Since its debut in the early 1990’s, Robert Craig’s Affinity gained the attention of many of the world’s top wine critics, sommeliers and collectors. In the September 2001 Issue of Decanter titled “Cult Cabernets the Next Generation” Affinity was predicted to potentially emerge as one of Napa Valley’s next cult Cabernets. More than two decades since its inception, the new 2015 is stunningly compelling and crafted in a deep, supple style that glides across your palate with attractive blueberry and penetrating blackberry, interwoven with creme de cassis, graphite, dried violets and milk chocolate. At under $100/btl this is an easy “go-to” for a top-quality Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Carved from the La Londe Vineyard nestled in the Mt. George Foothills of Coombsville, the 30 year old vines bear fruit of remarkable qualities. Ascending from 18 months in French oak and more than a year in the bottle, this wine caresses your palate in supple tannins and inherent purity, perfectly complimented by its muscular extraction and regal authority. I strongly recommend a case of this iconic Napa Valley wine for your cellar.
ROBERT CRAIG
2015 AFFINITY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $70.00/btl
Your Price: $64.99/btl
From James Suckling: “Very pretty stones, oyster shell, blueberries and underbrush character. The palate is very composed with lots of bright, tangy fruit, grainy tannins and a minerally yet at the same time fruit-driven finish. A unique wine. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot. Drink in 2020 even if delicious now.“ 94 Points
Customers who enjoy Robert Craig’s Affinity Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabernets…
2015 Montes Purple Angel Carménère Apalta Vineyard, Chile
MONTES
PURPLE ANGEL
2015 CARMÉNÈRE
APALTA VINEYARD, CHILE
I love the thrill of tasting a 99 point wine that induces a profound feeling of “where have you been all my life?” I recently had that feeling in a bottle of Purple Angel Carménère from Chile. Carménère is Bordeaux’s 6th red varietal which originates from the Medoc region of Bordeaux, where it has been known for producing deep, powerful red wines. It’s thought to be a member of the Cabernet Sauvignon family and now rarely found in France, but Carménère found its place in Chile where it reigns king. Interestingly, Chilean growers inadvertently preserved the grape during the last 150 years, mistaking it for Merlot. Carménère at its best, produces wines that are as vivid as they are deep, with penetrating, focused flavors that unwind methodically across your palate and exhibit tremendous power and structure.
From the moment Carménère was first found in the Medoc, it has been complimented with a touch of Petit Verdot. Petit Verdot softens the edges and bridles the intense power and depth with a velvety, voluptuous embrace. Montes recognized that and added 8% Petit Verdot to their 2015 Purple Angel and after silently developing for 18 months in barrel, the 2015 is stunningly brilliant. We offered a small amount of this wine back in July and we’ve been turning down re-orders since then… Don’t miss this second chance to secure yours.
MONTES
PURPLE ANGEL
2015 CARMENERE
APALTA VINEYARD, CHILE
Retails at: $90.00/btl
Your Price: $64.99/btl
YOU SAVE 27%
From James Suckling: “This is perhaps the greatest Purple Angel ever. Full body, tight and compressed with an amazing texture and density. Fantastic fine tannins that are silky and polished. I love the energy and intensity. A blend of 92% carmenere and 8% petit verdot. One for the cellar but I can’t wait to drink it again.” 99 Points
2016 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red
ORIN SWIFT
2016 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED
The wine equivalent of a marathon runner, Orin Swift’s Papillon moves across the palate with stamina and escalating energy, building definition with each new stride. With all five Bordeaux varietals entering the race, the 2016 pushed through 15 months of oak barrels, and offers a burst of sweet mulberries followed by an adrenalin rush of hedonistic delights that will leave you racing to track down another case. Built from some of Napa Valley’s most iconic vineyard sources, including fruit from Atlas Peak and St. Helena AVAs, it’s no surprise that the previous three consecutive vintages have earned stellar 94 to 95 Point scores from Robert Parker… Don’t get lapped and miss out on your case of 2016.
Carved from carefully chosen vineyards spread throughout various prestigious growing regions in Napa Valley, the 2016 offers up intense aromas beginning with dark cherries and plum and then moving to black chocolates, dried violets, and graphite that leap from the glass. If you love deep, rich, full-bodied blends, this one is an absolute delight…
ORIN SWIFT
2016 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $69.99/btl
Winery Notes: “An inky, dark garnet sits in the glass with bursting aromatics even from afar-ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with hints of Kirsch, Madagascar vanilla and cigar box. Velvety and rich on entry and through the mid, the wine offers flavors of dark plum, blueberry and notes of fennel, fresh leather and a subtle minerality. Plush, layered and dense, the wine finishes with dusty tannins and a lingering touch of black cherry.”
