2018 Proelio Vinedos Viejos Rioja Garnacha

2018 Proelio Vinedos Viejos Rioja Garnacha

with No Comment $30 and underGrenacheKevin VogtRiojaSpain

PROELIO

VINEDOS VIEJOS RIOJA
GARNACHA 2018

2018 Proelio Vinedos Viejos Rioja Garnacha
Palacios Vinos de Finca owns three wineries in Spain, and Proelio is their Riojan winery dedicated to expressing high-altitude vineyard terroirs within the region. Proelio’s small plots of old vine Garnacha, Tempranillo, and Graciano contribute distinctive Riojan characteristics to each wine produced.
 
The high-density vineyards where the grapes for the Viñedos Viejos Garnacha are grown thrive in the Alto Najerilla subzone with calcareous clay soils thrusting forth an array of complex aromas and flavors. The 2018 release is 100% varietal and fermented with native yeasts in wooden vats, with 30% stem inclusion, giving a fuller body with vibrant aromas and a silky texture for an unbelievable value.
 
PROELIO
VINEDOS VIEJOS RIOJA
GARNACHA 2018
 
 
 
“A fragrant garnacha with aromas of redcurrants, pomegranate, wild strawberries, thyme, lavender and lemon grass. Some oyster shell, too. Full-bodied with sleek tannins and bright acidity. Silky and vibrant with a long, fresh finish. Drink or hold.”
92 Points
 
“The red 2018 Viñedos Viejos is a perfumed and elegant Garnacha from Cárdenas in the Najerilla zone on red clay and sandstone soils aged in large oak vats for one year. It has 14.5% alcohol but with great balance, and the wine doesn’t come through as ripe or hot at all. In fact, it feels quite fresh, reflecting a cooler vintage. It’s varietal, clean, with integrated oak and with a vibrant and tasty palate…”
92 Points
2018 Pellegrini Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2018 Pellegrini Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

PELLEGRINI

PINOT NOIR 2018
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Pellegrini Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Pellegrini Wines comes from a prized selection of vineyards in the Russian River Valley, each with a different microclimate and soil composition, leading to a complex portfolio of wines. The winery is renowned for consistently producing high-quality wines and includes a range of single-vineyard bottlings and regional blends, each highlighting the family’s favorite vineyards.
 
The 2018 growing season saw cooler-than-average temperatures at the end of the summer and into the autumn, delaying ripening but aiding in developing more profound, elegant flavors and silkier tannins. This Pinot Noir features fruit from Olivet Lane, Toboni, Hurst, Hallberg, and Nonella vineyards, combining the differences in clones and subtle changes in terroir into one wine with layers of flavors that depict the glorious Russian River Valley.
 
PELLEGRINI
PINOT NOIR 2018
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $40
 
 
 
“Earth, clove, nutmeg and forest floor dominate the medium-bodied palate of this smooth, spicy wine, a blend from several neighborhoods within the appellation. Rhubarb and strawberry develop through a creamy center.”
91 Points
2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles

2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles

with No Comment $70-$80Central CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

BOOKER 

OUBLIE RED BLEND 
PASO ROBLES 2019

2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles
Eric and Lisa Jensen own 100 acres in Paso Robles, which they purchased more than two decades ago, intending to grow and sell premium fruit to nearby wineries. Eric worked alongside local legends Justin Smith and Stephan Asseo until he branched out independently and released his first vintage of Booker in 2005. 
 
Eric’s objective has always involved the highest farming standards using organic and biodynamic methods and maintaining a harmonious balance in the vineyard. Rhône varietals thrive on their estate, and Oublié is the winery’s Châteauneuf du Pape-inspired blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Mother nature provided a remarkable growing season in 2019, showcasing Mourvèdre and giving this wine a noticeably bolder mouthfeel than past vintages, resulting in an undeniably impressive wine.
 
BOOKER 
OUBLIE RED BLEND 
PASO ROBLES 2019
 
 
 
“The 2019 Oublié is a blend of 31% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, 4% Tannat and 4% Petite Sirah with a medium ruby-purple color. The nose offers gregarious mixed berry preserves and accents of potpourri, mint and fragrant earth. The palate offers juicy appeal and powerful fruit with loads of spice and floral perfume, bursts of freshness and firm, pleasantly rustic tannins, finishing very long.”
97 Points
2018 Maroon Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve Coombsville

2018 Maroon Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve Coombsville

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

MAROON

SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
COOMBSVILLE 2018

2018 Maroon Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve Coombsville
Paul Maroon recognized the potential for Bordeaux varietals to thrive in Coombsville and purchased 37 acres there over two decades ago. He sold fruit to several of Napa Valley’s top wineries until 2009 when he decided to produce the first vintage of Maroon. Coombsville became an AVA in 2011 and quickly established a reputation for delivering sophisticated wines with elegant structure due to the cooler climate in the southern end of Napa Valley.
 
