2015 Hoopla The Mutt Proprietary Red

2015 Hoopla ‘The Mutt’ Napa Valley Proprietary Red

HOOPLA

2015 THE MUTT
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY

2015 Hoopla The Mutt Proprietary Red
What’s all the hoopla about with this wine? Hoopla’s Napa Valley Red Blend “The Mutt” might be a mixed breed, but if you follow the lineage, I think you’ll find it’s from some doggone good stock…  After all, the producer Hoopes Ranch does own 35 acres in Oakville… They also produce Reds from Howell Mountain and The Muttis a cross-breed of barrels that didn’t go into Hoopes purebred bottlings that range $50-$100/btl…  On the palate the wine offers a lush coat of smooth dark berries and slightly dusty tannins, intertwined with spice box, subtle cigar, and absolutely no bite.  At $23/btl it might just become man’s second best friend…
 
This delicious crossbreed combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and was harnessed in oak barrels for 18 months. This lively offering is now calming and comforting with layers of fruit, intertwined with subtle spices, un-sweetened blackberry pie filling, plum and toasty oak.  Don’t let this one escape…
 
HOOPLA 
2015 THE MUTT 
PROPRIETARY RED 
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $25/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl 
 
Winery Notes:This Napa Valley Red Blend exemplifies that big 2015 concentration. The aromas are rich and inviting with juicy blackberry, violet, and anise lending layered complexity. The mid-palate is full and plummy with a touch of toasted oak. This structured yet smooth wine finishes with hints of cola and vanilla.”
 

Customers who enjoy Hoopla’s The Mutt may also enjoy these two stunning Reds…

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 
2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY 
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Tasting Panel: “Named for Goldschmidt’s middle daughter, the wine’s grapes hail from Crazy Creek, a vineyard known to produce some iconic wines. Big, bright, blue fruit notes on the nose are meaty, with a chocolate espresso twist and dry tannins showing on the palate.  It’s a little masterpiece with a dark chocolate finish that way over delivers on price-to-quality.”  94 Points
VISTA 
2017 RED BLEND
RUTHERFORD
 
Your Price: $23/btl 

Click to Order

 
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  Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2017 Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert Proprietary Red

2017 Orin Swift ‘8 Years in the Desert’ Proprietary Red

ORIN SWIFT

8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
2017 PROPRIETARY RED

2017 Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert Proprietary Red
A winemaker’s life experiences are what shapes their individual winemaking styles and gives them the tools and techniques to make great wine.  8 years in the desert is the direct result of the culmination of winemaker Dave Phinney’s trials and tribulations which began back in 1998 with two tons of Zinfandel.  It actually didn’t work out the first time and he sold the wine on the bulk market.  He tried again in 1999 and made 29 cases of Orin Swift Zinfandel…  In 2000, the Zinfandel wasn’t great on it’s own, so he blended other varietals and produced the inaugural vintage of The Prisoner, which he continued to make for the next 8 vintages before selling The Prisoner brand.  The 2017 8 Years In The Desert wouldn’t be here without everything he’s learned a long the way, and lucky for us, it is here… 
 
Riveting, seductive and sensual were the first words to come to my mind when I tasted the 2017 blend.  The wine is primarily Zinfandel heightened with Petite Syrah and Syrah.  Dave Phinney is clearly a master at blending and creating new and unique wines that are wildly delicious and irresistible upon release.  I highly recommend trying a case…     
 
ORIN SWIFT
8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
2017 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $45.99/btl 
 
Winemaker’s Notes:Heady aromas of brambly raspberry, black fig and peppercorn dominate; time in glass exposes more dark chocolate, fennel and High Sierra forest floor.  The palate is lush and opulent with blackberries, dark plums and currants.  More flavors add to the quality of the blend – a visceral minerality and fresh herbs de Provence.  Fully integrated with puckering tannins, the wine bows out with finesse.” 
 
Customers that enjoy Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert may also enjoy these two fantastic Reds…
 
 
2015 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red 2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary Red
ORIN SWIFT
2015 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl

Click to Order

From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:Very deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Papillon Proprietary Red features expressive crème de cassis, mulberries, plum preserves and chocolate box notes with wafts of underbrush, dried herbs and Indian spices. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and spicy in the mouth, it has a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long with a lively pepper and herbs lift.” 94 Points
ORIN SWIFT
2016 MACHETE
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 

Click to Order

 

The 2016 Orin Swift Machete stampedes from the glass with a glorious and persistent perfume layered with blueberry velvet cake, dried violets, and incense, intertwined with a tinge of bacon fat and wood smoke.  Machete has clinched coveted positions on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list on three separate occasions. The 2016 is one of their best yet and I wouldn’t miss it… 

