2016 EnRoute Les Pommiers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2016 EnRoute Les Pommiers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

EnRoute 

2016 PINOT NOIR
LES POMMIERS
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2016 EnRoute Les Pommiers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
One of my favorite things about Pinot Noir is it’s vast complexity and EnRoute’s Les Pommiers has incredible clonal diversity ranging from Pommard, Mt. Eden, Swan, and Dijon clones to list a few.  It’s created in a lush and enchanting style, fitting of the architecture at EnRoute’s sister winery Far Niente located in Napa Valley.  EnRoute is a story written from extraordinary Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.  The wines generous style and outgoing personality makes it a lot of fun to enjoy… I strongly recommend adding some to your collection. 
 
Their 2016 Les Pommiers Pinot Noir was scribed from the winery’s Northern Spy Vineyard in Green Valley, and their Amber Ridge Vineyard located in the Middle Reach (Northernmost) area of the Russian River Valley.  It’s the two vineyards that cast a wide variety of characters, each with qualities that compliment and support one another.  The final result is a ride that you won’t want to miss… 
 
EnRoute 
2016 PINOT NOIR
LES POMMIERS
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “The 2016 EnRoute Les Pommiers possesses the luxurious perfume aromatics and rich textures that we love about Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. On the nose, aromas of ripe cherry and plum are complemented by notes of earth, sage and forest floor. Generous-yet-soft red-fruit flavors expand on the palate, with elegant tannins that are the definition of silky. A mouthwatering natural acidity glides across the finish, making this vintage irresistibly approachable upon release.“
 
Customers who enjoy EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 
 
 
2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir 2016 Belle Glos Las Altura Pinot Noir
 
LAIRD
2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl 
 
I love it when a wine has flavors are so deep and penetrating, that it might be described as chilling, spine-tingling and scary good.  All three of these descriptors came time mind when I tasted Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir.  It was authored by Brian Mox, who spent several vintages crafting the high-scoring Lewis wines, always ranking among the best in the Valley.
BELLE GLOS
2016 PINOT NOIR 
LAS ALTURAS VYD
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
2013 Behrens The Collector Proprietary Red

2013 Behrens Family The Collector Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

BEHRENS FAMILY 

2013 THE COLLECTOR
PROPRIETARY RED

2013 Behrens The Collector Proprietary Red
Appropriately named The Collector, this latest release from Behrens Family was so ridiculously good that it had everybody at our tasting wanting to stash away as much as we could.  As it opens in the glass, deep and enchanting flavors amass and it becomes abundantly clear that this wine will effortlessly age for another 20-25 years. Of course it will take a true Collector to keep this wine locked away in the cellar, because it’s riveting right now, and having already accrued several years in the bottle, you won’t have to wait.  Assembled under a powerful partnership between Les Behrens and Lisa Drinkward, who’ve made “Behrens & Hitchcock” since 1993, this high-scoring Cabernet blend deserves a spot in the cellar and on the table. 
 
Gathering nearly two years in high quality oak barrels, this beautifully proportioned blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon stockpiled with Petit Sirah, Petit Verdot and Merlot has an incredible core of ripe blackberries, sweet cassis, exotic spices and black chocolate.  If you love boutique Napa Valley reds, you’ll want to add a case of this to your collection…
 
BEHRENS FAMILY 
2013 THE COLLECTOR
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon the Collector, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petite Sirah and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, reminds me of a big, rich Petite Sirah. That explains the 30% of that variety, but it seems to dominate the blend. Beautiful blueberry and black raspberry fruit, extremely extracted and rich, but not rustic by any means, this is a big, dense, pedal-to-the-metal, balls-to-the-wall black/purple red wine to drink over the next 20-25 years.” 94+ Points
 
Customers who enjoy Behrens Family’s The Collector may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…  
2014 Steps Winemakers Reserve Proprietary Blend 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
STEPS 
WINEMAKER’S RESERVE 
2014 PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

Click to Order

 
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.
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro

