2017 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville

2017 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville

with No Comment $30-$40CoombsvilleKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

FARELLA

ESTATE MERLOT
COOMBSVILLE 2017

2017 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville
Tom Farella’s decades of farming experience and work in Burgundy and Oregon, combined with his lifelong passion for wine, resulted in many of Coombsville’s most memorable wines. Realm Winery recognized the quality of Tom’s grapes nearly two decades ago, and they’ve produced a single-vineyard wine from Farella, earning numerous 95 and above scores. Tom’s namesake wine is consistently outstanding and offers impressive quality, a sense of place, and balance, well above what you’d expect at this price level.
 
Farella’s hillside vineyard, planted in 1979, gives a Right Bank Bordeaux-style Merlot with supple tannins and bright acidity due to the proximity of the San Pablo Bay and its cooling effects. The 2017 Merlot is nuanced and spicy with grace and elegance blossoming from a rich Napa core, continuing in the Farella legacy of small-production fine wine for over 42 years.
 
FARELLA
ESTATE MERLOT
COOMBSVILLE 2017
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“Lots of plum and currant aromas here with some flowers and green olives. It’s full-bodied with round, ripe tannins and a generous finish of fruit. Drinkable now, but better in 2023.”
92 Points
2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50CoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

COHO

HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley
Gary Lipp worked in the California wine industry for over 35 years, founding Coho in 2002 with the principles he learned from his experiences working in multiple aspects of wine production. He started strong and continued down a path of excellence by hiring 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. 
 
Gary introduced Headwaters Proprietary Red in 2005 after a fire destroyed the winery’s inventory of Cabernet Sauvignon for their 100% varietal wine. Thanks to the wine community’s generosity, Coho produced a red blend from Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. This Bordeaux-style blend still focuses on fruit from Coombsville, and the cooler 2018 vintage is already exquisite with layers of delicate complexity, creating aromas and flavors reminiscent of the Old World.
 
COHO
HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Dark plums, mulberries, cloves and earthy undertones. It’s full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Full and fruity with structure and freshness on the palate. Long finish. Very polished. Drink in 2023.”
93 Points
2019 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

2019 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

SULLIVAN

COEUR DE VIGNE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD 2019

2019 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
Jim Sullivan’s obsession with wine began in the 1950s, making wine at home from a small plot of vines gifted to him and his new bride as a wedding present. Jim moved his family to a dusty Rutherford farm in 1972, establishing Sullivan Estate, which has been quietly producing and selling wine to friends, family, and wine lovers for nearly five decades.
 
Winemaker Jeff Cole earned a degree in Wine and Viticulture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo before working with Schramsberg and J. Davies Vineyards, joining Sullivan in 2013. The 2019 Coeur de Vigne is a Left Bank Bordeaux-inspired blend with a clear and powerful voice, articulated through Jeff’s precise winemaking with an emphasis on displaying the dynamic terroir and rich potential offered by the Rutherford estate.
 
SULLIVAN
COEUR DE VIGNE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD 2019
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“Blended with 8% Petit Verdot and 2% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this hearty red is brimming in thick tannin, considerable oak and expansively youthful layers of vanilla, cassis and plum. Impressive in its grasp of both variety and appellation, it is worth cellaring; enjoy best from 2029–2034.”
94 Points “Cellar Selection”
2019 Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder

2019 Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtMerlotMt VeederNapaUSA

MT. BRAVE

MERLOT 2019
MT. VEEDER

2019 Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder
Mount Veeder is Napa Valley’s largest AVA, yet it produces less than two percent of Napa’s total wine production, with the lowest average yields in the region. The mountain is an ancient seabed with thin, rocky soils and 30-degree slopes at varying angles creating several different microclimates that enjoy temperatures ten to fifteen degrees cooler than the Valley floor.
 
Chris Carpenter has a well-respected reputation for vinifying mountain-grown fruit and created classic vintages at Lokoya and Cardinale before taking on the Mt. Brave project, which began in 2007. The eastern-facing slopes of the vineyard produce fruit with tiny, concentrated berries full of lush flavors and rich structural components. The 2019 Merlot is near perfection and a clear standout with complex aromatics, depth of flavors, seductive mouthfeel, and long-lasting finish. 
 