2015 Gaja Sito Moresco Nebbiolo Blend

215 Gaja Sito Moresco Langhe Nebbiolo Blend

GAJA

2015 SITO MORESCO
LANGHE, NEBBIOLO BLEND

2015 Gaja Sito Moresco Nebbiolo Blend
Sometimes taking risks pays off… Angelo Gaja took many risks when he chose to declassify his highly regarded Barolo and Barbaresco wines and simply label them Langhe, a lower tier classification.  In doing so he gained the flexibility to produce the absolute best wines possible, without having to abide by any restrictions set by regional Italian Wine laws.  Now, one of the most Iconic wine producers in the world, and considered by many to produce the best wines in Italy, Angelo is regarded as a pioneer in the way he produces wines.  Always compelling with deeply penetrating flavors and enticing aromas that are both riveting and complex.  Angelo’s wines wrap your mind, body and soul in sheer delight and at $54.99/btl you’ll want as much of that feeling as you can fit in your cellar. 
 
Merging Nebbiolo, Barbera, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Sito Moresco is powerful, yet refined, detailing notes of red current, plum, tart raspberry,  cherry pipe tobacco and leather. While Gaja’s top wines can fetch well over $500 per bottle, the Sito Moresco is a stunning value at $54.99.  The 2015 is extra special because in 2015 Angelo removed the Barbera from his single vineyard wines, giving it a home in Sito Moresco and catapulting the quality of the wine.  The 2015 absolutely dropped the mic at our tasting… Trust me on this one… 
 
GAJA
2015 SITO MORESCO
LANGHE, NEBBIOLO BLEND
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 
 
Tasting Notes:The nose opens with rich aromas of violet. It develops into a bouquet of ripe red fruit (red plums and cherry) and ends with a distinctive spice note of saffron;  The palate is round and compact – with a long and savory finish. Due to its particular juiciness, the 2015 vintage features a fuller than usual body along with the classic, pleasant drinkability”
 
Customers who enjoy Gaja Sito Moresco may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
 
2015 Il Borro Toscana Tuscany Italy
2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia
IL BORRO
2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl
 
From James Suckling,This is the best Il Borro to date with fantastic blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a full body with masses of fruit. Yet, it remains bright and linear down the center palate. A rich and toned wine. 50 per cent merlot, 35 per cent cabernet and 15 per cent syrah… 97 Points
ALDO CONTERNO 
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 
 
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
2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary Red

2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary Red

ORIN SWIFT

2016 MACHETE
PROPRIETARY RED

2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary RedRobert Louis Stevenson wrote “wine is bottled poetry.”  There’s one wine brand that excites a certain “love affair” and devotion that would certainly be poem-worthy. Uniquely, there are a dozen different labels in each case of Machete and if you find the labels intriguing, wait until you taste the wine… The 2016 stampedes from the glass with a glorious and persistent perfume layered with blueberry velvet cake, dried violets, and incense, intertwined with a tinge of bacon fat and wood smoke.  Machete has clinched coveted positions on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list on three separate occasions. The 2016 is one of their best yet and I wouldn’t miss it…
 
Drawing from several celebrated regions throughout California, the 2016 Machete combines Petite Sirah, Grenache and Syrah into a hedonistic collision of deep, velvety and seductive flavors.  Don’t wait for the reviews to surface on the 2016…  We just tasted it, and it’s absolutely one of the best Machetes yet…
 
ORIN SWIFT
2016 MACHETE
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes:Violet ink in the glass, a nose of black plums, cassis, and cacao engage. The robust entry consists of a progressing palate of blackberry and boysenberry compote, a reduction of dark plum and ripe figs, and pure Amarena cherry. Flashes of vanilla and traces of minerality evolve into chalky tannins and a smooth lingering finish.
 
Customers that enjoy Orin Swift Machete may also enjoy these two fantastic Reds…
2014 Dept 66 Cote Catalanes Grenache 2015 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red
DEPARTMENT 66
2014 GRENACHE
COTES CATALANES
 
Your Price: $37.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and a splash of Carignan… This inky colored, downright sexy 2014 offers terrific notes of blueberries, blackberries, violets and chalky minerality. Big, concentrated and textured, yet still playing in the more elegant style of the 2014 vintage, this beauty will drink well for a decade..” 93 Points
ORIN SWIFT
2015 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:Very deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Papillon Proprietary Red features expressive crème de cassis, mulberries, plum preserves and chocolate box notes with wafts of underbrush, dried herbs and Indian spices. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and spicy in the mouth, it has a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing long with a lively pepper and herbs lift.”  94 Points

