2016 Anthill Farms Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2016 Anthill Farms Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

ANTHILL FARMS

2016 Anthill Farms Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2016 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

 
I’ll always remember Anthill Farms as the micro-produced Pinot Noir that was kept hidden behind the counter at The Wine Shop. It was so completely under-the-radar that unless you overheard a conversation, or came across some inside information, most people wouldn’t have known it existed.  The scarcity of this brand hasn’t changed much since then.  Their first vintage in 2004 was just 8 1/2 barrels and now they produce around a dozen small-lot Pinot Noirs and a Chardonnay.  The founders all met while working in the cellar at Williams-Selyem winery and they’ve been able to limit the brands exposure and produce absolutely brilliant wines.  At $39.99 a bottle, don’t let this one scurry away.  
 
Created from two of the coolest sites in the Sonoma Coast AVA, the first of which comes from the edge of the Petaluma Gap, and the second from a Ridge near the Pacific Ocean.  While both locations are geographically distinct, they’re also linked by the direct influence of the Pacific’s cool, marine air. Both vineyards give the grapes a long, cool hang-time so they can develop profound flavors, but with enough acidity to keep them lively and fresh.  If you love tiny production Pinot Noirs that won’t be found in your neighbors cellar, this one’s for you… 
 
ANTHILL FARMS
2016 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
 
From Vinous: “The 2016 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is endowed with terrific depth in this vintage. Beautifully expressive and resonant, the 2016 offers notable richness in its succulent red cherry, plum and spice nuances. This open-knit, juicy Pinot will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is a fabulous appellation-level Pinot.“ 92 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Anthill Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 
2014 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
TROMBETTA
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl 

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From The Wine Enthusiast: “The oak treatment is supportive only, with the wine aged in French oak, 25% of it new, for nine months. Restraint allows it to remain soft and silky on the palate, with inviting characteristics of white pepper, lavender, rose, cranberry, strawberry and vanilla bean.” 93 Points
DANIEL
2014 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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From PinotFile: “Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Inviting aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry and dried herbs draw you into the glass. A forceful attack of delicious dark cherry fruit expands in the mouth, carrying over to a finish with respectable intensity and a burst of acidity.” 92 Points
2014 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $70-$80Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

SILVER OAK

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY 

2014 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Canonized as one of the original Cult Cabernet Sauvignons in the New World, in part by their singular approach of using American oak barrels and additional bottle age that combine to project distinctive dark berries, dried herbs, and subtle dill notes. This sets Silver Oak apart as one of the most recognizable names and unique tastes in premium level Cabernet Sauvignon.  With a proven track record that spans more than 4 decades of producing wines that are incredibly age-worthy, yet enjoyable upon release, Silver Oak has carved out a category with their distinctive style, and it’s resonated deeply within their fan base.  In a stellar vintage like 2014, many of those qualities that make Silver Oak so distinctive become even more enhanced. 
 

Aged for 24 months in American oak before spending more than a year inside bottle, the 2014 has enormous volume on the palate, with intense dark berries, vanilla bean, subtle tobacco, dusty cedar, dried herbs, fresh dill and Kalamata olives.  With allocations of less than half of last year, the only challenge to this vintage will be having enough available to satisfy demand…   

 
SILVER OAK
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Our 2014 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a garnet color with a ruby red rim and bluish tint. It has an alluring nose of chocolate-covered strawberries, vanilla, nutmeg, truffle and sage. On the palate, it has a broad yet delicate entry and offers cranberry flavors. These flavors are complemented by raspberry and pluot with savory black olive characters on the mid-palate. The wine finishes with silky tannins, cedar and bramble flavors with excellent length and return. This wine is drinkable upon release, but given proper cellaring conditions can be enjoyed through 2038.“
Cabernet Sauvignon 97.7% | Merlot 1.3% | Petit Verdot .5% | 0.3% Malbec .3% | Cabernet Franc .2% 

 

Customers who enjoy Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet may also want to check these out… 
2014 Twomey Napa Valley Merlot 2014 Silver Oak 1.5L Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
TWOMEY
2014 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Black cherry, roasted meat, wet soil, raspberry jam, mocha, loose pipe tobacco, dried blueberry, and brioche. Velvet entry, structured mid-palate, mouthwatering, bright cherry, blackberry, vanilla flavors, and an enticing texture.”
SILVER OAK (1.5L)
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $185/1.5L

