2014 Anantaah Bella's Blend Spring Mountain District

2014 Anantaah Bella’s Blend Spring Mountain District

ANANTAAH2014 Anantaah Bella's Blend Spring Mountain District

2014 BELLA’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

 

From a mountainous area where the bottle prices are generally as steep as the terrain, it’s extremely rare to find a Cabernet Blend that drinks as great as this one. It’s no surprise that Anantaah is one of our most requested wines and that’s about to increase exponentially once you taste the 2014…  It’s created in an enchanting style that unwinds with decadent blue fruits, cocoa dusted blackberries, wild plums and complex spices.  The winery produces less than 500 cases annually between all of their wines and there’s never enough of this wine to match demand.

Originating from the Madrone Vineyard located at 1,900 feet in elevation, this deep, velvety red possesses a multitude of layers and remarkable balance.  Perpetually changing and evolving in the glass, layer after layer of impeccably well-balanced flavors coat your palate in an abundance of dark fruits and sweet, velvety tannins.  Aged for nearly two full years in barrels and now with around 2 1/2 years of development in the bottle, this wine is gorgeous right now and has the structure to go another decade. 

 

ANANTAAH 
2014 BELLA’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “The nose of this Anantaah Bella’s blend 2014 is rich, elegant and opulent with deep black fruits, crushed blackberries and black plum, followed ripe blueberry, fresh tobacco leaf, crushed rocks, cocoa powder and cigar box.  The palate begins with deeply penetrating, focused flavors of concentrated black cherries, supple black currants and cassis, followed by a hint of sweet vanilla spice.  It is very long on the finish and immensely pleasurable to drink.  94 Points
2014 Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet Sauvingon

2014 Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

INGLENOOK  2014 Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet Sauvingon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 RUTHERFORD

 
If the historic Inglenook Winery was portrayed in a film, it would be filled with rich history, challenges, grand awards, and new beginnings. The winery was founded in 1879, making it the 5th oldest winery in Napa Valley and in the late 1970’s, the property was purchased by iconic film director Francis Ford Coppola.  Francis made pivotal enhancements to the Estate, and took the winemaking to an even higher level when he hired famed winemaking consultant André Tchelistcheff.  By 1990, the Wine Spectator awarded the 1941 Inglenook Cabernet a perfect 100 Point score, naming it one of the Top Wines of the Century and to this day, Inglenook is still catching the eye of critics, and the 2014 has an abundance of stellar reviews.  The wine is produced in a confident, show-stopping style, yet it hasn’t forgotten it’s roots as one of Napa’s most historic Cabernets.  At $65, you’ll want tickets to this show…
 
Cut from Chateau, Cohn, Creek, Small Block, and Walnut Vineyards, this wine is classically Rutherford and embodies the perfect mix of drama, charisma and antiquity.  The main character is Cabernet Sauvignon at 93%, but it’s supported by Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot, which add focus and  a soft suppleness to the wine, making it even more irresistible.  Don’t miss this stellar release.
 
INGLENOOK 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 RUTHERFORD
Retails at:  $75/btl
 
Your Price: $65/btl 

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Soft and round, with an undeniable Old World-like balance, this wine shows dark chocolate, tobacco and tar notes. Its power derives from its complex texture, imbued with a smoky oak essence and clove and graphite accents.”  93 Points
“…a beauty of classicism and balance. Dense purple in color, with notes of crème de cassis, blackberry, cedar wood and forest floor, the wine is full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and pure, with moderate tannins and the potential for 20-25 years of upside”  92 Points
“… pulses with a host of savory and mineral notes that confer notable freshness. Quite representative of the vintage, the Cabernet displays considerable energy and tension, with terrific intensity throughout. Graphite, lavender, mint, smoke and tobacco are all finely knit in a Cabernet that offers quite a bit of potential.” 92-95 Points
Customers who enjoy Inglenook Rutherford Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabernets…
2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Robert Craig Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon
DUCKHORN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $78.00/btl
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 

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Winery Notes:Beginning with a gorgeous nose of boysenberry, cherry, strawberry, cedar, sage and licorice, this lush and lively Cabernet captures the rich diversity of Napa Valley. On the palate, the alluring fruit flavors are underscored by bright acidity, firm polished tannins and notes of fig, licorice and cinnamon that linger on the well-structured finish.”
ROBERT CRAIG
2015 AFFINITY 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $70.00/btl
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 

