2017 Gaja Magari Ca'Marcanda

2017 Gaja Magari Ca’Marcanda

with No Comment $70-$80ItalyKevin VogtProprietary RedTuscany

GAJA

2017 MAGARI
CA’ MARCANDA

2017 Gaja Magari Ca'Marcanda
Gaja is one of the world’s great wine producers, known for their risk-taking and having outstanding consistency of superior quality since 1859. Ca’Marcanda, or “house of endless negotiations,” is the name of the second property purchased by the Gaja family in 1996, after 18 trips to complete the negotiations for buying the Estate.
 
Ca’Marcanda, located in the Bolgheri region of Tuscany, is planted with Bordeaux varieties allowing Gaja to produce Magari, a sultry Tuscan blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot. The vineyard blocks for this blend on the fertile hillsides of Terre Brune, or loamy, clay-rich soils known to provide depth, richness, and minerality to wines, and with Gaja’s top wines selling for more than $500, the Magari is an absolute steal.
 
GAJA
2017 MAGARI
CA’ MARCANDA
 
Your Price: $75
 
 
“The Gaja family at its Camarcanda estate is leading a silent revolution. Certified organic, although this is not mentioned, the winery has overturned Merlot for Cabernets and cordon training for guyot in the vineyards…. The 2017 vintage shines for its bright cassis fruit, melded with blackberry and cherry, then leafy and cedary notes to develop garrigue in depth. The creamy and dense palate has almost firm acidity and shows a bit of a dry finish, but otherwise this is hedonistically supple.” 
94 Points
2018 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

O’SHAUGHNESSY

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Flaunting Oakville fruit’s alluring complexity, Mount Veeder’s savory tinge, and combining Howell Mountain Cabernet’s focused concentration, O’Shaughnessy’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is epic. It’s a harmonious composition of the winery’s Estate vineyards, located in some of Napa Valley’s most elite neighborhoods. 
 
Since their inception, O’Shaughnessy’s winemaker has been Sean Capiaux, whom you might know from his work at Peter Michael or his brand Capiaux. He did a fantastic job on the reference-standard 2018 release, perfectly expressing Mountain terroir enriched with Oakville elegance. 
 
O’SHAUGHNESSY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“This is such an outstanding wine at any price, but here we’re talking about outstanding value as well. Notes of iron and crushed rock lead to a lengthy balance of juicy red fruit and clove. With small amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Saint-Macaire and Cabernet Franc, it shows a deft hand at blending, with lasting notes of black pepper and nuanced oak.”
97 Points, Editors’ Choice
2018 Nudant Jean-Rene Meursault White Burgundy

2018 Nudant Jean-Rene Meursault White Burgundy

with No Comment $70-$80BurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

NUDANT JEAN-RENÉ

2018 MEURSAULT
WHITE BURGUNDY

2018 Nudant Jean-Rene Meursault White Burgundy
Embodying complete balance, determination, and a sense of place, Nudant Jean-René wines are crafted with conviction to produce wine at the highest level. Their 2018 Meursalt manifests the terroir of the .54 acre plot brilliantly, voiced with buttered pear, roasted hazelnut, subtle stone, and liquid mineral qualities. This wine celebrates Meursault, one of the oldest and most significant regions in the world producing Chardonnay, and at less than $80, this classic Meursault deserves a spot in your cellar. 
 
The Nudant’s organically farm sixteen hectares of vines across Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits by hand, utilizing meticulous canopy management, assuring optimum flavor development. 
 
In the cellar, winemaker Jean-René Nudant scrupulously sorts and de-stems the Chardonnay berries, following traditional winemaking methods passed down through generations.
 