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Winery Notes: “… an alluring nose of chocolate-covered strawberries, vanilla, nutmeg, truffle and sage. On the palate, it has a broad yet delicate entry and offers cranberry flavors. These flavors are complemented by raspberry and pluot with savory black olive characters on the mid-palate… can be enjoyed through 2038.“
2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

LOBO

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 ATLAS PEAK

2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
What makes this Cabernet outstanding? For starters it’s an incredible value.  Even more special are the unique qualities, characteristics and nuances that can only be found in top-quality mountain Cabernet.  In the same way you choose different clothing each day, there’s something really special about having a distinctive bottle of wine you can select that simply makes you feel great.  Atlas Peak Cabernets have firm structure, infused with rocky mineral elements endemic to Atlas Peak.  At $80/btl this wine still puts a smile on your face…your hair will be bristling if you don’t pull the trigger.
 
The winery’s flagship bottling of the Atlas Peak Estate Cabernet was carved from Randy’s (currently being rebuilt after the ’17 fire) home vineyard which is perched at 1,350 feet elevation and planted in volcanic, rocky soils.  The vineyard architect selected tight spacing to encourage the vines to struggle, which in turn helps to create the incredibly expressive and deeply concentrated flavors.  Housed for 24 months in oak barrels, this 2014 is howlingly good now, with flavors that stalk your taste buds with perfect balance and precision.  Don’t be the lone wolf that misses out on this one…
 
LOBO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 ATLAS PEAK
Retails at:  $80/btl
 
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Showcasing classic Mountain fruit character, the Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 displays a pristinely focused and firm bounty of red currant, black cherry and red plum, perfectly balanced with the fine grained yet slightly dusty tannins.  Secondary characteristics of cherry cough drop, sweet tobacco leaf, spice box,  fresh sage leaf and sweet vanilla oak dance in perfect step with the concentrated fruit, then are followed by a long, velvety finish.  First impressions are always important and looking back at my initial tasting notes, I wrote ‘Wow, this is really killer stuff…’ Drink now through 2030.“
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2015 Shafer One Point Five Stags' Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaStags Leap

SHAFER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 ONE POINT FIVE
STAGS LEAP DISTRICT 

2015 Shafer One Point Five Stags' Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon
When comparing Shafer to other Cult wines produced in Napa Valley, the obvious difference is that the majority of Cult wine producers make a single namesake wine under that label.  Shafer’s flagship wine is their Hillside Select Cabernet, but they also produce Chardonnay, Merlot, TD9 and their One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon and more under the Shafer moniker.  Of course when you catch Shafer in a line-up with other top wines, it’s regularly a favorite…  Their 2015 One Point Five Cabernet has terrific power, energy and focus and at under $100/btl it’s a terrific wine to add to your cellar.   Just don’t wait too long to get yours, because there’s never enough of the One Point Five Cabernet to satisfy demand.
 
The 2015 One Point Five arose from two Stags Leap District Vineyards, one of which borders their iconic Hillside Estate Vineyard… Housed for 20 months in Allier & Tronçais French Oak barrels, the 2015 is built around a core of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon then lifted higher with additions of Merlot and Malbec.  At under $100/btl, don’t let this one pass by.  
 
SHAFER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 ONE POINT FIVE
STAGS LEAP DISTRICT
 
Your Price: $94.99/btl 
 
“The 2015… is a fabulous example of the year at its best. Super-ripe red cherry, pomegranate, mint, rose petal and spice infuse this voluptuous, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. Readers looking for a wine to drink with minimal cellaring will find much to admire in this sexy, racy Cabernet… ” 93 Points
“Strikingly complex and engaging, offering tiers of flavor, including dark berry, cedar, graphite and oak, presented in a style that lets the elements speak through the tannins. Drink now through 2030.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon The Leapmay also enjoy these two terrific Cabs…  
2014 Stags' Leap The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Husic Palm Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon
STAGS’ LEAP
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 THE LEAP 
Retails at:  $100.00/btl
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, “The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon flagship, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon The Leap  Estate Reserve has an inky, deep garnet-purple color and nose of graphite, Indian spices, sautéed herbs and dusty earth over a core of blackberries and blueberries, plus wafts of cedar and menthol. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate with youthful, pure black berry and exotic spice expressions, with a firm backbone of fine tannins and an invigorating lift, finishing long and earthy.”  94+ Points
HUSIC
2014 PALM TERRACE 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $67.99/btl 