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From James Suckling: Very pretty stones, oyster shell, blueberries and underbrush character. The palate is very composed with lots of bright, tangy fruit, grainy tannins and a minerally yet at the same time fruit-driven finish. A unique wine. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot. Drink in 2020 even if delicious now.”  94 Points
2017 Vine Cliff Los Carneros Chardonnay

2017 Vine Cliff Los Carneros Chardonnay

VINE CLIFF 2017 Vine Cliff Los Carneros Chardonnay

2017 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS

 

This time of year, we start our tastings with nearly two dozen Chardonnays, and see every style from extremely rich, lushious and buttery offerings, to shimmering, unoaked crisp and minerally, Chablis-like examples.  Somewhere in the middle of those very opposite styles you’ll find a perfect balance of concentrated, pristinely focused fruit that perfectly balances the elegant oak and subtle buttery characteristics.  When we find one of these, it really stands out in a crowd of countless others.  Vine Cliff’s 2017 could be the reference-standard for perfectly balanced, intensely powerful Chardonnay…  It is an absolutely pure expression of concentrated fruit with just enough oak and butter characteristics to appeal to anyone that tries it.  If you enjoy Chardonnay, trust me on this one.  It’s one of the best that I’ve tasted in years.

Vine Cliff has a terrific reputation of quality and consistency and is one of Napa Valley’s historic wineries, being established in 1871.  This Chardonnay comes from their  twelve-acre Estate vineyard in the heart of the Los Carneros appellation, an area that’s absolutely perfect for producing perfectly ripe, incredibly balanced Chardonnay fruit.  The fruit was pressed long and slow in a Champagne style to maximize freshness and you’ll taste it in this brilliant Napa Valley Chardonnay.

 
VINE CLIFF
2017 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS 
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 

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Winery Notes:Our 2017 Los Carneros Chardonnay opens up with inviting citrus notes of Meyer lemon and mandarin orange, followed by floral notes of honey suckle, and jasmine. A second breath of wine takes you to a place of minerals, with hints of flint and wet stones. The gentle kiss of oak seems to seep through the fruit ever so slowly. The beauty of this vintage is reflected by the perfect balance between fruit, oak, and acid. The palate exhibits a depth of fruit flavors ranging from golden delicious apple, tangelo, and nectarine. On the finish the wine ends with a medley of honey, citrus, and floral notes.
 
Customers who enjoy Vine Cliff Los Carneros Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific Chardonnays…
2016 Valdez Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 Martinelli Bella Vigna Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
VALDEZ
2016 CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $35/btl 

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Winery Notes:Smooth, full-bodied, and crisp; The 2016 chardonnay fills the palate with juicy citrus fruits, honey, and hints of vanilla. The 2016 vintage is slightly brighter than the 2015 with a touch more acidity that presents a nice freshness in the wine…
MARTINELLI
2016 CHARDONNAY
BELLA VIGNA
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
The core of Martinelli’s 2016 Bela Vigna Chardonnay comes from the iconic Zio Tony Ranch Vineyard and was brightened with fruit from Martinelli Road.  On the palate, the wine has regal opulence matched with majestic balance, and displays focused flavors spanning from lemon meringue pie and lemon blossoms to honeyed pineapple.
2013 Kuleto Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Kuleto Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

KULETO

2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, NAPA VALLEY

2013 Kuleto Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

We’re always looking for the best values in Napa Cabernet, and one of the things that we pay critical attention to are Estate wines hewn within a close proximity to other revered vineyards.  Kuleto Estate is located just across Sage Canyon Road from Chappellet, Continuum and Gandona and their Estate Cabernet is an uncanny value at $60.  At this price, it’s honestly not even fair… The vineyard is remarkably diverse with vines planted along ridges and steep hillsides.  The soils, elevations and sub-climates are so complex that they delineated the property into more than 100 distinct micro-blocks.  Their 2013 Estate Cabernet is made up of 24 different micro-blocks.  Our panel was so taken by the quality that we bought every bottle that the distributor had available.  

