2015 Livio Sassetti Rosso Di Montalcino

2015 Livio Sassetti Rosso Di Montalcino Italy

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin VogtMontalcinoRossoTuscany

LIVIO SASSETTI 2015 Livio Sassetti Rosso Di Montalcino

2015 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

 
Ever wonder why Rosso di Montalcino is so much less expensive than Brunello di Montalcino?  After all, they’re both produced from 100% Sangiovese Grosso grapes grown in the Italy’s iconic Montalcino region.  While legal requirements dictate that Brunello is aged for two years in oak and 4 months in bottle, they are typically aged for a total of 50 months total before release.  Rosso’s are only required to be aged for one year before release, often resulting in a fresher, more vibrant red that can be enjoyed young.  A gorgeous example is from Livio Sassetti and I always jump at the chance to taste any wine from an Iconic producer of Brunello.  Their Brunello is one of the best in the shop and scored 98 Points and is also a favorite of Robert Parker. Antonio Galloni wrote that Livio Sassetti is “One of Italy’s finest.”   At under thirty per bottle, their Rosso is an excellent value.
 
Absolutely hands-on in every way possible, each individual wine produced by Livio Sassetti is hand-tended by Livio and his two sons.  With attention to every detail, their 2015 Rosso is stacked with concentrated red cherries, black plum and intermixed are detailed notes of dried rose petals, violets and spice rack.  I strongly recommend securing your case… You’ll be seriously glad you did.
 
LIVIO SASSETTI
2015 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Ruby red color with purple hues. Deep black plum, cassis, violet, fresh dark earth and herb flavors flow on a silky palate to a deliciously long, velvety finish.”
 
Customers who enjoy Livio Sassetti Rosso di Montalcino may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino 2013 Salcheto Vino Nobile Di Montelpulciano
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

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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
SALCHETO
2013 RISERVA
VINO NOBILE DI MONTELPULCIANO
SANGIOVESE BLEND
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

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From Vinous: “... Powerful and ample, with tons of depth, the 2013 is impressive. Fresh dark cherry, spice, licorice and menthol notes abound in this vibrant, beautifully resonant Vino Nobile…. In a word: superb!”  94 Points
2017 Valravn Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Valravn Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

VALRAVN 2017 Valravn Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 SONOMA COUNTY

 

We occasionally come across a new project so captivating that by the time it hits our palate, we’re left with absolutely no question that it’s going to be a success. In the case of Valravn, it wouldn’t be the first giant success for founder Baron Ziegler… Baron started Banshee wines in 2008, which quickly grew to over 50,000 cases before striking a deal to sell the brand to Billionaire Bill Foley last year.  With a goal of producing approachable, delicious wines with single-vineyard level of quality from Sonoma County, and at prices far less than their counterparts, you can bet that they’ll make a lot of friends along the way.  At under $25 their 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is velvety and opulent without any hard edges.  If you’re searching for the next value Cab to share with your friends, this is it…

Valravn really hit the ground running, and they had a head start by already having established relationships with growers and winemakers which they formed over the last decade while growing the Banshee brand.  Their 2017 Cabernet encompasses fruit from Alexander Valley, Moon Mountain and the Russian River Valley, and it’s made in a showy and velvety style that’s really easy to love.  

 

VALRAVN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $24.99/btl 

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Winery Notes: “Reminiscent of classic ripe-vintage Bordeaux – refined and well defined with a lovely play of savory and sweet.  Cassis, black cherry and blackberry fruit is accompanied by opulent notes of dark chocolate, espresso roast, and graphite. Silky tannins with amazing richness on the palate.“
 
Customers who enjoy Valravn Sonoma County Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Reds…
2014 Enos Estate Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Vista Rutherford Napa Valley Proprietary Red Blend
ENOS
2014 ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $60/btl
 

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Tasting Notes: “This intriguing  Cabernet begins with a compelling nose of black cherries, red currants and cocoa powder, followed by pipe tobacco, toasted hazelnuts and sweet vanilla spice.  On the palate, focused blackberry and chocolate covered cherries intertwine beautifully with a complex, earthy wet clay character along with slightly dusty tannins.  The finish is detailed, long and fresh, without be heavy or cloying. A delight to enjoy now and will age beautifully for a decade or so. Serious wine at a not-so-serious price…”  93+ Points
VISTA
2017 RUTHERFORD
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $23/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “Scintillating aromas of fresh blackberries, tart red currants, cocoa powder and vanilla spice.  The palate is dense, rich and powerful with a beautiful combination of bright red fruit characteristics that perfectly intertwine with deep black fruits including blueberry compote, crushed black raspberries, ripe red plum, baking spices and bittersweet chocolate.  Intense and penetrating, this wine displays concentrated, powerful fruit with a gorgeous center core that finishes with a long, focused finish and slightly dusty tannins.”  92-95 Points

