2017 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard

2017 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirUSA

CALERA

2017 PINOT NOIR
MILLS VINEYARD

2017 Calera Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard
Influenced by Burgundy, Josh Jensen’s vision for Calera was to produce Pinot Noir with a vivid sense of place grown in limestone-rich soils, similar to Burgundy’s Côtes d’Or. He developed his vineyard at a staggering 2,200 feet elevation on Mt Harlan, planted above a limestone deposit of several million tons, revolutionizing Burgundian-style, age-worthy domestic Pinot Noir with a powerful sense of place. 
 
Planted in 1984, Mills Vineyard is 14.4 acres of Southeast facing hillsides, revered for producing Pinot Noir fruit with stunning fragrance and layered complexity. This wine balances power and elegance brilliantly with sophisticated depth, keen focus, and youthful energy. 
 
CALERA
2017 PINOT NOIR
MILLS VINEYARD
Retails at: $84
 
Your Price: $75
 
 
“The 2017 Pinot Noir Mills Vineyard is slightly deeper colored (it’s still translucent) and offers a gorgeous nose of ripe redcurrants, cherries, spring flowers, sappy forest floor, and ample spice nuances. With medium to full body, beautiful depth of fruit, and a seamless texture, it’s another stunning Pinot Noir from this team that I’d be happy to have in the cellar.” 
97 Points
2017 Luke Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2017 Luke Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

LUKE GOLDSCHMIDT

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 ALEXANDER VALLEY

2017 Luke Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Goldschmidt wines highlight a region’s most distinct characteristics, presenting them in a terroir-revealing, intensely expressive, balanced style. Some of their best examples come from Alexander Valley, where Nick Goldschmidt has extensive experience. Nick’s son Luke also has experience making wine worldwide, from Chile, France, Spain, and Argentina to New Zealand. Together, they crafted this wine which at $22 perfectly reflects Alexander Valley’s rich terroir.
 
The 2017 vintage is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from low-vigor vines, yielding just 3.5 tons per acre of highly concentrated berries. The wine is deep and rich on the palate, layered with red and black fruits, cocoa, cherry pipe tobacco, and dried herbs.
 
LUKE GOLDSCHMIDT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at: $25
 
Your Price: $22
 
 
“Nicely focused red cherry and red raspberry aromas. Loaded with red berry fruit flavors with a touch of caramel, dark chocolate, and toasty oak. Full and well-structured from the long hang time. The texture is smooth and the mouth medium bodied. White pepper and spice in the finish with long and supple tannins.”
2018 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

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

O’SHAUGHNESSY

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Flaunting Oakville fruit’s alluring complexity, Mount Veeder’s savory tinge, and combining Howell Mountain Cabernet’s focused concentration, O’Shaughnessy’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is epic. It’s a harmonious composition of the winery’s Estate vineyards, located in some of Napa Valley’s most elite neighborhoods. 
 
Since their inception, O’Shaughnessy’s winemaker has been Sean Capiaux, whom you might know from his work at Peter Michael or his brand Capiaux. He did a fantastic job on the reference-standard 2018 release, perfectly expressing Mountain terroir enriched with Oakville elegance. 
 
O’SHAUGHNESSY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“This is such an outstanding wine at any price, but here we’re talking about outstanding value as well. Notes of iron and crushed rock lead to a lengthy balance of juicy red fruit and clove. With small amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Saint-Macaire and Cabernet Franc, it shows a deft hand at blending, with lasting notes of black pepper and nuanced oak.”
97 Points, Editors’ Choice
2019 Clos Du Caillou Cotes Du Rhone Cuvee Unique VV

2019 Clos Du Caillou Cotes Du Rhone Cuvee Unique VV

with No Comment $30 and underCotes du RhoneFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

CLOS Du CAILLOU

2019 COTES Du RHONE
CUVEE UNIQUE VV 

2019 Clos Du Caillou Cotes Du Rhone Cuvee Unique VV
Le Clos du Caillou is one of the top producers in the Southern Rhône Valley. Their devotion to organic and biodynamic farming on their predominately sand-based soils produces wines with a fine-grained, silky texture. The Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines) Cuvèe Unique Cotes-du-Rhone is hand-harvested from premium old-vine lots with an average age of 45 years that bears fruit with extreme depth and flavor intensity. 
 