Composed by seasoned winemaker Dave Lattin, and with a focused richness and elaborate, penetrating flavors, this wine has more than enough structure to age for many years to come.  Pressed in the winery’s state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery, their Estate Cabernet spends 20 months in oak barrels before bottling.  If you love big, full bodied Napa Cabernet Sauvignon without the premium price tag that normally comes with them… This one’s definitely for you.  

 
KULETO
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast:From the producer’s estate at over 1,000 feet in elevation, this seamlessly textured wine grabs one’s palate from the start and doesn’t let go. Huckleberry and cedar notes meet bay leaf accents and grippy tannins, all enveloped in smoky oak. It finishes with bright, fresh blackberry.” 92 Points
2015 Paradigm Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Paradigm Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

PARADIGM 2015 Paradigm Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 OAKVILLE ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 
If I were to choose one wine that perfectly expresses Oakville’s notorious complexity, Paradigm would be my first choice.  This absolutely stunning wine made by Heidi Barrett comes from the Western side of Oakville, just South of Beckstoffer’s Iconic To-Kalon Vineyard in an area widely considered the epicenter of Grand Cru quality Cabernet Sauvignon.  Paradigm’s neighbors include icons, Dominus, Harlan Estate, Opus One, and Martha’s Vineyard…  The average price of wine from those vineyards is likely well over $200 per bottle and at $79.99/btl Paradigm tips the scales with groundbreaking levels of quality.
 
A perpetual favorite, the 2015 is made in a style that’s both compact and lush and opens up to cocoa dusted blackberries, dark chocolate, plum and cigar box. Supple tannins wrap effortlessly around your palate in all directions, as a parade of vivid black fruits, black currants, minerals and vanilla bean seduce your senses.  Spending around 18 months in French oak barrels, Paradigm remains one of the best values in the coveted Oakville Appellation.  Here’s a fantastic opportunity to taste a Heidi Barrett made Cabernet, sourced from one of Napa Valley’s crown jewel growing regions, and at a fraction of the price of many of its neighbors…
 
PARADIGM
2015 OAKVILLE ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $84.00/btl
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl

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Winery Notes:The 2015 vintage produced delicious concentrated wines in smaller quantity than normal. This black raspberry colored Cabernet has lovely open aromatics of black cherry, berry, and plum layered with a perfect balance of new and used French Oak. Our blend uses several blocks of Cabernet, Merlot, and Cab Franc from our Estate vineyard in Oakville. The effect is one of layered complete flavors and a delicious expression of how beautiful Oakville wine can be. Flavors match the aromas. Tannins are moderate yet add a nice chewy texture and the length goes on several seconds. This is a beautiful wine that will age surely for decades but is delish now.
 
Customers who enjoy Paradigm Oakville Cabernet may also enjoy these two Heidi Barrett made wines...
 
2014 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red 2016 Vin Perdu Napa Valley Proprietary Red
LA SIRENA
PIRATE TREASURED
2014 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 

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Winery Notes: “The fabulous 2014 vintage delivers a deep black-ruby colored wine with open aromatics of sweet ripe fruit layered with toasty French oak and hints of caramel. Layers of flavor coat the palate with broad appeal, wonderful cherry texture and seamless tannins. Fruit is dense berry with a slightly more pronounced oak note than last year, giving a beautiful vanilla impression. These flavors persist a long time in a lengthy and powerful finish. A great example of the magic of blending!”
VIN PERDU
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $95/btl
 
Your Price: $75/btl  

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From Vinous:… absolutely gorgeous. In 2016, Vin Perdu is once again based on a core of Cabernet Sauvignon. Rich, ample and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2016 has a lot to recommend it. Mocha, plum, bittersweet chocolate, leather and spice meld together in a super-expressive, resonant wine from John Schwartz and Heidi Barrett. The Vin Perdu is technically the second wine of Amuse Bouche, but in many vintages I prefer it. At $75 a bottle, it is one of the great values in Napa Valley wine.”  94 Points
2015 POP 300 Oakville Rosé