2017 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50Fort Ross SeaviewKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

FLOWERS

2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

 

Flowers is a winery that helped shape Pinot Noir production along the extreme Sonoma Coast through style, consistency and quality.  They began their journey nearly 30 years ago and they helped pioneer the plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in what’s now known as the Fort Ross Seaview AVA.  In 2011, it was approved as its own Appellation within the Sonoma Coast region.  The area is also a source for such notables as Peter Michael, Marcassin, Martinelli Martinelli, Fort Ross and Pahlmeyer, to list a few.  The 2017 is wonderfully energetic and blooms with intense raspberry, wild strawberries, lavender and baking spices.  At under fifty bucks, I highly recommend harvesting some for your cellar.

With attention to every detail, Flowers hand-sorts their fruit on their custom-built shaker table before gently dispersing the berries onto the next sorting table where six sorters assess every cluster before allowing only the best fruit to pass through into the fermenters.  Blossoming after 10 months in oak, this Pinot is indescribably beautiful now and will continue to bear gorgeous fruit for the next decade…

 
FLOWERS
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast gives up intense scents of kirsch, violets, rose hip tea and chocolate-covered cherries with touches of garrigue and dried Provence herbs. Medium-bodied with delicate floral and red fruit layers in the mouth, it has wonderfully satiny tannins and a long, lively finish.”  90 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Flowers Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 
2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2016 Castalia Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
TROMBETTA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “This is a juicy exploration of the coast-a well-made effort that showcases notes of forest floor, black tea and savory pine. The black cherry and currant fruit leans dark and brooding, with an impressively balanced, medium-bodied hold on the palate.”  90 Points
CASTALIA
2016 PINOT NOIR
ROCHIOLI VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

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Arising from one of California’s Grand Cru Vineyards, this Pinot Noir is so enchanting, that it will literally speak to your soul.  A penetrating ruby/purple in the glass, the 2016 is beautifully layered with baked raspberries, warm cranberries, back cherry, roses, shaved chocolates and was carefully guided from grape to bottle by Terry Bering, Cellar Master for Rochioli Vineyards for over two decades…
2013 Kuleto Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Kuleto Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

KULETO

2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, NAPA VALLEY

2013 Kuleto Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

We’re always looking for the best values in Napa Cabernet, and one of the things that we pay critical attention to are Estate wines hewn within a close proximity to other revered vineyards.  Kuleto Estate is located just across Sage Canyon Road from Chappellet, Continuum and Gandona and their Estate Cabernet is an uncanny value at $60.  At this price, it’s honestly not even fair… The vineyard is remarkably diverse with vines planted along ridges and steep hillsides.  The soils, elevations and sub-climates are so complex that they delineated the property into more than 100 distinct micro-blocks.  Their 2013 Estate Cabernet is made up of 24 different micro-blocks.  Our panel was so taken by the quality that we bought every bottle that the distributor had available.  

Composed by seasoned winemaker Dave Lattin, and with a focused richness and elaborate, penetrating flavors, this wine has more than enough structure to age for many years to come.  Pressed in the winery’s state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery, their Estate Cabernet spends 20 months in oak barrels before bottling.  If you love big, full bodied Napa Cabernet Sauvignon without the premium price tag that normally comes with them… This one’s definitely for you.  

 
KULETO
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “From the producer’s estate at over 1,000 feet in elevation, this seamlessly textured wine grabs one’s palate from the start and doesn’t let go. Huckleberry and cedar notes meet bay leaf accents and grippy tannins, all enveloped in smoky oak. It finishes with bright, fresh blackberry.” 92 Points
2015 Paradigm Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Paradigm Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

PARADIGM 2015 Paradigm Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 OAKVILLE ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 
If I were to choose one wine that perfectly expresses Oakville’s notorious complexity, Paradigm would be my first choice.  This absolutely stunning wine made by Heidi Barrett comes from the Western side of Oakville, just South of Beckstoffer’s Iconic To-Kalon Vineyard in an area widely considered the epicenter of Grand Cru quality Cabernet Sauvignon.  Paradigm’s neighbors include icons, Dominus, Harlan Estate, Opus One, and Martha’s Vineyard…  The average price of wine from those vineyards is likely well over $200 per bottle and at $79.99/btl Paradigm tips the scales with groundbreaking levels of quality.
 
