2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $80-$90Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

SILVER OAK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018

2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Driven by the belief that their best wines are still ahead, Silver Oak’s steadfast focus is on Cabernet Sauvignon aged exclusively in American oak and guided by sustainability and precision viticulture. Silver Oak’s team utilizes precision viticulture to understand each vine’s status in real time, making informed farming decisions on a block-by-block basis. These tools are centered around consistency and are detectable in their wine. 
 
Their 2018 vintage epitomizes their commitments and distinctive style with concentrated dark fruits, vanilla, fresh dill, and Kalamata olives. Arriving from the 2018 growing season, Silver Oak aged this wine for 24 months in American white oak barrels, creating a classic expression of Silver Oak’s distinctive style that’s delightful now, and will provide enjoyment for years to come.
 
SILVER OAK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018
 
Your Price: $89.99
 
 
“Ruby in color, the 2018 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of cassis, caramel, juniper and pomegranate. Lifted and vibrant on the nose, this wine is fresh on the palate with a juicy, fruit-forward core. Its silky mouthfeel will provide drinking pleasure through 2044 given proper cellaring.”
2015 Louis Roederer Brut Rose Champagne France

2015 Louis Roederer Brut Rose Champagne France

with No Comment $80-$90ChampagneChampagne/SparklingFranceKevin Vogt

LOUIS ROEDERER

BRUT ROSÉ 2015
CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE

2015 Louis Roederer Brut Rose Champagne France
The Louis Roederer Champagne house was one of the first to be founded in the region in 1776 and has been a leader in outstanding quality since. They source the fruit from vineyards in the villages of Montage de Reims, Côtes des Blancs, and Valleé de la Marne, maintaining an average score of 98 percent on the Champagne classification scale, offering an extraordinary level of quality. 
 
The Pinot Noir for this wine sees a long and soft extraction to integrate the most delicate and exquisite flavors before adding Chardonnay to the fermentation vessels. This wine has a mind-blowing balance of fruit, vanilla, minerality, and salinity that dances on the palate with levity and a lengthy, complex finish.
 
If you love Rosé Champagnes like Billecart-Salmon and Ruinart, I bet this one will be your new favorite.
 
LOUIS ROEDERER
BRUT ROSÉ 2015
CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE
 
Your Price: $85
 
 
“The 2015 Brut Vintage Rosé is generous and demonstrative, bursting with aromas of peach, orange and pear mingled with hints of red berries, fresh bread and ginger. Full-bodied, layered and vinous, it’s rich and enveloping, its textural attack segueing into an ample, fleshy core that’s girdled by bright acids and enlivened by a pillowy mousse. Long and expansive, it’s more generous and gourmand than its racier 2014 predecessor, but just as good.”
94 Points
 
“This shows lots of cotton candy and peach, together with strawberries and cream. But not overpowering. Some cranberry, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine bubbles and a lively finish. Dosage 8g/L. Drink now or hold.”
94 Points
2015 Spence Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2015 Spence Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $80-$90Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

SPENCE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
HOWELL MOUNTAIN 2015

2015 Spence Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
Spence Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon’s producers set out to create a wine that’s theirs alone, reflective of the specific characteristics of their exceptionally unique plot near Howell Mountain’s summit. Their production team is entirely hands-off in the cellar and keenly focused on extracting what transpires in the vineyard, resulting in this utterly intense, beautifully defined, powerfully expressive wine.
 
Uniquely positioned above a canyon, Spence’s Vineyard benefits from consistent breezes, thickening the grape skins, and contributing color and intensity. The site’s thick surface layer of red volcanic soil laced with rock allows rapid drainage, forcing the roots deep into the earth, extracting site-specific nuance. Winemaker Ted Osborne forms these qualities into this powerful, elegant, and unforgettable wine.
 