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2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino

2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino

with No Comment $60-$70BrunelloBrunelloKevin VogtTuscany

LIVIO SASSETTI

2013 PERTIMALI 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
If you could only drink only one Brunello di Montalcino, what would it be?  Robert Parker wrote “it would have to be Pertimali.”  The only problem is they’re a microscopic Italian producer owning only 7 hectares (about 17 acres), and they’re highly-desired…  That desire turns into more of a frenzy when Pertimali scores 98 Points like it has this vintage, and we don’t expect our allocation to last.  Seldom do I taste a wine that’s so incredibly enthralling that it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up… This one did and Antonio Galloni wrote that Livio Sassetti is “One of Italy’s finest,” and they’ve been making hits since 1982…  With the near perfect score this vintage, my only guarantee is that once you taste it, you will wish you bought more…
 
Absolutely hands-on in every way possible, each individual wine is hand-tended by Livio and his two sons.  With attention to every detail, their Brunello has become a Sommelier favorite, gracing the Grand Award winning wine lists of Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and many others as well…  Because of the minuscule production, there’s simply never enough of this wine to satisfy demand.  I strongly recommend securing your case, before this one runs out… 
 
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 12%
 
From James Suckling: “This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty. Better after 2021 but already a joy to taste.” 98 Points

 

Customers who enjoy Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2013 Parusso Barolo Bussia 2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia
PARUSSO
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY 
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

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From James Suckling: “This is one of the greatest wines I have ever had from here. So much ripe cherry, raspberry and floral character. Medium body, super-refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much going on here…”  97 Points
ALDO CONTERNO 
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 

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From James Suckling: “...Shows a beautiful complexity of ripe fruit such as cherries as well as orange peel undertones with lemon and pineapple highlights. Medium body and well-defined tannins.”  96 Points
2014 Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

GOLDSCHMIDT

2014 Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
GAME RANCH VINEYARD
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY

 
Napa Valley has an untold number of microclimates, which are small pockets of land where the climate differs substantially from the surrounding areas.  This is one of the leading factors why some of the best Napa Valley wine Estates are clustered closely together. Hence, Nick Goldschmidt’s Game Ranch Vineyard in Oakville… It has immediate neighbors that include Plumpjack, Rudd, Groth and Screaming Eagle.  It reminds me of an Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon on steroids, because it’s so incredibly deep, full and concentrated.  As the wine opens up it tells a story of the vineyard and it’s a book that you won’t want to put down…
 
Cellared for an impressive 31 months in oak barrels, this is a classic depiction of Oakville Cabernet is reminiscent of Groth Reserve and Meyer Bonney’s with broad shoulders and deep, captivating flavors that unwind methodically as the wine opens in the glass.  Created by talented winemaker Nick Goldschmidt whom many of you recognize from his Crazy Creek Cabernet… arguably the best value in California Cabernet.  I once heard Robert Mondavi quote Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  The Game Ranch vineyard certainly stands tall among the giants that surround it..
 
GOLDSCHMIDT
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
GAME RANCH VINEYARD
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $89.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 15%
 
Winery Notes: “Deep Byzantium purple; ripe black cherry and black currant aromas with violet, boysenberry and currant. Intense dark fruit flavors beautifully meld within a gorgeous framework of French Oak. Shows bright acid and firm, super-fine grained tannins. Dark chocolate and smoke in the long finish.“
 
Customers who enjoy Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard   Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Oakville Cabs…
2014 Paradigm Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon
PARADIGM
2014 OAKVILLE ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $84.00/btl
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl

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When considering a list of Napa Valley wineries that best represent all of the qualities, charm and history that the area has to offer, Paradigmis etched deeply on my list. This absolutely stunning wine made by Heidi Barrett comes from the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley, an area widely considered the epicenter of Grand Cru quality Cabernet Sauvignon.  Paradigm’s neighbors include icons, Dominus, Harlan Estate, Opus One, To-Kalon and Martha’s Vineyard… The average price of wine from those vineyards is likely well over $200 per bottle… At $79.99/btl Paradigm tips the scales with groundbreaking levels of quality.
CABAUD
2013 MON HOMMAGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $130/btl
 

