 8 Years in the Desert debut in 2016 and represents those next eight years. The wine was an instant success, driven by its smooth, approachable style with seductive fruits sourced from a collection of premier vineyards in California. The 2021 vintage is the sixth iteration in the brand’s return to Zinfandel blends, with Petite Sirah and Syrah rounding out the mouthfeel and providing extra complexity; the wine is impressive in its fruit-forward style and remains beautifully balanced.  
 
ORIN SWIFT
8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
ZINFANDEL BLEND 2021
Retails at: $53
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“A deep marron core with a ruby rim, the 2021 Eight Years in the Desert opens with aromas of wild blackberry, pepper, oatmeal raisin cookie, Sequoia forest floor, bay leaf and spices. The entry is broad and opulent with a mid-palate of brambly raspberry, black cherry, ripe blueberry and a hint of cacao. The wine has superb length through the finish with ripe tannins and a close of sweet oak.”
2017 MC4 Cabernet Sauvignon Martin & Croshaw Vineyard St. Helena

2017 MC4 Cabernet Sauvignon Martin & Croshaw Vineyard St. Helena

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt. HelenaUSA

MC4

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MARTIN & CROSHAW VINEYARD
ST. HELENA 2017

2017 MC4 Cabernet Sauvignon Martin & Croshaw Vineyard St. Helena
Neighbors Paul Martin and Fred Croshaw joined forces to produce their first vintage of just eight cases of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2009. The two have intimate knowledge of their vineyard located in a prime stretch of St. Helena near AXR and Turley Estate. They’ve farmed the vineyard organically and by hand since its initial planting using cuttings from Chateau Margaux.
 
MC4 winemaker Victoria Coleman assisted Michael Silacci at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars while earning her Enology degree from UC Davis, leading to International experience working at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The 2017 production was a mere 196 cases that encompass the spirit of Napa Valley Cabernet by showcasing varietal purity, soft tannins, and depth of flavors suitable for further aging but are beginning to shine at the present moment.
 
MC4
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MARTIN & CROSHAW VINEYARD
ST. HELENA 2017
Retails at: $75
 
 
 
“The MC4 Saint Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 begins with blackberry preserves, coffee, vanilla spice, white rose petals, and dried mushrooms on the nose. The palate is dominated by red currants, Kalamata olives, and black cherries, with a lively style and satiny tannins. Drink now through 2030.”
93 Points
2018 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec Mendoza

2018 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec Mendoza

with No Comment $40-$50ArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

TAPIZ

BLACK TEARS MALBEC
MENDOZA 2018

2018 Tapiz Black Tears Malbec Mendoza
The state-of-the-art Tapiz Winery sits in a prime region of Mendoza’s Uco Valley at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, where their vineyards are some of the highest in the world. Their estate vines are carved into slopes as high as 4,600 feet elevation, producing some of the region’s most stunning wines due to the altitude and intense sunlight, ensuring fresh acidity and deep color.
 
Jean Claude Berrouet produced 44 historical vintages at Petrus and today works with Fabian Valenzuela, who has over 20 years of winemaking experience in Mendoza, creating wines that are an intricate tapestry (tapiz) of the Uco Valley terroir. The 2018 Black Tears Malbec comes from 20-year-old estate vines that were hand-harvested and aged 24 months in new French oak, giving a refined integration of oak spice with delicious ripe fruit flavors of the country’s most prized variety.
 
TAPIZ
BLACK TEARS MALBEC
MENDOZA 2018
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Deep blue and black fruit here, with floral, spicy and balsamic accents. Brooding and complex. You have to fathom the power of tannin on the palate, as the texture is so ultra-fine and polished. But don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of tannins here, only so seamless that they make it taste so effortless. Naturally concentrated, juicy and long. Delicious now, but you can hold for added complexity.”
96 Points
2018 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge

2018 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMendocino RidgePinot NoirSonomaUSA

WAITS-MAST

PINOT NOIR 2018
MARIAH VINEYARD
MENDOCINO RIDGE

2018 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge
Waits-Mast Cellars began in 2005, crafting their first barrel of Pinot Noir, and within two years, Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits watched their dreams become a reality with their boutique brand focused on high-quality Pinot Noir. Shalini Sekar joined the team as the winemaker in 2013 and came from a background in music with a Master’s Degree in Flute and Piccolo Performance but shifted her focus to studying Enology and Viticulture and sharpened her skills at Williams-Selyem and Copain Custom Crush.
 
The Mariah Vineyard is sustainably farmed and found in the Mendocino Ridge AVA at 2300 feet above sea level, resulting in more sunlight hours because of its position above the fog layer. The 106-case production 2018 vintage has a density not seen in previous vintages with an intensely bright color and layers of complexity that begin to unfold as soon as a glass is poured and continues into the long, complex finish.
 
WAITS-MAST
PINOT NOIR 2018
MARIAH VINEYARD
MENDOCINO RIDGE
Retails at: $47
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“Quite flavorful and nicely structured, this well-concentrated wine grown at 2,300 feet in elevation is worth keeping to enjoy how it develops over time. Engaging raspberry, red cherry and redwood aromas are followed by mouthfilling, ripe black fruit flavors on a full body braced by moderate, fine-grained tannins. Best from 2026.”
95 Points “Cellar Selection”
2019 Domaine De L'Arnesque Chateauneuf du Pape

2019 Domaine De L’Arnesque Chateauneuf du Pape

with No Comment $40-$50Cotes du RhoneFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

DOMAINE DE L’ARNESQUE

CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
VINTAGE 2019

2019 Domaine De L'Arnesque Chateauneuf du Pape
L’Arnesque is one of several small vineyard areas within the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, named after its site-specific terroir and unique soils. Domaine de L’Arnesque shares this name and is owned and cared for by the 5th generation of the Biscarrat family. The vineyard’s soils are made up of limestone and clay and covered with large stones known as “galets” that absorb the warmth from the sunlight and transmit that heat to the vines during cool, breezy nights.
 
