Proving that Italian varietals can produce stunning wines outside of Italy… Winemaker Brian Terrizzi is on a mission to give these varietals a voice, from an area that he found perfectly suited for Italian grape varieties. With cuttings from some of Italy’s top wine Estate’s planted in the similar soils of Paso Robles, his wines are gaining world-wide acclaim. After honing his skills at Rosenblum Cellars, winemaker Brian Terrizzi gained more valuable first-hand experience with Italian varietals, working for Paolo DeMarchi at Isole e Olena in Tuscany. Each of his new releases has stunning purity, balance and delineation, and each one simply put a smile on my face. If you haven’t experienced these sacred Italian varietals grown in the perfect California climate, you’ll want to try a mixed case. You’ll be surprised by how profound each wine is.
You may order each wine individually below, or click on the 3 bottle image above to order a mixed 15-Pack which includes 5 bottles of each. His production is tiny with just 2 to 6 barrels of each of the below wines produced. I strongly recommend securing some before they run out…
2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
VON STRASSER
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN
When I look back at my top-selling wine of all time, which was the 2007 Ascent Diamond Mountain Cabernet, I can’t help but to find similarities in Von Strasser’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was also created exclusively from Diamond Mountain fruit. An idyllic expression of the areas distinct volcanic terroir, this stunningly elegant and penetrating wine saturates your taste buds with an abundance of blackberry cassis, mineral laced raspberry, Ghirardelli chocolate and roasted coffee. The overall texture, is both deep and elegant and foreshadows the long and expansive finish. It’s rare to find a Diamond Mountain Cabernet that we can offer you , and this is the first time since Ascent that we’ve found one for you…
Von Strasser was a fixture on Diamond Mountain for more than two decades and while they sold the vineyard in 2015, they kept the brand, and purchased a new winery on Silverado Trail where the wines are now being made. Von Strasser gained valuable experience at Trefethen and Newton wineries and he has extensive experience working with Diamond Mountain fruit. His 2013 Cabernet is drinking so beautifully right now, it was astonishing how elegantly this wine hits your palate and it continues to impress all the way through the finish.
VON STRASSER
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $50.00/btl
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Winery Notes: “Immediate nose is pleasing with dark fruit of blueberry, blackberry and leather layered with flavors of licorice, coffee, pomegranate and subtle earthy undertones. Wrap it up with supple tannins to enjoy now or up to 10 years.”
2014 Barlow Calistoga Merlot
BARLOW
2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA
Many of California’s best Merlots come from the sleepy town of Calistoga, on the Northern-most end of Napa Valley. The area is distinguished by volcanic soils and the largest diurnal temperature variation in Napa Valley. Daytime highs and night time lows span up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and while the hot daytime temperatures allow the grapes to develop deep and compelling flavors, the cool nights help to maintain acidity and structure. With all of the contributing factors working in unison, this area has proven that it can produce some of the best Merlot in California… Just look at last year’s #1 wine in the Wine Spectator. Interestingly, Duckhorn’s iconic 3 Palms Vineyard is just a short distance from Barlow’s Estate Vineyard and I believe the micro-climate on the South-Eastern edge of Calistoga where both of these Merlots originate is perfectly suited to produce some of Napa’s best Merlot.
Barlow’s Estate Vineyard is farmed by father and son team and you can literally taste the care that goes into each bottle. They produce just over 300 cases of their Merlot and at $35/btl the level of quality is literally shocking when you taste it. The 2014 was housed for 22 months in oak and has blossomed for 2 years in the bottle. You simply have to try this…
BARLOW
2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA
Your Price: $34.99/btl
Winery Notes: “The 2014 Barlow Merlot has a deep, concentrated violet-purple color with aromas of rich raspberry, ripe red cherry with an essence of sweet French vanilla. The palate is highly concentrated with deep and generous flavors of currants, blueberries and Bing cherries. The tannins are soft and luxurious and are a great counterpart to the sweet flavors of toasty oak.”
308 Cases Produced
Customers who enjoy Barlow’s Calistoga Merlot, may also enjoy these two terrific Merlots…
2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir
When we introduced the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir in April, we genuinely felt it was WAY too good to be priced where it was. Of course that’s exactly what we strive to bring you, and it simply defines what our tasting panel looks for. Of course, over the years we’ve discovered some truly stunning Pinots that have delivered exceptional quality, but Orrin-Sage set a new bar… This was and still is the best Pinot at this price that we’ve ever featured. It sold out the day that we sent out the offer back in April, but as luck would have it, the winery had a distributor that did not take an order and we grabbed it immediately.