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Tasting Notes: “A dense purple color is accompanied by mesmerizing wet stone and liquid minerals interwoven with blackberry jam, crushed blueberries, red currant and spring flowers.  The full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin, and extraordinary richness combine in a hypnotic way. It is the wine equivalent of sliding in between satin sheets and finding warmth and suppleness, but also balanced firmness and incredible tone, all in perfect balance.  Let your mind wander…”  97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50CarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

LAIRD

2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH

2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir
I love it when a wine has flavors are so deep and penetrating, that it might be described as chilling, spine-tingling and scary good.  All three of these descriptors came time mind when I tasted Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir.  It was authored by Brian Mox, who spent several vintages crafting the high-scoring Lewis wines, always ranking among the best in the Valley.  It comes from an incredible Pinot Noir Vineyard in Carneros where vineyard workers have long reported seeing children between the rows and down by the creek… that would vanish when approached.  Eerie!  With just a few hundred cases produced, most of the production goes to their wine club.   I strongly recommend securing yours before it vanishes… 
 
Made in a deep, velvety style that I love, Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, black cherries, vanilla and spices.  If you like your Pinot Noirs a little fuller bodied, deep, and rich, I strongly recommend a case of this limited release.
 
LAIRD
2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl
YOU SAVE 10% 
 
Winery Notes: “With enticing garnet hues, that leads way to aromas of fresh raspberries, toasty oak, Bing cherries and baking spice. With a medium body and a balanced smooth palate that opens to distinct layers of wild strawberry, vanilla & sweet cherry compote...”
 
Customers who enjoy Laird’s Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding wines from Laird…
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2014 Laird Phantom Ranch Pinot Noir
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
When Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.  
LAIRD
2014 PINOT NOIR
PHANTOM RANCH
Retails at:  $55/btl
 
 
Composed in a chillingly deep, velvety style that I love, and we don’t have anything else quite like it on our tasting menu in Yountville…  Laird’s 2014  Phantom Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, spring flowers, vanilla and spices. If you enjoy full-bodied, deep, velvety Pinots, I strongly recommend a case of this limited release.
2012 Anantaah Bella's Blend Spring Mountain District Proprietary Red

2012 Anantaah Bella’s Blend Spring Mountain District Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSpring MountainUSA

ANANTAAH

2012 BELLA’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

2012 Anantaah Bella's Blend Spring Mountain District Proprietary Red
There’s something magical that happens when a powerful mountain blend has a few extra years in the bottle…  As good as they can be at release, they really blossom into something even more incredible with a little extra age.  Anantaah’s 2012 Bella’s blend is a prime example and it was created in a deep and elegant style that added to it’s ability to age.  And coming from a mountainous area where the bottle prices are generally as steep as the terrain, it’s extremely rare to come across a wine like this at under $80/btl. 
 
Originating from the Madrone Vineyard located at 1,900 feet in elevation, this deep, velvety red possesses a treasure chest of layers and remarkable balance.  Perpetually changing and evolving in the glass, layer after layer of impeccably well-balanced flavors coat your palate in an abundance of dark fruits and sweet, velvety tannins.  Aged for nearly two full years in barrels and now with around 3 1/2 years of development in the bottle, this wine is gorgeous right now and has the structure to go another decade.  
 
ANANTAAH
2012 BELLA’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “… Deep dark purple in color, with the initial aromatics of blackberries. After you roll it around on your palette the dark plum, blackberries and dark cherries open up with a touch of minerality; the finish is long and lingering as the flavors continue to unravel. Wait for the finish….is that a bit of spice…”
2014 Cimarossa Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Cimarossa Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUncategorizedUSA

CIMAROSSA

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
RIVE DI CIMAROSSA

2014 Cimarossa Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
This profound interpretation of Howell Mountain Cabernet was created by legendary winemaker Mia Klein, whose track record includes making wines for Dalla Valle, Spottswoode, Araujo, Viader, and Chappellet, as well as being named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.  Howell Mountain wines are revered for their authoritative power, depth and towering structure and it takes a skilled artisan like Mia Klein to add an element of elegance.  Mia perfectly harnessed each wild and unbridled characteristic and led them down the path of perfect precision. The 2014 oozes inky dark berries, freshly ground coffee, graphite and subtle licorice and continually offers up new elements with aeration. With the average cost of Howell Mountain Cabernet likely well over $100, I wouldn’t wait to add this one to your cellar.
 
