2018 Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

2018 Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

COURTNEY BENHAM

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 RUTHERFORD 

2018 Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
Courtney Benham wines give tribute to Courtney’s love of terroir and journey through some of Napa Valley’s most distinctive appellations, offering a vivid portrayal of their unique origins. Rutherford is one of the most celebrated terroirs in Napa Valley due to its dynamic complexity, powerful elegance, and dusty tannins. Courtney’s version spotlights each of those hallmark characteristics, as well as the incredible vintage, and at less than $50, it’s one of the best values in the region.
 
Rutherford plays an integral part of Courtney’s terroir expression series, with ideal temperatures coupled with gravel and loam soils and volcanic deposits. These elements produce dense Cabernet Sauvignon fruit heightened with a quintessential earthiness that’s unique to the region. 
 
Winemaker Courtney Benham has three decades of experience, and his talent for selecting vineyards of distinction is highly evident in this wine. The 2018 vintage showcases power and restraint, with concentrated fruit, earthy minerals, and a singular focus.  
 
COURTNEY BENHAM
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 RUTHERFORD
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $46
 
 
“The blue fruit, fresh flowers, sandalwood and dust are so beautiful in this. Full body, firm and polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Really linear and tight. Persistent finish…”
94 Points
2015 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2015 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

TOGETHER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Together Cabernet Sauvignon harnesses Mountain fruit’s power through gentle winemaking, barrel age, and time in the bottle and delivers it with supreme elegance, refinement, and balance. The wine is crafted by Grant Long Jr, whom you might know from Witchery, Aonair, James Joseph, and Steps. Grant produced the 2015 vintage in the deeply enchanting style that we’d expect from his wine, and at $80, it’s worth every penny. Of course, at our price, very few wines can even complete.
 
Grant flawlessly merged hillside Cabernet Sauvignon fruit sourced from the surrounding mountains of Napa Valley, then enhanced it with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, which are vital in balancing the distinct Mountain terroirs. 
 
This remarkable 2015 was cave-aged for around 20 months in premium oak barrels, and after blossoming in the bottle for more than three years, the flavors have come together spectacularly. There are very few cases of this boutique Cabernet produced, and priced at 1/2 of the winery retail, you simply can’t order too much of this.
 
TOGETHER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $80
 
 
 
“Following the spectacular 2014 vintage, the Together Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is even more enticing. It begins with a concentrated nose of muddled blackberries, cassis, black plums, fresh lavender, and vanilla spice. The brooding palate has impressive balance with the wine’s deep, dark bass notes in perfect harmony with the brighter red fruit character. The rich, supple texture caresses your taste buds into a blissful, satiated state. It then finishes very long, with a complexity that teases your palate in such a beautiful way, and leaving you absolutely needing that next sip. Then the next. Then the next…” 
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
2017 Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

2017 Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Anderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

GOLDENEYE

2017 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY

2017 Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
The Duckhorn Group crafts Goldeneye Pinot Noir in a lavishly rich style, yet it presents elegance and charm. Their Anderson Valley Pinot hatched from predominantly Estate vineyards, defined by wind, fog, and a considerable diurnal temperature variation. If you’re searching for a classic Anderson Valley Pinot that’s deep, rich, and is not only enjoyable upon release but has the ability to age, this one is for you. 
 
Dan Duckhorn recognized the potential for world-class Pinot Noir in California’s Anderson Valley AVA in the late 1990’s, and he seized the opportunity to create a Pinot Noir that would stand on its own as one of California’s finest. The winery now produces a handful of Pinots under the Goldeneye label, and with the top-level wines ranging from $80-$125, their Anderson Valley Pinot is a steal at under $50. 
 
Goldeneye winemaker Katey Larwood intertwines fruit from warm and cool portions of the Valley, creating tension from the contrast of styles and flavors, giving this Pinot a classic portrayal of the region. Nesting for 16 months in oak, the 2017 release is a richly textured wine with velvety red and black fruits, wildflowers, and holiday spices.
 
