2017 Justin Justification Red Paso Robles

2017 Justin Justification Red Paso Robles

with No Comment $50-$60Central CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

JUSTIN

JUSTIFICATION RED
PASO ROBLES 2017

2017 Justin Justification Red Paso Robles
Justin Winery’s founders planted their first vineyards in 1981 on fossilized limestone soils with a similar composition as those in Bordeaux, stressing the vines and giving wines a wide range of character and depth of flavor. The winemaking philosophy combines Old World practices with New World technology to create world-class wines from Paso Robles’ unique microclimate, which includes the most significant difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures of any wine-growing region in California.
 
Justification highlights a Right Bank Bordeaux-style blend featuring Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in 100% French oak barrels. The 2017 vintage is a full-bodied red with a beautiful combination of power and freshness, comprising 65% Cabernet Franc with 35% Merlot, making an excellent accompaniment with a wide range of foods and any occasion from a friendly barbecue to a candlelit dinner.
 
JUSTIN
JUSTIFICATION RED
PASO ROBLES 2017
Retails at: $62
 
 
 
“The 2017 Justification is a Right Bank-styled blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot. Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, it offers bright red and black cherry fruits with notions of garrigue, dried herbs, vanilla and cardamom. In the mouth, it’s medium to full-bodied, with slowly opening fruits and a firm, grainy frame. It has great lift and freshness and finishes long. An approachable, friendly style.”
92 Points
2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand

2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNew ZealandProprietary Red

TRINITY HILL

THE GIMBLETT RED 
GIMBLETT GRAVELS 2020
HAWKES BAY NEW ZEALAND

2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand
The soil composition of Gimblett Gravels, a Hawkes Bay, New Zealand subdistrict, is like a little slice of Bordeaux. As this region’s name suggests, the soil consists of gravel, which Cabernet Sauvignon vines love. Trinity Hill has been growing grapes in this area for over 25 years and is a certified Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand member. They’re committed to biodiversity and reducing their environmental impact.
 
Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson has been with Trinity Hill since 1997 and has won the New Zealand Winemaker of the Year title from Winestate Magazine. Since 2005, The Gimblett has been a Bordeaux-styled red wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The 2020 release is no exception. It’s a beautiful wine that captures the nuances of the growing season and reflects the region’s terroir.
 
TRINITY HILL
THE GIMBLETT RED 
GIMBLETT GRAVELS 2020
HAWKES BAY NEW ZEALAND
 
 
 
“Very deep, bold and bright purple-colour and the aromas are wonderfully clear and pure, speaking loudly of cabernet sauvignon subtly backed with classy oak. The palate is supremely elegant and beautifully proportioned, with concentration but also elegance and style. A wine of real panache and great potential for cellaring. (50% cabernet franc, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot).”
97 Points
2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast

2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

SANS LIEGE

THE OFFERING RED
CENTRAL COAST 2020

2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast
Inspired by wines from the Southern Rhône and aligned with the freedoms of the New World, winemaker Curt Schalchlin seeks terroir with finesse and unrestrained character from the Central Coast that embody his vision. Curt relies on his intuition and carefully monitors each vineyard from Paso Robles to Solvang to ensure that only the highest quality fruit with distinct characteristics makes it to the winery.
 
The Offering is a quest for independence that embraces New World liberties in winemaking but pays tribute to one of France’s most renowned winegrowing regions. The 2020 blend marries Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with a small portion of stem inclusion that induces a spicy, herbal complexity and complements the alluring, elegant fruit flavors. It’s been a personal favorite of mine for over a decade.
 
SANS LIEGE
THE OFFERING RED
CENTRAL COAST 2020
Retails at: $33
 
 
 
“The Sans Liege The Offering 2020 begins with a bright nose that includes spicy red plums, fresh strawberries, wet stone, iodine, cocoa nibs, and fresh sage. The vibrant palate continues with lively black raspberries, preserved plums, sweet black cherries, spicy cedar, and fresh mint. Its finish is medium long, with a bright freshness, a liquid-saline complexity, and a lingering mouth-quenching quality that brings you back for more.”
94 Points
2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles

2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles

with No Comment $70-$80Central CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

BOOKER 

OUBLIE RED BLEND 
PASO ROBLES 2019

2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles
Eric and Lisa Jensen own 100 acres in Paso Robles, which they purchased more than two decades ago, intending to grow and sell premium fruit to nearby wineries. Eric worked alongside local legends Justin Smith and Stephan Asseo until he branched out independently and released his first vintage of Booker in 2005. 
 
