2016 Witchery Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Witchery Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

WITCHERY 2016 Witchery Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 
You know a brand has something extra special when just about everybody that tries it becomes a devoted fan and collects each subsequent vintage.  It’s almost like one taste of Witchery casts a powerful spell with its rich and hedonistic flavors, and wine lovers really don’t stand a chance.  It’s the wines spellbinding style that’s enchanting, filled with chillingly rich, extracted flavors that casts you on a witch-hunt for more once you taste it.  Their flagship Oakville Cabernet was hewn from a vineyard that sits directly South of Opus One, and at under $100, we’re certain it will have you spellbound.
 
Witchery’s 2016 Oakville is their best yet, and flaunts a dramatic perfume laced with intense brambleberry, dried violets, Baker’s chocolate and sweet camphor.  Those of you who tasted any of the previous vintages of Witchery know what this wine is capable of…  I strongly recommend conjuring up your case before it’s too late.  Just six barrels were produced.
 
WITCHERY
2016 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $110.00/btl
 
Your Price: $99.99/btl

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Tasting Notes: “Some Cabernets are styled more elegantly with laser like precision, while others are monstrous, bold and powerfully inky. Somewhere in the middle lies the perfect balance of power & grace and I’ve found it in this wine.  The Witchery Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 is a picture of balance with a nose that actually smells satiny with fresh black plums, crushed blueberries, sweet vanilla and delicate floral notes.  The palate is lush and beautifully balanced with black cherry, red currants, ever so slightly dusty tannins and beautifully integrated toasty oak.  The finish is long, penetrating and so mouth watering that it evokes a pavlovian response.  It is absolutely beautiful now, but will age gracefully for a decade or more.”  96 Points

 
Customers that enjoy Witchery Oakville Cabernet, may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…
2015 James Joseph Cabernet Franc 2015 Misc Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
JAMES JOSEPH
NAPA VALLEY RESERVE
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $60/btl

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Tasting Notes: “An enchanting bouquet of ripe bing cherry, black plum, raspberry liqueur, mocha, violets and hints of sweet vanilla spice.  On the palate the wine is remarkably rich and densely concentrated.  Lavish layers of ripe blackberries, bittersweet chocolate, espresso and sweet black cherry are intertwined and compel you to another sip.  This wine can be enjoyed upon release or cellared for 10-15 years.”  150 Cases Produced
MISC.
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 DIAMOND MTN
TWO BARREL PRODUCTION
 
Your Price: $95/btl

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Winery Notes: “These grapes were grown on the highest vineyard on Diamond Mountain. Harvest was low yield and the more appellation characteristics of black cherry and chocolate were concentrated in this vintage. The bouquet flourishes in red fruit, pipe tobacco and rose petals.  Undertones of cedar box spice and mint.  Finishes with lush tannin and fruit preserves.” 50 Cases Produced
2018 Crocker & Starr Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

2018 Crocker & Starr AVA Nap Valley Sauvignon Blanc

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaSauvignon BlancUSA

CROCKER & STARR 2018 Crocker & Starr Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC
AVA NAPA VALLEY

 
Of all of the Sauvignon Blancs produced in California, some of the most sought after are those made by Pam Starr.  Through her work at Spottswoode and her own label Crocker & Starr, she built her reputation as one of California’s top winemakers, with an emphasis on high quality Sauvignon Blanc.  Her new AVA Napa Valley white blend of Sauvignon Blanc, (formerly named Bridesmaid,) is an entry-level version of Crocker & Starr’s pricier Sauvignon Blanc, and at $24, it’s absolutely one of the best we’ve tasted this year.  The 2018 blend includes 6% Semillon, which adds a candied lemon element and contributes to a richer, more opulent texture.
 
The 2018 was founded around a collection of secret vineyards in St Helena, Rutherford and Calistoga, and spent 8 months in a combination of barrels, cement eggs and stainless tanks. On the palate the 2018 has copious energy and brilliant focus, with a light richness, superb acidity and lingering complexity.  If you’re searching for a delicious palate refreshing white to share with your friends and family this summer, this is it.
 