NUDANT JEAN-RENÉ
2018 MEURSAULT
WHITE BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“This gorgeous, opulent white burgundy begins with a compelling nose of poached buttered pears, toasted hazelnuts, and light florals. It is big and concentrated on the palate with honeyed figs, ripe quince, freshly shaved white truffles, lemon zest, and liquid minerals. The intriguing, powerful finish is very long, and it drinks incredibly well now and will continue to for the next decade or more.”
95 Points
2018 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District

2018 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSpring MountainUSA

BARNETT 

2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

2018 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District
Carved into a 35º slope at 2000 feet elevation on Spring Mountain, Barnett’s Vineyard is impeccably farmed on a vine-by-vine basis, ensuring each berry reaches the pinnacle of ripeness. Once harvested, Winemaker David Tate ferments each block individually, performing multiple punch-downs daily, maximizing flavor concentration. Their unwavering use of traditional techniques and micro-managing production has solidified them as a paragon on Spring Mountain for more than 30 years. 
 
Crafted with the intent to showcase Spring Mountain’s most distinct characteristics, displayed with grace and persistence, Barnett’s team intricately combines fruit from their high-elevation Estate and neighboring York Creek Vineyards in creating their Spring Mountain District Cabernet.
 
Blending the 2018 Barnett, David utilized 8% Petit Verdot for increased depth, structure, and balancing the ripe and supple Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, which he aged for 22 months in barrel. At less than $100, this wine perfectly expresses the profound qualities that I look for in Spring Mountain Cabernet. 
 
BARNETT 
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $80
 
Your Price: $75
 
 
“In 2018 climatic conditions were perfect up on Spring Mountain. This Cabernet is evidence of that. Fresh blackberry, anise and mocha are the first things apparent on the nose followed by cola, acai berry and menthol. This is a silky lush wine with layers of dark chocolate, cedar and freshly ground coffee. The tannins are chiefly present, being round pleasing chalky tannins with firm mountain acid balancing them out. The finish is chocolate covered plum. This powerhouse Cabernet is already showing well and will develop even more complexity over the next 10-12 years (2030-2032).”
2017 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate

2017 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

PARADIGM   

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 OAKVILLE ESTATE 

2017 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate
The Paradigm wine team masterfully articulates their vineyard because of their non-invasive winemaking, without house style. Positioned directly South of Andy Beckstoffer’s Iconic To-Kalon Vineyard, Paradigm is in the epicenter of Grand Cru quality Cabernet. The 2017 release offers a vivid interpretation of Oakville’s notorious complexity, superior concentration, piercing focus, and with neighbors like Opus One, and Martha’s Vineyard, Paradigm tips the scales with nonpareil value. 
 
Heidi Barrett is Paradigm’s current and original winemaker; She has intimate knowledge of the Estate, allowing the fruit to express its quality and unique terroir with minimal intervention.
 
The 2017 Paradigm Cabernet is richly concentrated, keenly focused, and beautifully defined. The wine spends 20 months in oak and 20 months in the bottle before release and offers a parade of perfectly ripe red and black fruits, rocky minerals, and subtle oak. 
 
PARADIGM   
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 OAKVILLE ESTATE
Retails at: $84
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“This wine is deeply pigmented with ruby/garnet color. First sniff is Oakville Cabernet all the way. Nice layers of ripe berry and cherry-like fruit with a matching complement of toasty French Oak from an assortment of Coopers and different barrel ages. Gorgeous across the palate with a silky yet dense mouthcoating impression. Ripeness is key and the result is a wine with perfect balance and flow – just plain delicious. It’s a big, beautiful wine now but has tremendous aging potential.”
2014 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

IMMORTAL ESTATE

2014 SLOPE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

2014 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon
On the West side of Spring Mountain, Immortal Estate is planted on a staggering 55-degree slope, making it one of the steepest hillside-vineyards in California. Initially named Hidden Ridge, the property produced 100 point wines under Tim Milos’ guidance. Tim gained invaluable experience while crafting stellar vintages of Opus One, Stag’s Leap, and Cliff Lede, and he’s the winemaker at Immortal Estate.
 
Vines grown on steep slopes can experience better air-flow, water drainage, and more sunlight, which combine to produce fully-developed and complexly flavored grapes. Immortal Estate is a perfect example and has more than 20 separate blocks with an elevation range of 1200-1700 feet, near Pride Mountain Vineyards. 
 