SPENCE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
HOWELL MOUNTAIN 2015
Retails at: $110
 
 
 
“Coming from the Spence’s vineyard at 1,900’ elevation on top of Howell Mountain, this blockbuster Cabernet reminds me of watching a Cheetah run in slow motion. It’s firm and bursting with power, yet sleek, graceful, and elegant at the same time. It begins with a gorgeous nose of explosive black plums, fragrant violets, dusty cocoa powder, wet slate, dried mushrooms, and vanilla hints. This mind-blowing concoction is perfectly ripe on the palate, with concentrated crushed blackberries, exotic wild currants, stewed plums, baker’s chocolate, and scorched earth. It is wonderfully firm and amazingly complex and long on the palate, with mouth-quenching crushed-velvet tannins that, time after time, left me yearning for another sip. It is a decadent, amazingly sultry stunner now that will continue to drop jaws for well over another decade.” 
97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
2018 Rudius Savory Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2018 Rudius Savory Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $80-$90Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

RUDIUS

SAVORY ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 HOWELL MOUNTAIN 

2018 Rudius Savory Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
In 1998, David Abreu and Rick Forman planted a tiny 1.3-acre plot at the top of Howell Mountain at an elevation of 1780 feet. Each vintage, the Savory Estate vineyard shows off its vast potential with powerfully concentrated fruit, rock-solid structure, and supreme ageability, that’s vividly depicted in Rudius’s 2018 vintage.
 
Jeff Ames began his winemaking career interning with Lynn Penner-Ash in Oregon and later worked as Thomas Rivers Brown’s assistant winemaker for Outpost, Schrader, and TOR before becoming the head winemaker for TOR in 2005. The Savory Estate vineyard provides Jeff with the pieces to the puzzle that make up his hedonistic signature style, with past vintages scoring well into the upper 90s. Here’s an opportunity to own this incredibly limited Howell Mountain Cabernet, priced to savor.
 
RUDIUS
SAVORY ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 HOWELL MOUNTAIN 
Retails at: $135
 
 
 
“The Rudius 2018 Savory Estate Cabernet is a visually compelling wine with an inky black center core and a deep ruby hue at the edges. The nose and palate dance beautifully together as they balance a vast array of compelling characteristics, including muddled blackberries, black currants, gunflint, dried green herbs, fresh cut violets, and Italian glove leather, along with hints of vanilla, baker’s chocolate, and white pepper. The palate is exceptionally concentrated and powerful yet finds the perfect symmetry between structure, intensity, and elegance. I struggled to find the perfect analogy to describe it, but it is like a bodybuilder who is also a world-class ballet dancer. It’s not what you’d expect at first glance but is thrilling to behold. I think this stunning effort is precisely what everybody looks for in an incredible mountain Cabernet. It is still a baby, and as great as it is now, you can enjoy it any time over the next several decades. Simply gorgeous!”
98 Points
2018 Maison Harbour Gevrey-Chambertin 'La Justice' Red Burgundy

2018 Maison Harbour Gevrey-Chambertin ‘La Justice’ Red Burgundy

with No Comment $80-$90BurgandyKevin VogtPinot NoirUSA

MAISON HARBOUR

GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN
‘LA JUSTICE’
2018 RED BURGUNDY

2018 Maison Harbour Gevrey-Chambertin 'La Justice' Red Burgundy
The prestigious appellation Gevrey-Chambertin is located in the Northern part of Burgundy in the Côte de Nuits (North Slope) and produces full-bodied, rich Pinot Noirs with a firm structure, velvety tannins, and delicate texture. Before establishing their small négociant house, Maison Harbour’s Nicholas and Colleen Harbour attended wine school in Beaune, making lifelong friends that connected the couple with small growers with vineyard parcels.
 
Revered for being more age-worthy and fuller-bodied than other parts of Burgundy, Pinot Noirs from Gevrey-Chambertin are great for your cellar, and this one is unbelievable right now. The Harbours age their Pinot Noirs in two to six-year-old barrels, focusing on the fruit’s reflection of the terroir, creating brilliantly defined wines with remarkable freshness.
 