2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro, Portugal

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPortugalProprietary Red

QUINTA DO VALLADO

2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL 

2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro
If I were to choose just one International wine that I’ve discovered in my career that perfectly represents everything great in a wine, Quinta Do Vallado is it.  And while the texture, flavors and depth are ridiculously irresistible, what I love most about this wine is that it’s incredibly unique and yet it appeals to nearly everyone who tries it. One taste offers a lasting impression of deep red and black fruits, wild complexity and a long and persistent, satiny finish. Portugal’s dry wines are simply making a lot of dedicated, die-hard enthusiasts, and this bottle will push them over th e top.  In fact, on the 2014 Wine Spectator Top 100 list, wines #1, #3 & #4 were all from the Douro region of Portugal, and to me, I’ve tried them all and this one is even better.
 
A fusion of more than 30 grape varietals, Vallado’s 2013 Reserva asserts a crescendo of tightly wound, brilliantly focused fruit, and is more vibrant than a Nadir Afonso painting.  Utilizing fruit from ancient vines more than 100 years old, Quinta do Vallado’s 2015 Reserva has already earned 93 Points from Robert Parker.  Very few cases of the Reserva were imported this year, and having already earned a high score, this one certainly won’t be available for very long. 
 
QUINTA DO VALLADO
2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl
YOU SAVE 15%
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Reserva is a field blend of very old vines (100+ years old), aged for 18 months in an equal blend of new and used barrels. It comes in at 14% alcohol. This was previously seen as a tank sample. Here’s the bottled version in the USA. Reasonably concentrated for the producer’s subregion and the vintage, this actually has fleshed out since I last saw it. Yet it retains that graceful, textured feel, the freshness and the fine fruit. I suspect the wine will show even more elegance as it continues to age… This is going to be a hard-to-resist wine when it hits the table at dinner.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Quinto Do Vallado’s Reserva may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2013 Enzo Bianchi Proprietary Red
 2012 Vik Milla Cala Proprietary Red
ENZO BIANCHI 
2013 PROPRIETARY RED
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Wine Enthusiast: “This Cabernet-Malbec-Petit Verdot blend smells smoky and rich, with lemony oak notes. But in the mouth, it’s tight as a drum, with an unbreakable structure. Dark spice and clove notes accent ripe berry fruit that’s not jammy and which has absorbed its oak well. Its firm, tannic finish will stand guard as it ages for a decade or more…”  93 Points, Editor’s Choice
VIK
2012 MILLA CALA
PROPRIETARY RED
MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Wine Spectator: “Rich and refined, delivering unctuous dark fruit and spice flavors that offer a creamy svelteness. Slate and mineral accents linger on the complex finish, with dark chocolate and olive notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Drink now through 2022…”  94 Points
2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red

2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50$50-$60Chalk HillKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUncategorizedUSA

CHALK HILL

2015 ESTATE RED
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red
Named for it’s unique volcanic soils composed of chalky white ash, the Chalk Hill AVA produces stunning wines, and in my mind, this one reigns supreme.  This wine makes absolutely no excuses at it’s $70 retail price…  A paragon of Northern Sonoma County, and especially when it comes to Bordeaux varietals, this towering, ostentatious effort from Chalk Hill Winery is brimming with super-concentrated dark berries, black chocolates, pipe tobacco, and creme de cassis. The 2015 has superb presence on the palate with great intensity, depth and balance.  Unsurprisingly, it’s already earned 94 Points from Robert Parker.
 
A fusion of nearly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon enhanced with Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot, the wine‘s deep, concentrated core is complex and extracted, carving out layers of vivid dark berries, black tea, sweet vanilla and cigar box.  After evolving for 20 months in oak and kept for over a year in the bottle, this compelling wine is drinking beautifully now and will cellar effortlessly for two decades…
 
CHALK HILL
2015 ESTATE RED
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $70.00/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Estate Red is deep garnet-purple colored and delivers a good amount of oak-inspired notions to begin over a core of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry pie, preserved plums and chocolate box with hints of vanilla pod and cigar box. Big, concentrated and full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with black fruit preserves, framed by ripe, firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a woody note. Forget it for 5-6 years and drink it over the next 20.“ 94 Points 
 