Chris Corley has been the winemaker since Maroon’s inaugural vintage and has worked with Paul for over 20 years, creating a symbiotic relationship built around their passion for the vineyards, the beautiful wines, and a solid commitment to quality. We recommended this wine last November, and it recently earned an incredible 96 Point Score from Lisa Perrotti-Brown, co-founder of The Wine Independent. Lisa is a Master of Wine and former Editor-in-Chief for Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate. At our price of $65/btl, you can be the judge of how great of a deal this wine is. 
 
MAROON
SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
COOMBSVILLE 2018
Retails at: $174
 
 
 
“Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve gallops in with energetic notes of blackcurrant jelly, chocolate-covered cherries, and boysenberry preserves, plus suggestions of chocolate mint and candied violets. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a structured style with great tension and firm, grainy tannins to support the bright, muscular fruit, finishing long and vibrant.” Reviewed March, 2023
96 Points
2018 Diego E Damiano Barale Barolo Piedmont Italy

2018 Diego E Damiano Barale Barolo Piedmont Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BaroloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

DIEGO E DAMIANO BARALE

BAROLO 2018
PIEDMONT, ITALY

2018 Diego E Damiano Barale Barolo Piedmont Italy
Brothers Diego and Damiano Barale are a viticultural and winemaking powerhouse after spending valuable time learning the tricks of the trade. Working together, they use their combined education and practical knowledge to produce outstanding wines. Though their company is relatively new, the land they inherited from their father in Barolo and Monforte d’Alba has historical roots in the heart of superior grape-growing regions in Piedmont. 
 
This Barolo is a selection of old and young vineyards, matured for 20 months in oak and another 18 in the bottle before being released to the market. The 2018 growing season was a fertile vintage with no drought concerns, resulting in vines developing healthy canopies of balanced fruit, noticeable in the wine’s acidity-to-alcohol ratio and the mature, supple tannin structure.
 
DIEGO E DAMIANO BARALE
BAROLO 2018
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“Just mid ruby with orange tinges. An amplification of their very pretty Langhe Nebbiolo, with more inherent richness but the same minerality, but now wrapped up in sweetly perfumed raspberry fruit. Supple, long and persistent, the fruit on the finish is carried by a fine, long tannic trail. Long, finely balanced and with real depth and with just a touch of oak.”
17++/20
2021 Apsara Syrah Sonoma Mountain

2021 Apsara Syrah Sonoma Mountain

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtSonomaSonoma MountainSyrahUSA

APSARA

SYRAH 2021
SONOMA MOUNTAIN

2021 Apsara Syrah Sonoma Mountain
Robin and Aneeta Akhurst founded Apsara Cellars over a shared passion for the environment, studying biology and environmental science. They met in Indonesia over 20 years ago and began honing in on preserving nature with organic, biodynamic, and sustainable practices. The word “apsara” originates from the Sanskrit language and translates to an angelic dancer with balance, purity, and expression, and constitutes the philosophy behind Apsara’s wines.
 
After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, Robin rode his motorbike down to Provence, France, pursued a degree in Enology, and spent the next four years working with legendary winemakers worldwide, including Anne Claude Leflaive in Burgundy, Matt Wenk in the Barossa Valley, and Thomas Rivers Brown in the Napa Valley. The 2021 Sonoma Mountain Syrah is 100% Syrah, aged eight months in 30% New French oak and 70% once-used French oak, retaining varietal purity and vibrant aromatics while continuing a brand trademark with an Old World style.
 
APSARA
SYRAH 2021
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $80
 
 
 
“The Apasara Sonoma Mountain Syrah 2021 begins with a powerful nose of ripe black plums, crushed boysenberries, cold smoked meat, violets, and baking spices. The palate continues with sweet, intense, concentrated red and black stone fruits and supple chocolate, framed on a sultry, seductive body that is rich and opulent with supple tannins and a long, silky finish.”
95 Points
2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France

2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France

with No Comment $30 and underCahorsFranceKevin VogtMalbec

CHÂTEAU

LAMAGDELAINE NOIRE
MALBEC 2020
CAHORS, FRANCE

2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France
Malbec has been produced in Cahors, France, since the late middle ages, finally receiving AOC status in 1971. The wines have continually gained popularity worldwide, competing with the grape’s new-found home in Mendoza, Argentina. Malbecs from Cahors have a firmer tannic structure and a rustic, earthy spice characteristic that beautifully contrasts with the variety’s innate fruity components. 
 