2018 Pop 300 Oakville Rosé

POP 300  2015 POP 300 Oakville Rosé

2018 ROSÉ
OAKVILLE 

 
For wine lovers, being in-the-know can sometimes result in drinking a wine that performs so stratospherically above the realm of possibilities, that you feel like you stole something when you taste it. POP 300’s Oakville Rosé hands you all of that on a sterling silver platter, and here’s why… Many would argue that the To Kalon Vineyard in the heart of Oakville is the greatest vineyard in California.  A little known secret is that there’s a tiny block of Pinot Noir in the center of this magical vineyard.  It’s called Wilsey-To Kalon and in a case where location and being connected takes you the distance, POP 300 has my vote.  The aromas alone give you a rush, and compelling notes of bright raspberry, crushed sea shells, minerals, pink grapefruit and pomegranate let you know what you’re about to get into… Oh yeah and at $29.99/btl, it’s truly one of the best Rosé wines produced in California.  
 
It’s well known that Oakville produces some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world, but very few people would know that Pinot Noir even exits in this iconic region. This is a truly unique, Rosé of Pinot Noir with a dash of Viognier tossed in, is made by Luke Russ, whose day job is the Commercial Director at O’Shaughnessy Winery.  Beware, it might just leave you in disbelief of just how good it is.  Just don’t let the shock last too long, because it will be gone before you know it…
 
POP 300 
2018 ROSÉ
OAKVILLE
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “What a delight to find an absolutely one-of-a-kind wine that is immensely delicious too.  The nose begins with ripe peach, nectarine and fresh, ripe raspberries intermingled with a whiff of banana and spring flowers.  The palate is bursting with flavors including Bosc pear, white strawberries, Meyer lemon, along with a saline minerality and bright acidity.  It is a complex, dry wine with very little if any residual sugar and a zesty mouthfeel that perfectly balances the powerful flavors.  I highly recommend this for your Spring and Summer enjoyment.”  94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

2016 Cru⁹ ‘Stop Talking’ Napa Valley Pinot Noir

CRU⁹

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2016 NAPA VALLEY

 
When we first introduced Cru9’s Cabernet last year, we knew that once ANYBODY tasted it that they wouldn’t be able to stop talking about how great it is at this price.  The conversation on the 2016 would be highlighted by a compact core of dense blackberry, velvety cassis, cocoa dusted raspberries and crushed granite. And with great volume, and an even more powerful voice than earlier vintages, the 2016 is confident and authoritative, yet finely detailed and effortlessly balanced. Of course, you may want to whisper since there were only 11 barrels produced… At this price it’s simply one of the best Cabernets in the shop.
 
Resonating from a secret vineyard sources in Oakville, St. Helena and Rutherford, the 2016 exhibits all the best traits of the vintage.  On the palate, waves of concentrated blackberry, sandalwood, black currants, white flowers and earthy minerals circulate and add new dimensions as the wine opens up.  Notably, CRU9 also gives back and helps support two nonprofit women shelters, Ruby’s Place in CA and House of Hope in IA (read more).  Every time you buy a bottle of CRU9, you also help level the playing field for survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse, and homelessness.
 
CRU9
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes:Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2016 has an intense purple color offering a powerful nose of ripe blackberries, black cherry, dried currants, crushed rocks, cigar box and hints of cinnamon.  On the palate, it is intensely penetrating and focused with concentrated wild mountain blackberries, cassis and velvety tannins. It finishes in a linear style that’s so focused and penetrating, it brings an immediate smile to your face and is exceptionally satisfying.  In a world where hundred plus dollar Napa Cabs are the norm, this is the ultimate ‘Bang for your Buck’ wine. Superb! Drink now through 2029.” 97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red

VISTA

2017 RUTHERFORD
PROPRIETARY RED

 
Being part of a wine brand that’s shattering records and has everybody talking is always fun, and Vista turns out to be our single most popular wine we’ve ever offered… This is a $23 Rutherford Blend that tastes like it should cost many many times its price.  When I first tasted this wine I was asked to estimate the retail price with no information other than what was on the label.  After considering the focused and penetrating red fruits, classic Rutherford dust characteristics, and long, pleasant finish, my number was $75-$95/btl… Turns out, the intended retail was $95, had it been finished as a single vineyard Rutherford Cabernet under a different brand name.  If you look for value reds from Napa Valley, I strongly recommend that you double or even triple down on this one…
 
Originating from Rutherford, an area long celebrated for its exceptional terroir and dusty tannins, this wine embodies many of  the hallmarks that I look for in Rutherford Cabernet. Predominately Cabernet, heightened with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2017 saturates your palate in seductive red berries laced with dried lavender, red currants, iron, and Rutherford dust.  At $23 bucks this wine shatters expectations of how great a value wine can possibly be in this price.
 