Customers who enjoy Chalk Hill Estate Red may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
When Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

Click to Order

 
2015 Domain Totochot Morey-Saint-Denis Red Burgandy

2015 Domain Tortochot Morey-Saint-Denis Red Burgandy

with No Comment $50-$60BurgandyFranceKevin VogtRed Burgandy

DOMAINE TORTOCHOT

MOREY-SAINT-DENIS
2015 RED BURGUNDY

2015 Domain Totochot Morey-Saint-Denis Red Burgandy
Jacques Devauges of Clos de Tart, says, “To make bad wine in 2015, one must wake up and say to yourself, ‘I will make bad wine’.” 
 
What’s all the buzz about? Vintages like 2015 are as rare as they are extraordinary, and after a mild winter and Spring rains, the vines flowered early allowing the grapes near perfect conditions to develop profound flavors.  At Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, not a single grape was de-stemmed and there was virtually no sorting needed.  The region of Cote du Nuits produced many profound wines, earning an overall vintage rating of 98 Points from the Wine Spectator.  
 
Domaine Tortochot’s 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis Red Burgundy romanced our palates seductive red fruits and sensual charm, opening up to baked raspberries, holiday spices, fresh unsweetened cherry cake and sappy minerality.  Embodying all of the hallmark characteristics that lure me in to Morey-Saint-Denis, Tortochot’s 2015 is round and alive with enthusiastic red fruits, breadth and energy.  With very few cases of this wine available in the US, here’s a chance to own a stunning 2015 Burgundy at a price that will make you smile.
 
DOMAINE TORTOCHOT
MOREY-SAINT-DENIS
2015 RED BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
Tasting Notes: “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis from Domaine Tortochot was matured in toasty French oak and has an elegant, fresh, yet minerally bouquet with wild forest mushrooms and white flower scents swirling through the red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with subtle tannins, supple blackberry and delicate raspberry fruit. It then finishes with a very pretty touch of cola and hints of sweet vanilla during the very satisfying, complex finish.”
 
Customers that enjoy Domaine Tortochot Morey-Saint-Denis,  may also enjoy these two terrific wines..
2013 Moulin De Tricot Margaux
 2014 Domain Francois Gaunoux Pommard Les Tavannes Red Burgandy
MOULIN DE TRICOT
2013 MARGAUX
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
 
Tasting Notes: “With striking aromas of crushed violets, black raspberry, wild rose and plum, Moulin de Tricot’s 2013  Margaux
 is deep, plush and remarkably elegant. Well-integrated and precise flavors of dark red fruits, spices, floral components and minerals all intermingle effortlessly throughout the looonnnng and highly-pleasurable finish…”
DOMAINE FRANCOIS GAUNOUX 
POMMARD LES TAVANNES
2014 RED BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl
 

Winery Notes: “Nose of crushed rocks intertwined with black cherries and stone fruits. Sumptuous, focused, pure, spicy, rich in the mouth, with great energy and depth, leading to flavors of black plum, cinnamon, spice. This is a wine of power and elegance, with amazing texture and structure. Élévage is 25 days of alcoholic fermentation in vats, followed by aging for 18 months then bottled…”


2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Reserve

2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Howell MountainKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

DANCING HARES

2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Reserve2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED

 
In the wine world, if your last name is Beckstoffer you likely have an arsenal of the best vineyard resources available to make a world-class Napa Valley wine.  One taste of the new 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter is all the proof you’ll need.  2016 is the first vintage of this renowned wine that was produced entirely by Tuck and his team after purchasing Dancing Hares in 2016. Tuck Beckstoffer is the son of renowned grape grower Andy Beckstoffer, whose company is one of the largest independent vineyard owners in Northern California. Tuck enlisted the talents of Shawn Johnson, who previously made wine at Merus, to help make the Mad Hatter one of Napa Valley’s foremost second wines, and at about 1/2 the price of the Dancing Hares, Mad Hatter offers an excellent value.  
 