CROCKER & STARR
2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC
AVA NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $23.99/btl 

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Winery Notes: “Vibrant and forward aromas of nectarine and lime blossoms set the expectation for the juicy, round and fresh flavors which are very true to the aromas. The addition of the Semillon brings a roundness to the more austere and citrusy Sauvignon blanc. This wine is so good!“
 
Customers who enjoy Crocker & Starr AVA Sauvignon Blanc, may also enjoy these two Sauvignon Blancs…
2017 Grey Stack Rosemary's Block Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Laird Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
GREY STACK
2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC
DRY STACK VINEYARD
 
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
LAIRD
2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $23/btl

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2013 Chateau De Vie Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Chateau de Vie Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

CHATEAU DE VIE 2013 Chateau De Vie Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 CALISTOGA

 
Looking for a new wine that has a high likelihood to be one you’ll love?  One of the best places to look is other wines made by famous winemakers.  When it comes to Napa Valley’s most gifted talents, Dave Phinney is one of the foremost.  Anybody that’s followed the creation and success of The Prisoner as well as the Orin Swift and Locations brands knows what he’s capable of.  Many don’t know that Dave also consults on a handful of much smaller projects like Chateau de Vie in Calistoga… Located on the North end of Calistoga almost directly behind Tamber Bey and close to Chateau Montelena’s vineyards, the vines surrounding Chateau de Vie produce fruit of exceptional quality.  At $68 this is a stunning bottle of Calistoga Cabernet… From Cherry Picked Wines it might just become your new favorite.
 
Entering from one of Napa Valley’s most sought after vintages, the 2013 Chateau De Vie Cabernet Sauvignon offers the perfect mix of rugged power and supple elegance.  The weather in Calistoga is warmer than the AVA’s to its South and in turn the area is known for producing some of the biggest, richest and most robust Cabernet Sauvignons in the Valley.  When we introduced this wine at the beginning of the year, we knew it would be a hit and now that it’s nearly gone, we thought we would offer one last chance to stock up.
 
CHATEAU DE VIE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 CALISTOGA
Retails at:  $68.00/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “The finish is long and sweetly ripe and this wine will serve as nicely with ripe cheeses and fruits as it will with dark roasts or sauced filet. If essentially ready to drink it will grow softer and more aromatic over the next few years.”
 
Customers that enjoy Chateau De Vie Cabernet may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2017 The Prisoner Proprietary Red
2016 Prisoner Wine Co Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon
THE PRISONER
PROPRIETARY RED 
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl

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Electric, jubilant, infectiously charming, the new 2017  Prisoner unshackles a posse of vibrant and elaborate flavors that are both intense and broadening, and become even more complex with aeration. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2017 permeates with unsweetened cherry cobbler, wild strawberries, chocolate dipped blueberries and liquid floral.  
PRISONER WINE CO.
2016 CUTTINGS 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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The 2016 Cuttings is a larger-than-life Cabernet Sauvignon that always makes an indomitable entrance with a spectacular display of unbridled richness, voluptuous textures and satin layers. The wine was thoughtfully inspired by steep, hillside vineyards and expert blending, and the 2016 was built around a core of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel. 
2016 Barnett Vineyards Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Barnett Vineyards Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon

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

BARNETT  2016 Barnett Vineyards Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

 
Spring Mountain Cabernet is unique to the other Mountainous growing regions in Napa Valley because it produces classically structured Mountain fruit, but with more perceived suppleness than the others.  I’m also drawn to the complexity and savory undertones that often show themselves in Spring Mountain wines.  I regularly find notes of eucalyptus, bay leaves, forest floor and a range of detailed spices.  They can also be profoundly floral.  One of the best examples of classically made Spring Mountain Cabernet is Barnett’s 2016.  It’s created with 100% Spring Mountain fruit from both Barnett’s high-elevation Estate Vineyard and neighboring York Creek.  At under $100 this wine perfectly expresses the profound qualities that I look for in Spring Mountain Cabernet.
 
Fruit for Barnett’s 2016 Spring Mountain District Cabernet was harvested on six separate days ranging from late September through late October.  Each lot was aged separately for 22 months in oak before winemaker David Tate combined them into perfection.  David has been winemaker at Barnett since 2007 and before that he spent 5 years at Ridge, helping to craft their iconic Monte Bello Cabernet.  If you love Mountain fruit, you’ll want to make some room in the cellar for this one.  It’s ready to enjoy now and will age gracefully for 10-12 years.
 