VISTA
2017 RUTHERFORD
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $23/btl 
 
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
2014 Liparita V Block Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Liparita V Block Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon

LIPARITA  2014 Liparita V Block Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon

 

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
V BLOCK, YOUNTVILLE

 
With the ever-growing number of new wineries in Napa Valley, sometimes it pays to re-discover a historic Estate.  Liparita, originally named Liparita – La Jota is absolutely one of the oldest wine Estates in Napa Valley, with the original property on Howell Mountain dating back to 1880.  In 1900 their claret earned a gold medal in Paris and another in Saint Louis in 1904.  Like many other Napa Valley wineries, Liparita vanished with Prohibition and remained a ghost winery that didn’t re-open until the late 1980’s.  Now, nearly 140 years after their inception, Liparita is producing stunning, classically-styled Cabernet Sauvignons and you really ought to try this one.  
 
Conjured from a single block that’s ideally located in a benchlands vineyard in Napa Valley’s iconic Yountville AVA, the 2014 erupts from the glass with intense blackberry, red plum, pipe tobacco and dark chocolate.  Kept for 21 months in oak barrels, the 2014 is made in a deep, supple style that opens up beautifully in the glass.  This one is going to fly… 
 
LIPARITA 
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
V BLOCK, YOUNTVILLE
Retails at: $65.00/btl
 
 
From James Suckling: “Attractive spice, walnut, earth and currant character follows through to a medium body, fresh acidity and a tangy, complex aftertaste. Fun, traditional-styled cab. Drink now or hold.” 91 Points
2016 Silver Ghost Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Silver Ghost Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

SILVER GHOST  2016 Silver Ghost Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY

 
From a part of the world where Cabernet Sauvignon grapes average around $8,000 per ton, the list of producers that can create a quality wine at a relative value is getting more and more rare. Silver Ghost’s proprietor is well connected with handful of secret vineyard sources in Rutherford, Calistoga and Yountville which allows him to produce a killer Napa Valley Cabernet at under forty per bottle… Without divulging specifics on the vineyard names or locations, Proprietor Weston Eidson is able to offer this wine at a lower price than the quality in the bottle suggests, and once you taste it, it’ll tell you everything you need to know.
 
The 2016 showcases the diversity of each vineyard, with each adding its own unique character and complexity to the final blend.  Cellared for around 22 months in French oak barrels, the 2016 is not only rich and concentrated, but it’s supple and smooth offering an array of crushed black fruits, chocolate covered cherries, cassis and roasted espresso.  Those of you who’ve tasted Weston’s earlier vintages of Silver Ghost already know… If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend grabbing some before it vaporizes.
 
SILVER GHOST
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $35/btl
 
Winery Notes:Silver Ghost is a rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from some of the finest vineyards in the Napa Valley. The wine is deep in color with aromas of black cherry, blueberry and cassis leaping from the glass. On the palate Silver Ghost reveals layers of red and black fruit intermingled with mocha, toast and savory spice. A sumptuous texture rounds out the long finish.” 93 Points – Tasting Panel Magazine
 
Customers who enjoy Silver Ghost Napa Valley Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning value Cabs… 
2016 Sailor's Grave Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Humanitas Piscis Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
SAILOR’S GRAVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl

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With origins in Yountville, Coombsville and Oakville, the 2016 was housed in oak barrels for 22 months.  In the glass the 2016 is incredibly hedonistic, with layers of rich and supple dark berries that are intermixed with black coffee, bay leaf, pipe tobacco and dark chocolate.  The finish is long and expansive and makes it impossible to resist diving in for another sip… another glass and another.
HUMANITAS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 PISCIS VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “...The nose has a sultry opulence with pungent berry intensity followed by blueberry tart, creme de cassis, hints of bay leaf, liquid mineral and sweetened dark chocolate.  The palate begins with penetrating, focused flavors of crushed blackberries and red currants, followed by secondary characteristics including wet stone, cigar box and vanilla spice...” 97 Points