The AOC allows up to 30% of other varieties, such as Tannat or Merlot, to be blended with Malbec; however, a trending resurgence in 100% Malbec has occurred over the last two decades. Château Lamagdelaine Noire’s vines have an average age of around 40 years, providing layers of flavor and complexity, preserved by maturation in concrete eggs and concrete vats. This style of aging protects the fruit’s purity while retaining the wine’s ability to age in the bottle for another eight to ten years.
 
CHÂTEAU
LAMAGDELAINE NOIRE
MALBEC 2020
CAHORS, FRANCE
 
 
 
“The Chateau Lamagdelaine Noire 2020 Cahors Malbec opens with a brooding nose of intense aromatics, including lavender, dried thyme, black plum, chocolate brownie mix, and smoke meat. On the palate, the wine has flavors of blackberry, pomegranate, black tea leaves, and savory spice. The tannins are firm and fine-grained, and the acidity is bright, making this wine an excellent companion with food. The finish is long and complex, and the wine is a stunning example of the region.”
95 Points
2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red

2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

ROCCA

VESPERRA 2017
NAPA VALLEY RED

2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red
Rocca Family Vineyards’ team makes wines from two certified organic estate vineyards awarded Napa Green and Fish Friendly Farming. The Grigsby Vineyard in Yountville is the source of the lush fruit for the Vespera Red Blend, a hand selection of barrels highlighting the philosophy of sharing a bottle of wine with family and friends.
 
Vespera is the Latin word for “evening,” which perfectly represents a setting where loved ones share conviviality and joy without being pretentious. The 2017 vintage is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Syrah, and Merlot, aged in French oak for 22 months. The wine is a diamond in the rough and an incredible value for a high-quality, hand-made Napa Valley Blend.
 
ROCCA
VESPERRA 2017
NAPA VALLEY RED
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“Charming nose of dark fruit, violets and chalk. Some chocolate, too. It’s medium-bodied and savory with an inky note and firm tannins. Energetic finish with fresh acidity. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2018 Erickson & Caradin Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena

2018 Erickson & Caradin Cabernet Sauvignon Craftsmen & Wolves St Helena

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt HelenaSt. HelenaUSA

ERICKSON & CARADIN 

CRAFTSMEN & WOLVES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ST HELENA 2018

2018 Erickson & Caradin Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena
Erikson & Caradin proprietors are keenly aware that soil, elevation, and climate play crucial roles in fine wine production; however, expertise and ambition can take wine to the next level. Erikson & Caradin began in 2013, selling their small production to friends and restaurants, and continue to remain craft-focused, with only around fifty barrels produced across eight different designations.
 
Their specialty is producing terroir-driven wines, which aligns with winemaker Kevin Morrisey’s skillset after interning at Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux before Stags’ Leap Winery, Etude, and Ehlers Estate. Their 2018 Craftsman & Wolves Cabernet emerged from two rows of VSP (Vertical Shoot Position) trained clone 337 Cabernet Sauvignon vines. The Vineyard sits above alluvial soils created by ancient river beds providing rich, powerful fruit with profoundly complex minerality.
 
ERICKSON & CARADIN 
CRAFTSMEN & WOLVES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ST HELENA 2018
Retails at: $140
 
 
 
“Aromas of blueberries, dark cherries, cassis, lavender and oak spices. Full body with plush, velvety tannins. Rich and creamy with an intense, bold core of ripe black fruit on the mid-palate and a dense finish. Big, yet polished and balanced. Drink after 2023.” (Reviewed 1/3/22)
93 Points
2017 Marques De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Spain

2017 Marques De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Spain

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedRiojaSpainTempranillo

MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA

FINCA YGAY RESERVA
RIOJA SPAIN 2017

2017 Marques De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Spain
Luciano Murrieta was one of the first winemakers to establish a winery in Rioja after his studies in Bordeaux in 1852. He achieved worldwide recognition for his signature style of producing powerful, complex, and elegant wines. The Marqués de Murrieta Reserva is a traditional Riojan wine that embodies Luciano’s passion and pays tribute to one of Rioja’s pioneers.
 
The vineyards are located in Rioja Alta at 320 to 485 meters above sea level and are rooted in a traditional, iconic history with modern innovation. The 2017 Reserva is 82% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo, and 2% Garnacha aged 16 months in a mixture of new and used American oak with a year and a half in the bottle before release for a balanced integration and sophisticated drinkability.
 
MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA
FINCA YGAY RESERVA
RIOJA SPAIN 2017
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Incredible depth and intensity on the nose with chocolate, walnut, blackberry and wet-earth aromas. Some iodine, too. All this follows through to a full body with very silky tannins that give the wine depth and length. It’s really framed beautifully. Reserved and tight at the finish. A terrific wine for the cellar. Give this three to five years to open.” (Reviewed October 2021)
96 Points