2018 The Crane Assembly Disciples Proprietary Red

2018 The Crane Assembly Disciples Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50CalistogaKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

THE CRANE ASSEMBLY

2018 DISCIPLES
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 The Crane Assembly Disciples Proprietary Red
The Crane Assembly wines honor the history of the G.B. Crane Vineyard, established around 1885. The eight-acre vineyard has 4 acres of original plantings. For Disciples, winemaker Kevin Fox and consulting winemaker Dave Phinney intermix fruit from other iconic vineyards in the area to replicate the style and structure of G.B. Crane. The 2018 release is richly layered, with supple dark fruits, vast complexity, and is perfectly balanced.
 
The wine’s backbone comes from Morisoli Vineyard, which sits in the center of the Rutherford bench and has been a longtime source for BV Georges de Latour, Elyse, Mercury Head, and the list goes on. The 2018 release also includes fruit from Tofanelli Vineyard in Calistoga, which has attracted producers like Prisoner, Schrader Cellars, and Turley. 
 
In 2018, the final blend is nearly 50% Zinfandel, matched with Bordeaux and Rhone Varieties. This wine deliciously shows off the incomparable skills of Dave Phinney & Kevin Fox. They are masters at creating new, unique blends that are as individualistic as they are enjoyable.
 
THE CRANE ASSEMBLY
2018 DISCIPLES
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“Strawberry preserves leap from the glass initially, followed by a bouquet of floral aromatics: lavender, violets and roses. Rich earthy notes of freshly plowed soil, fresh rain on warm granite and petrichor. Spicy, but not a peppery spice, more of a star anise spiciness, tart raspberries and sweet plouts, with a very long, dusty finish of strawberry cream, vanilla and caramelized sugar that lingers…. smooth and luscious!”

2016 Rudius Savory Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $80-$90Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

RUDIUS

SAVORY ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 HOWELL MOUNTAIN 

The smallest plots of land can have the greatest potential to produce the most vivid interpretations of their terroirs. The home vineyard of legendary winemaker Jeff Ames is Savory Estate, which sits at 1780 feet on Howell Mountain. The tiny 1.3-acre vineyard produces potent fruit and wines with tremendous structure, depth, and age-ability. With a 98 point score on the 2016 vintage, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
Icons David Abreu and Rick Forman planted Savory Estate, and they chose Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon, used in numerous cult wines. The soils are a mixture of clay and gravely loam, and when matched with the extreme elevation, produce intensely concentrated fruit. 
 
Jeff Ames mentored under Thomas River Brown at Schrader, Maybach, Outpost, and TOR before becoming head winemaker at TOR in 2005. His wines are some of the deepest, most hedonistic, and balanced that I’ve found anywhere near this price level, and with these incredibly high scores, this one could disappear fast. 
 
RUDIUS
SAVORY ESTATE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Retails at: $135
 
 
 
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Savory Estate comes all from a great, higher elevation vineyard on Howell Mountain and checks in as 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. It spent 27 months in French oak prior to bottling, and there are a scant 125 cases made. This sensational effort boasts a dense, inky color as well as a kaleidoscope-like array of blueberries, blackcurrant liqueur, bay leaf, iron, and an almost bloody, meaty character that’s hard to describe. The palate doesn’t lose a beat and is full-bodied, deep, concentrated, and structured, yet also ethereal and elegant. This is mountain Cabernet at its finest! It has some upfront appeal already, yet my money is on it benefiting from 4-5 years of bottle age and cruising for 25-30 years. Hello, beautiful!”
98 Points
 
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Savory Estate, from Jeff Ames’s home property on Howell Mountain, is superb. A great example of the Howell Mountain appellation, the 2016 possesses tremendous depth and tons of savory aromatic presence. There is so much to like and admire in this potent, virile Cabernet Sauvignon. All the elements are wonderfully fused together with appealing notes of chocolate, leather and dried flowers that develop in the glass. The 2016 is explosive, vivid and simply stunning in its beauty. That’s all there is to it.”
96 Points
 
