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, with seamless structure. They seek vineyards that produce concentrated fruit, naturally balanced by elegant tannins. Their Master Red combines grapes from warmer and cooler 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, it’s an amazingly delicious value. 
 
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. 
 
The 2018 vintage was an ideal growing season in Napa, 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 juicy red and black fruits, crushed flowers, hints of espresso beans, and a rich, supple mouthfeel.
 
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
2016 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2016 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

GROTH 

2016 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

2016 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Defined by their commitment to consistency and continuity, Groth’s entire team’s intimate knowledge and trust in the vineyard’s capability, as well as their unwavering commitment to quality, kept them on the forefront as one of Oakville’s most classic producers for generations. Their Oakville Cabernet is a timeless classic, embodying legacy, superior fruit, land stewardship, and top-level winemaking, and at $60, the value is undeniable. 
 
Initially planted by Silver Oak co-founder Justin Meyer in the early 70s, the Estate flanks paragons Plumpjack, O’Shaughnessy, and Bonny’s Vineyard and is just a short distance from BOND’s St Eden. Their team meticulously farms the vineyard, performing cluster thinning three times each vintage.
 
Pressed in their state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery and kept for nearly two years in barrel, Groth’s Oakville Cabernet is evolving beautifully since the team bottled it four years ago. The wine vividly expresses the vineyard’s hallmarks with supple fruit, depth, and escalating energy. It was not surprisingly one of THE best wines in our weekly tasting.
 
GROTH 
2016 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“…They produced a young and luscious Oakville cabernet, the wine integrating oak and fruit tannins in a way that supercharges its flavors. Rather than weighing the wine down, the structure empowers it, presenting plummy blue fruit, scents of cassis and fruity-umami notes of mushrooms that last, gracious, gentle and refined.”
94 Points
 
“Blended with 9% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, this Cabernet opens with earthy aromas of tar, sage and cedar. It expands on the palate to show an elegant structure of finessed, supple tannins alongside layers of clove and cinnamon atop ripe red and black berries.”
93 Points “Editors’ Choice”
 
“A hint of singed savory leads off, turning quickly to a core of raspberry and mulberry fruit, lined with alluring tea, sanguine and iron notes. Offers fine-grained grip and should unwind nicely in the cellar. Drink now through 2030. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.”
92 Points
2018 Acumen Mountainside Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2018 Acumen Mountainside Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Atlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary Red

ACUMEN

2018 MOUNTAINSIDE
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Acumen Mountainside Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Acumen wines have a definitive style similar to Napa Valley’s great Cabernets from the 1960s and 1970s. They craft classically structured, balanced wines marked by complexity and ageability under renowned winemaker Phillip Titus, winemaker at Chappellet for nearly 30 years. At $40, Acumen’s Mountainside Red embodies the soul of their Estate vineyard, their team’s talent, and their proprietor’s drive, offering immeasurable value. 
 
At around 1500 feet elevation on Atlas Peak, Acumen’s Mountainside Blend was wrought from the rocky, volcanic soils and relatively cool climate, perfectly depicting the deep, concentrated flavors that make this region famous.
 
Acumen sells most of their fruit, allowing Phillip Titus to focus on his favorite blocks for Acumen’s estate wines. Phillip created this wine around a core of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Merlot and Petit Verdot for soft, supple characteristics, balancing the power of Mountain Cabernet.
 