Arising from the rugged Sonoma Mountain AVA, a unique area which gains some of the cooling influence from the Petaluma Gap and produces brilliant Pinot Noir fruit. Bevan, Siduri and Flowers are just a few of the wineries that have crafted Pinots from this unique area. This wine was expertly made by Justin Harmon who gained valuable experience as an intern under Russell Bevan. It has an undeniable meaty character coupled with remarkable weight and perfect balance making it a wine that I truly can’t get enough of… Of course with just 6 barrels produced, don’t wait…
ORRIN-SAGE
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $49.00/btl
Tasting Notes: “One glance and the brilliantly shimmering transparent cherry red color starts pulling you in. Then comes the enticing nose with ripe black cherries, bright pomegranate, allspice, nutmeg, wet leather, fragrant dried lavender and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, a mesmerizing cascade of flavors including crushed black raspberries, tart cherry, fresh sage leaf, candied lime peel and hints of Asian spices. It’s so alluring that your instinct to swallow will override your will to allow it to linger longer on your palate… and when you do, you’ll be left with a penetrating, long, highly pleasurable finish that absolutely begs for another sip.”
96 Points and where have you been all my life…
Kevin M Vogt, Master Sommelier
Customers that enjoy the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning wines…
COSA OBRA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $32.00/btl
Your Price: $29.99/btl
It’s telling when any one wine is still requested and praised months or even years post offering… When this happens, some might call it storied or legendary, but when a value Pinot Noir makes this list, it simply speaks to the above average quality of the wine. For those of you who tasted, loved and are still talking about 2013 Cosa Obra Pinot, all I can say is, wait until you taste the 2015…
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ORRIN-SAGE
2015 CHARDONNAY
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $48.00/btl
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There’s something mystical about a wine so under-the-radar that all of the information available is written on the bottle… But, etched in your mind are the flavors which write a story of its origins, and the care that went into creating it. That’s the feeling that washed over me when I tasted Orrin-Sage’s 2015 Chardonnay, and it was met with a feeling of blissful disbelief when I found out what we could offer this wine for.
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2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red
WESTWOOD
2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED
In a conversation about the most recognizable blends in the world, it’s rare for the composition of varietals to come up. These wines are branded solely on taste and the location of the grapes. The components that make up the wine are eclipsed by the overall flavors and style. Before we tell you what’s in Westwood’s Legend, we should tell you who’s behind it. The legend was made by Ben Cane who spent 6 years on the winemaking team at Twomey, and David Ramey, one of California’s most legendary winemakers, who helped put many iconic wineries get on the map including Dominus, Rudd Estate and Jericho Canyon… The feeling that I had when tasting this wine was one of euphoria and sheer contentment. When I found out I could offer this wine to you I jumped at the chance.
This legend arose from the bio-dynamically farmed Annadel Gap Estate Vineyard located between Mt Hood and Sonoma Mountain. The area is heavily influenced by morning fog and high-winds, and the variety of soil types lend to the wines vast complexity. The flavors are intriguing and balanced and introduce themselves in a silky and enchanting style that make this wine as unique as it is delicious. It’s already earned 95 points from Tasting Panel Magazine, don’t hesitate to secure your case.
WESTWOOD
2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $44.00/btl
From Tasting Panel: “This proprietary red blend (25% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 15% Zinfandel and 10% Tannat) is sourced [mostly from] the estate vineyard, situated between Mt. Hood and the Sonoma Mountains. The perfume is primarily floral: gardenia, red rose petals – with accents on red plum and an echo of black pepper. The palate is a silk road with gritty chocolate tannins. But the ruby slippers that carry you down the path bursts with red plum, dark chocolate cherries, exotic jasmine and grilled meat with soy sauce. The finish is pleasurable with a creamy cedar note.” 95 Points
Customers that enjoy Westwood’s Legend may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…
HORSE & PLOW
2014 GRENACHE
BLOCKHOUSE VINEYARD
Retails at: $34.00/btl
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Horse & Plow’s single vineyard Grenache is from Yountville, just a stone’s throw from our shop, and it completely rocked my world when I tasted it. This beautifully proportioned and profoundly pleasing red should be the wikipedia reference for California Grenache. With a round, velvet lined core, the 2014 envelopes your palate in a bumper crop of plump, juicy flavors with red plum, wild berries, mineral, cocoa and subtle spice.
