2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaRutherfordSaint HelenaUSA

HEIR APPARENT

RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Grand Napa Winery in Rutherford produces Heir Apparent wines, and winemaker Dwight Bonewell’s expert blending skills and access to exceptional vineyards paired beautifully with another outstanding vintage. Dwight crafts his Reserve Cabernet from a rigorous selection of high-quality sites in Rutherford, St Helena, and Calistoga, resulting in a multi-faceted wine embodying Napa Valley’s distinctive personality.
 
The 2019 growing season saw few challenges and a mild autumn, giving the grapes a long hang-time resulting in exceptional flavor development while retaining acidity. This particular vintage is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc added to accent the mid-palate and maintain balance, just like many of the great wines of Bordeaux.
 
HEIR APPARENT
RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“Aromas of raspberries, sour cherries, kirsch, lemon zest and sweet spices. It’s full-bodied with sleek tannins framing a juicy, sweetly fruited core. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2019 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

BUCCELLA

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Buccella is Latin for ‘mouthful’ and accurately depicts the winery’s bold style of Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from small, diverse, premium quality vineyards in Napa Valley. Meticulous farming, elite clonal selection, and minuscule yields are critical factors in maintaining this quality level. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon provides layers of complexity, depth, and balance between concentrated flavors and structure, promising several years of enjoyability.
 
Buccella winemaker Landon Donley gained experience interning for Australian powerhouse Mollydooker before joining Spottswoode Estate as the assistant winemaker. At Spottswoode, he learned to craft wines worthy of 100 Point scores, and everything he gleaned there translates into each spectacular glass of Bucella.
 
BUCCELLA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
 
 
 
“The inky-hued 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is surprisingly structured and powerful, with a big nose of cassis, chocolaty oak, scorched earth, and graphite. Where many 2019s are plush and opulent, this has a solid core of tannins that keeps it focused and elegant, with wonderful purity of fruit. I like it. It certainly offers pleasure today, yet smart money will give these 4-5 years in the cellar, and I suspect it will see its 20th birthday in fine form.”
95+ Points
2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

with No Comment $30-$40ChileKevin VogtProprietary Red

VIK

MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile
Alex and Carrie Vik established VIK Winery in the rolling foothills of the Andes Mountains after nearly two years of scientific research seeking out the ideal terroir. After their search, they finally found the prime planting location in the Millahue Valley, in a pocket named “Lugar de Oro” or “Golden Place” by the native Mapuche people. The vines are planted in twelve undulating valleys of several different microclimates, all cooled by Pacific coastal breezes and Andes Mountain winds.
 
Milla Cala is a tribute to Old World meets New World by embodying the connection between the growing environment and the human hand. The vineyards are hand-harvested, and fermented with natural yeasts, giving a distinct house style. The 2018 release blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot, reflecting the region’s purity and rich complexity.
 
VIK
MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE
Retails at: $49
 
 
 
“Sweet berries, dried flowers, fresh mushrooms and some currants on the nose, following through to a medium to full body with fine, creamy tannins that give the wine form and tension. Juicy and savory fruit. A blend of cabernet franc, syrah, carmenere and merlot. Better to give this time, but already a beautiful, juicy red to drink. Drink or hold.”
94 Points
 
“A modern Bordeaux blend made by Cristian Vallejo who combines Cabernet Sauvignon with 18% Carmenere, 14% Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot from Millahue, Cachapoal. Aged for 20 months in oak, it is opulent and tasty with a nose of cherries, plums, blackberries, currants, eucalyptus and aromatic herbs wisely combined with spicy aromas from the ageing. Full-bodied with a lush texture and accomplished freshness, the long finish offers fruity and balsamic aromas.”
94 Points
2019 Mantanzas Creek Merlot Alexander Valley

2019 Mantanzas Creek Merlot Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

MATANZAS CREEK

MERLOT 2019
ALEXANDER VALLEY

2019 Mantanzas Creek Merlot Alexander Valley
The owners of Matanzas Creek launched operations in 1977 and built a reputation on sustainably farmed grapes and a beautiful lavender field, providing a haven for pollinators and promoting biodiversity. The winery is certified under the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and was one of the first wineries to bear the Certified California Sustainable logo on the label with the 2017 release.
 
