2015 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

2015 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red

STEPS RESERVE

BARREL SELECT
2015 PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red
Created in a style that mirrors many ultra high-end Napa Valley Cabernet based wines, with 24 months in oak, premium vineyard sources and an intense, deeply compelling style that lets you know you’re tasting something special. The only thing not mirrored is the high price tag… Upon entry the 2015 Reserve Blend penetrates your taste buds with dreamlike intensity and all of the scrumptiously thrilling qualities and unforgettable flavors and aromas that make Steps Reserve so wondrous.  Only available at $45 per bottle through March 31st, 2018, we wanted to give you one final shot to secure a case or two of this remarkable wine before the price increases…
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 2015 Steps Reserve and with a total production of only 150 cases, don’t let this one walk on by.
 
STEPS RESERVE 
BARREL SELECT
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $50/btl
Your Price: $45/btl 
YOU SAVE 10% (through March 31, 2018)
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Rich, opulent aromas emerge laced with fresh black raspberries, chocolate covered cherries, espresso roast and a touch of sweet vanilla oak.  Penetrating, velvety flavors of crushed blackberries, black plum, minerals, kirsch and hints of roasted coffee expand across your palate as layer upon layer of complexity unfolds.  The supple yet slightly dusty tannins beautifully frame the plush fruit as it elegantly caresses your palate through the long pleasurable finish…”  Delicious now, this wine will cellar for at least 12 years.”
Cabernet Sauvignon 68% | Cabernet Franc 21% | Malbec 11%

 

Customers who enjoy the Steps Barrel Select may also enjoy these two outstanding Reds… 
2015 James Joseph Reserve Cabernet Franc 2014 Steps Winemaker's Reserve Proprietary Blend
JAMES JOSEPH
2015 CABERNET FRANC
RESERVE, NAPA VALLEY
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
With a total production of only 4 barrels, this rarely bottled varietal from James Joseph grabs you right from the start.  Showing surreal-like tension between Atlas Peak and Diamond Mountain terroirs, the 2015 is locked and loaded with crushed black fruits, camphor, burning embers, and black cherries, laced with volcanic minerals, graphite and crushed rock
STEPS 
WINEMAKER’S RESERVE 
2014 PROPRIETARY BLEND
Your Price: $49.99/btl
 
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.
2015 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red

2013 Titus Napa Valley Malbec

TITUS 

2013 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY

 
There are a handful of California winemakers whom many would refer to as legendary or iconic, and whose triumphs and experience are so profound that their very name rings with excellence.  Philip Titus is etched permanently onto that list…  Revered for his work authoring Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill wines for nearly three decades, leaving countless World Class wines in his wake.  When our panel first tasted his 2013 Malbec, it was one of those wines that compels you to say “WOW that’s good…” So, we bought every bottle that we could…this wine defines value. 
Forged from the Titus family vineyard located just North of Saint Helena, this stunning Malbec is kept for nearly two full years in barrel before bottling.  And from a vintage unanimously recognized for its unrivaled quality… One that Robert Parker alerted readers that it “...may turn out to be the finest vintage I have experienced in tasting North Coast varietals over the last 37 years,”  this exemplary Malbec leaves everything in the glass.  Deep, penetrating, intense and with plenty of substance, this 2013 is really drinking beautifully now and promises another several years of improvement.  
 
TITUS 
2013 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “The 2013 Malbec bouquet offers dark cherry, plum, bittersweet chocolate and baking spices. The mouthfeel is lush, with balanced tannins and bright acidity that give the wine a plush mouthfeel and long finish. Flavors of bing cherry, plum jam, clove, vanilla and warm cedar dominate the palate.”
Malbec 85% | Petit Verdot 7% | Cabernet Sauvignon 5% | Merlot 3%

 

Customers who enjoy the Titus 2013 Malbec may also enjoy 
these two terrific Reds…
2015 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red

 
Wagner Family Schooner Malbec Voyage 5

 
CHAPPELLET
2015 MOUNTAIN CUVEE
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $31.99/btl 
Chappellet’s Iconic Pritchard Hill Vineyards have been hailed by some as “Napa’s Grand Cru,” and particularly with Bordeaux Varietals.  Following the advice of renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff, by planting on the rocky, high-elevation slopes, Chappellet became one of the first wineries in Napa Valley to plant vineyards on the lofty hillsides…
WAGNER FAMILY
RED SCHOONER
MALBEC, VOYAGE 5
Your Price: $49.99/btl  
 