GOLDENEYE
2017 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at: $58
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Starting with the 2017 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, which comes from multiple sites in the Anderson Valley and spent 16 months in 60% new French oak, it has a juicy berry-fruited nose as well as ample violets, candied orange peel, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. It’s one of the more approachable wines in the lineup yet still has classic Anderson Valley structure and minerality, medium body, and a great finish.”
90 Points
 
“Capturing the rustic elegance of the Anderson Valley, this wine begins with lively aromas of fresh-picked wild strawberry, dusty earth and sweet tobacco leaf. The dynamic strawberry aromas are echoed on the palate, where they are supported by supple tannins and a bright underlying acidity that adds energy and zest to a long, nuanced finish.”
2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands

2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

BLACK KITE

2017 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
Black Kite Cellars produces highly-textured, expressive Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from exceptional coastal vineyards. For them, wine is a journey that combines high aspirations with a long term commitment, patience, and fortitude. Their journey began in 2003 with the inaugural vintage and led them to Jeff Gaffner, who became their winemaker in 2005. In 2010, it steered them to the Soberanes Vineyard, now producing this extraordinary Pinot Noir. 
 
The wine team forged this remarkable wine from three rows of vines out of the Soberanes Vineyard, planted to the Pisoni Clone. The vineyard is synonymous with excellence and is the latest site developed by the Pisoni’s & Franscioni’s, whose families have been farming the area for over 100 years. 
 
Winemaker Jeff Gaffner gained fame helping make the renowned 1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages, which became the Wine Spectator’s #1 wine of the year. Jeff fermented this Pinot with Burgundian yeast and performed punch-downs three times daily, contributing to the remarkable textures and flavor extraction of this very special Pinot.
 
BLACK KITE
2017 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
 
Your Price: $45
 
“Dark aromas of roasted plum, loamy earth, crushed rocks and a hint of shiitake mushroom show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is loaded with earthy flavors of rock and mushroom, set against a backdrop of boysenberry and wild herbs.”
92 Points
 
“Shimmering magenta. Deep-pitched red and blue fruit aromas pick up hints of vanilla and exotic spices with air. Fleshy and subtly chewy on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become livelier through the midpalate. Closes long and spicy, with a repeating vanilla note and steadily building tannins…”
92 Points
 
“Our 2017 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir is a deeply expressive wine that opens with beguiling bottle brush and sweet tea aromas that give way to a complex core of black fruit, cassis and clove. The rich, round mouthfeel is met with just enough tannic traction to sustain the compelling fruit intensity throughout the long finish. Enjoy upon release or cellar for up to 4-6 years.”
199 Cases Produced
2016 Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak

2016 Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak

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

CORNERSTONE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 ATLAS PEAK

2016 Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak
Cornerstone Cellars is a foundational producer, and when wedged into the under-fifty category for Napa Cabernet, they are tough to beat. Their brand’s fundamental attribute is cemented in top-level winemaking and access to some of the most expressive vineyards in Napa Valley. Their 2016 Atlas Peak Cabernet arose from Dr. Jan Krupp’s iconic Stagecoach Vineyard, revered for well-drained soils producing powerful berries laced with volcanic subtleties. At less than half the price of the winery retail, don’t hesitate to secure a case.
 
This stunning wine was composed by Kari Auringer, who worked under Celia Welch at Cornerstone and contributed to the fame of some of the Napa Valley’s most luminous names, including Scarecrow, Keever, Kelly Fleming, and Corra, to name a few. 
 
This wine makes its splash from one of Napa Valley’s most outstanding vintages, and one that the Wine Spectator ranks as the highest-rated vintage since 1997. The 2016 release brings superior concentration, scrumptious dark fruits, and absolutely killer focus. 
 
CORNERSTONE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 ATLAS PEAK
Retails at: $95
 
 
“The Cornerstone Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 begins with a beautifully elegant nose including lavender & violets, wild sage, mountain blackberries, black raspberry, pencil lead, bright red currants, and Autumn Spices. It is clean and vibrant on the palate, with a beautiful combination of black cherries, red plums, and assorted black berries, along with a pristine freshness, seamless complexity, and linear focus. It concludes with a long, powerful finish, including lively fruit tannins, fresh tobacco leaf, earthy minerals, and vanilla spice. Drink now through 2032.”
95 Points
 
“The first swirl of this provocative hillside Cabernet releases classic mountain grown fruit characteristics of intense ripe berries and black licorice. Bold and expressive, the core is bursting with primarily black ripe fruit with a bit of red berry notes. The complex mid-palate is satisfying and seductive, offering spice and sweet vanilla flavors with integrated tannins that linger on the finish. The layers of flavors continue to unfold as this tasty gem opens up. Always evolving, this wine immediately begs another taste.”
2018 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

2018 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50CalistogaCoombsvilleHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

STEPS

RESERVE BARREL SELECT
2018 PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red
Each year STEPS is re-birthed as it’s formed from declassified grapes out of some of Napa Valley’s most coveted vineyards and meticulously blended by winemaker Grant Long, Jr, whom you might know from Aonair, Witchery, and James Joseph. Grant makes the blend with an unwavering goal of producing a showy, hedonistic red that’s guided by the vintage and the varietals that performed best. The 2018 release perfectly reflects the vintages knockout power and underlined elegance, and at $50, the value is nearly inconceivable.
 