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SANS LIEGE
2015 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY BLEND
Your Price: $29/btl
Made in a magnetic style that draws you in with lavish aromas that become increasingly compelling with aeration, Sans Liege’s Southern Rhone inspired blend The Offering is wine that I simply love. A remarkable fusion of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2015 saturates your taste buds with a velvety texture, intermixed with vibrant red fruits, crème de cassis, juicy blackberries, and savory spices that you coming back for more. |
2015 Cru9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
CRU9
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2015 NAPA VALLEY
When we first introduced CRU9’s 2014 Cabernet, everybody that tried it couldn’t stop talking about how great it was for the price. All I can say about the 2015 is that you may want to keep your lips sealed on our little secret here… It’s even better than the 2014 and with a complete production of just 4 barrels or 100 cases, be sure to secure yours before the word gets out… The 2015 bears a powerful yet inviting voice and cascades across the palate with stunning clarity. At the winery retail of $60/btl I’m all in… At $39.99/btl, we bought every bottle that we could… If you choose to place your order on our website, you will need code cru920 to unlock this low price.
Carved from a secret vineyard sources in Oakville, St. Helena and Rutherford, the 2015 exhibits all the best traits of the vintage. On the palate, waves of concentrated black cherry, velvety cassis, espresso roast and chocolate raspberry mousse circulate and add new dimensions as the wine opens up. Notably, CRU9 also gives back and helps support two nonprofit women shelters, Ruby’s Place in CA and House of Hope in IA (read more). Every time you buy a bottle of CRU9, you also help level the playing field for survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse, and homelessness.
CRU9
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $60.00/btl
Tasting Notes: “Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2015 has a deep purple color offering a penetrating nose of crushed blackberries, bing cherry, deep black currants scorched minerally earth and hints of cinnamon spice box. A stunning example that is penetrating and focused with a taught, broad shouldered structure and linear style, balanced with concentrated red and black fruits and dusty tannins that cut a swath across your palate and lingers on and on. Drink now through 2028.”
95 Points Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
Customers that enjoy Cru9’s Cabernet Sauvignon, may also enjoy these two terrific wines from Cru9…
CRU 9
2015 PINOT NOIR
SEE YOU IN YOUR DREAMS
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $48.00/btl
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Tasting Notes: “A sweetly perfumed Pinot Noir with a compellingly sultry nose of dried violets, ripe raspberries, tart red cherries, spiced cola beans and dried green tea. On the palate, it is supple and lush with crushed blueberries, tart cranberry, candied lime peel and an exceptionally long finish that lasts for over a minute. An exceptional effort that drinks great now, but will age gracefully for years… Drink now through 2024.” 94+ Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
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CRU9
2016 CHARDONNAY
As Ever…
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $38.00/btl
Tasting Notes: “This lovely, graciously styled Chardonnay has a beautiful nose of orange marmalade, lemon blossom, citrus oil, wild flowers and chamomile tea. The palate follows through with a mouth watering array of ripe pear, toasted hazelnut, butter cream, subtle toasted oak notes, combined with lively acidity. Nuanced, sumptuous and nicely layered, it has a beautifully soft-textured finish. Drink this classically styled Russian River Chardonnay now and over the next few years…” 93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
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2015 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir
ETUDE
2015 PINOT NOIR
GRACE BENOIST RANCH
With around two hundred 90+ point scores under their belt, Etude is the reigning King of the Carneros AVA. Founded in 1982 by wine country icon Tony Soter, I can’t think of any other Carneros winery that defines the AVA as well as Etude, and now nearly four decades later they remain a paragon. With all of the hallmarks that make the Carneros AVA so wondrous, you can almost smell the fog from the San Pablo Bay in their 2015 Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot. Classic Carneros down to the core and at $39.99/btl it will put a smile on your face…
Tucked along the Northwest corner of Carneros, Etude’s Grace Benoist Ranch benefits from a strong maritime influence and rocky, volcanic soils, making it ideally suited for Pinot Noir. A correlation of the best grapes from individual vineyard blocks on Grace Benoist Ranch, this wine always tells the story of a particular vintage from a very unique place. The 2015 is such a good story that you won’t be able to put it down until the last page has turned.
ETUDE
2015 PINOT NOIR
GRACE BENOIST RANCH
Retails at: $47.00/btl
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 14%
“… the 2015 Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch has a savory, sautéed herbs-laced nose over a core of red currants, cranberries and Bing cherries plus hints of dusty earth and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with savory/earthy flavors, framed by chewy tannins and finishing with a lot of interesting layers.” 92 Points
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“... a deeply colored effort that has medium-bodied notes of red currants, cherries, campfire and forest floor. It has plenty of texture and a charming, rounded, delicious style ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.” 91 points |
Customers that enjoy Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir, may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
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2015 Juslyn Perry’s Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red
JUSLYN
2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN
The best wines I taste leave me with an indelible stamp in my mind and an overall feeling that becomes part of the wine’s identity. The first impression I had when I tasted Juslyn’s 2015 Perry’s Blend was one of shattered expectations, and those were set high, given the high quality of wines that the winery has produced over the last several vintages. They’ve also attracted some incredible talent… Assisting in their constant pursuit of perfection, consulting winemaker Angelina Mondavi, who’s worked alongside Jayson Woodbridge at Hundred Acre… At the retail price of $95/btl, this is a brilliant bottle of wine and a great representation of Spring Mountain terroir.