Eric’s objective has always involved the highest farming standards using organic and biodynamic methods and maintaining a harmonious balance in the vineyard. Rhône varietals thrive on their estate, and Oublié is the winery’s Châteauneuf du Pape-inspired blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Mother nature provided a remarkable growing season in 2019, showcasing Mourvèdre and giving this wine a noticeably bolder mouthfeel than past vintages, resulting in an undeniably impressive wine.
 
BOOKER 
OUBLIE RED BLEND 
PASO ROBLES 2019
 
 
 
“The 2019 Oublié is a blend of 31% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, 4% Tannat and 4% Petite Sirah with a medium ruby-purple color. The nose offers gregarious mixed berry preserves and accents of potpourri, mint and fragrant earth. The palate offers juicy appeal and powerful fruit with loads of spice and floral perfume, bursts of freshness and firm, pleasantly rustic tannins, finishing very long.”
97 Points
2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red

2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

ROCCA

VESPERRA 2017
NAPA VALLEY RED

2017 Rocca Vesperra Napa Valley Red
Rocca Family Vineyards’ team makes wines from two certified organic estate vineyards awarded Napa Green and Fish Friendly Farming. The Grigsby Vineyard in Yountville is the source of the lush fruit for the Vespera Red Blend, a hand selection of barrels highlighting the philosophy of sharing a bottle of wine with family and friends.
 
Vespera is the Latin word for “evening,” which perfectly represents a setting where loved ones share conviviality and joy without being pretentious. The 2017 vintage is 43% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Syrah, and Merlot, aged in French oak for 22 months. The wine is a diamond in the rough and an incredible value for a high-quality, hand-made Napa Valley Blend.
 
ROCCA
VESPERRA 2017
NAPA VALLEY RED
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“Charming nose of dark fruit, violets and chalk. Some chocolate, too. It’s medium-bodied and savory with an inky note and firm tannins. Energetic finish with fresh acidity. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2017 Marques De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Spain

2017 Marques De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Spain

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedRiojaSpainTempranillo

MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA

FINCA YGAY RESERVA
RIOJA SPAIN 2017

2017 Marques De Murrieta Finca Ygay Reserva Rioja Spain
Luciano Murrieta was one of the first winemakers to establish a winery in Rioja after his studies in Bordeaux in 1852. He achieved worldwide recognition for his signature style of producing powerful, complex, and elegant wines. The Marqués de Murrieta Reserva is a traditional Riojan wine that embodies Luciano’s passion and pays tribute to one of Rioja’s pioneers.
 
The vineyards are located in Rioja Alta at 320 to 485 meters above sea level and are rooted in a traditional, iconic history with modern innovation. The 2017 Reserva is 82% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 6% Mazuelo, and 2% Garnacha aged 16 months in a mixture of new and used American oak with a year and a half in the bottle before release for a balanced integration and sophisticated drinkability.
 
MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA
FINCA YGAY RESERVA
RIOJA SPAIN 2017
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Incredible depth and intensity on the nose with chocolate, walnut, blackberry and wet-earth aromas. Some iodine, too. All this follows through to a full body with very silky tannins that give the wine depth and length. It’s really framed beautifully. Reserved and tight at the finish. A terrific wine for the cellar. Give this three to five years to open.” (Reviewed October 2021)
96 Points
2016 Site Ret Blend Larner Vineyard Ballard Canyon

2016 Site Red Blend Larner Vineyard Ballard Canyon

with No Comment $40-$50Central CoastKevin VogtProprietary Red

SITE

RED BLEND
LARNER VINEYARD 2016
BALLARD CANYON

2016 Site Ret Blend Larner Vineyard Ballard Canyon
Jeremy Weintraub is a winemaker and owner of Site Wines. He has experience in winemaking and grape growing in several regions, including Napa, Paso Robles, Central Otago, Tuscany, and Long Island. He sources grapes from three vineyards in Santa Barbara County, crafting his wines according to each particular vintage.
 
The Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon is a small AVA about 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The region’s north-to-south orientation in the coastal hills receives little oceanic influence and is much warmer than surrounding areas. This gives the perfect climate for Rhône varietals to thrive.The 2016 Larner Vineyard Red Blend is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Viognier. The Syrah and Viognier were co-fermented in a similar style to red blends from the Rhône, giving brevity and brightness to the final wine.
 
