2016 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red

2016 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red

HOURGLASS

2016 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED 

2016 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red
The best wines only take your palate an instant to recognize that it’s something remarkable, and that’s exactly what we look for in our tastings each week.  In fact, we taste nearly a wine a minute at our group tastings because it happens that quickly when you come across something profound.  Sometimes you know just based on the aroma, but when it hits your palate it should light you up with excitement, which is exactly what happened when I tasted the new Hourglass HG III.  The wine was authored by legendary winemaker Toni Biagi… Tony spent nearly 10 years crafting the high-scoring Plumpjack wines, which rank among the best in Napa Valley, and their top Estate wines can go for around $200/btl…  At under fifty, the HG III is a low price of admission for wine of this outstanding pedigree.  
 
With an exhilarating velvety texture, and endless layers of sweet blueberries, cherry pipe tobacco, dried flowers and black chcolate, the HG III combines Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah into an exhilarating wine of pure brilliance.  
After spending around 16 months in French oak, the 2016 is stunningly gorgeous now, and it’s undoubtably the best version of HG III yet.  Don’t hesitate to secure your case… 
 
HOURGLASS
2016 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $53.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl
 
 
Showing the quality of this vintage, the 2016 HG III is a big, opulent, incredibly sexy effort that boasts a deep purple color and terrific notes of black cherries, chocolate, dried flowers, and spice. Made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah (that’s the III of HG III), it’s one heck of a red blend and well worth seeking out.”  91-93 Points
A barrel sample, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Proprietary Red Hourglass H. G. III is beautifully scented at this nascent stage of crushed plums, mulberries, kirsch and black cherries with wafts of spice cake and chocolate box. Full-bodied, rich, soft and seductive at this youthful stage, it offers lovely plush tannins and plenty of vivacity on the finish.”  91-93 Points
Customers who enjoy Hourglass HG III may also enjoy these two stunning Reds… 
2015 Juslyn Perry's Blend Spring Mountain Proprietary Red 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
JUSLYN
2015 PERRY’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 

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The first impression I had when I tasted Juslyn’s 2015 Perry’s Blend was one of shattered expectations, and those were set high, given the high quality of wines that the winery has produced over the last several vintages. They’ve also attracted some incredible talent…  Assisting in their constant pursuit of perfection, consulting winemaker Angelina Mondavi, who’s worked alongside Jayson Woodbridge at Hundred Acre…
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 

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2014 Cornerstone Cellars Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Cornerstone ‘Calistoga’ Cabernet Sauvignon

CORNERSTONE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 CALISTOGA

2014 Cornerstone Cellars Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon
When a wine has literally every component necessary to be a world-class expression of it’s varietal, it’s difficult to find just one high-point to talk about because there are so many attributes that make it special.  Cornerstone’s 2014 Calistoga Cabernet is that wine.  You could start by mentioning winemaker Kari Auringer who worked under Celia Welch at Cornerstone as well as contributing to the fame of some of the Napa Valley’s most luminous names including Scarecrow, Keever, Kelly Fleming and Corra… to name a few.  Or you could talk about winemaker Charles Thomas who has more than 30 years winemaking experience crafting Robert Mondavi’s Reserve Cabernets, the first twelve vintages of OPUS ONE, or his work at Cardinale, Lokoya, Verité and Rudd.  And then there’s the vineyard… 
 
Arising from a single vineyard perched high on Calistoga Palisades, not far from Araujo where the areas well-drained volcanic soils and unique microclimates project fruit of remarkable quality.  The 2014 checks in at 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with extraordinary extraction and deep, expressive flavors that unwind methodically and tell a story of the areas extraordinary terroir.  At $75/btl you’d be thrilled by the quality. At $49, you’ll want to make room in the cellar, and go deep…    
 
CORNERSTONE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 CALISTOGA
Retails at:  $75/btl
 
Your Price: $49/btl
 
Winery Notes:Dark, rich and ripe. This wine offers classic Cabernet aromas of blackberry, plum, boysenberry, cassis, mocha and smoky toasted vanilla. Round, rich and creamy on entry, with explosive flavors of ripe fruit that only comes with a near-perfect growing season in the warmer part of the valley. As the wine opens up, the fruit flavors give way to a seductive core, classic cassis, licorice and a hint of leather. The tannins are sturdy but integrated. It is opulent and plush on release but it has the backbone and structure to age beautifully. This wine will reward those with the patience to give it a little more time.” 
2013 Behrens The Collector Proprietary Red

