2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina

2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina

with No Comment $30-$40CorvinaItalyKevin Vogt

TINAZZI

COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
VERONA CORVINA 2018

2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina
Corvina is an Italian grape variety with an integral role in all Valpolicella wines, including Amarone, which must include a minimum of 45% in their blends. This late-ripening variety is low in tannin and high in acidy. Tinazzi’s version is varietally characteristic, manifested with bright cherry, transitioning to juicy dark cherry, spice, and classic hints of almond, a signature of the variety.
 
Located near Verona in Northern Italy, Tinazzi sits in the heart of where the Corvina grape reigns supreme. Proprietor Gian Andrea Tinazzi is passionate about accurately expressing territorial character in his wines, and his Corvina from Verona is a classic example. Fans of juicy Rhone blends, Zinfandel, and Valpolicella wines (and well, anybody with a pulse) would love this 96 Point Red, especially at $25.
 
TINAZZI
COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
VERONA CORVINA 2018
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“Deep bright red; Ample and harmonious, ranging from red fruits to spices; Velvety, persistent and full, with great harmony.”
96 Points, Luca Maroni
 
“The 2018 Tinazzi Verona Corvina is concentrated with juicy fruit aromas such as cranberries, red cherries, and black raspberries with spicy hints of cardamom, nutmeg, white pepper, and dried oregano. This medium to full-bodied wine is fresh and delightful with soft tannins and a succulent finish. The depth and complexity of flavor this wine displays puts it on a well-deserved pedestal and can be enjoyed tonight and over the next few years.”
94 Points, #5 WCC Top 5 Wines of 2021
2019 Castalia Pinot Noir Rochioli Vineyard

2019 Castalia Pinot Noir Rochioli Vineyard

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

CASTALIA

ROCHIOLI VINEYARD
PINOT NOIR 2019

2019 Castalia Pinot Noir Rochioli Vineyard
Terry Bering worked long days harvesting grapes in 1988 and 1989 for J. Rochioli Vineyards; finishing the second harvest, he obtained some second crop grapes, making a Pinot Noir that impressed the Rochiolis. In 1990, Tom Rochioli offered Terry the Cellar Master position, and for the last 32 years, he’s proudly dedicated his life to working with some of the best fruit in the Russian River Valley.
 
Terry launched Castalia wines in 1992 with access to some of Rochioli Vineyard’s most coveted blocks, crafting Pinot Noirs that rival some of Russian River Valley’s finest. The firmly structured 2019 vintage saw 15 months in 25% new French oak, giving the wine a penetrating character on release with a rich complexity typical of the region that will age delicately in the cellar for well over a decade.
 
CASTALIA
ROCHIOLI VINEYARD
PINOT NOIR 2019
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“The Castalia Rochioli Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2019 begins with an elegant nose of red cherries and light Spring florals with hints of Asian spices. This vintage is drinking rather young and firm at this early stage but expands the red fruits on the palate with pomegranate and wild berries, combined with crushed rocks, dried mushrooms, and vanilla hints. It is a wine that drinks very nicely now but will certainly reward those with patience another decade or more of absolute joy.”
94 Points
2020 Tablas Creek Patelin De Tablas Rouge Paso Robles

2020 Tablas Creek Patelin De Tablas Rouge Paso Robles

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

TABLAS CREEK

PATELIN DE TABLAS ROUGE
PASO ROBLES 2020

2020 Tablas Creek Patelin De Tablas Rouge Paso Robles
The founders of Tablas Creek include the Perrin family, the proprietors of the renowned Château de Beaucastel in Chäteauneuf-du-Pape, and the Haas family of the legendary American importing company Vineyard Brands. The property is in the remarkably Rhône-like climate of Paso Robles, where the shallow, rocky, limestone soils are of similar geologic origin as the soils found in the vineyards of Beaucastel.
 
They imported clones of Mourvédre, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Counoise, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, and Picpoul Blanc to ensure the highest quality and allow Tablas Creek to replicate the clonal selection of an established vineyard. The Patelin de Tablas is an homage to the classic blends of the Southern Rhône with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Tannat, and Counoise in a pleasantly bright and spicy, easy-to-drink wine with a range of complexity and depth of character.
 