2015 Il Borro ‘Toscana’ Tuscany, Italy

IL BORRO

2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY

 
Moving another step closer to their goal of producing the best Bordeaux styled blend outside of Bordeaux, and with a monster 97 Point score, Salvatore Ferragamo’s Il Borro from their family estate in Tuscany simply blew me away.  Many of the same attributes that led the Ferragamo’s to become one of the top luxury brands in the world, are also key in creating a wine brand at the highest level. Like their clothing line, their wine is powerfully bold, yet gorgeously elegant and remarkably detailed. With no expense spared, the family purchased 700 hectares in Tuscany which included the hilltop town of Il Borro (depicted on the label,) which they named this flagship wine after.  While you may not want to plunk down the steep tariff for a pair of their shoes, you can board the Ferragamo train and enjoy some of their stunning wine…
 
The 2015 laces together 50% Merlot, dressed with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and is then precisely detailed with other varietals.  After meticulously hand sorting each grape, the wine is sent gravity flow into the tank where 10-20% of the juice is removed to increase concentration… James Suckling calls the 2015 the best Il Borro to date and at under $100/btl this is absolutely one of the best Tuscan wines that I’ve tasted.
 
IL BORRO
2015 TOSCANA
TUSCANY, ITALY
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 
 
From James Suckling:This is the best Il Borro to date with fantastic blackberry, blueberry and sandalwood aromas that follow through to a full body with masses of fruit. Yet, it remains bright and linear down the center palate. A rich and toned wine. 50 per cent merlot, 35 per cent cabernet and 15 per cent syrah…97 Points
 
 
Customers who enjoy Il Borro Toscana may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia 2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
ALDO CONTERNO
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

Click to Order

 
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
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

Click to Order

 
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…”  98 Points

 

2014 Coho Headwaters Proprietary Red

2014 Coho ‘Headwaters’ Proprietary Red

COHO

2014 HEADWATERS
PROPRIETARY RED

2014 Coho Headwaters Proprietary Red
When your flagship wine graces Top 100 lists on more than one occasion, expectations are high for another exceptional vintage.  Some wineries might choose to keep doing exactly what they’ve been doing, and others strive to get even better.  Coho chose the latter, and in their 2014 they made a pivotal move upstream by hiring Philip Titus.  There are a handful of California winemakers whom many would refer to as legendary or iconic, and whose triumphs and experience are so profound that their very name rings with excellence.  Philip Titus is etched permanently onto that list…  Revered for his work authoring Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill wines for nearly three decades, leaving countless World Class wines in his wake… The 2014 Headwaters can be described as riveting, profound and hedonist and should be strongly considered by the case at under $40… 
 
Spawning primarily from Napa Valley’s Coombsville AVA, the 2014 blend lures you in with 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, fleshed out with additions of Merlot and Petit Verdot.  After swimming for 21 months in oak, this wine benefited from nearly two years developing in the bottle and is really stunning right now.  I strongly recommend a case of this prized Napa Valley Red Blend.  It’d be a drag if you missed out…    
 
COHO
2014 HEADWATERS
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 20%
 
Winery Notes:A focused purity of gorgeous red and blue fruits infuse a core of currant and pomegranate flavors. This is an elegant wine that despite its early approachability will continue to reveal additional complexities for the next five to seven years.”
 
Customers who enjoy Coho Headwaters may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
 
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2013 Xtant Petit Batard Napa Valley Proprietary Red
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. 
PETIT BATARD
2013 NAPA VALLEY RED
by XTANT…
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

As the second label for Xtant, an ultra-premium producer whose reds go for $85-$175/btl,  Petit Bâtard delivers a wine of remarkably high quality, and without the lofty price tag that generally accompanies them.  With access to the same tools, techniques and terroir that go into creating their flagship wine, the 2013 Petit Bâtardmerits significant attention at $39.99. 

2016 Booker My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Red

2016 Booker ‘My Favorite Neighbor’ Proprietary Red

BOOKER

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
2016 PROPRIETARY RED

2016 Booker My Favorite Neighbor Proprietary Red
When you surround yourself with the absolute best producers in Paso Robles, your odds at creating a successful wine brand increase exponentially.  Just look at Eric Jensen of Booker, who’s favorite neighbors include Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Wines, one of Paso’s most elite growers and winemakers.  Eric also worked worked with Justin Smith of SAXUM for five years, building the skills necessary to be a top player in Paso Robles.  Combine that with Jensen’s incredible farming skills, where his entire vineyard is farmed biodynamically, and he has everything it takes to be one of the greats.  Stacking up high 90’s scores like their going out of style, Booker produces wines that rank among the best not only in Paso Robles but in all of California.  They’re not easy to come by and with the 95-97 point score, I wouldn’t wait… 
 
The blend on the 2016 is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced with Syrah and Petite Verdot.  On the palate the wine is deeply seductive, balanced and long.  Each case has four unique labels, which adds to the excitement this wine puts forth.  If you’re interested in experiencing one of the best examples from Paso Robles, don’t miss the 2016 My Favorite Neighbor.  This wine will change minds, and make you an instant fan of this growing wine region, if you’re not already there.  
 