Steps 2018 Barrel Select draws on the concentrated flavors of Howell Mountain fruit and brings into play the elegance of Coombsville and the minerality of Calistoga grapes. Each lot was fermented separately and barrel-aged for 23 months before the blend was assembled and guided into bottles. 
 
The final blend is nearly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The 2018 vintage is richly layered and ladened with ripe blackberries, assorted chocolates, minerals, and red flowers on the palate. With just four barrels produced, don’t hesitate to secure this release. 
 
STEPS
RESERVE BARREL SELECT
2018 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
“The 2018 Steps Barrel Select begins with an intense, ripe nose of black red currants, graphite, fresh mushrooms and sweet vanilla. The palate is powerful and penetrating with crushed mountain blackberries, lush black fruits, espresso roast and refined minerals. It finishes with satiny tannins, and a long, balanced, supple mouthfeel. Drink now until 2030.” 
94 Points
2018 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch

2018 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

2018 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH

2018 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch
Gus Gamba specializes in ancient vines and can act as a human conduit for those vines to tell their best story in every vintage. In 2018, the tale flowed seamlessly, and Gus noted that this harvest was one of the smoothest he had ever experienced. The century-old vines of Starr Road Ranch produced intensely flavored berries with a powerful focus and brilliant detail. With solid reviews from Robert Parker and Jeb Dunnuck, now is the time to secure yours.
 
The Starr Road Ranch Zin comes from an organically farmed vineyard planted in 1920, where the ancient 95 year old vines rely on winter rains as their sole source of irrigation. They yield just 1.5 tons per acre of strikingly intense, concentrated, pristinely focused fruit.
 
Gus and his winemaking team double hand-sort the berries, with only the best making their way into fermentors. Next, the 2018 release spent an impressive 18 months aging in primarily American oak barrels, contributing to the spice characteristics. 
 
 
GAMBA
2018 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH
Retails at: $52
 
Your Price: $45
 
“The 2018 Zinfandel Old Vine Starr Road Ranch has restrained aromas of cranberry sauce, apricots and sweet berry fruits with accents of aniseed and bitter citrus peel. Medium to full-bodied, it floods the mouth with dense fruits set in a chewy frame and finishing slightly warm.”
91 Points
 
“Spice box, cedarwood, brambly herbs, and red and black plum notes all emerge from the 2018 Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch. Medium-bodied, with a core of sweet fruit as well as a focused style on the palate, it’s a pleasure-bent Zinfandel to drink in its youth.”
89 Points
 
“The 2018 Gamba Starr Road Old Vine Zinfandel exhibits a brilliant and beautiful, deep scarlet color. The aroma offers dark berries, blackberry compote, brown spices and a compelling hint of creamy oak. The wine is medium to full in body, with a mouth-watering, and full throttle fruit profile. Balanced, yet rich with dark black fruits, cinnamon stick, freshly baked butter pie crust with a note of cocoa and spice that fill the palate. The wine is woven with a lifting acidity that propels the wine giving it a pleasant buoyancy and freshness on the palate. The texture is polished, with soft leathery tannins. This is a classic Old Vine Zinfandel that will deserve a special place in your cellar. The finish is youthful, and intense, and enjoyable now, but will continue to get better with time in the cellar.”
2018 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn's Reserve

2018 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn’s Reserve

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

JAMES JOSEPH 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 KATHRYN’S RESERVE 

2018 James Joseph Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn's Reserve
James Joseph has built a reputation for crafting age-worthy Cabernets that are powerfully elegant and profoundly hedonistic for the last eighteen vintages. Without constraint, the wine adapts to each vintage, bringing in new fruit sources or dropping old ones to craft the most extraordinary wine possible. The 2018 vintage is the deepest, most decadent, and hedonistic version yet, and with a total production of just 4 barrels, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
In this 2018 release, James Joseph combined the power of Diamond Mountain with the concentrated fruit of Atlas Peak and then intertwined the elegance of Rutherford. After nearly two years in French oak, the 2018 vintage offers a spectacular display of deep black fruits, dark chocolates, graphite, and liquid violets. 
 
Grant Long Jr., winemaker at Witchery, Steps, and Aonair, authored this masterpiece. Grant’s wines have a cult following for their incredibly compelling, magnetic style that draws you in and keeps you coming back for more. 
 
JAMES JOSEPH 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 KATHRYN’S RESERVE
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
“The 2018 James Joseph Kathryn’s Reserve begins with a nose combining deep, rich aromas of Autumn spiced blackberry cobbler, dried tobacco leaves, fresh mint, and sweet vanilla. The palate is intensely focused, with tantalizing layers of lush, concentrated black currants, crème de cassis, blueberry purée, and espresso roast, all in perfect balance. The ripe fruit tannins are silky smooth, so this wine begs you to drink it now, or over the next 10 years. This release is quite possibly the best James Joseph Kathryn’s ever made.”
96 Points
2019 Prisoner Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2019 Prisoner Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

PRISONER

PROPRIETARY RED
2019 NAPA VALLEY

2019 Prisoner Proprietary Red Napa Valley
The Prisoner wine was inspired by “Mixed Blacks,” which are field blends that were common in California more than 100 years ago. These interplanted vineyards were predominantly Zinfandel vines intermixed with varieties like Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Alicante Bouchet. With the right ‘mix’ of grape varieties, these vineyards can produce intensely flavored wines with profound character and charm. The Prisoner comes from multiple sites, so it’s not technically a Mixed Blacks wine; however, the style, varietal mix, and flavors share similarities.
 
Created from a compilation of strategically selected sites throughout Napa Valley, including Korte Ranch in St. Helena and Tiedemann Ranch in Yountville, The Prisoner exists because of the relationships and collaboration from each of their growers. 
 
The 2019 release served time in French and American barrels and was built around a core of Zinfandel, enhanced with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Charbono. This latest release condemns your taste buds to a sentence filled with provocative red, blue and black fruits, sweet tannins, and elaborate flavors, and even the toughest restraints couldn’t contain the fun and excitement this wine exudes.
 
PRISONER
PROPRIETARY RED
2019 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $48
 
“Features enticing aromas of Bing cherry, dark chocolate, clove, and roasted fig. Persistent flavors of ripe raspberry, boysenberry, pomegranate, and vanilla linger harmoniously, for a smooth and luscious finish.”
2015 Solaria Patrizia Cencioni Brunello Di Montalcino Estate

2015 Solaria Patrizia Cencioni Brunello Di Montalcino Estate

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin Vogt

SOLARIA PATRIZIA CENCIONI

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2015 ESTATE

2015 Solaria Patrizia Cencioni Brunello Di Montalcino Estate
Winemaker Patrizia Cencioni knows the great wines of Montalcino are born in the vineyard and developed in the cellar. Her vines are strategically located on a high plateau, and in 2015, mother nature delivered a textbook growing season, which James Suckling alerted readers, “nobody should miss.” The vintage brought remarkable power, dynamic complexity, and a purity of fruit that’s spectacular, and Patrizia’s 2015 showcases all of it. 
 
Patrizia Cencioni inherited the estate at age 20 when her father passed away, and she’s made vast improvements to the quality of wines produced there. She is meticulous with her grape selection, and it’s evident in the purity of her fruit. 
 
Solaria’s Vineyards were planted in 1989 at 300 meters above sea level on a natural plateau composed of coarse tuff and clay soils, contributing to the wine’s incredible depth. Patrizia aged this wine for 30 months in cask, and after a couple of years in the bottle, the flavors are beautifully integrated, long and distinctive.
 
SOLARIA PATRIZIA CENCIONI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2015 ESTATE
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
“Dark bright red. Red cherry, medicinal herbs, chamomile greet the nose. Then rich round and suave, but with mounting youthfully peppery tannins and spicy, savory and red fruit flavors on the long chewy finish.” 91 Points
 
“…The 2015 vintage is fragrant and approachable, with attractive mint, fennel and black cherry nuances. Seductively textured with generous fruit and ripe, integrated tannins, this offers more vibrancy than Solaria’s ’30 Anni’ Brunello. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028” 91 Points
 
“Intense ruby red with garnet reflections, limpid; Nose: Enveloping with intense fruit, well blended with the oak in which it was aged; Elegant and distinctive, structured and firm with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, delicious and very persistent finish. A full-bodied, opulent wine that shows complexity and finesse.”