Domaine de L’Arnesque’s winemaking team utilizes a partial whole cluster fermentation, increasing this wine’s aromatics, structure, and complexity. The 2019 vintage is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, aged 12 months in 600-liter French oak barrels typical of the Rhône Valley, giving a wine with regional purity, pride and balance.
 
DOMAINE DE L’ARNESQUE
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
VINTAGE 2019
 
Your Price: $45

 

“Ripe and alluring, with a seductive display of warmed cassis and plum sauce flavors laced with melted red licorice and fruitcake notes. Fine grained through the finish, where light applewood, shiso and garriguenotes keep this honest. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2023 through 2036. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 500 cases imported.”
93 Points
2020 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2020 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma Coast

FLOWERS

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2020

2020 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Flowers Winery founders were among the first to see the potential in the rough and rugged Sonoma Coast, planting their first vineyard in the area over 30 years ago. Their organic and biodynamic approach to farming is part of their continued commitment to respect the environment and cultivate healthier vines for higher quality wines, which you can taste in all of the wines they produce.
 
The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir features a selection of small, family-owned vineyards, including the Sea View Ridge estate bringing forth an ultimate expression of cool-climate, coastal fruit. The 2020 vintage experienced lower than average rainfall that stressed the vines and reduced yields resulting in super-concentrated fruit that reflects the continued pursuit of quality that Flowers delivers with each new vintage.
 
FLOWERS
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2020
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“The 2020 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir begins with inviting aromas of rose petals, violets, red currants, freshly sliced strawberries, black tea, forest floor, and wet stones. The wine is lively on the palate with a natural acidity that balances and complements flavors of red cherry, cranberry, and Bella mushrooms. This wine is a part of a consistent line of excellent quality wines for an approachable price, portraying an exemplary creation.”
92 Points
2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

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

MaCo

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Expert viticulturist Roberto Corona and wine aficionado Jesus Maciel created a dynamic equilibrium when they founded MaCo Vineyards in 2009. They’ve since developed a standard of excellence for Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District. The vineyards are located on the western side of Silverado Trail near Soda Canyon Road, facing east, receiving copious amounts of California sunshine before being cooled nightly by the region’s breezes from the San Pablo Bay, helping maintain a bright acidity.
 
The second generation of MaCo Vineyards, Alvaro Camacho, pulled up to our tasting in his farm truck to present his family’s wines to our tasting panel, making it evident that he was serious about the MaCo Vineyards legacy. 2018 in Napa was a vintage for the record books, and MaCo’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon impressed us as soon as the bottle was opened, signaling a promising future for years to come.
 
MaCo
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $100
 
 
 
“The 2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon opens with notes of lavender, blueberry, blackberry jam, black currants, wet stones, cloves, and earth. On the palate, flavors of black raspberry, marionberry pie, and cocoa are concentrated and balanced by fresh acidity. This wine’s fine-grained tannic structure and intensity promise longevity and the ability to evolve in the cellar if you have the patience to do so.
94-95 Points
2006 Pella Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard Rutherford Napa Valley

2006 Pella Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard Rutherford Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

PELLA 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STAR VINEYARD RUTHERFORD
NAPA VALLEY 2006

2006 Pella Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard Rutherford Napa Valley
Kristof Nils Anderson is the founding winemaker of Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville and Scribe in Sonoma and is famous for the way he makes tannins “dance” on the palate in his terroir distinctive wines. His wines are known to have extended aging potential and the ability to evolve into magic in the glass, and Pella, a personal label named after his daughter, is the epitome of this signature style.
 
The fruit for this bold 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the exemplary Star Vineyard in Rutherford, farmed by none other than renowned viticulturist David Abreu. The wine was aged for two years in fine-grained Tonnellerie Demptos Barrique Reserve French oak barrels before its long journey in the bottle leading to this magic.
 
On a side note, we are lucky to have Joel Aiken, an expert in Rutherford terroir, on our tasting panel. Joel spent 27 years as BV’s winemaker, and he agrees this wine is precisely what a supremely well-made Rutherford Cabernet should be.
 
PELLA 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STAR VINEYARD RUTHERFORD
NAPA VALLEY 2006
Retails at: $100
 
 
 
“I don’t get overly excited about many wines, particularly if they have any extended age. Age, for the sake of age, is not my thing. Extended cellaring that transforms a bottle of wine into something otherworldly, now you have my attention. The 2006 Pella Star Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, yes 2006, no typo here, is drinking otherworldly now. Still inky in the glass, it begins with a powerful nose of briary black currants, freshly ground espresso beans, milk chocolate, and sweet vanilla spice. The palate is rich and decadent with deep black fruits, concentrated Creme de Cassis, delicate florals, and an unbelievably supple mouthfeel. The finish is very long, linear, expansive, and as compelling as you might hope to experience. Perfection is difficult to achieve and even harder for me to acknowledge, but this wine is about as close as I have seen. Simply brilliant!” I tasted two bottles over several days, and my notes are consistent. Wow!
98 Points