A perpetual favorite, the 2015 is made in a style that’s both compact and lush and opens up to cocoa dusted blackberries, dark chocolate, plum and cigar box. Supple tannins wrap effortlessly around your palate in all directions, as a parade of vivid black fruits, black currants, minerals and vanilla bean seduce your senses.  Spending around 18 months in French oak barrels, Paradigm remains one of the best values in the coveted Oakville Appellation.  Here’s a fantastic opportunity to taste a Heidi Barrett made Cabernet, sourced from one of Napa Valley’s crown jewel growing regions, and at a fraction of the price of many of its neighbors…
 
PARADIGM
2015 OAKVILLE ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $84.00/btl
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “The 2015 vintage produced delicious concentrated wines in smaller quantity than normal. This black raspberry colored Cabernet has lovely open aromatics of black cherry, berry, and plum layered with a perfect balance of new and used French Oak. Our blend uses several blocks of Cabernet, Merlot, and Cab Franc from our Estate vineyard in Oakville. The effect is one of layered complete flavors and a delicious expression of how beautiful Oakville wine can be. Flavors match the aromas. Tannins are moderate yet add a nice chewy texture and the length goes on several seconds. This is a beautiful wine that will age surely for decades but is delish now.“
 
Customers who enjoy Paradigm Oakville Cabernet may also enjoy these two Heidi Barrett made wines...
 
2014 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red 2016 Vin Perdu Napa Valley Proprietary Red
LA SIRENA
PIRATE TREASURED
2014 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 

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Winery Notes: “The fabulous 2014 vintage delivers a deep black-ruby colored wine with open aromatics of sweet ripe fruit layered with toasty French oak and hints of caramel. Layers of flavor coat the palate with broad appeal, wonderful cherry texture and seamless tannins. Fruit is dense berry with a slightly more pronounced oak note than last year, giving a beautiful vanilla impression. These flavors persist a long time in a lengthy and powerful finish. A great example of the magic of blending!”
VIN PERDU
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $95/btl
 
Your Price: $75/btl  

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From Vinous: “… absolutely gorgeous. In 2016, Vin Perdu is once again based on a core of Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, ample and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2016 has a lot to recommend it. Mocha, plum, bittersweet chocolate, leather and spice meld together in a super-expressive, resonant wine from John Schwartz and Heidi Barrett. The Vin Perdu is technically the second wine of Amuse Bouche, but in many vintages I prefer it. At $75 a bottle, it is one of the great values in Napa Valley wine.”  94 Points
2011 La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino Italy

2011 La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloItalyKevin VogtMontalcinoTuscany

LA FIORITA 2011 La Fiorita Brunello Di Montalcino Italy

2011 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

 
Not all wines are meant for aging, but Brunello di Montalcino certainly is.  It’s required to be aged for a minimum of 5 years after harvest, with at least 2 years in oak, and there’s good reason behind this…  One of the biggest is that Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello) is a thicker-skinned grape and is known for producing bold flavors, high acids and big tannins.  When you age Brunello, those same traits that can be astringent when they’re young, transform into a soft, complex wine with an irresistible presence on the palate over time.  When you taste a Brunello that’s been perfectly aged, you’ll know right away… The 2011 La Fiorita Brunello is velvety soft, perfectly balanced, delightfully long and complex and absolutely stunning right now .  If I paid $150/btl for this in a restaurant I would be thrilled.  At fifty bucks, I want that experience every time I can get it…
 
It’s not easy to make a wine that’s going to be singing this beautifully nearly a decade after the fruit was harvested.  It takes a great winemaker to accomplish this and La Fiorita is made by one of the best… Roberto Cipresso made a name for himself while consulting with icons Poggio Antico, Archival Ferrer and Case Basse…  If you’re searching for a perfectly ready to drink Italian wine, this one should absolutely not be missed.
 