The Merlot growing in Alexander Valley near the Mayacamas Mountains takes on a robust character due to the limited availability of water and the diverse soil composition. The grapes have a distinct power balanced by finesse, and the 2019 vintage is a fine example of the region’s terroir and the superior quality that Matanzas Creek is known for.
 
Professionally reviewed back in August 2022, this wine recently wowed our panel with focused, concentrated fruit, graphite, cocoa, inky blackberry, and fine tannins. 
 
MATANZAS CREEK
MERLOT 2019
ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“The 2019 Merlot Alexander Valley is fleshy with aromas of cocoa, blackberry, and fresh turned soil, and its palate is supple in texture, with fine tannins and notes of red plum, red flowers, and cocoa. This red is perfect for youthful drinking over the next few years.” Tasted in August of 2022.
89 Points
2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BLACK PINE

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Roger Roessler spent more than four decades in the restaurant business, and through the years, he naturally found his true passion in life: wine. Roger’s Black Pine Pinot Noir encompasses dedication and a love for the varietal at an affordable price without compromising quality. 
 
This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir comes from hand-selected sites blended to bring a consistent wine, vintage to vintage, and showcases the talents of the winery’s grower partnerships. The 2021 release has a silky, smooth texture with bright fruit and spice and over-delivers for a wine in this price range.
 
BLACK PINE
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021
Retails at: $38
 
 
 
“The Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 begins with a nose of bright pomegranate, dried cranberries, cola bean, cardamom spice, and fresh violets. The concentrated, ripe palate continues with tart/sweet cherry juice and powerful intensity, projecting baking spices, fresh florals, and a silky smooth mouthfeel. These textures, flavors and aromas build to a long, supple, rich finish.”
93 Points
2019 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaOakvilleRutherfordUSA

CROZE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Croze Fine Wines produced its first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1998, built on a philosophy of elegance and balance, and 2019 marks its 20th year of production. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon combines grapes from Rutherford, Howell Mountain, and Oakville AVAs, including Oakville’s Money Ranch Road Vineyard, which became famous when it was the source of Napa’s first 100 Point wine.
 
Croze’s winemaker, Daniel Benton, intimately understands the vineyards he works with and elevates each plot’s finest attributes in his wines. The 2019 vintage matured for 28 months in French oak barrels, and while approachable and drinkable now, this wine has a structure worthy of additional aging in the cellar.
 
CROZE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The 2019 Croze Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon begins with a rich nose of sweet blackberries, milk chocolate, vibrant black currants, Spring violets, and vanilla bean. The penetrating palate follows by balancing richness and freshness with power and elegance, expressing these traits with concentrated red currants, ripe cassis, and nicely structured fine-grained fruit tannins. The lingering, rich flavors and mouth-quenching acidity carry these characteristics through to a long, fulfilling finish. This one keeps calling me back for more…”
94 Points
2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtOld Vine ZinfandelRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Gamba Zinfandel Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley
Gus Gamba farms some of the oldest Zinfandel vines in California, planted by pioneering immigrants from the turn of the 20th century. The winery’s vineyards are farmed organically and rely solely on rainwater for irrigation, just as they did over 100 years ago. 
 
Planted in 1920, the Starr Road Ranch Vineyard produces tiny yields of highly-concentrated Zinfandel fruit with stunning depth of flavor and remarkable complexity. The grapes are double sorted by hand, ensuring only the highest quality fruit is selected to make this profound expression of Old Vine Russian River Valley Zinfandel.
 