2013 Behrens Family The Collector Proprietary Red

BEHRENS FAMILY 

2013 THE COLLECTOR
PROPRIETARY RED

2013 Behrens The Collector Proprietary Red
Appropriately named The Collector, this latest release from Behrens Family was so ridiculously good that it had everybody at our tasting wanting to stash away as much as we could.  As it opens in the glass, deep and enchanting flavors amass and it becomes abundantly clear that this wine will effortlessly age for another 20-25 years. Of course it will take a true Collector to keep this wine locked away in the cellar, because it’s riveting right now, and having already accrued several years in the bottle, you won’t have to wait.  Assembled under a powerful partnership between Les Behrens and Lisa Drinkward, who’ve made “Behrens & Hitchcock” since 1993, this high-scoring Cabernet blend deserves a spot in the cellar and on the table. 
 
Gathering nearly two years in high quality oak barrels, this beautifully proportioned blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon stockpiled with Petit Sirah, Petit Verdot and Merlot has an incredible core of ripe blackberries, sweet cassis, exotic spices and black chocolate.  If you love boutique Napa Valley reds, you’ll want to add a case of this to your collection…
 
BEHRENS FAMILY 
2013 THE COLLECTOR
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon the Collector, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petite Sirah and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot, reminds me of a big, rich Petite Sirah. That explains the 30% of that variety, but it seems to dominate the blend. Beautiful blueberry and black raspberry fruit, extremely extracted and rich, but not rustic by any means, this is a big, dense, pedal-to-the-metal, balls-to-the-wall black/purple red wine to drink over the next 20-25 years.” 94+ Points
 
Customers who enjoy Behrens Family’s The Collector may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…  
2014 Steps Winemakers Reserve Proprietary Blend 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
STEPS 
WINEMAKER’S RESERVE 
2014 PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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The 6 barrel production  Winemaker’s  Reserve is heavily based in Atlas Peak, and made transparent by its striking crushed rock minerality and dusty tannins that make the area so desired.  The final blend has a solid core of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak, magnified by 14% Cabernet Franc from Kenefick Palisades Vineyard, 9% Malbec from Oakville and 5% Petit Verdot from Coombsville.
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 

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2014 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

SILVER OAK

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY 

2014 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Canonized as one of the original Cult Cabernet Sauvignons in the New World, in part by their singular approach of using American oak barrels and additional bottle age that combine to project distinctive dark berries, dried herbs, and subtle dill notes. This sets Silver Oak apart as one of the most recognizable names and unique tastes in premium level Cabernet Sauvignon.  With a proven track record that spans more than 4 decades of producing wines that are incredibly age-worthy, yet enjoyable upon release, Silver Oak has carved out a category with their distinctive style, and it’s resonated deeply within their fan base.  In a stellar vintage like 2014, many of those qualities that make Silver Oak so distinctive become even more enhanced. 
 

Aged for 24 months in American oak before spending more than a year inside bottle, the 2014 has enormous volume on the palate, with intense dark berries, vanilla bean, subtle tobacco, dusty cedar, dried herbs, fresh dill and Kalamata olives.  With allocations of less than half of last year, the only challenge to this vintage will be having enough available to satisfy demand…   

 
SILVER OAK
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes:Our 2014 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a garnet color with a ruby red rim and bluish tint. It has an alluring nose of chocolate-covered strawberries, vanilla, nutmeg, truffle and sage. On the palate, it has a broad yet delicate entry and offers cranberry flavors. These flavors are complemented by raspberry and pluot with savory black olive characters on the mid-palate. The wine finishes with silky tannins, cedar and bramble flavors with excellent length and return. This wine is drinkable upon release, but given proper cellaring conditions can be enjoyed through 2038.
Cabernet Sauvignon 97.7% | Merlot 1.3% | Petit Verdot .5% | 0.3% Malbec .3% | Cabernet Franc .2% 

 

Customers who enjoy Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet may also want to check these out… 
2014 Twomey Napa Valley Merlot 2014 Silver Oak 1.5L Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
TWOMEY
2014 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

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Winery Notes:Black cherry, roasted meat, wet soil, raspberry jam, mocha, loose pipe tobacco, dried blueberry, and brioche. Velvet entry, structured mid-palate, mouthwatering, bright cherry, blackberry, vanilla flavors, and an enticing texture.”
SILVER OAK (1.5L)
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $185/1.5L