2014 Hollywood & Vine 2480 Napa Valley Chardonnay

2014 Hollywood & Vine 2480 Napa Valley Chardonnay

HOLLYWOOD & VINE

“2480” CHARDONNAY
2014 NAPA VALLEY

2014 Hollywood & Vine 2480 Napa Valley Chardonnay
If you asked an expert how to make it in Hollywood, they would likely tell you that you have to stand out above the crowd and have some compelling qualities about you that are unique to you.  The same holds true for wine, and Hollywood & Vine’s 2480 Chardonnay is unique.  For starters it’s sourced from a high-elevation vineyard in Napa Valley’s coveted Atlas Peak AVA.  Even more unique is the wine is crafted entirely from the Harold Weimer Chardonnay clone, which is known for producing exotic and wildly individualistic flavors.  This Chardonnay delights your taste buds with detailed reflections of underripe pineapple, jasmine, orange zest and delicate tropical notes.  
And like a great actor, a great wine also need a talented coach to highlight the best qualities and pull all of the right pieces together… This Chardonnay was authored by Celia Welch, (Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens, Barbour, Dalla Valle…)  And just in case you may not be familiar with Celia’s artistry, just know that she made 5 cases of 2012 Scarecrow that sold for a record $260,000 at the Premiere Napa Valley Wine Auction… If you’re looking for a Chardonnay that stands out above the rest, this one’s for you… 
 
HOLLYWOOD & VINE
“2480” CHARDONNAY
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Your Price: $39.99/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “The cool-climate origins of this crisp, fruit-driven Chardonnay are evidenced in the aromas that add notes of wet granite and a touch of sweet lemongrass to the jasmine, green apple and bright orange zest notes. This ripe, aromatic Chardonnay was fermented in a combination of new and once-used French oak barrels plus a few barrels of steel, and kept sur-lie with biweekly battonage, so the floral notes are supported by a few deep base notes of toasty vanilla and fresh lees. On the palate, the wine shows integrated, complex flavors of green apple, apricot, a touch of mineral character and a bright, crisp finish which highlights the citrus notes.”
 
Customers who enjoy Hollywood & Vine’s 2480 Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific Chardonnays…
2014 SilverPoint Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
2014 Red Mare Dutton Ranch Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
SILVERPOINT
2015 CHARDONNAY
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
If the best wines were like a puzzle, this wine would have every piece laid out perfectly.  With everything from an accomplished winemaker, iconic vineyard, blockbuster vintage and a terrific price, this wine truly has it all.  It was authored by Don Van Staaveren who’s responsible for authoring the Chateau St. Jean wines from ’85-’97, and even made history when his 1996 Cinq Cepages was recognized as the #1 wine on the 1999 Wine Spectator Top 100 list.  It was the first Sonoma wine to receive the honor of being the #1 Wine in the World…
RED MARE
2014 CHARDONNAY
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
A luminous interpretation of Dutton Ranch fruit, the 2014 washes over your palate with classic Granny Smith apple, spiced pear, juicy yellow melon and subtle lemon bar.  Big and full across the palate and crafted in a plump, round style, if you’re searching for a top-level California Chardonnay without the high price tag that usually comes with one, I would saddle up and secure a case of Red Mare before this one rides off into the sunset


2014 Gandona Encosta Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Gandona Encosta Cabernet Sauvignon

GANDONA 2014 Gandona Encosta Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 ENCOSTA 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 
When considering a list of the most noble terroirs in Napa Valley, Pritchard Hill is always near the top of my list.  Composed of compacted volcanic rock, with iron-red soils, the area has been hailed by some as as Napa’s Grand Cru.  Apex producers Chappellet, Bryant Family, Colgin, Continuum and David Arthur all call the area home.  A rapidly rising producer on Pritchard Hill is Gandona Estate.  The wines are expertly made by Philippe Melka, whose vast experience includes winemaking at Bryant Family, Quintessa, Hundred Acre, and Dominus… 
 
Encosta Cabernet remains a stunning value for Pritchard Hill. Carved into the steep terrain, the Estate vineyard was planted in small blocks, each with its own distinct personality.  The vineyard was planted by Jim Barbour, one of the absolute top viticulturists, who’s list of clients include icons like Hundred Acre, Grace Family and Barbour to list a few… The best Pritchard Hill wines are memorable with profound sense of place, balance and primal intensity.  Gandona’s Encosta has all of this and more, and it’s a fraction of the price of what you’d expect to pay for a great wine from this Iconic area.  
 