LA FIORITA
2011 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
Retails at   $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl  

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“Sweet cherry flavors are framed by licorice, tobacco and spice notes in this smooth red. Firms up enough on the finish to warrant a year or two of aging, but this should find equilibrium soon. Best from 2017 through 2026...”  91 Points
 “… opens to delicate tones of wild berry, wet earth and dried rose petal. It delivers these aromas with a soft touch and lasting intensity. These ethereal aromas glide by the senses with smooth transitions. The wine leaves an equally graceful impression in the mouth…” 91 Points
Customers who enjoy La Fiorita Brunello may also enjoy these two stunning Brunellos…
2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino 2013 La Rasina Brunello Di Montalcino
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

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 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
LA RASINA
2013 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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From James Suckling, “A wealth of ripe fruit with spice, tobacco, cedar and plum aromas that follow through to a full body, chewy and dense tannins and a ripe and delicious finish. A solid and stoic young red. Give it three or four years to soften. Made from organic grapes.”  96 Points
2015 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

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

DANIEL 2015 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD

 
It’s rare for us to taste a wine and immediately lock-down every bottle available before our wine glasses are emptied… We’ve done that more times with DANIEL Pinots than with any other brand.  When you can count the number of barrels produced on two fingers and you add to it a style that’s as commanding as it is compelling, and as balanced as it is deep and enchanting, we simply can’t let these go. Wines this great, never stay under-the-radar for very long and the DANIEL brand has been getting a lot of attention.  The Wine Enthusiast wrote, “This is a tiny production wine well worth seeking” and I most certainly agree… Just don’t wait too long to secure yours, because with just 50 cases produced and 33% off, this one will go fast.
 
Daniel Winery has a talent for finding unique sites that are capable of producing profound fruit with compelling flavors and firm structure.  This one was brought to life from the organically farmed Laguna Vineyard and created from heritage Pinot Noir clones, Calera, Eden and Martini.  With a deep core and satin texture, this Pinot opens up with intense plum, and vivid red and black fruits laced with wild flowers, tea leaves hints of baking spices.   With a total production of 2 barrels, this Pinot Noir will only go to a lucky few.
 
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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YOU SAVE 33%
 
From Wine Enthusiast, “This is a tiny production wine well worth seeking, savory in forest floor, black tea, sage and mushroom, with a soft, round mid-palate that presents as equal parts silky and velvety. Exotic and earthy, it has integrated barrel presence and tamed tannins, with a succulent finish of baking spice.” 93 Points  
 
Customers that enjoy Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2015 Matias Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
2015 Daniel Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
MATIAS
2015 PINOT NOIR
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 

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From Wine Enthusiast, “Rose petals, cranberry and dust show on the nose of this bottling, which grows more intense on the nose as it sits open, offering riper fruit. Dried sagebrush and baked earth flavors show on the sip as the red fruit and floral components arise with grace.” 93 Points
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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From Wine Enthusiast, “Oodles of black cherry and sour cherry fill the aroma and flood the flavors of this full-bodied, concentrated and deeply fruity wine. The ripeness is balanced by good fruit acidity, making the wine both seductive and refreshing to sip. Made from Ferrington Vineyard and the old-vine Beaujolais Vineyard, it has the structure to age and improve...”  96 Points, Cellar Selection

2016 Cru⁹ ‘Stop Talking’ Napa Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

CRU⁹

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2016 NAPA VALLEY

 
When we first introduced Cru9’s Cabernet last year, we knew that once ANYBODY tasted it that they wouldn’t be able to stop talking about how great it is at this price.  The conversation on the 2016 would be highlighted by a compact core of dense blackberry, velvety cassis, cocoa dusted raspberries and crushed granite. And with great volume, and an even more powerful voice than earlier vintages, the 2016 is confident and authoritative, yet finely detailed and effortlessly balanced. Of course, you may want to whisper since there were only 11 barrels produced… At this price it’s simply one of the best Cabernets in the shop.
 
Resonating from a secret vineyard sources in Oakville, St. Helena and Rutherford, the 2016 exhibits all the best traits of the vintage.  On the palate, waves of concentrated blackberry, sandalwood, black currants, white flowers and earthy minerals 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…
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2016 has an intense purple color offering a powerful nose of ripe blackberries, black cherry, dried currants, crushed rocks, cigar box and hints of cinnamon.  On the palate, it is intensely penetrating and focused with concentrated wild mountain blackberries, cassis and velvety tannins. It finishes in a linear style that’s so focused and penetrating, it brings an immediate smile to your face and is exceptionally satisfying.  In a world where hundred plus dollar Napa Cabs are the norm, this is the ultimate ‘Bang for your Buck’ wine. Superb! Drink now through 2029.” 97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2015 Justin Isosceles Paso Robles Proprietary Red