ACUMEN
2018 MOUNTAINSIDE
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“This full-bodied wine starts with fragrant aromas of ripe blackberries, potpourri, freshly turned earth, and Chambord. On the palate, we find mouth-coating flavors of blueberries, Santa Rosa plums, and baking spices with a pleasant grip of ripe tannins coupled with notes of toffee, rhubarb compote, fresh sage and cigar box on the long and pleasant finish.”
2017 Buoncristiani O.P.C. Proprietary Red Napa Valle

2017 Buoncristiani O.P.C. Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

BUONCRISTIANI

O.P.C. PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Buoncristiani O.P.C. Proprietary Red Napa Valle
Re-birthed each new vintage, driven by the synergy of marrying top-quality Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and other Bordeaux varieties by hand, Buoncristiani O.P.C. highlights some of Napa’s most illustrious vineyards, including Hyde, Stagecoach, and Hossfeld. The Buoncristiani brothers created O.P.C. to make a wine unique to them, guided by a shared passion, and precipitated by the amalgamation of skills. As a result, the 2017 vintage is “beautifully textured,” marked by complexity, balance, and absolute value. 
 
Highlighting a New World winemaker’s freedom to create a wine outside the bounds of classic varietal blends, winemaker Jay Buoncristiani merged Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Petite Verdot with Syrah, enhancing the layers and textures in the wine.
 
The 2017 release showcases the vintage’s most intense characteristics with focus, enveloping elegance, enhanced with twenty months rest in barrels. At $70, it’s truly stunning, but at under $50, few can compete.
 
BUONCRISTIANI
O.P.C. PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $70
 
 
 
“…complex, nuanced style in its mulled plums, black tea, peppery herbs, and orange blossom aroma and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, rich and beautifully textured on the palate, with ripe, mouthcoating tannins, it’s another terrific 2017 from this team that will evolve for a solid 10-15 years, that is, if you can keep your hands off bottles.”
93 Points
 
“…Deep garnet-purple colored, it has black raspberries, warm plums and boysenberries with hints of mocha, anise, black pepper and tar. The palate is full-bodied, rich, soft and plush with loads of spicy sparks and a long, peppery finish.”
92+ Points

“This has a fresh and complex nose with notes of ripe dark fruit and mint. Medium to full body with a fleshy palate and firm tannin structure. Polished and juicy fruit…Drink or hold.” 
92 Points
 
“… supple, forward wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. The tannins are a bit stern today, but time in the bottle should take care of that.” 
92 Points
2017 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2017 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

LARKMEAD

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Above ground, Larkmead Vineyards is a masterpiece of sustainable farming with winemaking at the highest level. Still, it’s what’s beneath their vineyard that makes them a marvel of New World Cabernet production and genuinely unique. Planted above ancient riverbed gravel with a similar well-draining environment to Napa’s hillsides, Larkmead Vineyard produces powerful fruit with mesmeric complexity. Their 2017 release is a classic example of their vineyard’s identity, shown through the vintage’s lens, capturing their team’s drive, emotion, and combined expertise. 
 
Capturing the vineyard’s diversity by fermenting in multiple small lots, winemaker Dan Petroski’s intimate knowledge of the property shines in this wine. The vineyard borders Selby Creek and the Napa River, where an accumulation of ancient riverbed gravel, clay, and loam, formed the perfect canvas to cultivate grapes.
 
Utilizing a systems approach to farming, Nabor Camarena and viticulturist Kelly Maher farm Larkmeads Vineyard as a single component of the larger surrounding ecosystem, lending to the uniform balance of their wines.
 
LARKMEAD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“With 10% Merlot, this is a structured red that’s built by broad tannins but approachable in its youth. Earthy peat, dried herb, cedar and cigar box play against a depth of dark cherry, cassis and plum, while fresh acidity permeates beneath, making for a cohesive package.”
96 Points
 
“This is really subtle and complex with black truffles, blackberries, lavender and rosemary. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins with beautiful fruit. Linear and racy. Love the balance and finesse. Drink now or hold.”
94 Points
2018 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District

2018 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSpring MountainUSA

BARNETT 

2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

2018 Barnett Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District
Carved into a 35º slope at 2000 feet elevation on Spring Mountain, Barnett’s Vineyard is impeccably farmed on a vine-by-vine basis, ensuring each berry reaches the pinnacle of ripeness. Once harvested, Winemaker David Tate ferments each block individually, performing multiple punch-downs daily, maximizing flavor concentration. Their unwavering use of traditional techniques and micro-managing production has solidified them as a paragon on Spring Mountain for more than 30 years. 
 