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 (I’ve affectionately called this group the motley crew before). Jensen and his wife Lisa purchased these 72 acres in 2001, with their wines released in 2005. Since then, the wines have evolved from uber rich and forward, to today where they’re more polished, complete and structured. Looking at his 2015s, which Jensen compared to his 2010 and 2013s, they show the more elegant style of the vintage, yet pack plenty of fruit and texture. His 2016s are certainly bigger wines, yet have plenty of tannin and a focused style on the palate which I suspect will benefit from short term cellaring. In addition to his Rhône variety releases and blends, it’s worth pointing out the quality coming from his Cabernet Sauvignons as well. These are seriously good wines!” 
95-97 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Booker My Favorite Neighbor may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
2015 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red 2013 Behren's Family The Collector Proprietary Red
KEEVER 
2013 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

Click to Order

Winery Notes: Aromas of dark purple berries, mulling spices, toasted hazelnuts and wild anise waft from the glass when one swirls this ripe, complex Bordeaux-style blend.  On the palate, the wine shows a texture of dark chocolate; thick and rich with just enough textural grip to add a sense of youth to the finish.  Multi-layered sensations of toast, vanilla, ripe fruit and mineral notes weave themselves through the palate impression, with a lingering sense of ripe, intense cassis.”
 
Cabernet Sauvignon 87% | Merlot 11%  | Malbec 2%
BEHRENS FAMILY 
2013 THE COLLECTOR
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon the Collector, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petite Sirah and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, reminds me of a big, rich Petite Sirah. That explains the 30% of that variety, but it seems to dominate the blend. Beautiful blueberry and black raspberry fruit, extremely extracted and rich, but not rustic by any means, this is a big, dense, pedal-to-the-metal, balls-to-the-wall black/purple red wine to drink over the next 20-25 years.”  94+ Points
2016 James Joseph Kathryn's Reserve Mt Veeder Proprietary Red

2016 James Joseph Kathryn’s Reserve Mt Veeder Proprietary Red

JAMES JOSEPH 2016 James Joseph Kathryn's Reserve Mt Veeder Proprietary Red

KATHRYN’S RESERVE
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 MOUNT VEEDER

In wine, greatness can come from a steadfast focus on your core strengths.  With James Joseph, we’ve scaled back production by 75% in 2016, producing just four barrels of the absolute best wine fathomable.  Born from a single vineyard located at 1,100 feet elevation on Mount Veeder, the 2016 is riveting, profound and deeply hedonistic. This Cabernet blend combines Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in a way that perfectly expresses Mount Veeder terroir with a vivid display of fine-grained tannins, focused berries, dried flowers, chocolate and stony minerality.  With rising costs to produce this truly top level Cuvee, the wine will only be available at $45/btl through October 1st. 
 
In the glass the 2016 draws you in with a dramatic, alluring perfume, laced in violets, mountainy berries, shaved chocolates and graphite.  The 2016 was authored by Grant Long Jr., winemaker at Witchery, Steps and Aonair and it was kept for 21 months in oak.  Those of you who tasted any of the previous vintages of James Joseph, know exactly what to expect… $100/btl quality at a price that’s an epic value… 
Orders are ready to ship After October 1st.
 
JAMES JOSEPH
KATHRYN’S RESERVE
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at:  $50/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 
YOU SAVE 10%
 
Tasting Notes: Deeply rich aromas of black raspberries, Bing cherries, black currants, cocoa powder, pipe tobacco and a hint of sweet vanilla.  On the palate, layers of crushed blackberries, liquid mineral, sweet blue fruits, freshly ground coffee and oak spice all in perfect balance.  The tannins support a long, opulent finish.  Drink now or over the next 12 years.” 100 Cases Produced
2014 Steps Winemaker's Reserve Proprietary Blend 2015 James Joseph Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
STEPS 
WINEMAKER’S RESERVE 
2014 PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

Click to Order

The 6 barrel production  Winemaker’s  Reserve is heavily based in Atlas Peak, and made transparent by its striking crushed rock minerality and dusty tannins that make the area so desired.  The final blend has a solid core of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak, magnified by 14% Cabernet Franc from Kenefick Palisades Vineyard, 9% Malbec from Oakville and 5% Petit Verdot from Coombsville.
JAMES JOSEPH
NAPA VALLEY RESERVE
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 

Click to Order

Tasting Notes: “An enchanting bouquet of ripe bing cherry, black plum, raspberry liqueur, mocha, violets and hints of sweet vanilla spice.  On the palate the wine is remarkably rich and densely concentrated.  Lavish layers of ripe blackberries, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and sweet black cherry are intertwined and compel you to another sip.  This wine can be enjoyed upon release or cellared for 10-15 years.”  150 Cases Produced
 
91% Cabernet Sauvignon | 6% Merlot | 3% Cabernet Franc
2012 Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva Rioja

2012 Muga Selección Especial Rioja Reserva

MUGA

2012 Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva Rioja

2012 RIOJA RESERVA
SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL

 
When I tasted Muga’s 2012 Selección Especial, the first three adjectives that came to mind were appealing, engaging and irresistible.  It’s been quite a while since I’ve tasted a Rioja that I love this much.  It immediately dazzles your palate with seductive black fruits, intriguing complexity, and focused, penetrating flavors that simply make you want to keep sipping.  Muga is one of Rioja’s most idolized producers and they have the scores to back it up.  At under forty per bottle the 2012 Selección Especial has already earned a monster 95 point score, and I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours.  
 
Muga’s Selección Especial comes from a high elevation vineyard located in the Rioja Alta region of Haro.  The blend is dominated by 70% Tempranillo, enhanced with other indigenous varietals.  The wine spends 26 months in oak and now with a few years in the bottle the 2012 is firing on all cylinders… Don’t miss it…
 
MUGA
2012 RIOJA RESERVA
SELECCIÓN ESPECIAL
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 20%
 
From James Suckling:A linear and super-fine wine with black cherry and berry character and hints of flowers. Full body yet very tight and closed. Beautiful texture.” 95 Points
 
 
Customers who enjoy Muga Selección Especial Reserva Rioja  may also enjoy these two fantastic wines…
2012 Vik Milla Calla Proprietary Red 2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro
VIK
2012 MILLA CALA
PROPRIETARY RED
MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
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
QUINTA DO VALLADO
2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL
Retails at: $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:The 2015 Reserva is a field blend of very old vines (100+ years old)… 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
2016 Lewis Cellars Alec's Blend Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2016 Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend Napa Valley Proprietary Red

LEWIS CELLARS

ALEC’S BLEND
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Lewis Cellars Alec's Blend Napa Valley Proprietary Red
Bottled horsepower… Lewis Alec’s Blend offers a high-octane mix of power, elegance and profound luxury.  It’s the liquid version of a Maserati GT, and it cuts a swath across your taste buds with an unapologetically bold, petal-to-the metal style that’s perfectly dialed in.  The winery continues on a winning trajectory, after their 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet ranked #1 in the world on the 2016 Wine Spectator Top 100 List.  Saturating your palate in lavish dark fruits, bacon fat, dried violets, subtle smoke and roasted meats.  The 2016 Alec’s Blend truly has it all and I recommend grabbing your case before the critics release their scores on this wine… 
 
This wine takes a victory lap after production with around 18 months in premium oak barrels, and fruit sourced from several meticulously selected, painstakingly farmed vineyards throughout Napa Valley. The 2016 is built around a core of 61% Syrah that’s bolstered with Merlot and Petit Sirah.  The 2016 engages your senses at the drop of the flag, and doesn’t let up all the way through the finish line…  A stunning display of power, control and energy, strap in and hold on, because you are going for a ride.   
 
LEWIS CELLARS
ALEC’S BLEND
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl
 
Winery Notes:Alec has been listening to country music lately and his 2016 Blend is the Kenny Chesney of our line-up – super popular with something for everyone.  You’ll find truck-loads of ripe, oak-infused berries, with cherries, peaches, vanilla and creamy caramel.  Dusky and broad-shouldered on the palate, this blend of 61% Syrah, 38% Merlot and 1% Petite Sirah is fruitful to the finish and tons of summer fun.”
 
Customers that enjoy Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend may also enjoy these two stunning wines…
 
2013 Jonata Todos Proprietary Red 2016 Lewis Cellars Masons Cabernet Sauvignon
JONATA
2013 TODOS
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From James Suckling,This is so complex and fantastic showing the complexity and drinkability. Full body, layered and gorgeous. Dried berry, dried meat and date. So subtle. This is mostly Syrah but hints of nine grape types from Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Franc...” 95 Points
LEWIS CELLARS
2016 MASONS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl

Click to Order