MAISON HARBOUR
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN
‘LA JUSTICE’
2018 RED BURGUNDY
 
Your Price: $85
 
 
“The 2018 Maison Harbour La Justice Gevrey Chambertin opens with a stunning nose of rich cherries, dried rose petals, gunflint, mixed berries, nutmeg, black tea, and earthy minerals. The complexity of aromas seamlessly continues on the palate with powerful richness and impressive concentration, including lush fruit flavors of splash pluots and red plums, then continuing with cola bean and dried mushrooms. At a mere fraction of the price, this village-level Gevrey drinks better than many Premier Cru and even Grand Cru burgundies I’ve had. It’s simply stunning, and if you like Burgundy, this one will blow you away with the power and richness it has, particularly at this price.”
96 Points
2016 Gaja Brunello Di Montalcino Pive Santa Restituta

2016 Gaja Brunello Di Montalcino Pive Santa Restituta

with No Comment $80-$90BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin Vogt

GAJA

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2016 PIEVE SANTA RESTITUTA

2016 Gaja Brunello Di Montalcino Pive Santa Restituta
Gaja is one of the biggest names in Italian wine, famous for a fusion of modern and traditional winemaking, continually impressing wine critics and collectors from all over the world since their early beginnings 250 years ago. In the 1960s and ’70s, Angelo Gaja was one of the first winemakers in Italy to begin experimenting with new French oak barriques that today contribute to Gaja’s signature house-style.
 
Brunello di Montalcino is famous for the Brunello clone of Sangiovese, known for more body, multiple layers of concentrated flavors, and impressive longevity that by law must be aged for a minimum of two years in barrel and four years total before release. Master of Wine Greg Sherwood has rated Gaja’s 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino as one of the estate’s most outstanding vintages, with beautifully perfumed aromatics and intensely complex flavors that pleasantly linger into a long finish.
 
GAJA
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2016 PIEVE SANTA RESTITUTA
 
Your Price: $89.99
 
 
“The 2016 Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino is intensely aromatic, beginning with violets, roses, potpourri, black cherries, leather, balsamic, and saffron. The palate is equally complex with flavors of black plums, cherry cola, cocoa, and earth. The depth of flavors and fine-grained tannins thoroughly coat the mouth leading into a long, decadent finish that can be enjoyed now or cellared to gracefully age for the next 12-15 years.”
95 Points
 
Vintage Report: 2016 Brunello di Montalcino
“Textbook growing season resulted in wines of finesse and elegance, balance and harmony, with mostly red fruit flavors…”
99 Points
2019 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate Russian River

2019 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate Russian River

with No Comment $80-$90Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

ROCHIOLI 

2019 PINOT NOIR
ESTATE RUSSIAN RIVER

2019 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate Russian River
The Rochioli’s understood the potential of their land from very early on, deciding to put their family’s name on their product, selling their first estate-bottled Pinot Noir in 1985. The wine was immediately honored as the Best Pinot Noir in America by Wine Spectator and is one of the few wineries in California to have consistently scored above 90 points since that first vintage.
 
Tom believes that if America were to adopt a Grand Cru system similar to Burgundy’s, his vineyard would fall into the same prestigious status because of the several different soil types and varying elevation levels. He ferments each block separately, capturing every aspect of what defines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir in an expression that is pure Rochioli. 
 
ROCHIOLI 
2019 PINOT NOIR
ESTATE RUSSIAN RIVER
 
Your Price: $89.99
 
 
“This is a blend of several single-vineyard designates, predominantly Little Hill (53%) and Big Hill (15%), with additions from West Block, East Block and Sweetwater as well. Dark plum and raspberry accent a lively and expansive palate framed by rounded tannins and easy oak accents. Enjoy from 2029–2034.”
96 Points, Top 100 Cellar Selection
 
“Delicate and refined, this is filled with concentrated raspberry tart flavors that are laced together by plenty of cedary and underbrush accents. The fresh, juicy finish shows touches of ripe minerality and hints of white pepper. Drink now through 2027.”
94 Points
2018 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve

2018 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve

with No Comment $80-$90Kevin VogtOregonPinot NoirUSAWillamette Valley

DOMAINE SERENE

2018 PINOT NOIR
EVENSTAD RESERVE 

2018 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve
Domaine Serene’s topmost level of expectations and commitment to incredibly high internal standards is evident in every aspect of their production, from their meticulous farming to their state-of-the-art tasting room and cellar. Since the inaugural 1990 vintage, Domaine Serene has been producing world-class wines and is the only winery in the world with a Top 3 rating in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, including the #3 Wine of 2013 for their 2010 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir.
 