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon includes all ten vineyard blocks on Cimarossa’s Estate where elevations range from 1600 to 2100 feet.  Created from five distinct Cabernet clones grown in several different soil types, the 2014 is stunningly complex yet perfectly balanced.  Housed for 22 months in oak, the 2014 has everything that I look for in top-quality Howell Mountain Cabernet and with a touch of elegance that makes it easy to love.
 
CIMAROSSA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
RIVE DI CIMAROSSA
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rive Di Cimarossa has a dense ruby/purple color, classic lead pencil shavings intermixed with blackcurrant, mulberry and blackberry fruit. That dense color is followed by a full-bodied wine with sweet tannin, low acidity and outstanding ripeness and purity. Drink it now and over the next 15-20 years.” 92 Points 
 
Customers who enjoy Cimarossa Howell Mountain Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Mountain wines… 
 
2015 Witchery Howell Mountain Proprietary Reserve
 2015 Juslyn Perry's Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red
WITCHERY
2015 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
TWO BARREL PRODUCTION
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $125/btl
 
Your Price: $89/btl

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JUSLYN
2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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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…
2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro

2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro, Portugal

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPortugalProprietary Red

QUINTA DO VALLADO

2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL 

2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro
If I were to choose just one International wine that I’ve discovered in my career that perfectly represents everything great in a wine, Quinta Do Vallado is it.  And while the texture, flavors and depth are ridiculously irresistible, what I love most about this wine is that it’s incredibly unique and yet it appeals to nearly everyone who tries it. One taste offers a lasting impression of deep red and black fruits, wild complexity and a long and persistent, satiny finish. Portugal’s dry wines are simply making a lot of dedicated, die-hard enthusiasts, and this bottle will push them over th e top.  In fact, on the 2014 Wine Spectator Top 100 list, wines #1, #3 & #4 were all from the Douro region of Portugal, and to me, I’ve tried them all and this one is even better.
 
A fusion of more than 30 grape varietals, Vallado’s 2013 Reserva asserts a crescendo of tightly wound, brilliantly focused fruit, and is more vibrant than a Nadir Afonso painting.  Utilizing fruit from ancient vines more than 100 years old, Quinta do Vallado’s 2015 Reserva has already earned 93 Points from Robert Parker.  Very few cases of the Reserva were imported this year, and having already earned a high score, this one certainly won’t be available for very long. 
 
QUINTA DO VALLADO
2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl
YOU SAVE 15%
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Reserva is a field blend of very old vines (100+ years old), aged for 18 months in an equal blend of new and used barrels. It comes in at 14% alcohol. This was previously seen as a tank sample. Here’s the bottled version in the USA. Reasonably concentrated for the producer’s subregion and the vintage, this actually has fleshed out since I last saw it. Yet it retains that graceful, textured feel, the freshness and the fine fruit. I suspect the wine will show even more elegance as it continues to age… This is going to be a hard-to-resist wine when it hits the table at dinner.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Quinto Do Vallado’s Reserva may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2013 Enzo Bianchi Proprietary Red
 2012 Vik Milla Cala Proprietary Red
ENZO BIANCHI 
2013 PROPRIETARY RED
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 

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From The Wine Enthusiast: “This Cabernet-Malbec-Petit Verdot blend smells smoky and rich, with lemony oak notes. But in the mouth, it’s tight as a drum, with an unbreakable structure. Dark spice and clove notes accent ripe berry fruit that’s not jammy and which has absorbed its oak well. Its firm, tannic finish will stand guard as it ages for a decade or more…”  93 Points, Editor’s Choice
VIK
2012 MILLA CALA
PROPRIETARY RED
MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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From The Wine Spectator: “Rich and refined, delivering unctuous dark fruit and spice flavors that offer a creamy svelteness. Slate and mineral accents linger on the complex finish, with dark chocolate and olive notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Drink now through 2022…”  94 Points