Located at the foot of Howell Mountain, the winery produces two limited-production wines, which include their Dancing Hares Red (retails for around $150/btl,) and the Mad Hatter which retails at $75/btl. The 2016 Mad Hatter is powerful and seductive and is loaded with candied red berries, incense, wild raspberries, espresso roast, and dried violets.  Don’t let this vintage escape down the rabbit hole before you’re able to secure your case. 
 
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 

Click to Order

YOU SAVE 20%
 
Winery Notes: “...expresses aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate and toasted almonds. In the mouth, flavors of blackberry, licorice and plum come forth to enhance a full mouthfeel and silky finish.“
Cabernet Sauvignon 48% | Merlot 40% | Petite Sirah 12%
 
Customers who enjoy Dancing Hares Mad Hatter may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…  
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2014 Steps Winemaker's Reserve Proprietary Blend
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
When Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.  
STEPS 
WINEMAKER’S RESERVE 
2014 PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

Click to Order

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.
2016 DuMOL Mixed 3 Pack

2016 DuMOL Russian River Valley Pinot, Chardonnay & Syrah

with No Comment $50-$60$60-$70ChardonnayKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSyrahUSA

DuMOL 

2016 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
WESTER REACH PINOT & CHARDONNAY
WILD MOUNTAINSIDE SYRAH

2016 DuMOL Mixed 3 Pack

When your brand sets the standard for the types of wine you produce, you have two options…  Keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing, or strive to get even better… In the quest to up their game even more, in 2016 DuMOL honed in on their top vineyard sources, and utilized the best-of-the-best fruit for their previously named Russian River Valley wines.  Coinciding with the move, they also re-named the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Wester Reach and the Syrah Wild Mountainside.  The 2016’s are simply stunning and each wine elegantly expresses the best qualities for each of their origins.
 
Quantities are incredibly limited and orders will be taken until we are sold out of each one. I welcome you to mix and match a case however you would like, or you may order each one individually and in any quantity below… 
 

Click to Order Mixed 15 Pack

2016 DuMOL Wester Reach Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 DuMOL Wild Mountainside Russian River Valley Syrah 2016 DuMOL Wester Reach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
DuMOL 
2016 CHARDONNAY
WESTER REACH
 
Your Price: $56.99/btl
 
The 2016 Wester Reach Chardonnay combines fruit from Ritchie, Lorenzo and DuMOL’s Estate Vineyard… 
 
Winery Notes:
“Orange zest, white flower, sweet sage and hay aromas yield to softer peach and apricot. The palate is full of energy and vigor with clear-cut fruit intensity and savory character. Ripe stone fruits dominate with an underscore of oatmeal and marzipan. Texture builds with a core of old vine extract balanced with vibrant lime and oyster shell freshness. The finish is long, cleansing, and refined. Drink between 2018 and 2022.” 
DuMOL
2016 SYRAH
WILD MOUNTAINSIDE
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

Click to Order

 
The 2016 Wild Mountainside Syrah combines fruit from Timbervine, Greywacke and Hoppe-Kelly Vineyards (source for the Eddie’s Patch Syrah between 2000-2013). 
 

Winery Notes:

“…inky and concentrated. Blackberry, boysenberry and blueberry fruit characters dominate both aromas and palate. There’s vibrant grapefruit zest, floral lilac, wild thyme and roasted meat characters. The fruit is plush and deep, but there’s always a sense of mountain precision and detail. A savory ferrous note adds intrigue to the full-bodied, chewy palate but the wine remains fine and polished throughout. It holds 15 years of aging potential in a cool cellar.”  
DuMOL
2016 PINOT NOIR
WESTER REACH 
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

Click to Order

 
The 2016 Wester Reach Pinot intertwines fruit from Ritchie, Occidental Road, Dutton-Upp Road and Widdoes Vineyards. 
 