At 81% Cabernet Sauvignon this vintage of Perry’s Blend is stunningly powerful and oozes sweet mulberries, chocolate covered cherries, pen ink, graphite and hints of savory spices. This wine conveys all of the noble traits that make Spring Mountain so desired, and immediately out of the bottle it’s absolutely rocking and promises another 12-15 years of enjoyment. I’m predicting mid 90’s scores aren’t far behind and I wouldn’t wait for the reviews to get yours…
JUSLYN
2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $95.00/btl
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Tasting Notes: “…Enticing aromas of ripe blueberries, rich blackberries, powerful cassis, black currants and delicate floral notes rise from the glass. On the palate, terraced layers of wild red and black berries, cocoa powder, black plum and pen ink build over time. Compact and rich with a focused center palate of densely concentrated fruit intermixed with spring flowers and hints of pencil lead and subtle sweet vanilla. Powerful on the palate, with firm, slightly dusty tannins, this wine is simply gorgeous now and promises another 12-15 years of enjoyment.”
2015 Domain Tortochot Morey-Saint-Denis Red Burgandy
DOMAINE TORTOCHOT
MOREY-SAINT-DENIS
2015 RED BURGUNDY
Jacques Devauges of Clos de Tart, says, “To make bad wine in 2015, one must wake up and say to yourself, ‘I will make bad wine’.”
What’s all the buzz about? Vintages like 2015 are as rare as they are extraordinary, and after a mild winter and Spring rains, the vines flowered early allowing the grapes near perfect conditions to develop profound flavors. At Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, not a single grape was de-stemmed and there was virtually no sorting needed. The region of Cote du Nuits produced many profound wines, earning an overall vintage rating of 98 Points from the Wine Spectator.
Domaine Tortochot’s 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis Red Burgundy romanced our palates seductive red fruits and sensual charm, opening up to baked raspberries, holiday spices, fresh unsweetened cherry cake and sappy minerality. Embodying all of the hallmark characteristics that lure me in to Morey-Saint-Denis, Tortochot’s 2015 is round and alive with enthusiastic red fruits, breadth and energy. With very few cases of this wine available in the US, here’s a chance to own a stunning 2015 Burgundy at a price that will make you smile.
Tasting Notes: “The 2015 Morey-Saint-Denis from Domaine Tortochot was matured in toasty French oak and has an elegant, fresh, yet minerally bouquet with wild forest mushrooms and white flower scents swirling through the red and black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with subtle tannins, supple blackberry and delicate raspberry fruit. It then finishes with a very pretty touch of cola and hints of sweet vanilla during the very satisfying, complex finish.”
Customers that enjoy Domaine Tortochot Morey-Saint-Denis, may also enjoy these two terrific wines..
2014 Leviathan Proprietary Red
LEVIATHAN
2014 PROPRIETARY RED
With a reputation as one of Napa Valley’s most revered winemakers, Andy Erickson made Screaming Eagle from 2005-2010 producing two perfect 100 Point Wines. Beyond that, he also assisted in making wine at Harlan Estate as well as crafting wines for Ovid, Arietta, Staglin, Dalla Valle and his own label Favia. Aiming to create an intriguing, unique red wine, drawn from some of the best vineyards in Northern California, Leviathan has a monstrous core of mystical black and red fruits layered into a flashy and inspiring red blend. Antonio Galloni alerts his readers: “At $40 a bottle, the appropriately named Leviathan is one of the best values in California.”
With fruit sourced from 7 different appellations, including Oakville, Coombsville and Carneros, the 2014 blend marries Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. With aromatics as compelling as a mythical Leviathan, the 2014 surges from the deep with an indomitable cascade brambly blackberry, cherry pipe tobacco, red plum, black chocolate and spice box. At $39.99/btl, you may want to secure a case or two before this mythical beast vanishes…
LEVIATHAN
2014 PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $39.99/btl
From Vinous, “The 2014 Leviathan is a big, juicy wine that will appeal to readers who enjoy flashy, extroverted reds. Copious red cherry jam, red plum, spice, vanillin and oak are pushed forward in this flamboyant, racy Cabernet Sauvignon-based red. At $40 a bottle, the appropriately named Leviathan is one of the best values in California.” 90 Points
Cabernet Sauvignon 42% | Syrah 30% | Cabernet Franc 21% | Merlot 7%
Customers who enjoy Leviathan Proprietary Red may also enjoy these two terrific Red Blends…