GANDONA
2014 ENCOSTA 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Your Price: $89.99/btl
 
 
From Vinous:Gandona’s 2014 Encosta is a gorgeous second wine. Bright, aromatic and intense, the Encosta possesses striking purity in its flavors. Dark cherry, chocolate, mocha and licorice infuse the super-expressive finish. Dark red cherry, plum, mocha and espresso. The Encosta clearly offers the pedigree of many top labels, but perhaps just not the depth. This is an impressive showing.” 91 Points
From James Suckling, “Aromas of dark berries and basil follow through to a full body, chewy tannins and a medium finish. Builds nice at the end with some raspberry character...” 92 Points
Customers who enjoy Gandona’s Encosta may also enjoy these two outstanding Reds… 
2013 Jones Family Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Keever Inspirado Napa Valley Proprietary Red
JONES FAMILY 
2013 THE SISTERS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $85.00/btl

Click to Order

 
With nearly two dozen perfect 100 Point wines, Thomas Brown is a dominating force in Cabernet Sauvignon and he’s truly at the top of his game Packed with supple, concentrated red cherry, deep black raspberry, pomegranate, graphite and a touch of sweet vanilla oak, this absolutely ready to drink Cabernet will thrill you from first sip to last. The vineyard is managed by Jim Barbour, one of the absolute top viticulturists, who’s list of clients include icons like  Hundred Acre, Grace Family and Barbour to list a few… 
KEEVER
2013 INSPIRADO
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $74.99/btl 
 
2015 Sailor's Grave Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Sailor’s Grave Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

SAILOR’S GRAVE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Sailor's Grave Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Some of my favorite wine discoveries are those that naturally go on to sell hundreds of cases in just a couple vintages.  It’s a concrete affirmation proving that what we felt when we first tasted the wine resonated and was felt by almost everyone who tries it.  Sailor’s Grave’s Napa Valley Cabernet did just that.  And with its origins in Yountville, Oakville and Chiles Valley, combined with a price-point that makes you smile, it was the quality of the wine that propelled constant re-orders… to the tune of several hundred cases sold in only 2 vintages.  Everybody who’s tasted this wine knows how great of a value it is and for those who haven’t, it’s not too late.  At 25% below the winery retail you may want to stock up on this new vintage before it also sails away.  
Inspired by Matthew Pozzan’s grandfather, a Merchant Marine who traveled around the world visiting exotic ports.  At each port, a new tattoo would symbolize the struggles that he’d been through. The 2015 unfurls intense aromas of black raspberries, spring flowers, espresso roast, black chocolates.  Washing over the palate with dark berries, creme de cassis and camphor, deliciously governed by the wines voluptuous, rich texture.  Kept for 20 months in oak barrels, magnificent flavors cascade over your palate and tattoo a lasting impression in your mind…
 
SAILOR’S GRAVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
Your Price: $29.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
YOU SAVE 25% 
 
 
Winery Notes: “The 2015 Sailor’s Grave is Napa Valley Cabernet in its purest expression. Aromas leap out of the glass – tobacco, cassis, blueberries, and bright red cherry. The mouth is creamy and expansive, with layers of boysenberry, milk chocolate covered cherries, and Tahitian vanilla bean. The palate is truly finessed, with a lovely integration of French oak to the wine’s structure and flavor. The sweet smoke of lightly charred oak lingers throughout the lengthy finish.”
Cabernet Sauvignon 90% | Malbec 5% | Petite Sirah 3%| Petit Verdot 2% 

 

 

Customers that enjoy Sailor’s Grave Napa Valle Cabernet  may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…
2015 Fisticuffs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Sparkman Holler Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
FISTICUFFS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $35.00/btl
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
One of my favorite results that comes from tasting a new wine, is one that makes me do a double-take simply because the taste exceeds my expectations for the price.  The 2015 Fisticuffs Napa Valley Cabernet made me do just that.  Performing well above its weight class for value Napa Cabernet, this undisputed champion hailing from Napa Valley dances inside a tightly wound core, threaded with chocolate covered cherries, blackcurrants, unground coffee bean and cedar spice.
SPARKMAN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 HOLLER
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
Sparking an intense love affair with Washington Wines with just a single taste, when we first offered Sparkman’s 2013 Holler Cabernet two years ago we knew it would induce one of those where have you been all my life moments…  Later that year it went on to rank #21 in the world on the Wine Spectator Top 100 and even outscored icons like Screaming Eagle at more than 25 times its price. 
2011 Bernard Magrez Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Bernard Magrez Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Cabernet Sauvignon