Tim selected harvest dates for each block based on taste, and the team meticulously sorted the grapes at the winery. They fermented the juice on the grape skins for up to 50 days, extracting depth, structure, and deep color. They then aged the wine for 28 months in French oak, and now with several years in the bottle, it’s rocking.
 
IMMORTAL ESTATE
2014 SLOPE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $75
 
 
“…the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Slope from the Hidden Ridge vineyard does not suffer in comparison with the extraordinary efforts of 2013. Still a barrel sample, its riveting richness, concentration, texture and density represent another legend in the making. Crème de cassis, licorice, blackberry, earthiness and spice are all present in this magnificent example of Cabernet Sauvignon that should age beautifully for 25-30+ years.”
95-97+ Points
 
“The Slope represents the many aspects, elevations and exposures of this remarkable hillside vineyard. Individual lots from across the property were selected and blended to produce this august cuvée. The wine is dense, ripe and powerful, an effusive vortex of blackberry, toast, brown sugar, allspice, cassis, dark chocolate, earl grey tea, mint, anise, sugar cookie, chai, and tarragon. The palate is massive, but the fruit is sweet, supple and creamy. It is an experience that will bring you to our mountain, for there is no other place like it.”
2016 Leto Cellars Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena

2016 Leto Cellars Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSaint HelenaUSA

LETO CELLARS

EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ST HELENA, NAPA VALLEY

2016 Leto Cellars Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena
The pinnacle wine produced by Leto Cellars is their Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, and it accurately lives up to its name. The wine is exceptional in terms of extract, power, and finesse. The only problem is with 72 cases produced, very few will get to experience this exceptional effort. 
 
The Exceptional Selection is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon drawn from a micro-block of half-century-old vines in the heart of St Helena. The low-yielding, dry-farmed vines have deep root systems that provide a vivid portrayal of their unique terroir, which delivers with powerful intensity, grace, and balance.  
 
After developing for 21 months in oak, the wine has enticing aromas of rich black fruits, roasted espresso, dark chocolate, and rocky minerals. With 3 barrels made and a savings of nearly $50/btl, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure a case.
 
LETO CELLARS
EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ST HELENA, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“The precisely shaped and exquisitely balanced Leto Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 begins with an elegant nose filled with black plums, black currants, smooth blue fruits, baking spices, rose petals and sweet vanilla oak. There is a seamless combination of freshly crushed mountain blackberries, kirsch, and light tobacco notes on the palate. The finish is focused, penetrating, balanced, and long, making this wine a truly exceptional selection.”
94 Points
2016 Faust The Pact Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville Napa Valley

2016 Faust The Pact Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

FAUST

2016 THE PACT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY

2016 Faust The Pact Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville Napa Valley
Faust’s 96 point The Pact Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 was created from their most expressive blocks from the Estate Vineyard in Coombsville and was crafted to epitomize the purest expression of the Estate. Formerly a dairy farm, the property was developed by the Huneeus family, who also own Quintessa. They chose it for its diversity of soil, elevation, exposition, and climate that’s cooler than most areas of Napa Valley. This remarkable 2016 resulted from the culmination of their vision, work developing the land, and perfecting their winemaking.
 
Faust winemakers Jen Beloz and David Jelinek produced this masterpiece. Jen gained her experience while working under Joel Peterson at Ravenswood Winery before joining Huneeus and becoming winemaker at Prisoner in 2011.  
 
The 2016 release is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, born in Quintessa’s state-of-the-art winery in Rutherford. After 19 months in barrel and a couple of years of development in the bottle, the 2016 offering is a stunning beauty.
 