GAMBA
ZINFANDEL 2021
STARR ROAD RANCH
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Gamba 2021 Starr Ranch Road Zinfandel begins with notes of Christmas spices, red licorice, clove, marzipan, and red cherry. On the palate, the wine has a bright red fruit accented by nutmeg, allspice, and fresh acidity. This wine is perfect for a casual afternoon and makes an excellent match for barbequed foods.”
94 Points
2019 Vilarfonte Seriously Old Dirt South Africa Red

2019 Vilarfonte Seriously Old Dirt South Africa Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtProprietary RedSouth Africa

VILAFONTE

SERIOUSLY OLD DIRT
SOUTH AFRICA RED 2019

2019 Vilarfonte Seriously Old Dirt South Africa Red
Vilafonté Winery, named after the ancient Vilafontes soils of the region, is located on the bench of the Simonsberg Mountains in South Africa. Their vineyards contain one of the oldest soil types in the world, with healthy, nutrient-deficient topsoils that have not been disturbed for millennia. Vilafonte’s expert team includes Dr. Phil Freese, who spent 13 years as Robert Mondavi’s VP of Wine Growing and was instrumental in designing the first Opus One Vineyards.
 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec are planted at a high density on the estate, encouraging smaller vines with smaller yields of highly concentrated fruit. The 2019 Seriously Old Dirt is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend matured in used French oak barrels allowing the characteristics of the Vilafontes soils and the regional terroir to speak through the wine.
 
VILAFONTE
SERIOUSLY OLD DIRT
SOUTH AFRICA RED 2019
 
 
 
“Aromas of redcurrants and dark earth follow through to a full body with plenty of dark-cherry and berry flavors and a long, flavorful finish. Creamy and round tannins, yet tight and focused. Bark and berry aftertaste. Drink or hold.”
93 Points
2017 Worthy Sophias Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2017 Worthy Sophias Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

WORTHY

SOPHIA’S CUVEE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2017

2017 Worthy Sophias Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Worthy Sophia’s Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon is the second label of Axios, a premium Napa Cabernet producer named after the Greek word for ‘worthy.’ This Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend debuted in 2001 and has amassed a loyal following due to its ability to mirror qualities and characteristics that you’d expect from much higher-end bottlings. Sophia’s Cuvée is named after the proprietor’s daughter and is intricately fashioned around a Bordeaux-style blend by winemaker Robert Egelhoff.
 
Robert has prior experience as the Vineyard Manager for Beckstoffer Vineyards. He made wine for Bella Vista, Amizetta, and Robert Craig and crafted the Wine Spectator 1997 wine of the year, the David Arthur Elevation 1147 Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2017 Sophia’s Cuvée blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Petite Verdot and Merlot, providing incredible value in a wine from a winery with a strong pedigree for premier quality.
 
WORTHY
SOPHIA’S CUVEE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2017
 
 
 
“The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Worthy Sophia’s Cuvee is a very pretty wine for drinking now, as it is already showing the first signs of aromatic complexity and softening. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mind, dried flowers and plum are front and center in this forward, juicy Cabernet Sauvignon.”
90 Points
2019 Booker Fracture Syrah Paso Robles

2019 Booker Fracture Syrah Paso Robles

with No Comment $90-$100Central CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesSyrahUSA

BOOKER

FRACTURE SYRAH
PASO ROBLES 2019

2019 Booker Fracture Syrah Paso Robles
In 2001, Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres in Paso Robles and founded the Booker Vineyard with a keen focus on farming high-quality grapes for nearby wineries. Eric started making wine on the side with his friend Justin Smith of Saxum and his neighbor Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure for a few years before he and Lisa decided it was time to release their own expression of the Booker Vineyard.
 
The certified organic vineyard has a high concentration of limestone that causes fractures in the soils, leading to the name of their flagship wine. The Fracture is 100% Syrah and a selection of the softest wines aged in small French barriques, and the 2019 vintage shows gorgeous aromatics and deep flavors with a delightfully long finish.
 
BOOKER
FRACTURE SYRAH
PASO ROBLES 2019
 
 
 
“The 100% Syrah 2019 Fracture comes all from the Booker Estate Vineyard and is another pure, balanced, incredibly classy wine from this estate. Loads of darker fruits, ground black pepper, crushed stone, and scorched earth give way to a medium to full-bodied, powerful, concentrated Syrah that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 10-15 years.”
97 Points