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Winery Notes: “… an alluring nose of chocolate-covered strawberries, vanilla, nutmeg, truffle and sage. On the palate, it has a broad yet delicate entry and offers cranberry flavors. These flavors are complemented by raspberry and pluot with savory black olive characters on the mid-palate… can be enjoyed through 2038.
2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

LOBO

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 ATLAS PEAK

2014 Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon
What makes this Cabernet outstanding? For starters it’s an incredible value.  Even more special are the unique qualities, characteristics and nuances that can only be found in top-quality mountain Cabernet.  In the same way you choose different clothing each day, there’s something really special about having a distinctive bottle of wine you can select that simply makes you feel great.  Atlas Peak Cabernets have firm structure, infused with rocky mineral elements endemic to Atlas Peak.  At $80/btl this wine still puts a smile on your face…your hair will be bristling if you don’t pull the trigger.
 
The winery’s flagship bottling of the Atlas Peak Estate Cabernet was carved from Randy’s (currently being rebuilt after the ’17 fire) home vineyard which is perched at 1,350 feet elevation and planted in volcanic, rocky soils.  The vineyard architect selected tight spacing to encourage the vines to struggle, which in turn helps to create the incredibly expressive and deeply concentrated flavors.  Housed for 24 months in oak barrels, this 2014 is howlingly good now, with flavors that stalk your taste buds with perfect balance and precision.  Don’t be the lone wolf that misses out on this one…
 
LOBO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 ATLAS PEAK
Retails at:  $80/btl
 
 
 
Tasting Notes:Showcasing classic Mountain fruit character, the Lobo Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 displays a pristinely focused and firm bounty of red currant, black cherry and red plum, perfectly balanced with the fine grained yet slightly dusty tannins.  Secondary characteristics of cherry cough drop, sweet tobacco leaf, spice box,  fresh sage leaf and sweet vanilla oak dance in perfect step with the concentrated fruit, then are followed by a long, velvety finish.  First impressions are always important and looking back at my initial tasting notes, I wrote ‘Wow, this is really killer stuff…’ Drink now through 2030.
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2015 Shafer One Point Five Stags' Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon

SHAFER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 ONE POINT FIVE
STAGS LEAP DISTRICT 

2015 Shafer One Point Five Stags' Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon
When comparing Shafer to other Cult wines produced in Napa Valley, the obvious difference is that the majority of Cult wine producers make a single namesake wine under that label.  Shafer’s flagship wine is their Hillside Select Cabernet, but they also produce Chardonnay, Merlot, TD9 and their One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon and more under the Shafer moniker.  Of course when you catch Shafer in a line-up with other top wines, it’s regularly a favorite…  Their 2015 One Point Five Cabernet has terrific power, energy and focus and at under $100/btl it’s a terrific wine to add to your cellar.   Just don’t wait too long to get yours, because there’s never enough of the One Point Five Cabernet to satisfy demand.
 
The 2015 One Point Five arose from two Stags Leap District Vineyards, one of which borders their iconic Hillside Estate Vineyard… Housed for 20 months in Allier & Tronçais French Oak barrels, the 2015 is built around a core of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon then lifted higher with additions of Merlot and Malbec.  At under $100/btl, don’t let this one pass by.  
 
SHAFER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 ONE POINT FIVE
STAGS LEAP DISTRICT
 
Your Price: $94.99/btl 
 
The 2015… is a fabulous example of the year at its best. Super-ripe red cherry, pomegranate, mint, rose petal and spice infuse this voluptuous, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. Readers looking for a wine to drink with minimal cellaring will find much to admire in this sexy, racy Cabernet… ” 93 Points
Strikingly complex and engaging, offering tiers of flavor, including dark berry, cedar, graphite and oak, presented in a style that lets the elements speak through the tannins. Drink now through 2030.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon The Leapmay also enjoy these two terrific Cabs…  
2014 Stags' Leap The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Husic Palm Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon
STAGS’ LEAP
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 THE LEAP 
Retails at:  $100.00/btl
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, “The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon flagship, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon The Leap  Estate Reserve has an inky, deep garnet-purple color and nose of graphite, Indian spices, sautéed herbs and dusty earth over a core of blackberries and blueberries, plus wafts of cedar and menthol. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate with youthful, pure black berry and exotic spice expressions, with a firm backbone of fine tannins and an invigorating lift, finishing long and earthy.”  94+ Points
HUSIC
2014 PALM TERRACE 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $67.99/btl 