FAUST
2016 THE PACT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $130
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
“This is very layered and beautiful with tannins that unfold horizontally and melt into the wine. So much subtle and complex currant and green-olive character with a hint of fresh tobacco. Drink or hold.”
96 Points
 
“… Deep garnet-purple colored, it reveals bold red and black currants scents with touches of crushed rocks, new leather, fried herbs, rose hip tea and wood smoke plus a hint of incense. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers and rock-solid structure of firm, ripe, grainy tannins framing the muscular fruit, finishing very long and mineral laced.”
95 Points
 
“Black cherry and black currant generously welcome the nose and reward the palate with a plush texture and fresh acidity. Dark fruit and graphite, along with tobacco, star anise and dark cocoa flavors await you with a seductive finish that lasts for an eternity.”
– David Jelinek, Winemaker
2017 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2017 O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtMt VeederNapaOakvilleUSA

O’SHAUGHNESSY

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
O’Shaughnessy is one of Napa Valley’s top Cabernet producers, and it’s rare for us to feature their wines because of their scarcity. They have machine-like consistency for producing focused, intensely flavored Cabernets with perfect balance. At $75, their Napa Valley Cabernet perfectly represents their powerful style, and as Jeb Dunnuck says, “It’s a terrific 2017 as well as a good value.”
 
O’Shaughnessy’s Napa Valley Cabernet is composed using all Estate fruit from the winery’s properties on Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Oakville. The wine perfectly expresses Mountain terroir with Oakville elegance in a way that brings me back for more. 
 
Since their inception, O’Shaughnessy’s winemaker has been Sean Capiaux, whom you might know from his work at Peter Michael or his own brand Capiaux. He did a terrific job on the 2017 which has concentrated, supple dark fruits, fresh violets, and complex savory notes.
 
O’SHAUGHNESSY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $75
 
 
 
“Moving to the reds, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 5% Malbec that spent 20 months in 75% new French oak. Deep purple-colored with notes of blackcurrants, blueberries, smoked earth, white chocolate, and crushed violets, it’s medium to full-bodied, ripe, and sexy, with a core of sweet fruit. It’s a terrific 2017 as well as a good value.”  93 Points
 
“A very reserved and structured cabernet with red and dark berries, as well as cedary notes and a savory, iodine-like edge. The palate has a very balanced and composed feel with a sleek, focused edge to the fresh blackcurrant flavors. Drink or hold.” 93 Points
 
“O’Shaughnessy’s 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next few years. Bright aromatics, plush fruit and silky tannins give the 2017 much of its immediate appeal. Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, spice, blood orange, and rose petal all meld together in this very pretty and engaging Cabernet; there is certainly plenty to like here. As always, the Napa Valley Cabernet is a blend of fruit from O’Shaughnessy’s Oakville, Howell Mountain and Mt. Veeder ranches.” 91 Points
2016 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2016 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

KEEVER

2016 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 

2016 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Keever Vineyard’s motto is that great wine should tell a story, and theirs is an inspiring tale written by a passionate family of proprietors and some of the most talented winemaking and farming in the industry. It takes place on a 6-acre rock-laden hillside Southwest of Yountville, nestled at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains where the earth has eroded from the slopes over millennia. Then add in Jim Barbour, one of the absolute top grape growers, and Celia Welch, a legendary winemaker. We’ve had the Inspirado on our best seller’s list for years, and the 2016 vintage is among their very best yet. 
 
Appropriately named Inspirado, which translates to Inspired, this release was penned with 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, and drafted with Merlot and Petite Verdot. It envelopes your taste buds with rich, scrumptious textures, and intermixed are fine details of rocky minerals, cocoa dusted black fruits, and vanilla bean. 
 
The wine was authored by Celia Welch, whom you might recognize from Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens, Barbour, Dalla Valle, and at under $100/btl, this is one of the best wines in the shop, period.
 
KEEVER
2016 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $80
 
Your Price: $75
 
“… It has an exotic, complex bouquet of black raspberry and cassis fruits intermixed with some forest floor, dried flowers, and cedar. This carries to a medium to full-bodied red that has sweet tannin, a rounded, approachable style, and loads to love.”  93 points
“Once in a handful of years, Mother Nature serves up a growing season in which every detail is just exactly right. A Spring full of enough rainfall but not too much, a Summer of enough heat but not too much, and an Autumn with warm days and cool nights. The 2016 Inspirado captures this season beautifully, showing warm blueberry, spiced plum, and dark cherry notes, all floating atop more subtle base notes of vanilla and toasty oak. The palate impression reflects the aromas, with ripe fruit, a touch of spice, and a finish that showcases the soft, satiny texture of this beautiful blend.”