This wine is the epitome of Napa Valley Mountain-grown Merlot and gets Merlot-of-the-vintage for my palate.
 
MT. BRAVE
MERLOT 2019
MT. VEEDER
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Aromas of violets and blackberries with some black olives follow through to a full-bodied palate with finesse, polish and great length. Velvety tannins. Incredible finish. Great class here. Drinkable now, but better to hold for about five or six years.”
98 Points
2017 MC4 Cabernet Sauvignon Martin & Croshaw Vineyard St. Helena

2017 MC4 Cabernet Sauvignon Martin & Croshaw Vineyard St. Helena

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt. HelenaUSA

MC4

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MARTIN & CROSHAW VINEYARD
ST. HELENA 2017

2017 MC4 Cabernet Sauvignon Martin & Croshaw Vineyard St. Helena
Neighbors Paul Martin and Fred Croshaw joined forces to produce their first vintage of just eight cases of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2009. The two have intimate knowledge of their vineyard located in a prime stretch of St. Helena near AXR and Turley Estate. They’ve farmed the vineyard organically and by hand since its initial planting using cuttings from Chateau Margaux.
 
MC4 winemaker Victoria Coleman assisted Michael Silacci at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars while earning her Enology degree from UC Davis, leading to International experience working at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The 2017 production was a mere 196 cases that encompass the spirit of Napa Valley Cabernet by showcasing varietal purity, soft tannins, and depth of flavors suitable for further aging but are beginning to shine at the present moment.
 
MC4
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MARTIN & CROSHAW VINEYARD
ST. HELENA 2017
Retails at: $75
 
 
 
“The MC4 Saint Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 begins with blackberry preserves, coffee, vanilla spice, white rose petals, and dried mushrooms on the nose. The palate is dominated by red currants, Kalamata olives, and black cherries, with a lively style and satiny tannins. Drink now through 2030.”
93 Points
2019 Smith Wooton Melange Red Blend Napa Valley

2019 Smith Wooton Melange Red Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

SMITH WOOTON

MELANGE RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Smith Wooton Melange Red Blend Napa Valley
Croze Napa Valley’s boutique label, Smith Wooton, focuses on small vineyard sites farmed by meticulous and well-respected grape growers throughout Napa Valley. Winemaker Daniel Benton spends a lot of time in the vineyards and shares the same passion for the land as the growers he chooses to source fruit for his wines.
 
Each small parcel uniquely contributes to the whole picture, and Daniel recognizes each plot’s strengths and highlights those characteristics in the final wine. The Mélange is a red wine produced in a Right Bank Bordeaux Style, and the 2019 vintage is 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot aged 30 months in French oak. The wine is perfectly balanced, showy, and complex and drinks beautifully at this price level.
 
SMITH WOOTON
MELANGE RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $55
 
 
Your Price: Insider Club Members Only
 
 
“The Smith Wooton Mélange 2019 is striking in the glass with a beautiful, brilliant deep ruby color that sets the stage for what is to come. The intriguing nose has sweet florals, cherry jolly-rancher candied fruit, with hints of mint and vanilla bean. The linear, penetrating palate is bright and flashy, with ripe red cherries, pomegranate juice, red currants, sage, and baking spices. The unique flavor components combine with an interesting saline minerality to give it an elegant complexity.”
92+ Points
2013 Relic Grenache Mount Veeder Napa Valley

2013 Relic Grenache Mount Veeder Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40GrenacheKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

RELIC

GRENACHE 2013
MOUNT VEEDER
NAPA VALLEY

2013 Relic Grenache Mount Veeder Napa Valley
Relic is a boutique wine project by Behrens & Hitchcock alumnus Mike Hirby and Schatzi Throckmorton that specializes in high-quality Bordeaux and Rhone varieties. The wines were made in Behren’s cellars for the first eight years of production, allowing Mike and Schatzi to focus on crafting the greatest wines possible without relying on financial investors.
 
Mike gained additional experience as the winemaker for Realm from 2002 to 2010. Together with Schatzi, the two share a limitless passion for creating wines that express the nuances of the vintage and their unique origin. The 2013 Grenache was sourced from shale and sandy soils on steep, south-facing slopes on Mount Veeder, giving perfectly ripe, juicy fruit with spicy undertones and an impressive capacity for aging.
 