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2017 Farella La Luce Estate Coombsville Sauvignon Blanc

2017 Farella La Luce, Estate, Coombsville Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

FARELLA 

SAUVIGNON BLANC
2017 LA LUCE, ESTATE
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY

2017 Farella La Luce Estate Coombsville Sauvignon Blanc
In a world where clarity is hard to find, I will say with absolute clarity that you’d be hard pressed to find a better Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc at anywhere near this price.  Tom Farella’s 2017 Estate Sauvignon Blanc has mesmerizing nuances of Loire Valley-like honeydew melon, ripe tangerine and light tropical notes that flow from the glass.  One of the most balanced domestic Sauvignon Blancs that I’ve ever tasted, the 2017 reveals wonderful energy, freshness and profound purity.  The 2016 was our most loved Sauvignon Blancs on our tasting menu in Yountville, and the 2017 is even better… 
 
Keeping only 15-20% of their single-block Sauvignon Blanc grapes, the balance goes to high powered producers like Lail and Realm for their award winning Sauvignon Blancs.  The 2017 is dreamlike, with remarkable balance, focused fruit and a long, palate refreshing finish.  The wine was fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness, the wine’s uplifted aromatics and fabulous notes of citrus oil, crushed rock, white flowers, honeyed melon and tangerine are generous and frankly hard to resist.  If you’re in pursuit of a Sauvignon Blanc that will be a palpable stand-out at Summer and Fall festivities, you’ll want to pick this beauty up by the case.
 
FARELLA 
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2017 LA LUCE, ESTATE
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $25.99/btl
 
Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of light tropical fruits, white flowers and bright citrus, lead to vivid flavors of honeydew melon, Island mango, blood orange and minerals culminating in crisp lively finish.”
 
Customers who enjoy Farella Estate Sauvignon Blanc, may also enjoy these two Sauvignon Blancs…
2016 Picayun Napa County Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Grey Stack Rosemary's Block Sauvignon Blanc
PICAYUNE
2016 SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA COUNTY & 
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $20.99/btl 

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Taking things to the next level with their 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Picayune’s 2016 comes alive in the glass with remarkable clarity, focus and penetrating fruit.  Picayune is a stand-out in affordable, premium quality Sauvignon Blanc, and originates from declassified barrels from top Sauvignon Blanc producers around Napa and Sonoma Counties, and retails for just a fraction of the price.
GREY STACK
2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC
DRY STACK VINEYARD
ROSEMARY’S BLOCK
 
Your Price: $31.99/btl 

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From The Wine Enthusiast:This block is home to a mysterious clone of Sauvignon Blanc that appears to be the only one of its kind in the region and thought to hail originally from Northern Italy. The resulting wine is citrus-driven on the nose and on the palate-a pure expression that shows complexity and rich layers of flavor, with an intensity of lemongrass.”  94 Points
2014 Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

GOLDSCHMIDT

2014 Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
GAME RANCH VINEYARD
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY

 
Napa Valley has an untold number of microclimates, which are small pockets of land where the climate differs substantially from the surrounding areas.  This is one of the leading factors why some of the best Napa Valley wine Estates are clustered closely together. Hence, Nick Goldschmidt’s Game Ranch Vineyard in Oakville… It has immediate neighbors that include Plumpjack, Rudd, Groth and Screaming Eagle.  It reminds me of an Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon on steroids, because it’s so incredibly deep, full and concentrated.  As the wine opens up it tells a story of the vineyard and it’s a book that you won’t want to put down…
 
Cellared for an impressive 31 months in oak barrels, this is a classic depiction of Oakville Cabernet is reminiscent of Groth Reserve and Meyer Bonney’s with broad shoulders and deep, captivating flavors that unwind methodically as the wine opens in the glass.  Created by talented winemaker Nick Goldschmidt whom many of you recognize from his Crazy Creek Cabernet… arguably the best value in California Cabernet.  I once heard Robert Mondavi quote Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”  The Game Ranch vineyard certainly stands tall among the giants that surround it..
 
GOLDSCHMIDT
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
GAME RANCH VINEYARD
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $89.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 15%
 
Winery Notes: “Deep Byzantium purple; ripe black cherry and black currant aromas with violet, boysenberry and currant. Intense dark fruit flavors beautifully meld within a gorgeous framework of French Oak. Shows bright acid and firm, super-fine grained tannins. Dark chocolate and smoke in the long finish.
 