Customers that enjoy Orin Swift Papillon may also enjoy these two fantastic Reds…
2016 Chavy-Chouet Les Narvaux Vineyard Meursault
CHAVY-CHOUET
2016 MEURSAULT
LES NARVAUX VINEYARD
What makes the village of Meursault and the wines produced there so special? You might argue it’s the location in the heart of the Côte de Beaune between Volnay and Puligny-Montrachet. Others would opine that Meursault is one of the oldest and most celebrated places in the world producing Chardonnay. For me, it’s the hallmark characteristics of Meursault that I find profound… Classic Meursault should have deep complexity, citrus fruits and fresh floral notes coupled with rich, nutty flavors of toasted almonds and roasted hazelnut, subtle stone and liquid mineral qualities. Chavy-Chouet’s single vineyard Meursault Les Narvaux has everything that I look for in a great bottle of Meursault and at under $100/btl you’ll think you are dreaming the moment you taste it.
Even the most devout Burgundy aficionado probably hasn’t heard of Chavy-Chouet’s Meursault Les Narvaux and with a mere 50 cases imported into the US, I’m not at all surprised. The wine comes from a hillside parcel, perched right above Premier Cru vineyards Poruzots and Genévrières, where the soft, chalky, clay soils are shallow and gravelly, with bare rocks and marl that produce exceptional fruit. With the price of Meursault often reaching hundreds of dollars per bottle, this is the perfect introduction to superior quality white Burgundy at a relative value.
CHAVY-CHOUET
2016 MEURSAULT
LES NARVAUX VINEYARD
Your Price: $69.99/btl
Winery Notes: “Nose of honeysuckle, white fruits, and crushed rocks. Rich, creamy, clean and pure in the mouth, with flavors of tangerine, white peach, melon and honey. Incredibly vibrant, fresh and delicious. Only 50 cases imported.”
Customers that enjoy Chavy-Chouet Meursault may also enjoy these two terrific White Burgundies…
2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
If you could only drink only one Brunello di Montalcino, what would it be? Robert Parker wrote “it would have to be Pertimali.” The only problem is they’re a microscopic Italian producer owning only 7 hectares (about 17 acres), and they’re highly-desired… That desire turns into more of a frenzy when Pertimali scores 98 Points like it has this vintage, and we don’t expect our allocation to last. Seldom do I taste a wine that’s so incredibly enthralling that it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up… This one did and Antonio Galloni wrote that Livio Sassetti is “One of Italy’s finest,” and they’ve been making hits since 1982… With the near perfect score this vintage, my only guarantee is that once you taste it, you will wish you bought more…
Absolutely hands-on in every way possible, each individual wine is hand-tended by Livio and his two sons. With attention to every detail, their Brunello has become a Sommelier favorite, gracing the Grand Award winning wine lists of Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and many others as well… Because of the minuscule production, there’s simply never enough of this wine to satisfy demand. I strongly recommend securing your case, before this one runs out…
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at: $80.00/btl
Your Price: $69.99/btl
YOU SAVE 12%
From James Suckling: “This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty. Better after 2021 but already a joy to taste.” 98 Points
Customers who enjoy Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2015 Il Borro ‘Toscana’ Tuscany, Italy
IL BORRO
2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY
Moving another step closer to their goal of producing the best Bordeaux styled blend outside of Bordeaux, and with a monster 97 Point score, Salvatore Ferragamo’s Il Borro from their family estate in Tuscany simply blew me away. Many of the same attributes that led the Ferragamo’s to become one of the top luxury brands in the world, are also key in creating a wine brand at the highest level. Like their clothing line, their wine is powerfully bold, yet gorgeously elegant and remarkably detailed. With no expense spared, the family purchased 700 hectares in Tuscany which included the hilltop town of Il Borro (depicted on the label,) which they named this flagship wine after. While you may not want to plunk down the steep tariff for a pair of their shoes, you can board the Ferragamo train and enjoy some of their stunning wine…
The 2015 laces together 50% Merlot, dressed with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and is then precisely detailed with other varietals. After meticulously hand sorting each grape, the wine is sent gravity flow into the tank where 10-20% of the juice is removed to increase concentration… James Suckling calls the 2015 the best Il Borro to date and at under $100/btl this is absolutely one of the best Tuscan wines that I’ve tasted.