Crafted with the intent to showcase Spring Mountain’s most distinct characteristics, displayed with grace and persistence, Barnett’s team intricately combines fruit from their high-elevation Estate and neighboring York Creek Vineyards in creating their Spring Mountain District Cabernet.
 
Blending the 2018 Barnett, David utilized 8% Petit Verdot for increased depth, structure, and balancing the ripe and supple Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, which he aged for 22 months in barrel. At less than $100, this wine perfectly expresses the profound qualities that I look for in Spring Mountain Cabernet. 
 
BARNETT 
2018 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $80
 
Your Price: $75
 
 
“In 2018 climatic conditions were perfect up on Spring Mountain. This Cabernet is evidence of that. Fresh blackberry, anise and mocha are the first things apparent on the nose followed by cola, acai berry and menthol. This is a silky lush wine with layers of dark chocolate, cedar and freshly ground coffee. The tannins are chiefly present, being round pleasing chalky tannins with firm mountain acid balancing them out. The finish is chocolate covered plum. This powerhouse Cabernet is already showing well and will develop even more complexity over the next 10-12 years (2030-2032).”
2016 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red

2016 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

LA SIRENA

PIRATE TREASURED
2016 PROPRIETARY RED

2016 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red
La Sirena’s Pirate TreasuRed is a unique seven varietal blend reimagined each vintage, constructed through Heidi Barrett’s meticulous blending skills and connections for high-quality grapes. The varietal composition changes with each new year, but the exquisite, deep, multilayered, fresh style remains constant. 2016 vintage marks her 10th vintage of Pirate TreasuRed and is one of the biggest, most concentrated versions yet. 
 
Heidi Barrett was immersed in wine from a young age and worked alongside her father, Dick Peterson, at various wineries. She started La Sirena in 1994 after honing her skills at Dalla Valle and Screaming Eagle. 
 
With seven varietals to work with, each plays an essential role in the wine’s aromatics, structure, textures, and fruit characteristics. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides the framework, while Grenache contributes seductive fruits, Cabernet Franc adds power and definition, and the list goes on.
 
LA SIRENA
PIRATE TREASURED
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The 2016 Pirate delivers a deep ruby colored wine with lush, ripe aromas of black and red fruit like plum and berry, accompanied by notes of fine leather, toast and spice. A complex blend with lots of interesting layers playing off of each other. Flavors persist as does the texture of the wine. Extracted and big but not heavy, with moderate silky structural tannins and a round, well-balanced finish that lingers. A versatile wine that, above all else, is fun to drink! 2016 marks our 10th release of this blend – a picture-perfect vintage known for producing classic expressions of Napa Valley wines.”
2016 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder

2016 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

ANTHEM 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 MOUNT VEEDER

2016 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
Steadfast on creating superior quality Cabernets from distinctive Mountain AVA’s in Napa Valley, Anthem winery assembled a powerful team led by highly-respected viticulturist John Truchard and winemaker Jeff Ames. The winery’s production team is free to vinify without regard for cost, making every decision solely on its impact on the quality of their wine. All of this is present in their wines, and the 2016 release is their best yet. 
 
Mount Veeder arose from an ancient seabed, and the soils at Anthem Estate are excessively well-drained and derived from sedimentary rock. Their vines yield just 1.9 tons per acre of super-concentrated berries that powerfully reflect their site-specific terroir.
 
Jeff crafts Anthem’s Cabernet Sauvignon to showcase the power and restraint, as well as a stunning level of depth and persistent intensity. The 2016 vintage produced an even richer version, and after 18 months in barrel and three years in the bottle, this wine rocks.
 