SITE
RED BLEND
LARNER VINEYARD 2016
BALLARD CANYON
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The 2016 Red Wine Larner Vineyard is another wine in this range that just dazzles with personality and character. Vibrant inky blue/purplish fruit, grilled herbs, lavender and spice all develop effortlessly. I especially admire the wine’s freshness and energy. The 2016 is a blend of mostly Syrah, with some Grenache and Viognier.”
93 Points
2019 Buoncristiani Proprietary Red O.P.C. Napa Valley

2019 Buoncristiani Proprietary Red O.P.C. Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

BUONCRISTIANI

O.P.C. PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Buoncristiani Proprietary Red O.P.C. Napa Valley
Recreated with a fresh approach in each vintage, the Buoncristiani Brothers’ O.P.C. embodies a unique harmony discovered by blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah. The wines’ signature reveals itself after rounding out the complexity and texture with Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. After 20 months in French oak and now nearly another two years in the bottle, this wine is drinking beautifully.  
 
Grapes for the O.P.C. are sourced from some of Napa’s most prized vineyards, including Hyde, Stagecoach, Hossfeld, and Bennett, creating a wine that further enhances the enjoyment of life. The brothers run all aspects of their business, from growing and production to sales and marketing, ensuring the highest quality standard. If you’re looking for a wine that will make you smile each time you taste it, this is it.
 
BUONCRISTIANI
O.P.C. PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $75
 
 
 
“…Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with youthful notes of crushed black and red currants, fresh blackberries, and spearmint, followed by suggestions of tilled soil, star anise, and cardamom. The full-bodied palate has impressive poise, featuring expressive black and red fruit layers and a fine-grained texture, finishing long and vibrant.”
94 Points
2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT

2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT

with No Comment $40-$50ItalyKevin VogtNapaProprietary Red

CAVALLI

TENUTA DEGLI DEI
TOSCANA IGT 2018

2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT
The Cavalli family has been crafting fine wines in Tuscany since the 1970s. Their Tenuta Degli Dei estate is located near Panzano in Chianti, a region known for its rich marl soils and sunny southern exposure. Tommaso Cavalli, the current winemaker, is committed to sustainable farming practices and works with his father, Roberto, to produce wines that are both delicious and environmentally friendly.
 
The 2018 Cavalli is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It is a full-bodied wine with a dense, robust structure and an underlying elegance. Antonio Galloni describes it as “wonderfully inviting…with exceptional balance and tons of character.” The wine will age gracefully, but it is also enjoyable to drink now. 
 
CAVALLI
TENUTA DEGLI DEI
TOSCANA IGT 2018
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The 2018 Tenuta Degli Dei is dense, juicy and wonderfully inviting. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. In the glass, the 2018 is intensely aromatic and layered, with exceptional balance and tons of character. Here, too, the wine’s overall sense of harmony can only be described as exquisite.”
96 Points
2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

with No Comment $30-$40ChileKevin VogtProprietary Red

VIK

MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile
Alex and Carrie Vik established VIK Winery in the rolling foothills of the Andes Mountains after nearly two years of scientific research seeking out the ideal terroir. After their search, they finally found the prime planting location in the Millahue Valley, in a pocket named “Lugar de Oro” or “Golden Place” by the native Mapuche people. The vines are planted in twelve undulating valleys of several different microclimates, all cooled by Pacific coastal breezes and Andes Mountain winds.
 
Milla Cala is a tribute to Old World meets New World by embodying the connection between the growing environment and the human hand. The vineyards are hand-harvested, and fermented with natural yeasts, giving a distinct house style. The 2018 release blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot, reflecting the region’s purity and rich complexity.
 
VIK
MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE
Retails at: $49
 
 
 
“Sweet berries, dried flowers, fresh mushrooms and some currants on the nose, following through to a medium to full body with fine, creamy tannins that give the wine form and tension. Juicy and savory fruit. A blend of cabernet franc, syrah, carmenere and merlot. Better to give this time, but already a beautiful, juicy red to drink. Drink or hold.”
94 Points
 
“A modern Bordeaux blend made by Cristian Vallejo who combines Cabernet Sauvignon with 18% Carmenere, 14% Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot from Millahue, Cachapoal. Aged for 20 months in oak, it is opulent and tasty with a nose of cherries, plums, blackberries, currants, eucalyptus and aromatic herbs wisely combined with spicy aromas from the ageing. Full-bodied with a lush texture and accomplished freshness, the long finish offers fruity and balsamic aromas.”
94 Points