TABLAS CREEK
PATELIN DE TABLAS ROUGE
PASO ROBLES 2020
 
Your Price: $27.99
 
 
“The Tablas Creek 2020 Patelin de Tablas opens with notes of rose petals, lavender, rosemary, red cherries, white pepper, and smoked meat. The palate bursts with fresh juicy flavors of red plums and cranberries with hints of sarsaparilla and wet stones after a rainstorm. The wine’s ripe fruit flavors are intricately balanced by fresh acidity, and spicy undertones provide ultimate complexity and exciting drinkability.”
93 Points
2019 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon The Pact Coombsville

2019 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon The Pact Coombsville

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

FAUST

THE PACT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COOMBSVILLE 2019

2019 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon The Pact Coombsville
In 1998, Agustin and Valeria Huneeus were among the first to plant vineyards in the Coombsville AVA, an area known for diverse, eroded volcanic soils, elevation, and a significantly cooler climate than other parts of Napa Valley, due to its proximity to the San Pablo Bay. Agustin was the CEO of Concha y Toro at 27 years old in 1960, while Valeria was a microbiologist and viticulturist, which in 1989 helped her discover the land for Quintessa, their other well-established Napa Estate.
 
The Pact Cabernet Sauvignon is from the winery’s most expressive vines on an elevated bench in Coombsville. It’s a site where ancient volcanic ash and rocks interspersed within the soils bring out the wine’s signature minerality and linear intensity. The 2019 vintage lives up to its legacy with a luxuriously dense palate, fine tannins, and a solid, vibrant structure that will stand the test of time.
 
FAUST
THE PACT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COOMBSVILLE 2019
 
Your Price: $125
 
 
“Red currants and blackcurrants with some violets and crushed earth. Full-bodied with round, creamy tannins. Fine, velvety tannins that are open and grounded. Firm and tight finish. Drinkable now, but better in 2024.”
96 Points
2018 Frescobaldi Castello Di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva

2018 Frescobaldi Castello Di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

FRESCOBALDI

CASTELLO DI NIPOZZANO
CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA 2018

2018 Frescobaldi Castello Di Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva
Castello di Nipozzano is an ancient stronghold of Florence over 1000 years old and the most prized of the Frescobaldi family’s land holdings. Historical documents about the fine wines of Nipozzano date back to the Renaissance period, when famous artists such as Donatello were among the regular clientele.
 
Frescobaldi wines represent the heritage of the Tuscan landscape, and their Sangiovese-dominate 2018 Chianti Rufina Riserva has an authentic, rustic Italian charm. Fermented in stainless steel before maturing for a minimum of two years barriques, this remarkable 96 Point Chianti Riserva enchants with penetrating fruit, classic spice, vast complexity, and structure that’s easy to enjoy for less than $30.
 
FRESCOBALDI
CASTELLO DI NIPOZZANO
CHIANTI RUFINA RISERVA 2018
 
Your Price: $26.99
 
 
“A crunchy Rùfina mainly from 1970s Sangiovese vines with dashes of both local heritage and international varieties, too. Fermentation in stainless steel precedes 24 months in concrete and large, second-fill oak vats. Its bright scarlet hues mirror equally bright and deliciously savoury fruit. The compact palate provides coherent interplay between fruit and tannin with no sense of overripeness or oaky angularity. It’s mouthwatering now, but resist so its texture evens out fully. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.”
96 Points
2018 Aldenalli Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2018 Aldenalli Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

ALDENALLI

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2018

2018 Aldenalli Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Alden and Emeril Lagasse developed the Aldenalli brand together with Alli and Dan Kosta, collectively aiming to produce Pinot Noirs from the Sonoma Coast with as much character as their esteemed reputations in the food and wine industry. Dan is an award-winning winemaker and Kosta Browne co-founder, and Emeril is a celebrity chef and proprietor of many successful restaurants all over the country.
 
The 2018 Aldenalli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a cuvée of three vineyards; Campbell Ranch, giving elegance and freshness, and Roger’s Creek and Sunchase Vineyards from the Petaluma Gap, adding luscious body, tannic structure, and earthy spice. This wine team matched their passion behind creating this wine with its intensity and concentration of bright flavors and exhilarating power to produce a wine diverse enough to pair with just about any dish you can throw at it.
 
ALDENALLI
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2018
Retails at: $56
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Rich and well-structured, with concentrated dark plum, cherry and raspberry flavors that are filled with plenty of Asian spice accents. Ends with notes of dark chocolate and cream on the mineral-filled finish, with peppery hints. Drink now through 2025.”
93 Points
2019 Prisoner Cabernet Sauvingnon Napa Valley

2019 Prisoner Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

PRISONER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Prisoner Cabernet Sauvingnon Napa Valley
Impressively rich and concentrated, The Prisoner Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is a wine made in a similar fashion and style as The Prisoner Red Blend but with Cabernet Sauvignon as the main blending component. Director of Winemaking Chrissy Wittman works closely with a team of experienced growers in Napa Valley, and hand selects vineyard blocks that best fit the profile of her spellbinding wines unhindered by tradition.
 
Chrissy blended in small percentages of Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Charbono for the extra rich mouthfeel well known by Prisoner drinkers worldwide. It aged in French and American oak, giving the wine a signature spice rack of flavors and silky smooth finish. Our panel was impressed by this wine’s stunning concentration, superior richness, and riveting flavor profile, guaranteed to delight fans of rich, inky-style Napa Cabs.
 