ANTHEM 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“Made by Winemaker Jeff Ames, this Cabernet Sauvignon includes 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. Aged in 100% new French oak, it offers a seamless core of cassis, raspberry and dark cherry, with velvety richness forming a concentrated bond on the palate.”
94 Points
 
“…Deep garnet-purple in color, is offers up scents of crème de cassis, blueberry compote and Christmas cake with an undercurrent of plum preserves, camphor and cigar box. Big, rich and full-bodied on the palate, it delivers impactful, maturing black fruit and spicy flavors, supported by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length.”
93 Points
 
“Lush and well-fruited, with lots of boysenberry, blackberry and plum flavors rolling through, laced with apple wood, anise, violet and sweet tobacco notes. Shows a tarry edge on the finish but the fruit keeps pace easily. Solidly built. Best from 2021 through 2032.”
93 Points
2017 Leto Cellars Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2017 Leto Cellars Proprietary Red Napa Valley

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

LETO CELLARS

PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Leto Cellars Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Brad Warner’s half-century of winemaking experience is compounded by each successful vintage and tuned with the trials and tribulations encountered along the way, resulting in expertly balanced, story-telling wines of palpable quality. Calling on his vast experience, Brad created this union of Mountain and valley floor fruit that balances power and grace, and simply put, tastes like it should be at least double the price. 
 
Combining Mount Veeder’s power with the refined complexity of Saint Helena fruit, Brad’s decades in the wine industry allowed him access to some remarkable vineyards. He sourced the Merlot and some of the Cabernet from a steep hillside vineyard, which he balanced with Cabernet Sauvignon from dry-farmed vines in St Helena’s center. 
 
Blending 35%Merlot with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Merlot softens the Cabernet’s tannins, providing supple fruits that balance Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure. After developing for 22 months in oak and two years in the bottle, this wine is gorgeous now and will gracefully age for another decade.
 
LETO CELLARS
PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“The 2017 Leto Red Blend is a striking blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, giving it the right balance to drink beautifully now and for many years to come. It begins with a compelling nose of red currants, mountain berries, fresh florals, green sage, and savory, earthy spices. The palate is rich with ripe Burgundy plums, wild currants, hints of vanilla, and subtle spice. It is beautifully concentrated with penetrating fruit that carries the balanced flavors for a long finish, and I highly recommend trying some.” 
94 Points
2020 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley

2020 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaOakvilleRoséUSA

POP 300

2020 ROSÉ
NAPA VALLEY

2020 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley
Pop 300 spotlights a micro-parcel of Pinot Noir near To Kalon Vineyard’s center called the Wilsey Vineyard. This unique site exposes Oakville’s intriguing complexity with a fresh perspective of brightly focused fruit and refreshing style. Recently recognized by Antonio Galloni on his in-depth Oakville AVA map, the vineyard’s very existence was known only by a handful of Oakville locals until Pop 300’s debut in 2012. POP 300 is a wine for those in the know, and with just 141 cases made, hopefully, it stays that way for a bit longer. 
 
Oakville produces some of the world’s most remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon, but very few people know that Pinot Noir exists in the region. Created by Luke Russ, Oakville-raised, and the Commercial Director at O’Shaughnessy Winery, this genuinely unique Rosé of Pinot Noir is truly special. 
 
Luke makes his Rosé in a piercing style, with a unique floral lift, achieved by co-fermenting with a fragrant white. Enhanced with a small amount of Grenache Blanc from a secret vineyard on Mount Veeder, this scarcely available 2020 Rosé should be on your “drink me” list today.
 
POP 300
2020 ROSÉ
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2020 POP 300 rose is here. And boy aren’t we pleased to have been able to make this wine during this wild ride of a year. Harvested early in the morning on September 4th we had a beautiful crop to work with this year. As I have done in the past I co- fermented part of this wine with a floral white. This year I went with a small amount of Grenache Blanc from a low production vineyard on Mt. Veeder. This has added to the Pinot Noir base with playful aromas of unripe mango, white peach and lime zest. The wine was fermented in a combination neutral French oak and stainless steel barrels with no malolactic conversion. 141 cases produced”