RELIC
GRENACHE 2013
MOUNT VEEDER
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The 2013 Grenache, from Paras Vineyard on Mt. Veeder, is deep, plush and bursting at the seams with intense red fleshed fruit. Succulent and beautifully layered, the Grenache oozes character. A hint of French oak shapes the finish in a racy, voluptuous Grenache that is an absolute joy to taste today. Drink 2016-2023.”
94 Points
2019 Quinetessa Proprietary Red Rutherford

2019 Quinetessa Proprietary Red Rutherford

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

QUINTESSA

PROPRIETARY RED
RUTHERFORD 2019

2019 Quinetessa Proprietary Red Rutherford
Quintessa sees an opportunity for each vintage to deepen their connection with their land by looking, listening, and developing a better understanding of how each plot responds to its soils, aspect, and microclimate. The Huneeus Family founded the estate on 280 acres of diverse geology with several different terroirs, all organically farmed and individually monitored to ensure the perfect ripening of each plot for their flagship red wine.
 
The 2019 vintage saw early rains that established healthy soils and even shoot-growth with slightly cooler spring temperatures, then ideal summer conditions without significant heat spikes that helped maintain bright acidity. This Bordeaux-style blend is 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 22 months in French oak, allowing for a refined integration of tannins and fruit character that have a youthful approachability and a potential for longevity and further development in the cellar.
 
QUINTESSA
PROPRIETARY RED
RUTHERFORD 2019
 
Your Price: $235
Limit 6 Bottles Per Customer
 
 
“This is a winemaker’s master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. Enjoy from 2029–2039.”
100 Points
 
“So much earth and spice with walnut and wet earth. Like fog laying over the valley in the morning. Black fruit. Medium-to full-bodied with super-fine tannins that are long and persistent, with graceful progression and length on the palate. So long, with real definition. September 2022 release. From biodynamically grown grapes. Hard not to drink now, but will age wonderfully.”
99 Points
2019 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

TWO OLD DOGS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Two Old Dogs is an extension of the JACK wine portfolio through a partnership between Major League teammates Chris Iannetta and Vernon Wells and highly respected vintner Jennifer Lamb. They teamed up with Julien Fayard to make the wine, calling on his experience at Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux and numerous top Napa Valley Estates. 
 
Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon is a true expression of Napa terroir designed to be approachable and to offer extraordinary value. 2019 was an excellent growing season that produced wines with power and complexity that will develop beautifully with bottle age but have soft enough tannins and finesse to enjoy a glass right now.
 
TWO OLD DOGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $55
 
 

“The 2019 Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon begins with notes of violets, volcanic rock minerality, red and black plums, dried herbs, and espresso. The palate is lush with soft tannins and flavors of blueberry, cassis, and dark chocolate. This wine has a solid backbone for further aging, but due to its supple texture is drinking wonderfully.”

96 Points

2016 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Napa Valley

2016 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapa

SEQUUM

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
KIDD RANCH
NAPA VALLEY 2016

2016 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Napa Valley
Paul Skinner has a Ph.D. in viticulture and soil science and consulted super-premium grape growing for decades before he began producing his wine in 2003, which is now blended and bottled at Pride Mountain Vineyards. He named the wine after a scientific term describing soil layers, and it turned out to be the perfect name for his wines as he combined his love for science with his passion for wine.
 
Paul matches different rootstocks to subtle changes in the soil composition and walks his Kidd Ranch Vineyard morning and evening to assess each vine, ensuring they are in optimum health. Paul’s hands-on approach and viticultural expertise results in his wines brilliantly depicting their unique terroir. His 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a grand example, delivered in a pure, focused, and unforgettable style guaranteed to make you wish you had ordered more. 
 
SEQUUM
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
KIDD RANCH
NAPA VALLEY 2016
Retails at: $75
 
 
 
“The Sequum Kidd Ranch Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 begins with a complex nose that includes black cherry cola, sassafras, uncooked peppered steak, sweet violets, milk chocolate, Italian glove leather, and vanilla spice. The complexity continues on the palate with juicy black plums, wild blackberries, and kalamata olives, along with a savory quality that balances these characteristics. It is a beautiful wine with charisma and character that shines even brighter with every sip.”
94+ Points