Customers who enjoy Goldschmidt Game Ranch Vineyard   Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Oakville Cabs…
2014 Paradigm Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon
PARADIGM
2014 OAKVILLE ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $84.00/btl
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl

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When considering a list of Napa Valley wineries that best represent all of the qualities, charm and history that the area has to offer, Paradigmis etched deeply on my list. This absolutely stunning wine made by Heidi Barrett comes from the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley, an area widely considered the epicenter of Grand Cru quality Cabernet Sauvignon.  Paradigm’s neighbors include icons, Dominus, Harlan Estate, Opus One, To-Kalon and Martha’s Vineyard… The average price of wine from those vineyards is likely well over $200 per bottle… At $79.99/btl Paradigm tips the scales with groundbreaking levels of quality.
CABAUD
2013 MON HOMMAGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $130/btl
 

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Tasting Notes: “A dense purple color is accompanied by mesmerizing wet stone and liquid minerals interwoven with blackberry jam, crushed blueberries, red currant and spring flowers.  The full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin, and extraordinary richness combine in a hypnotic way. It is the wine equivalent of sliding in between satin sheets and finding warmth and suppleness, but also balanced firmness and incredible tone, all in perfect balance.  Let your mind wander…”  97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

LAIRD

2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH

2016 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir
I love it when a wine has flavors are so deep and penetrating, that it might be described as chilling, spine-tingling and scary good.  All three of these descriptors came time mind when I tasted Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir.  It was authored by Brian Mox, who spent several vintages crafting the high-scoring Lewis wines, always ranking among the best in the Valley.  It comes from an incredible Pinot Noir Vineyard in Carneros where vineyard workers have long reported seeing children between the rows and down by the creek… that would vanish when approached.  Eerie!  With just a few hundred cases produced, most of the production goes to their wine club.   I strongly recommend securing yours before it vanishes… 
 
Made in a deep, velvety style that I love, Laird’s 2016 Ghost Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, black cherries, vanilla and spices.  If you like your Pinot Noirs a little fuller bodied, deep, and rich, I strongly recommend a case of this limited release.
 
LAIRD
2016 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl
YOU SAVE 10% 
 
Winery Notes:With enticing garnet hues, that leads way to aromas of fresh raspberries, toasty oak, Bing cherries and baking spice. With a medium body and a balanced smooth palate that opens to distinct layers of wild strawberry, vanilla & sweet cherry compote...”
 
Customers who enjoy Laird’s Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two outstanding wines from Laird…
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2014 Laird Phantom Ranch Pinot Noir
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
When Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.  
LAIRD
2014 PINOT NOIR
PHANTOM RANCH
Retails at:  $55/btl
 
 
Composed in a chillingly deep, velvety style that I love, and we don’t have anything else quite like it on our tasting menu in Yountville…  Laird’s 2014  Phantom Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, spring flowers, vanilla and spices. If you enjoy full-bodied, deep, velvety Pinots, I strongly recommend a case of this limited release.
2012 Anantaah Bella's Blend Spring Mountain District Proprietary Red

2012 Anantaah Bella’s Blend Spring Mountain District Proprietary Red

ANANTAAH

2012 BELLA’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

2012 Anantaah Bella's Blend Spring Mountain District Proprietary Red
There’s something magical that happens when a powerful mountain blend has a few extra years in the bottle…  As good as they can be at release, they really blossom into something even more incredible with a little extra age.  Anantaah’s 2012 Bella’s blend is a prime example and it was created in a deep and elegant style that added to it’s ability to age.  And coming from a mountainous area where the bottle prices are generally as steep as the terrain, it’s extremely rare to come across a wine like this at under $80/btl. 
 
Originating from the Madrone Vineyard located at 1,900 feet in elevation, this deep, velvety red possesses a treasure chest 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 3 1/2 years of development in the bottle, this wine is gorgeous right now and has the structure to go another decade.  
 
ANANTAAH
2012 BELLA’S BLEND
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “… Deep dark purple in color, with the initial aromatics of blackberries. After you roll it around on your palette the dark plum, blackberries and dark cherries open up with a touch of minerality; the finish is long and lingering as the flavors continue to unravel. Wait for the finish….is that a bit of spice…”