The 2019 vintage is a classic, regional blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 4% Carignan, 3% Mourvedre, and 3% Counoise, fermented on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks, then aged in upright wooden tanks and large oak casks for 16 months. The final wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve the expression of the unique terroir.
 
CLOS Du CAILLOU
2019 COTES Du RHONE
CUVEE UNIQUE VV
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Le Clos du Caillou Cuvée Unique VV begins with seductive aromas of ripe red fruits, such as cherry and plum, followed by classic Rhône nuances of lavender and rosemary (known locally as garrigue), and finished with subtle white pepper notes. The sheer complexity of this wine will have your taste buds tickled with pleasure, and the bright, refreshing acidity carries the finish into a silky mouthfeel that will have you yearning for one more glass. Simply stunning, this wine is a prime example of French elegance.”
94 Points
2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPetaluma GapPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BLACK PINE

2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Created to showcase the talents of hand-picked local growers and made in a lush, inviting style, hitting a sweet spot where complexity meets opulence, Black Pinot Pinot Noir is a constant in the value Pinot Noir section of our shop. After a culmination of outstanding efforts, it’s built a reputation of excellence and value, with its relentless quality and hard-to-resist style.
 
Combining fruit from Petaluma Gap, Russian River, and Sonoma Coast AVAs, Roger Roessler hand-selected each site for its unique contribution, resulting in a concentrated Pinot that hits a sweet spot with complexity, nuance, and lushness.
 
BLACK PINE
2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $30
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“The Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018 is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with elegance and delicacy. It begins with red cherry, pomegranate, black currants, Mission figs, juniper berries, light florals, and a hint of spice. It is refreshing on the palate and is very easy-drinking, finishing with liquid minerals, an elegant focus, and satiny tannins. It is a delightful wine, particularly at its low price point.”
92 Points
2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtKnight's ValleySonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

DETAILS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2019 SONOMA COUNTY

2019 Details Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
Details Cabernet fuses superior talent, assiduous fruit selection, and rigorous science in creating their value-focused Cabernet, which hails from the Sonoma, Knights, and Alexander Valleys. Their team, let by Ryan Knoth, who previously worked under the tutelage of icons David Abreu, Michel Rolland, and Fredrik Johansson at Staglin, handpicks the fruit to precise analytics equating to optimized flavors and aromas. 
 
Masterfully blending four of Bordeaux’s top five varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, then adding Petite Sirah, Sinegal’s winemaking team’s obsessive attention to detail paid off. Their efforts result in an enchanting wine that tastes like it should be much more expensive.
 
DETAILS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2019 SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Details is obviously a very young wine, but its freshness and energy are so compelling. Spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and dried herbs are some of the many notes that grace the 2019. Even in the early going, the 2019 is positively stellar. Franc aromatics and a distinct savoriness from the Petit Verdot add so much character. This may be the best vintage yet. I loved it.”
93-95 Points
2018 Lewis Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

2018 Lewis Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

LEWIS 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 RESERVE

2018 Lewis Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Under the guidance of Josh Widaman, former winemaker at Pahlmeyer, Lewis Cellars’ team is hands-on in every aspect of viticulture, vinifying vineyard blocks individually, separated by clone and rootstock. They’re in the vineyards year-round, many of which were planted exclusively for them, harvesting when the fruit reaches full maturity, crafting wines in an intensely captivating style that’s a hallmark of their brand.
 
Created from the showiest barrels each vintage, Lewis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon spends around 19 months in barrel. The wine epitomizes their signature style producing super-rich, concentrated wines packed with complexity, depth, and polished sophistication.  
 