BERNARD MAGREZ

BECKSTOFFER DR. CRANE
2011 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2011 Bernard Magrez Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Cabernet SauvignonThe synchronicity between esteemed winemaker Benoit Touquette and Beckstoffer’s iconic Dr. Crane Vineyard is powerful and absolutely indisputable… Benoit is responsible for multiple 100 points from this very vineyard as the winemaker at Realm.  And as one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated heritage vineyards, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane produced single vineyard Cabernets from Paul Hobbs, Realm and Myriad to list a few.  Nearly all Cabernet from this hallowed ground ranges from $175 to over $500/btl…
Saturating, intense, generous, lovely… these would all be perfect descriptors for the 2011 Bernard Magrez.  There’s also something magical that often happens right around five years in the bottle.  This wine has a fully developed, intense and hedonistic bouquet that can only come from bottle age.  It has focused, powerful intensity and scrumptious texture, that has to be experienced to be believed.   I strongly recommend adding some of this gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon to your cellar. 
 
BERNARD MAGREZ
BECKSTOFFER DR. CRANE
2011 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $175/btl
 
 
From Vinous:The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Dr. Crane Vineyard from Bernard Magrez is another impressive wine for the year. Long, persistent and intense, the 2011 stands out for its focus and energy. Dark cherry, plum, smoke, sweet French oak and leather flow through to the layered, finish. The sweet, floral notes so typical of the 337 Cabernet clone present in Dr. Crane ring out on the finish.92 Points
 
Customers that enjoy the Bernard Magrez Dr. Crane Vineyard Cabernet, may also enjoy these two terrific Cabs…
 
2010 Harris Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Jones Family The Sisters Cabernet Sauvignon
HARRIS ESTATE
2010 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
JAKE’S CREEK VINEYARD
Retails at:  $140.00/btl
Your Price: $119.99/btl 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, “Dark cherries, plums, menthol, licorice and flowers all come together in the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Jake’s Creek Vineyard. There is plenty of intensity in the glass as this full-bodied, opulent wine shows off its considerable personality. Sweet floral and spiced notes add lift on the finish. Readers will have to be patient with the 2010 Jake’s Creek, but it is striking, even today. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030.”   94 Points
JONES FAMILY 
2013 THE SISTERS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $85.00/btl
With nearly two dozen perfect 100 Point wines, Thomas Brown is a dominating force in Cabernet Sauvignon and he’s truly at the top of his game Packed with supple, concentrated red cherry, deep black raspberry, pomegranate, graphite and a touch of sweet vanilla oak, this absolutely ready to drink Cabernet will thrill you from first sip to last. The vineyard is managed by Jim Barbour, one of the absolute top viticulturists, who’s list of clients include icons like  Hundred Acre, Grace Family and Barbour to list a few…
2014 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite's Rest Vineyard

2014 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite’s Rest Vineyard

BLACK KITE

2014 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite's Rest Vineyard2014 PINOT NOIR
KITE’S REST VINEYARD

 
In a word, it’s exhilarating…  The aromas give you a rush like taking off in a 747… The plush, velvety core makes you feel like you’re sitting back in comfy leather seats… The finish is like landing safely in paradise, with memories of the ride bringing a smile to your face.  Black Kite is one of California’s rising star Pinot producers, whom the Pinot Report alerted readers that they “burst on the scene with outstanding wines.” We elevated their 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir as our pick for wine-of-the-year in 2016 and their 2014 Kite’s Rest flies at an even higher level. 
Lifting spirits high into the rising thermals of Pinot Noir bliss, Black Kite’s Kite’s Rest Pinot Noir offers a rush of dark berries, minerals and wild rose, and it seduces you with each swirl. Absolutely thrilling to taste, this devine Pinot Noir was authored by Jeff Gaffner, who is responsible for making the renowned 1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages, which was the Wine Spectator’s #1 wine of the year.  If you’ve tasted any of their earlier vintages, you’ve probably already clicked the order button… if not, and you’d like to try one of California’s best examples of Pinot Noir, don’t hesitate too long, because there’s never enough of this Pinot to go around…    
 