2015 Justin Isosceles Paso Robles Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Central CoastKevin VogtProprietary RedSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

JUSTIN 2015 Justin Isosceles Paso Robles Proprietary Red

2015 ISOSCELES
PROPRIETARY RED
PASO ROBLES

 
As much as we love discovering up-and-coming boutique producers, there’s always room in our shop for the established trendsetters, and brands that are Benchmarks in their field.  Justin’s flagship Isosceles Blend is named for the three Bordeaux varietals that go into it and the winery pioneered this style of blend in Paso Robles, which they began more than thirty years ago.  When they first planted Cabernet vines in the Santa Lucia Mountains back in 1981, Paso Robles wasn’t even on the map as far as a wine region and particularly for Bordeaux varietals.  Lucky for us, the fossilized limestone soils and large diurnal temperature swings are perfectly suited for ripening Bordeaux grapes and the Isosceles has proven over and over again how compelling this type of blend can be from Paso.  At $59.99, I recommend clearing some space in the cellar.
 
The 2015 vintage of Isosceles combines 76% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Merlot that’s aged in 100% new French oak barrels for an impressive 21 months.  2015 was a cooler vintage for Paso which is transparent in the wines tremendous structure.  The wine is incredibly aromatic and loaded with complexity.  At this price it simply should not be missed.
 
JUSTIN
2015 ISOSCELES
PROPRIETARY RED
PASO ROBLES
Retails at:  $76.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 21%
 
From Wine Enthusiast, “Snappy aromas of boysenberry and black raspberry mark a somewhat lighter, brighter spin on this classic blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc and 11% Merlot. Smashed plums and berries run into tobacco and herbs on the palate, where bright acidity pushes into the finish.” 91 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Justin Isosceles may also enjoy these two stunning wines…
2015 Steps Barrel Select Proprietary Red 2016 Booker My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Red
STEPS
BARREL SELECT
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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Arising from Mountainous Vineyards, including Mount Veeder and Altas Peak, the 2015 is built around a core of nearly 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, heightened with Cabernet Franc and Malbec.  Simply stunning to swirl and taste, the 2015 was cave aged for nearly 24 months in high quality oak barrels.  Dramatic, thrilling and hedonistic are all excellent descriptors for the 2015StepsReserve and with a total production of only 150 cases, don’t let this one walk on by.
BOOKER
MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl
 
From Jeb Dunnuck: “Still in barrel, the Cabernet Sauvignon dominated 2016 My Favorite Neighbor offers smokin’ notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, licorice, smoke tobacco, and hints of violets. With full-bodied are still fresh, chalky, moderately tannic, elegant and lengthy red. One of the leaders of the Paso wine scene is undoubtedly Eric Jensen’s Booker Vineyard..” 95-97 Points
2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

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

TROMBETTA

2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

2015 Trombetta Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
In the 3 years since we opened our tasting room in Yountville, if we had to select one wine that’s generated the most enthusiastic comments out of all of the wines that we’ve poured by the glass, Trombetta Pinot Noir wins by a landslide. We literally smile and watch as even our most discerning customers drop their jaws when they try this wine for the first time. We can’t wait to start showing the newly released 2015 vintage, which is finely detailed with remarkable weight and a generous presence on the palate.  The 2015 shows off in layers of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, dried violets, and dark chocolates.  This brilliant interpretation of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is simply one of my favorite Pinots that I’ve tasted over the last few years and at under fifty bucks it truly should not be missed.
 
Emerging from the Petersen vineyard, located in the revered Petaluma Gap AVA, this brilliant example of Sonoma Coast Pinot was authored by Erica Stancliff who honed her skills while interning at Rudd and Vina Cobos…  Aged for 10 months in Damy, Francios Freres, Radoux, and Cadus French oak barrels, if you’re searching for love in Pinot Noir… This just might be it.  It is for me…
 
TROMBETTA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “This is a juicy exploration of the coast-a well-made effort that showcases notes of forest floor, black tea and savory pine. The black cherry and currant fruit leans dark and brooding, with an impressively balanced, medium-bodied hold on the palate.” 90 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Trombetta’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding Pinots…
2016 Laird Ghost Ranch 2014 Martinelli Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
LAIRD
2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl

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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 PinotNoir. 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.
MARTINELLI
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Wine Enthusiast, “This is a robust, generous and meaty red wine. On the palate, smoke and toasted oak tones support warm baking spice, black cherry and an undeniable earthiness of cardamom and forest floor.”  91 Points