PRISONER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Sleek, with cassis and plum notes laced with subtle alder and tobacco notes. The polished finish has a pretty flicker of savory. Drink now through 2027.”
91 Points
 
“The Prisoner Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 begins with a deep, rich nose of black and blue fruits, toasted coconut, sweet vanilla, and wood spice. The palate is lush and rich, with deep, ripe blackberry and sweet black currants combined with espresso, baker’s chocolate, and tobacco notes.”
90 Points
2017 Alba De Domus Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Maipo Valley

2017 Alba De Domus Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Maipo Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonChileKevin VogtMaipo Valley

ALBA DE DOMUS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLEND
MAIPO VALLEY 2017

2017 Alba De Domus Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Maipo Valley
The Peña family was one of the first to plant Cabernet Sauvignon in 1970 on the foothills of the Andes in the Alto Maipo, an elevated part of the Maipo Valley known for a number of the region’s best wines today. Before the family knew their vineyard’s potential, they sold fruit to some of the country’s top wineries, resulting in many of Chile’s most sought-after wines.
 
Clos Quebrada de Macul is a single vineyard on low-yielding hillside sites producing wines with deeper color, more structured tannins, and concentration. The 2017 Alba de Domus experienced low yields across the region, meaning that sloped vineyards with altitude saw meager production, increasing concentration and contributing to the lengthy and glorious finish.
 
ALBA DE DOMUS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLEND
MAIPO VALLEY 2017
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“The 2017 Alba de Domus shows some toasty aromas and abundant ripe fruit. It’s a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, quite different from previous years with a lot more Merlot. It matured in 90% new French oak barrels for 16 to 18 months, and the wine still feels quite marked by the élevage….”
92 Points
 
“Very savory, with eucalyptus, bay leaf and olive notes paving the way for dried berry and cherry flavors, which are framed by fresh acidity. Ends with a note of kirsch and a slight tug of tannins. Distinctive but will have its fans. Drink now through 2026.”
92 Points
2019 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2019 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

BLACK POWDER

2019 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2019 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Exploding onto the Cabernet scene like a stick of dynamite, we introduced Black Powder last year, in their maiden vintage, a phenomenon that developed an instant cult-like following for its explosive flavors, profound depth, and superior quality. Their secret lies in their vineyard sourcing, with this Cabernet coming from an undisclosed site on Oakville’s volcanic Eastside, where you’d expect and would pay over $150 per bottle for wines from the same vineyard. 
 
Setting his sights on creating wines that blow holes in industry norms, Bobby Moy passed his trial-by-fire in the wine industry mentoring under Thomas Rivers Brown before founding Black Powder. The newly released 2019 vintage is a richly concentrated offering, potent, lush, and of the caliber you’d look for from a great Oakville Vineyard, but priced far less than you’d expect.
 
BLACK POWDER
2019 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“The 2019 Black Powder Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon has beautiful aromatics and opens with violets, cassis, plums, graphite, and cola. The palate is plush with blueberries, cloves, and chocolate for a long, enjoyable finish. The depth of flavor concentration, firm tannins, and fresh acidity give this wine the perfect structure for aging and further flavor development. Drink now through 2030.”
94 Points
2019 Vicarious Pinot Noir By Modus Operandi Sonoma Coast

2019 Vicarious Pinot Noir By Modus Operandi Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Fort Ross SeaviewKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUSA

VICARIOUS

BY MODUS OPERANDI
PINOT NOIR 2019
SONOMA COAST

2019 Vicarious Pinot Noir By Modus Operandi Sonoma Coast
Jason Moore of Modus Operandi Cellars is a self-taught winemaker who developed a passion for wine while working in fine dining restaurants. At 24, he moved to Napa, where immense self-discipline and valuable mentors helped shape his winemaking style of crafting deep, intensely captivating, balanced wines.
 
The Vicarious Collection is a readily drinkable, crowd-pleasing selection to simplify the sometimes overwhelming world of wine by offering a product made without snobbery and over-delivers on quality at an affordable price. The 2019 Pinot Noir is sourced from small vineyards along the Sonoma Coast, focusing on the Fort Ross-Seaview/Russian River/Occidental regions for a fresh essence of bright fruit ripened by the California sun.
 
VICARIOUS
BY MODUS OPERANDI
PINOT NOIR 2019
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The Vicarious Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2019 immediately struck a chord when I tasted it. The nose begins with bright, zesty, classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir aromas, including red cherries, fresh berries, cola, spring flowers, and light baking spice. The balanced palate has a beautiful combination of brighter and darker fruits, beautifully blending the bright freshness with concentrated flavors and length. This bottling is a high-quality Pinot Noir at a modest price.”
93 Points