BLACK KITE
2014 PINOT NOIR
KITE’S REST VINEYARD
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
Your Price: $44.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 10% 
 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast:Great fruit concentration and grace make this wine a winner. It feels medium-bodied despite its high degree of ripeness, showing that balance is attainable with significant power. It has ripe, plummy aromas, fresh red cherry and cranberry flavors, supportive tannins and excellent acidity.”  93 Points, Editor’s Choice

 

Customers that enjoy Black Kite’s Kite’s Rest Vineyard Pinot,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2014 TROMBETTA  PINOT NOIR SONOMA COAST 2014 Small Vines Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
TROMBETTA
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Your Price: $44.99/btl 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast:The oak treatment is supportive only, with the wine aged in French oak, 25% of it new, for nine months. Restraint allows it to remain soft and silky on the palate, with inviting characteristics of white pepper, lavender, rose, cranberry, strawberry and vanilla bean.” 
93 Points
SMALL VINES
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $55/btl
 
Wine Enthusiast:This tiny, family-run production shows a tremendous talent at growing grapes and making wines of great substance and sophistication. It aims for a bright, restrained and complex style, which it achieves here with aplomb. Black cherry, mint and a tease of smoky oak accent a fleshy, lengthy texture and body that shines in acidity.”   93 Points
2015 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red

2015 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red

KEEVER

2015 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red2013 INSPIRADO
PROPRIETARY RED

When I first tasted Keever’s 2013 Inspirado (Inspired) for the first time, to say that I was inspired by the quality would be an incredible understatement.  A better name would have been Infatuated, because that’s exactly how I felt after trying this wine.  With a resonant finish that lasts longer than nearly any wine that I’ve ever tasted at this price point, and expansive flavors so deep and compelling, that they leave you thinking about the wine for days after tasting it, this is a wine that you simply shouldn’t miss…  It’s authored by Celia Welch, (Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens, Barbour, Dalla Valle…)  And just in case you may not be familiar with Celia’s artistry, a testament to Celia’s winemaking ability is the fact that she made 5 cases of 2012 Scarecrow that sold for a record $260,000 at the Premiere Napa Valley Wine Auction… 
 
Checking in at 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, inspired by additions of Merlot and Malbec, the 2013 Inspirado saturates your taste buds in otherworldly levels of opulence. And while there are a lot of great Napa Valley Cabernet based wines available at under $100/btl, few approach this level of quality.  I have a strong suspicion that the critic’s will feel the same, and I simply wouldn’t wait for the scores to come out…  It will be too late… 
 
KEEVER
2013 INSPIRADO
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $74.99/btl
 
 
Winery Notes:Aromas of dark purple berries, mulling spices, toasted hazelnuts and wild anise waft from the glass when one swirls this ripe, complex Bordeaux-style blend.  On the palate, the wine shows a texture of dark chocolate; thick and rich with just enough textural grip to add a sense of youth to the finish.  Multi-layered sensations of toast, vanilla, ripe fruit and mineral notes weave themselves through the palate impression, with a lingering sense of ripe, intense cassis.”
Cabernet Sauvignon 87% | Merlot 11% | Malbec 2%
 
Customers who enjoy Keever’s Inspirado may also enjoy these two outstanding Reds…
2013 Jones Family The Sisters Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Dancing Hares Napa Valley Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
JONES FAMILY 
2013 THE SISTERS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $85.00/btl
 
 
With nearly two dozen perfect 100 Point wines, Thomas Brown is a dominating force in Cabernet Sauvignon and he’s truly at the top of his game Packed with supple, concentrated red cherry, deep black raspberry, pomegranate, graphite and a touch of sweet vanilla oak, this absolutely ready to drink Cabernet will thrill you from first sip to last. The vineyard is managed by Jim Barbour, one of the absolute top viticulturists, who’s list of clients include icons like  Hundred Acre, Grace Family and Barbour to list a few…  
DANCING HARES
2015 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $59.99/btl 
2015 Fisticuffs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Fisticuffs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

FISTICUFFS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY

 2015 Fisticuffs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
One of my favorite results that comes from tasting a new wine, is one that makes me do a double-take simply because the taste exceeds my expectations for the price.  The 2015 Fisticuffs Napa Valley Cabernet made me do just that.  Performing well above its weight class for value Napa Cabernet, this undisputed champion hailing from Napa Valley dances inside a tightly wound core, threaded with chocolate covered cherries, blackcurrants, unground coffee bean and cedar spice.  Trained by talented winemaker Rob Lawson, a legend who while managing Napa Wine Company, helped craft such notables as Bryant Family, Colgin, & Pahlmeyer.  He’s also responsible for helping shape the 2007 Kapcscandy “Grand Vin” which scored a perfect 100 Points from Robert Parker!  
Conditioned with 22 months in oak, this classic Napa Valley Cabernet sports a dense texture, laced with abundant dark fruits and mouth coating richness.  Emerging from several carefully selected vineyard sites, this wine is beautifully complex, and displays tremendous length.  At under forty per bottle, this is pound for pound, one of the best Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons.    
 