 

Winery Notes:

“Complex, layered aromas – red cherry, black pepper, hibiscus and orange peel – are wonderfully bright and fresh while cranberry and pomegranate, wild thyme and underbrush lend fine detail. The broad fruit entry possesses great lift – juicy and vibrant, then immediately deep and layered. The mid-palate is succulent and round with cherry liqueur and rhubarb flavors which extend on fresh acidity through the long, black peppercorn-infused finish. Drink between 2018 and 2026.” 
2015 Three Sticks PFV Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2015 Three Sticks Estate ‘PFV’ Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNorth CoastPinot NoirSonoma CoastUSA

THREE STICKS 2015 Three Sticks PFV Estate Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2015 “PFV” PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST, ESTATE

 
A name that rings synonymous with world-class Pinot Noir is undoubtably Bob Cabral.  Cementing his place in Pinot Noir history while winemaker at Williams Selyem, Bob crafted the 2007 Litton Estate Pinot which Wine Enthusiast awarded a perfect 100 Point Score.  This was the first Pinot Noir in North America to earn 100 point score from any major wine publication.  After nearly two decades at Williams Selyem, Bob is now the winemaker at a new winery, owned by Bill Price, and they’re beginning to make some serious waves in the Pinot Noir world. Bill Price owns some of California’s most iconic vineyards, including Gap’s Crown and Durell Vineyards which are both ingredients in this brilliant Pinot Noir.  
 
Striking, penetrating, focused and surreal immediately come to mind when tasting this 2015 Pinot Noir.  The PFV Estate Pinot comes from a combination of four distinctly different sites including Gap’s Crown, Walala, Dupont and Durrell.  Expertly guided from grape to bottle by one of California’s most accomplished Pinot Noir makers, you won’t want to wait for the scores to come out on the 2015, because it’ll be too late… 
 
THREE STICKS
2015 “PFV” PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST, ESTATE
Retails at:  $64.99/btl
Your Price: $54.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 15%
 
Winery Notes: “This coastal Pinot Noir is a representation of classic cooler climate fruits. The nose bursts from the glass with a fresh blackberry core, and exotic spices of pink peppercorn and cardamom. Consistently bold throughout, this wine has a well balanced structure and prized concentration.”

 

Customers who would enjoy the Three Stick’s PFV Pinot Noir, may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2014 Small Vines Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014 Black Kite Kite's Rest Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
SMALL VINES
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $55/btl
 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast: “This tiny, family-run production shows a tremendous talent at growing grapes and making wines of great substance and sophistication. It aims for a bright, restrained and complex style, which it achieves here with aplomb. Black cherry, mint and a tease of smoky oak accent a fleshy, lengthy texture and body that shines in acidity.” 
 
 93 Points
BLACK KITE
2014 PINOT NOIR
KITE’S REST VINEYARD
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
Your Price: $44.99/btl 
 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast: “Great fruit concentration and grace make this wine a winner. It feels medium-bodied despite its high degree of ripeness, showing that balance is attainable with significant power. It has ripe, plummy aromas, fresh red cherry and cranberry flavors, supportive tannins and excellent acidity.” 
 
 93 Points, Editor’s Choice
Bouquin-Dupont Grand Cru Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Bouquin Dupont Grand Cru Champagne Blanc de Blancs

with No Comment $50-$60ChampagneChampagne/SparklingFranceKevin Vogt

BOUQUIN DUPONT

GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE
BLANC DE BLANCS

Bouquin-Dupont Grand Cru Champagne Blanc de Blancs
It’s rare to taste a wine so brilliant, that it makes you want to hang your hat and forget about the rest for a while… Dupont Grand Cru is that wine.  A remarkable expression of grower Champagne, and in the under $150/btl category, in our shop, it’s the best that we’ve ever carried.  The flavors and aromas are wonderfully developed, profound and exhilarating.  Aging for an impressive 4 to 10 years sur lie, many of the world’s top Grand Cru Champagnes age for a similar length of time on the lees, resulting in a rich, yet focused and linear with an intensity that I love… This one will simply compete with ANY prestige Champagne you can think of.  Period.
 
Grand Cru Champagne is very rare as only 17 of the 319 villages in Champagne produce Grand Cru quality grapes. This wine originates from Dupont’s Grand Cru Vineyard in the heart of Côte des Blancs. Comprised of 100% Chardonnay grapes that were sorted by hand, and pressed traditionally to collect the noblest juice.  With just a minuscule amount imported into the US, we don’t expect this beauty to be available for long…      
 
BOUQUIN DUPONT
GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE
BLANC DE BLANCS
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Indescribably brilliant with a freshness and vibrancy that need to be experienced to be believed , this otherworldly Champagne cascades wave after wave of candied citrus, quince, yellow plum and green pear fruit with elements of wet stone/saline-like minerality, toast, white flowers and a hint of ginger. On your palate, it takes over and puts your swallow reflex into overdrive, then the expansive finish grows for a minute plus, leaving you begging for another sip.  It’s simply my new favorite Champagne. ”   97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
Customers that enjoy Bouquin DuPont’s Grand Cru Champagne may also enjoy these two fantastic Champagnes…
RH Coutier Grand Cru Champagne NV 2006 Dom Perignon Brut Champagne
RH COUTIER
GRAND CRU CHAMPAGNE
CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
 
An absolutely stunning Grand Cru Champagne, Grand Cru is very rare in Champagne, as only 17 of the 319 villages there produce Grand Cru quality grapes.  Reaping the rewards from aging for an impressive 4 to 6 years sur lie, many of the world’s top Grand Cru Champagnes age for a similar length of time on the lees, resulting in a rich, yeasty style that’s rarely available at this very realistic price. 
DOM PERIGNON 
BRUT CHAMPAGNE
2006 VINTAGE
Retails at: $200.00/btl
 
Your Price: $179.99/btl
 
From Vinous: “… the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004… The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Perignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.”  97 Points
2014 Amapola Creek Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Amapola Creek Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

AMAPOLA CREEK

2014 Amapola Creek Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, SONOMA VALLEY 

 
If rich, deep and extracted Cabernet Sauvignon doesn’t pique your interest,  add to it a 93-95 Point Score from Robert Parker and a legendary winemaker like Dick Arrowood, this wine should be edging towards the top of the list. Stunningly long and complex, this wine simply pops on your palate with an explosion of lingering flavors.  The grapes were sourced from the Amapola Creek Estate Vineyard which borders the iconic Monte Rosso Vineyard, made famous by Ridge in the 1960’s…  It was expertly authored by renowned winemaker Dick Arrowood who rocketed to fame crafting some of Sonoma’s most notable wines, including Chateau St. Jean from 1974 through 1990.
 
Created from a collection of various vineyard blocks, diversity is what truly sets this wine apart. After resting for 24 months in French oak barrels, this wine is made in an approachable style that will immediately bring a smile to your face, but also promises to age gracefully for the next 10-15 years.  This 95 point Cabernet will take you to that happy place, so you’ll want to order this wine by the case… 
 
AMAPOLA CREEK
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, SONOMA VALLEY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “…Containing 7% Petit Verdot, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and youthfully reticent nose, offering glimpses at blackberry and black plum notes over pencil shavings, garrigue, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. Full-bodied and packed with black fruits and earthy flavors, it is built like a brick house with a solid frame of firm, ripe tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long.”   93-95 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Amapola Creek’s Estate Cabernet may also enjoy these two outstanding Cabs…
2013 Laird Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
LAIRD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
Your Price: $52.99/btl
 
Laird’s 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is built from almost equal parts Mast Ranch and Flat Rock vineyards.  The winery produces single vineyard Cabernets from both of these sites which retail for $80 to $90 per bottle…  It’s a brand that I love, and in fact we featured their 2012 vintage as one of our top 5 wines of the year in 2017.
GRASSI
2014 SHINER SERIES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $50/btl
Your Price: $45/btl 
Grassi’s 6 barrel production of their 2014 Shiner Series  Cabernet is incredibly fabulous and lucky for consumers, it also comes in at around $30/btl below their Estate Cabernet… It’s brought to life by Robbie Meyer, whose experience includes 5 vintages at the iconic Peter Michael Winery, as well as time at Lewis Cellars, Jericho Canyon and Del Dotto to list a few…