LEWIS 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 RESERVE
Retails at: $175
 
Your Price: $165
 
 
“A big bruiser, blockbuster of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve boasts a dense purple color as well as a mammoth-sized bouquet of blackcurrants, dark chocolate, roasted herbs, and lead pencil. Thick, rich, and full-bodied on the palate, it has a great mid-palate, building yet bright, polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s one big mouthful of fruit at the moment, but it will develop more elegance and nuance with 2-4 years of bottle age, and I suspect it will have two decades of overall longevity.”
95 Points
 
“This is an extrovert, with singed vanilla, mocha and violet notes gilding a ripe, lush core of plum, blackberry and black currant fruit. Ends with a frankly toasty tug on the licorice- and fruit-filled finish. A bit amped up in style, but will have fans for sure. Best from 2022 through 2035.”
94 Points
2018 Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec Valle De Uco

2018 Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec Valle De Uco

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaKevin VogtMalbecUco Valley

FINCA DON CARLOS

CALATHUS MALBEC
2018 VALLE DE UCO

2018 Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec Valle De Uco
Finca Don Carlos Calathus Malbec hails from Tupungato, in the Northernmost reaches of the Uco Valley at the base of Mount Tupungato volcano. The vineyard sits at 3,300 feet elevation, where cooler nighttime temperatures encouraged brighter, fresher acidity, increased flavor concentration, depth, and definition. 
 
Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment at every production stage, Gustavo Silvestri crafts Calathus in an expressive yet elegant style, offering sensational value at $23.
 
FINCA DON CARLOS
CALATHUS MALBEC
2018 VALLE DE UCO
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
“Multi-layered nose with wild mountain jarilla undertones over ripe prune, damson and chocolatey aromas, somewhat spicy. Elegant tannins with purity of fruit and freshness on the palate.”
95 Points
2017 Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2017 Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

BELLA UNION

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Bella Union Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Backed by decades of elite winemaking and premium vineyard sources, Bella Union hit the ground running in 2012, founded by Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel winery partners. Focused on creating a union of flavors, textures, and character, voiced through artistry and exceptional fruit, Bella Union is “well-made” and “sumptuous” as described by Wine Enthusiast and deserving of its 95 Point score and spot on the top 100 Cellar Selection list of 2020. 
 
Ideally located in Rutherford, Bella Union’s Estate Vineyard reaps the benefits of well-draining, gravelly loam soils, and diurnal temperature swings, encouraging the site’s signature intense, beautifully proportioned fruit and complex aromas. 
 
Crafted in an expressive and richly textured style, Bella Union winemakers unite Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot, harmonizing each varietal’s most significant characteristics, displayed with finesse and brilliance. 
 
BELLA UNION
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $80
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“Sinewy, earthy and full of spice, this well-made wine is lush and sumptuous, with firm, focused tannins and integrated oak. Black cherry, cinnamon and nutmeg meld on the structured, full-bodied palate, with a graceful hint of dark chocolate on the finish. This will do well in the cellar.”
95 Points, #74 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2020
2018 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains

2018 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMontereySanta Cruz MountainsUSA

MARTIN RAY

2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS

2018 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA produces powerful Cabernet Sauvignons with appealing savory elements, firm tannins, and intriguing red and black fruits. Martin Ray sources their Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet from three high-elevation sites that produce intensely concentrated fruits. Our panel loved their 2018 vintage, but we weren’t the only ones. With a 95 point score, I’d jump on this sub $35 Cabernet before it’s too late.
 
Martin Ray’s Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet comes from high-elevation vineyards, Fellom Ranch, Cooper-Garrod, and Beauregard, each sharing large diurnal temperature fluctuation shifts, which result in powerfully concentrated fruit. 
 
The 2018 release is a blend of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and fermented on its skins for a month, which extracted the deep purple color. They stored the wine for 18 months in French and American oak barrels, which added compelling vanilla and spice elements.
 
MARTIN RAY
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $33
 
 
“Loads of forest floor, mushrooms, leaves and dark fruit on the nose. It’s full-bodied with juicy fruit and chewy tannins. Hints of toasted oak and cedar, too. This is a structured red that needs two or three years to soften, then you can give it a go. Best Santa Cruz Mountain cab for a long time from here. Try after 2023.” 
95 Points