BARNETT
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE, SPRING MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $80/btl
 
Your Price: $75/btl 
 
“Blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 9% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District is deep purple-black in color and offers up baked blackberries, crème de cassis and fruitcake scents with hints of spice box and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, firm, chewy and with a lively line, it delivers uncomplicated baked berries flavors and an herbal lift on the finish.”91 Points
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Spring Mountain District) packs quite a bit of punch, yet is also incredibly polished and sophisticated. Soft curves and silky tannins push forward a gorgeous core of dark red and purplish berry fruit, with pretty floral and spice overtones that develop over time. Open-knit and racy in the glass, the 2016 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is an especially accessible young Spring Mountain Cabernet.”  92 Points

 

 
Customers who enjoy Barnett may also enjoy these two stunning wines…
2013 Vine Cliff Original Blend 1871 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Cabaud Benedictions Cabernet Sauvignon
VINE CLIFF
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ORIGINAL BLEND 1871
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $80/btl
 
Your Price: $75/btl

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From Wine Enthusiast: “Leather, tobacco and mocha combine effortlessly in this medium-bodied wine, a juicy, broad expression of the variety that drinks well. Black cherry and currant fruit flavors integrate into the quiet oak.“92 Points
CABAUD
2014 BENEDICTIONS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $150/btl
 

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Tasting Notes: “A beautifully deep ruby color immediately captures your imagination of what is about to unfold… A quick swirl and sniff reveals a nose of red currants, black plum skin, wet stone, hints of English rose petals and sweet vanilla oak. Then at first sip, layers of lush red plums, dried blueberries, wild mountain blackberries combine with hints of green tea and tobacco leaf…”  96 Points
2015 Hill Family Estate Origin Proprietary Red

2015 Hill Family Origin Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

HILL FAMILY  2015 Hill Family Estate Origin Proprietary Red

2015 ORIGIN
PROPRIETARY RED

 
If you’re a fan of California red blends, you’ve likely heard many being described as Bordeaux-styled.  It’s most commonly used a reference to the varietal makeup of the blend, and most often refers to Bordeaux’s “Top Five” which includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.  Hill Family’s 2015 Origin Estate Blend is absolutely stunning and includes 4 of Top Five, but it’s completely Californian in style.  It’s purposefully created in a plush, enchanting style, with lavish, extracted flavors, ranging from intense dark fruits, complex spices and sweet vanilla.  The wine was crafted by talented winemaker Alison Green Doran who worked under legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff at her father’s Simi winery, and was also the winemaker at Lewis Cellars.  Fans of rich, voluptuous Red Blends should be all over this one.
 
Rising from a blockbuster vintage in Napa Valley, and one Vinous describes as producing “opulent, voluptuous wines with real personality…” Hill Family’s 2015 Origin is a stunning specimen of the vintage.  Composed using fruit from seven vineyards, and ranging 4 appellations, the 2015 blend is built around a core of 47% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced with Malbec and Petit Verdot.  The wine was kept for 16 months in barrel and around 2 full years in bottle before release.  I highly recommend a case while supplies last.
 
HILL FAMILY
2015 ORIGIN
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “The 2015 Origin has lovely aromas of blackberry and raspberry fruit with dark roses. The broad entry has a big mouthful of berries and crunchy cherry. The ripe and intense mid palate rolls into more sweet fruit – blueberry, red currant, and plum, with some chewy tannins hanging around the edges.”
 
Customers who enjoy Hill Family Origin may also enjoy these two stunning wines…
2015 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red 2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red
STEPS
BARREL SELECT
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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Arising from Mountainous Vineyards, including Mount Veeder and Altas Peak, the 2015 is built around a core of nearly 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, heightened with Cabernet Franc and Malbec.  Simply stunning to swirl and taste, the 2015 was cave aged for nearly 24 months in high quality oak barrels.  Dramatic, thrilling and hedonistic are all excellent descriptors for the 2015StepsReserve and with a total production of only 150 cases, don’t let this one walk on by.
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.
2014 Anantaah Bella's Blend Spring Mountain District

2014 Anantaah Bella’s Blend Spring Mountain District

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSpring MountainUSA

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

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

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

with No Comment $30-$40CarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

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

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

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

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

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