IL BORRO
2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY
Your Price: $64.99/btl
From James Suckling: “This is the best Il Borro to date with fantastic blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a full body with masses of fruit. Yet, it remains bright and linear down the center palate. A rich and toned wine. 50 per cent merlot, 35 per cent cabernet and 15 per cent syrah…” 97 Points
Customers who enjoy Il Borro Toscana may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
ALDO CONTERNO
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at: $90.00/btl
Your Price: $69.99/btl
From James Suckling: “...Shows a beautiful complexity of ripe fruit such as cherries as well as orange peel undertones with lemon and pineapple highlights. Medium body and well-defined tannins.” 96 Points
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LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at: $80.00/btl
Your Price: $69.99/btl
From James Suckling: “This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty…” 98 Points
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2015 Domain Bouard-Bonnefoy Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru, Les Petits Clos
DOMAINE BOUARD-BONNEFOY
2015 CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET
PREMIER CRU, LES PETITS CLOS
Did you know that all white Burgundies are 100% Chardonnay and that many people believe that the greatest Chardonnay vineyards in the world surround the Montrachet Vineyard in Burgundy? One of the best white wine growing villages is named Chassagne-Montrachet and includes the Montrachet Vineyard. Within that village is a Preimere Cru vineyard named Morgeot, that includes an even smaller parcel called Les Petit Clos, which sits at around 750 elevation and is très magnifique… The hillside vineyards and those at the base of the hills produce some of the best fruit due to better drainage and other factors. The 2015 Domaine Bouard-Bonnefoy Chassagne-Montrachet has laser focus, breathtaking detail and dazzles your taste buds with intriguing orchard fruits, hints of cinnamon and rocky minerals. At under $100/btl this wine performs at the absolute highest level for Premier Cru Chassagne-Montrachet.
Made from vines greater than 60 years old, Domaine Bouard-Bonnefoy’s Les Petit Clos is indescribably magnificent. With around 50 cases imported, chances are you might not have heard of it and it’s not easy to find, and with the price of Montrachet costing hundreds to thousands of dollars per bottle, this is the perfect introduction to ultra-high quality white Burgundy at a relative value price.
DOMAINE BOUARD-BONNEFOY
2015 CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET
PREMIER CRU, LES PETITS CLOS
Retails at: $90.00/btl
Your Price: $69.99/btl
You Save 22%
Tasting Notes: “Brimming with elegance combined with a linear style and enough tension and focus to surprise your palate on the first sip. Complex flavors of ripe orchard fruits including red apple, ripe peach and citrus notes, intermingling with liquid mineral and a breath of vanilla and hint of cinnamon further entice you. The finish is long and lingering, just begging you to take another sip. Beautiful!” 95 Points
Customers that enjoy Domaine Bouard-Bonnefoy Chassagne-Montrachet Les Petits Clos may also enjoy these two terrific white wines…
2016 Schrader Double Diamond Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
DOUBLE DIAMOND
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
From the producers of Schrader…
If you’ve paged through a Wine Spectator Magazine anytime over the last 10 years, you’ve likely read about Schrader, as it’s impossible to overlook their two dozen (and counting), perfect 100 point wines. When talking about the upper echelon of wines produced in Napa Valley, they’re always at the top of the list. Of course when your Cabernets are among the best in the world and you’re paying for some of the best blocks in the To-Kalon and other renowned Vineyards, it should come as no surprise that the wines fetch around $500/btl. What many people don’t know is that Schrader produces a second wine under the Double Diamond label. After a three-year hiatus, the wine is back by popular demand and on top of that, it’s bears Oakville origins. At under $100/btl, this simply can’t be beat.