FISTICUFFS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $35.00/btl
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
 
Winery Notes: “The 2015 Fisticuffs is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet with a touch of Merlot, Petite Sirah and Petite Verdot. Aromas of rose petal, spice, and dark chocolate complement a mouth coating palate of vine ripened blackberry, black cherry and baked raspberry. The tannins are firm yet subtle and expansive. A nice lingering acidity keep the palate fresh and slowly yields to sweet mocha and candied nuts on the finish.”

Customers that enjoy Fisticuff’s 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon  may also enjoy these two terrific Cabs…
2012 Humanitas Reid Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Sparkman Holler Cabernet Sauvingnon
HUMANITAS
2012 REID VINEYARD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Expertly composed by winemaker Rob Lloyd, former winemaker at Rombauer, this 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon originates from a single vineyard on the North Eastern edge of St Helena.  Stunningly concentrated and dangerously hedonistic, the 2012 ReidVineyard Cab is bursting with authoritative and alluring flavors of sensual dark fruits, chocolate espresso, scorched earth and pipe tobacco
SPARKMAN
2015 HOLLER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
Sparking an intense love affair with Washington Wines with just a single taste, when we first offered Sparkman’s 2013 Holler Cabernet two years ago we knew it would induce one of those where have you been all my life moments…  Later that year it went on to rank #21 in the world on the Wine Spectator Top 100 and even outscored icons like Screaming Eagle at more than 25 times its price. 
2014 Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet Sauvignon

CRU 9

2014 Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON STOP TALKING…
2014 NAPA VALLEY

 
How often do you go into someone’s wine cellar and see a high quality wine that you’ve never heard of before?  It’s rare to find a wine that’s produced on such a small scale that it’s essentially nowhere to be found… Cru 9’s 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet is one of those wines. With a complete production of just 4 barrels, (100 cases,) this wine is just about as rare as they come.  The wine is remarkably stunning, and so good that we’re glad it’s still a secret… Rightfully named “stop talking”, I’m certain when the word gets out about how good this wine is, it will disappear fast.  At the winery retail of $50/btl I’m all in…and we bought every bottle that we could.
Carved from a secret vineyard source in Napa Valley, and due to a a non-disclosure agreement, the fruit source needs to be kept secret… The 2014 Cru 9 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and it shows. On the palate, waves of concentrated blackberry, cassis, espresso and plum preserves circulate and add new dimensions as the wine opens up.  It’s made in a deep but supple style that I find highly appealing. 
 
CRU 9
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
 
 
Tasting Notes:Cru 9 Stop Talking is a full-bodied, rich Cabernet Sauvignon crafted from one of Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. Complex aromas of Bing cherry, red plum and crushed blackberries perfectly complement the wine’s deep ruby hue. The palate is rich and long with great depth, showing balanced red and black fruits, bakers chocolate, spice box, dried green herbs and finishes with youthful dusty tannins.  Drink from 2019 through 2028.”
93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
Customers that enjoy Cru 9’s Cabernet Sauvignon, may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…
2012 Humanitas Reid Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Marion Cru 9 Pinot Noir
HUMANITAS
2012 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
REID VINEYARD, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Expertly composed by winemaker Rob Lloyd, former winemaker at Rombauer, this 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon originates from a single vineyard on the North Eastern edge of St Helena.  Stunningly concentrated and dangerously hedonistic, the 2012 ReidVineyard Cab is bursting with authoritative and alluring flavors of sensual dark fruits, chocolate espresso, scorched earth and pipe tobacco.  
CRU 9
2014 PINOT NOIR
MARION, RUSSIAN RIVER
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
“This is a prodigious Pinot Noir that offers an awesome nose of wild Spring flowers, cherry cola, fresh crushed raspberries, tart red plum and sweet vanilla spice.  It is concentrated, structured, amazingly balanced and follows through on the palate with black bing cherries, wild berries and dried orange peel intermixed in an elegant, seamlessly graceful style that is absolutely stunning to drink now, but will cellar through 2024.” 95 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier