2018 Jon Nathaniel Bodacious Proprietary Red

2018 Jon Nathaniel Bodacious Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

JON NATHANIEL

2018 BODACIOUS
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Jon Nathaniel Bodacious Proprietary Red
Veteran winemakers John and Nat Komes established Jon Nathaniel winery to recapture their creative freedom. They hand-craft each wine with the highest standards of excellence and meticulously select fruit from small parcels that they’ve farmed for decades. John founded Flora Springs winery in the late 70s and helped pioneer barrel fermentation, lees stirring, the use of French and American oak barrels, and proprietary blends in Napa Valley. Nat previously oversaw operations at Flora Springs for nearly 20 years, and together they craft this incredible, high-scoring blend. 
 
This wine gets its name from the iconic rodeo bull, Bodacious, known as The World’s Most Dangerous Bull. The wine Bodacious presents in a larger-than-life, expressive style that captures the winemaker’s creativity and vision for crafting a wine that tells a powerful tale of the vintage and the care that went into it. 
 
They cellared the 2018 release for around 20 months in barrel, and now, right out of the bottle, it’s supple, rich, and inviting. Winemakers Nat and Jon created the 2018 Bodacious by artfully blending Malbec and Petite Verdot, and the sheer quality of this wine is no bull.
 
JON NATHANIEL
2018 BODACIOUS
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“the 2018 Red Blend Bodacious checks in as equal parts Malbec and Petit Verdot, all from the Napa Valley. A big, inky, ruby/purple color is followed by rich notes of ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, dark chocolate, scorched earth, and graphite. With sweet tannins, a dense, concentrated, medium to full-bodied style, and nicely integrated oak, this ripe, sexy 2018 can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years.”
93 Points
2018 Bevan Ontogeny Proprietary Red

2018 Bevan Ontogeny Proprietary Red

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

BEVAN

2018 ONTOGENY
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Bevan Ontogeny Proprietary Red
Number one on Jeb Dunnuck’s list of the Top Napa Cabernets Under $100, Russell Bevan’s 2018 Ontogeny is a barrel selection created from Tench, Sugarloaf, Harbison, Wildfoote, Saunders, and Sage Ridge vineyards. Russell produces single-vineyard Cabernets that retail for around $200 from each of those coveted sites; however, Ontogeny isn’t just the introduction to Bevans wines’ cardinal quality, but as the least expensive of his big reds, it doesn’t compromise at all in quality. 
 
2018 was a faultless growing season, virtually uninterrupted by significant heat spikes, providing a prolonged hang-time, allowing the fruit to accumulate intense flavor and complexity. The resulting wine is breathtakingly complex and irresistibly engaging. 
 
Ontogeny combines six highly expressive vineyards raised in a variety of top-level oak barrels and with a near-perfect 99 Point score and priced under $100; you can’t have too much of this in your cellar.
 
BEVAN
2018 ONTOGENY
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“While this cuvée is one of the least expensive in the lineup, it’s often one of my favorites. The 2018 Ontogeny is no exception and should be snatched up by readers. A classic 2018 nose of ripe, pure blue fruits, cassis, violets, and smoked earth gives way to a full-bodied, dense, concentrated Cabernet with beautiful tannins and length. It’s going to evolve for 20 years or more.”
99 Points, #1 Top Napa Cabernets Under $100
2018 Leviathan Proprietary Red California

2018 Leviathan Proprietary Red California

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtProprietary RedUSA

LEVIATHAN

PROPRIETARY RED
2018 CALIFORNIA 

2018 Leviathan Proprietary Red California
Leviathan is Californian through and through. Created unbound by tradition to showcase the vintage’s most potent characteristics, Leviathan captures the essence of a New World winemaker’s freedom to create a wine outside the bounds of single appellations or classic varietal blends. Recently ranked #18 on Jeb Dunnuck’s list of Napa’s Top Cabernets under $100, and notably, the 2018 Leviathan at $39.99 was also the best value on the list and the only wine priced below $60. 
 
Masterfully blended by Andy Erickson, winemaker at Screaming Eagle from 2005-2010, the 2018 Leviathan was created around a core of Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, all from carefully chosen sites throughout California.
 
Leviathan’s 2018 release exemplifies the vintage’s best characteristics with impressive structure, fully developed flavors, and balanced acidity. At $40, it’s easy to see why it continually gets monster scores.
 
LEVIATHAN
PROPRIETARY RED
2018 CALIFORNIA
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“Always a great value… The wine reveals a ruby/purple hue as well as complex notes of red and black fruits, green tobacco, cedary spice, and spring flowers. These all flow to a medium to full-bodied, elegant wine that offers good overall concentration, seamless tannins, and a great finish. Very much in the style of the 2018 vintage with its more streamlined, elegant style, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age (although it’s far from unapproachable today) and keep for a solid 10-12 years or more. This is one of the more age-worthy examples of this cuvée that I recall.”
94 Points
 
“A Blackberry and asphalt aromas with some violets and rose petals. Medium to full body. Some carbon to the dark fruit. Tasty and delicious. Chewy now, but we like it already. Drinkable now, but will improve with age.”
93 points
2016 Coho Headwaters Proprietary Red

2016 Coho Headwaters Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50CoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

COHO

2016 HEADWATERS
PROPRIETARY RED

2016 Coho Headwaters Proprietary Red
Coho’s motto is to swim against the flow by crafting supremely balanced wines with just enough oak and ripeness to exhibit the purity of their varietals and origin. Proprietor Gary Lipp focuses on Napa Valley’s Coombsville region and select hillside vineyards Southeast of downtown Napa where cooler temperatures enable the fruit to develop concentrated flavors at ripe sugar levels refreshing, balancing acidity. Jeb Dunnuck writes that the purity of fruit and outstanding length are what make this vintage so special, and I agree. 
 
Gary Lipp hired renowned winemaker Phillip Titus to help achieve his goal of crafting flavorful yet balanced wines. Philip has been with Chappellet for nearly 30 years and has produced some of California’s most sought-after wines. 
 
The 2016 release combines 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 39% Merlot from Michael Black and Barking Dog Vineyards in Coombsville and 24% Petite Verdot. After nearly two years in barrel and three more in the bottle, this wine is stunning.
 
COHO
2016 HEADWATERS
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Rich aromas of dark plums, blackberries and blue plums here with dark chocolate and baking spices on offer. The palate has a juicy feel with fine, crisp tannins, wrapped in plenty of dark-berry and plum flavors. Drink or hold.”
93 Points
 
“… Some graphite, black fruits, scorched earth, and tobacco notes all emerge from this beauty, which has a layered, medium to full-bodied, sexy style on the palate that just begs to be drunk. With no hard edges, the purity of fruit that makes the vintage so special, and outstanding length, it’s not going to make old bones, but it unquestionably offers loads of pleasure today.”
90 Points
 
“Rich, and fruit forward, the blackberry and plum flavors announce themselves upon palate entry, while nuances of lightly roasted coffee beans and baking spices are revealed as the wine is drawn in. The long, balanced finish is a good indication of a delicious wine that will be enjoyable upon release and for an additional decade.”
2018 Paydirt Going For Broke Proprietary Red California

2018 Paydirt Going For Broke Proprietary Red California

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

PAYDIRT

GOING FOR BROKE
PROPRIETARY RED
2018 CALIFORNIA

2018 Paydirt Going For Broke Proprietary Red California
Paydirt is an idiom about striking gold, defining a valuable or rewarding discovery, which is the feeling you’ll have when you taste this wine. The secret behind the palpable quality is in the dirt. With a core of Dusi Vineyard fruit, followed by Bokisch in Lodi and other vineyards in Paso Robles, Oak Knoll, and St Helena, Paydirt is deeply-rooted in heritage clones from ancient parcels. Jeb Dunnuck recently tasted the 2018 and alerted readers to this “delicious drinker,” so now would be the perfect time to stake your claim on a case. 
 
The 2018 blend married 81% old vine Zinfandel with Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Barbera, and Cabernet Sauvignon crafted by winemaker Kent Jarman. Kent is also the winemaker at Coup de Foudre and Kenefick Ranch and was previously the assistant winemaker at Duckhorn. 
 
This wine made its debut in 2010, and the winery proved they could hold-their-own in the competitive $30 red blend category. Now entering the 2018 vintage, they’re onto a new challenge in the sub $20 price range and based on the quality, they’re poised to dominate it.
 
PAYDIRT
GOING FOR BROKE
PROPRIETARY RED
2018 CALIFORNIA
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
“Brambly herbs, plum, framboise, and violet notes emerge from the 2018 Going For Broke, which is a Zinfandel-dominated blend that includes small amounts of Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Balanced and medium to full-bodied, with both richness and elegance, it’s a delicious drinker to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years or so.”
90 Points
2018 Grand Napa Master Red Napa Valley

2018 Grand Napa Master Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40CoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSaint HelenaUSA

GRAND NAPA 

MASTER RED
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 Grand Napa Master Red Napa Valley
Grand Napa Vineyards in Rutherford produces wine in an approachable style that’s keenly balanced, richly textured, and without hard edges. They seek vineyards that produce concentrated fruit, naturally balanced by elegant tannins. Their Master Red combines grapes from both warm and cool parts of the Valley and harmoniously balances fruit, acid, and structure, tying it all in with soft, velvety tannins. Notably, this wine earned double 92 point scores based on the winery’s $90 retail price, so at our price, you can be the judge.
 
Dwight Bonewell, the winemaker at Grand Napa, keeps a black book of secret vineyard sources, and he created his 2018 Master Red from top sites in Coombsville and Saint Helena. His 2018 combines 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with nearly equal parts Malbec and Merlot. 
 
2018 was a faultless growing season, virtually uninterrupted by significant heat spikes, providing a prolonged hang-time and allowing the fruit to accumulate intense flavor and complexity. Grand Napa’s 2018 Master Red envelopes your palate in a blanket of red and black fruits, crushed flowers, black coffee, and soft, velvety tannins.
 
GRAND NAPA 
MASTER RED
2018 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $90
 
 
 
“Loads of black cherries, currants, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and spring flower notes emerge from the 2018 Master Red. A medium to full-bodied, lightly textured blend with integrated tannins and a clean, classy finish, I’d be thrilled to drink bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years.”
92 Points
 
“Savory aromas of dried mushroom and oyster shell on the nose, layered with dried blackcurrant and tobacco. It’s medium- to full-bodied with sleek, integrated tannins. Flavorful with a juicy, savory finish. Try from 2021.”
92 Points
2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs

2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs

with No Comment $40-$50Dry Creek ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUSA

RIDGE

2018 PROPRIETARY RED
LYTTON SPRINGS

2018 Ridge Proprietary Red Lytton Springs
Ridge utilizes pre-Industrial winemaking techniques that were common in Bordeaux and California around the 19th Century. These methods involve fermenting with natural yeasts, winemaking decisions based on taste, and not adding any commercial enzymes or nutrients for extracting color, flavor, and tannins. It’s a philosophy that’s paid off, and when paired with historic vines, it creates wines of sensational quality. Their 2018 Lytton Springs is one of their best, and with double 96 point reviews, don’t miss it.
 
Lytton Springs vineyard was planted in the early 1900s, and the ancient Zinfandel Vines are interplanted with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mourvèdre, and Grenache. Ridge produced their first vintage from Lytton Springs in 1972, and the consistency of character and quality of the fruit has been a hallmark of the site ever since. 
 
The 2018 vintage combines 72% Zinfandel balanced with Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Mourvedre. The wine has stunning depth and complexity that winemakers can’t replicate with younger vines.
 
RIDGE
2018 PROPRIETARY RED
LYTTON SPRINGS
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“…The nose is lush and open, with aromas of aniseed, red and blue berries, blood orange and earth plus touches of tobacco leaf and dried flowers. The medium-bodied palate combines intense, powerful flavors with a more ethereal, silty structure, and it finishes with loads of juicy layers. It’s stunning straight from bottle but will have more to give with time in the cellar.”
96 Points
 
“The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up in the glass. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine its vibrant energy. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2018 for at least a few years. Wow!”
96 Points
2016 Cornerstone Michael's Cuvee Napa Valley

2016 Cornerstone Michael’s Cuvee Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaOakvilleProprietary RedUSA

CORNERSTONE

MICHAEL’S CUVEE
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Cornerstone Michael's Cuvee Napa Valley
A vineyard’s location is paramount for wine grapes and their winemaker’s ability to produce a great wine. To-Kalon Vineyard in Oakville consistently yields fruit with the potential to become a world-class wine. Notably, Oakville Station Vineyard consists of two plots, both walled by To-Kalon grapes. The site is farmed and owned by the University of California at Davis and plays a vital role in advancing the quality of grape growing. Few wineries have access to their grapes, but lucky for us, Cornerstone does, and they make just 200 cases.
 
Cornerstone’s 2016 Michael’s Cuvee balances the power of Cabernet Sauvignon, the plushness of Merlot, the intensity of Cabernet Franc and ties them in with Oakville’s notorious complexity. The wine has a deep, compelling style with rich fruits intermixed with spices, rocky minerals, and floral notes. 
 
Kari Auringer made this stunning wine, and Kari worked under Celia Welch at Cornerstone and contributed to the fame of some of the Napa Valley’s most luminous names, including Scarecrow, Keever, Kelly Fleming, and Corra, to name just a few.
 
CORNERSTONE
MICHAEL’S CUVEE
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“The 2016 Cornerstone Michael’s Cuvée 2016 begins with a penetrating nose of wild mixed berries, crushed stone, pipe tobacco, earthy mushrooms, sweet florals, and wood spice. The palate is focused, concentrated, and linear styled, with juicy red and black berries, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking spices, and freshly turned earth. The palate has crushed velvet tannins, outstanding length, and a fantastic balance of flavors on the finish. It drinks beautifully now and will improve over the next decade.”
94 Points
2018 Bacio Divino Pazzo Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2018 Bacio Divino Pazzo Napa Valley Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaOakvilleProprietary RedUSA

BACIO DIVINO

2018 PAZZO 
NAPA VALLEY
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Bacio Divino Pazzo Napa Valley Proprietary Red
Bacio Divino is one of the top producers of Sangiovese-based blends in Napa Valley, and their reputation of excellence spans each of the wines they produce. They created Pazzo in 1999 as a sister-label to Bacio Divino that would appeal to a broader audience. The 2018 vintage is incredibly rich, with penetrating fruit and intriguing floral elements. Pazzo means crazy in Italian, and at around $30, the 2018 release is a crazy-good value.
 
Bacio Divino has a history of producing high-scoring wines. Because of that, they have access to some of the greatest vineyards in Napa Valley, including Beckstoffer Heritage sites in Oakville and Rutherford and Sangiovese on Atlas Peak. Pazzo comes from a collection of unnamed sites and include grapes from their Estate vineyard.
 
Winemaker Kirk Venge built the 2018 Pazzo with 38% Sangiovese and 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and he tied them together with Syrah and Petite Sirah. The 2018 vintage produced powerful fruit with incredible intensity. This vintage is like a bistro-wine on steroids, and you’ll thank me later, once you taste it.
 
BACIO DIVINO
2018 PAZZO 
NAPA VALLEY
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“This is full-bodied with round, ripe tannins that give form to the ripe palate of plum and berry with some fig undertones. Round and savory. Drink now or hold.”
91 Points
 
“Pazzo (which means ‘crazy’ in Italian) is a ‘funky’, unpretentious blend – an ingratiating wine that is wonderful to drink in its youth. In addition to its good looks, it displays a nose of red berry aromas and follows through with spirited, sweet, lingering, fruit flavors. We have enjoyed incredible success and growth with this unique blend.”
2018 The Crane Assembly Disciples Proprietary Red

2018 The Crane Assembly Disciples Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50CalistogaKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

THE CRANE ASSEMBLY

2018 DISCIPLES
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 The Crane Assembly Disciples Proprietary Red
The Crane Assembly wines honor the history of the G.B. Crane Vineyard, established around 1885. The eight-acre vineyard has 4 acres of original plantings. For Disciples, winemaker Kevin Fox and consulting winemaker Dave Phinney intermix fruit from other iconic vineyards in the area to replicate the style and structure of G.B. Crane. The 2018 release is richly layered, with supple dark fruits, vast complexity, and is perfectly balanced.
 
The wine’s backbone comes from Morisoli Vineyard, which sits in the center of the Rutherford bench and has been a longtime source for BV Georges de Latour, Elyse, Mercury Head, and the list goes on. The 2018 release also includes fruit from Tofanelli Vineyard in Calistoga, which has attracted producers like Prisoner, Schrader Cellars, and Turley. 
 
In 2018, the final blend is nearly 50% Zinfandel, matched with Bordeaux and Rhone Varieties. This wine deliciously shows off the incomparable skills of Dave Phinney & Kevin Fox. They are masters at creating new, unique blends that are as individualistic as they are enjoyable.
 
THE CRANE ASSEMBLY
2018 DISCIPLES
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“Strawberry preserves leap from the glass initially, followed by a bouquet of floral aromatics: lavender, violets and roses. Rich earthy notes of freshly plowed soil, fresh rain on warm granite and petrichor. Spicy, but not a peppery spice, more of a star anise spiciness, tart raspberries and sweet plouts, with a very long, dusty finish of strawberry cream, vanilla and caramelized sugar that lingers…. smooth and luscious!”