This gorgeous Oakville Cabernet was crafted by Thomas Brown, who’s absolutely at the top of his game and is one of the dominating forces in Cabernet Sauvignon… He made history as the first American winemaker to receive a perfect 100 Point score from the Wine Spectator, and he’s also the winemaker at Revana, Maybach, Gemstone and Outpost to name a few. At under $100/btl this pedigreed Cab deserves a spot in your cellar, on your table and in your belly…
DOUBLE DIAMOND
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Your Price: $69.99/btl
Winery Notes: “Double Diamond, from the producers of Schrader, opens with layered, intriguing aromas of black currants, dark cherries, blackberry, cherry compote, toast and oak spice. The notes of herbs, pine cone and dried earth. In the mouth, the palate is rich and juicy, bursting with big, rich flavor.“
Customers who enjoy Double Diamond Oakville Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Oakville Cabs…
GOLDSCHMIDT
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
GAME RANCH VINEYARD
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $89.00/btl
Your Price: $74.99/btl
Napa Valley has an untold number of microclimates, which are small pockets of land where the climate differs substantially from the surrounding areas. This is one of the leading factors why some of the best Napa Valley wine Estates are clustered closely together. Hence, Nick Goldschmidt’s Game Ranch Vineyard in Oakville… It has immediate neighbors that include Plumpjack, Rudd, Groth and Screaming Eagle.
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PARADIGM
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE ESTATE
Retails at: $84.00/btl
Your Price: $79.99/btl
When considering a list of Napa Valley wineries that best represent all of the qualities, charm and history that the area has to offer, Paradigmis etched deeply on my list. This absolutely stunning wine made by Heidi Barrett comes from the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley, an area widely considered the epicenter of Grand Cru quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Paradigm’s neighbors include icons, Dominus, Harlan Estate, Opus One, To-Kalon and Martha’s Vineyard…
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2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
If you could only drink only one Brunello di Montalcino, what would it be? Robert Parker wrote “it would have to be Pertimali.” The only problem is they’re a microscopic Italian producer owning only 7 hectares (about 17 acres), and they’re highly-desired… That desire turns into more of a frenzy when Pertimali scores 98 Points like it has this vintage, and we don’t expect our allocation to last. Seldom do I taste a wine that’s so incredibly enthralling that it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up… This one did and Antonio Galloni wrote that Livio Sassetti is “One of Italy’s finest,” and they’ve been making hits since 1982… With the near perfect score this vintage, my only guarantee is that once you taste it, you will wish you bought more…
Absolutely hands-on in every way possible, each individual wine is hand-tended by Livio and his two sons. With attention to every detail, their Brunello has become a Sommelier favorite, gracing the Grand Award winning wine lists of Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and many others as well… Because of the minuscule production, there’s simply never enough of this wine to satisfy demand. I strongly recommend securing your case, before this one runs out…
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at: $80.00/btl
Your Price: $69.99/btl
YOU SAVE 12%
From James Suckling: “This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty. Better after 2021 but already a joy to taste.” 98 Points
Customers who enjoy Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2015 Montes ‘Purple Angel’ Carménère, Apalta Vineyard, Chile
MONTES
PURPLE ANGEL
2015 CARMENERE
APALTA VINEYARD, CHILE
What makes the Carménère grape special? We hear a lot about the five red Bordeaux Varietals, but some people don’t know there’s actually a sixth. Carménère comes from the Medoc region of Bordeaux where it has been known for producing deep, powerful red wines. It’s thought to be a member of the Cabernet Sauvignon family and now rarely found in France, Carménère found it’s place in Chile where it reigns king. Interestingly, Chilean growers inadvertently preserved the grape during the last 150 years, mistaking it for Merlot. Carménère at it’s best produces wines that are as vivid as they are deep, with penetrating, focused flavors that unwind methodically across your palate and exhibit tremendous power and structure. A clear-cut example is the 99 Point Montes Purple Angel Carménère.
Ever since Carménère was found throughout Medoc, it was often complimented with Petit Verdot. Petit Verdot softens the edges and bridles the intense power and depth with a velvety, voluptuous embrace. Montes recognized that and added 8% Petit Verdot to their 2015 Purple Angel and after silently developing for 18 months in barrel, the 2015 is stunningly brilliant. With the 99 Point score this vintage, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours…
MONTES
PURPLE ANGEL
2015 CARMENERE
APALTA VINEYARD, CHILE
Retails at: $90.00/btl
Your Price: $64.99/btl
YOU SAVE 27%
From James Suckling: “This is perhaps the greatest Purple Angel ever. Full body, tight and compressed with an amazing texture and density. Fantastic fine tannins that are silky and polished. I love the energy and intensity. A blend of 92% carmenere and 8% petit verdot. One for the cellar but I can’t wait to drink it again.” 99 Points
Customers who enjoy Montes Purple Angel may also enjoy these two terrific wines…