The Evenstad’s are lovers of classic, Burgundian-styled Pinot Noir and struck gold when they purchased land in the rolling Dundee Hills of Oregon, one of the few places globally with the ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir grapes. The 2018 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir represents the highest standards for Oregon Pinot Noir, and with its stratospheric 95 point score, this should be in every Pinot-lovers collection.
 
DOMAINE SERENE
2018 PINOT NOIR
EVENSTAD RESERVE 
 
Your Price: $84
 
 
“A ripe, spicy and glossy nose with biscuity aromas, as well as very vivid red and dark-cherry notes. The palate has a very plush and elegant feel with silky tannins that unfurl with rich, spiced red-fruit flavors. Holds fresh and precise. Drink or hold.”
95 Points
2015 Dyer Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District

2015 Dyer Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District

with No Comment $80-$90Cabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainNapaUSA

DYER

2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN DISTRICT 

2015 Dyer Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District
Diamond Mountain District is known for its upland volcanic soils formed during the Pliocene era, giving its fruit a distinctive minerality, firm tannic structure, and extensive suitability for aging. The mountain’s proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean causes a substantial moderating effect with up to 40-degree differences between nighttime and daytime temperatures, enhancing the freshness and acidity in the grapes.
 
Bill and Dawnine Dyer have over 80 years of combined experience in winemaking both in Napa Valley and around the world, evident in Dyer wines with a focus on the exceptional terroir of Diamond Mountain. The Dyers have moved towards dry farming their vineyard, creating an opportunity for the best possible quality to flourish, as is evident in this riveting expression of Diamond Mountain District Cabernet.
 
DYER
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $95
 
Your Price: $89
 
 
“Translucent and super-expressive, Dyer’s 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is magnificent. Sweet plum, graphite, lavender and spice develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s exceptional balance and captivating beauty that stand out most. The richness of the vintage has filled out the wine’s classically built frame nicely. Even so, what comes through is a powerful, structured Diamond Mountain Cabernet that exudes class and polish from the first taste to the last. Don’t miss it.”
95 Points
 
“A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain shows the more pretty, elegant side to this appellation. Cassis, blueberries, liquid violets and incense are just some of the nuances here. This beauty from winemaker Dawnine Dyer is full-bodied, has notable freshness, polished tannin, and again, a beautiful elegance. Drink it anytime over the coming 15-20 years.”
93+ Points
 
“Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain displays understated blackberries, black cherries, cedar and herbs notes with damp earth and black truffles nuances. Medium to full-bodied and built like a brick house, it is packed with restrained, muscular fruit, framed by grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long and earthy. Give it another year or two in bottle and drink it over the next 15-20+.”
93+ Points
2017 Raoul Gautherin Grand Cru Chablis Les Clos

2017 Raoul Gautherin Grand Cru Chablis Les Clos

with No Comment $80-$90BurgandyChablisChardonnayKevin VogtUSA

RAOUL GAUTHERIN

GRAND CRU CHABLIS
2017 LES CLOS

2017 Raoul Gautherin Grand Cru Chablis Les Clos
Chablis exemplifies the purest expression of Chardonnay through minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery, the use of natural yeasts, and the limited use of oak, prioritizing the delicate nuances of flavor. Adrien Gautherin of Domaine Raoul Gautherin vinifies his Grand Cru Chablis Les Clos in tanks and ages it in old barrels, creating a wine with incredible aging potential. 
 
Grand Cru vineyards in Chablis are grown in 160 million-year-old sedimentary limestone-rich clay, known as Kimmeridgian marl, famous for giving wines with vibrant character, racy acidity, and a zesty mineral component. These world-class Chardonnays begin showing their spectacular depth and charm after three to four years, which is where this one is right now, and with only 120 cases produced, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
RAOUL GAUTHERIN
GRAND CRU CHABLIS
2017 LES CLOS
Retails at: $100
 
Your Price: $89
 
 
“The 2017 Raoul Gautherin & Fils Grand Cru Chablis Les Clos has an exquisite nose with aromas of honeysuckle, white blossoms, green apples, white peaches, and brioche. The flavors on the palate are reminiscent of a butter pecan ice cream, coating the palate in a creamy mouthfeel but finishing on a crisp note with the wine’s natural acidity. This wine can be enjoyed now but will really shine after laying down in the cellar for a few more years.”
93 Points