2014 William Knuttel Cabernet Sauvignon Windsor Oaks Vineyard

2014 William Knuttel Cabernet Sauvignon Windsor Oaks Vineyard Chalk Hill

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonChalk HillKevin VogtNapaUSA

WILLIAM KNUTTEL

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
WINDSOR OAKS VINEYARD 
CHALK HILL 2014

2014 William Knuttel Cabernet Sauvignon Windsor Oaks Vineyard
William Knuttel produces wines with intensity and finesse, which he achieves through meticulous fruit selection and skilled winemaking. As the former VP and winemaker at Chalk Hill, he has relationships with some of Sonoma County’s most heralded growers. As a veteran winemaker, he allows each featured site to shine brightly under his namesake label. At just $40, his 2014 Windsor Oaks Vineyard Cabernet is deep, firm, and well-defined, showing off his learned skills as a top winemaker.
 
Knuttle’s 2014 Windsor Oak Vineyard Cabernet is sourced from a single block of vines overlooking the Russian River Valley to the West and the Alexander Valley and the Mayacamas Mountains to the East. He’s scrupulous in his selection of only the ripest and most flavorful berries for his single-vineyard bottling, and he vinifies them separately. 
 
The hillside vineyard is quintessentially Chalk Hill and planted over well-drained, gravelly, clay-loam soils with open exposure to brisk Russian River Valley breezes that allow the Cabernet to maintain balanced acidity and fine structure. He produced just 8 barrels of this wine, and after more than 4 years in the bottle, the wine is stunning.
 
WILLIAM KNUTTEL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
WINDSOR OAKS VINEYARD 
CHALK HILL 2014
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and spiced tea rise unabated from this inky black wine. A well-integrated backbone of velvety tannins and toasty oak highlights cherry and cassis flavors, leading to concentrated fruit in a seamless and assertive finish. Alcohol 14.8%”
2019 Desante L'Atelier Proprietary White Napa Valley

2019 Desante L’Atelier Proprietary White Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underNapaProprietary WhiteSauvignon BlancUSAYountville

DESANTE 

2019 L’ATELIER
PROPRIETARY WHITE
NAPA VALLEY
 
2019 Desante L'Atelier Proprietary White Napa Valley
Desante’s L’Atelier proves that certain grape varietals can complement one another by accentuating specific characteristics. In this case, Semillon adds richness and opulence to the bright, piercing Sauvignon Blanc elements, resulting in a supremely focused white with enough richness to keep you coming back for more.
 
Dave Desante’s admiration for winemaking began at age ten, and it’s taken him all over the world, from Margaret River, Australia, to Chateau Petrus in Bordeaux. He’s revered as an expert winemaking consultant in Napa Valley and was the founding winemaker for Tierra Roja.
 
The Semillon grapes are from 45-year-old, dry-farmed vines in Yountville, and contribute to the wine’s textural depth, richness, and floral complexity. The Sauvignon Blanc came from the nearly half-century-old Varozza Vineyard in St. Helena, which brings intense minerality and bright citrus fruits.
 
DESANTE 
2019 L’ATELIER
PROPRIETARY WHITE
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $28
 
 
 
“Surprising with its vivid aromatic references to flint and peach, this refreshing summer white could be mistaken with ease for one of the best offerings from Bordeaux. True to this reference, there is a harmonic balance of Semillon (30%) that rounds the vibrant edge of the crisp Sauvignon Blanc. The Semillon adds mid-palate weight without making this marriage a clumsy one. Spiced pear and fresh mandarin are the flavors that result with a flourish of toast and mineral in the pleasing finish. This is the wine to enjoy with prawns, grilled vegetables and salmon.”
2018 Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

2018 Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

COURTNEY BENHAM

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 RUTHERFORD 

2018 Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
Courtney Benham wines give tribute to Courtney’s love of terroir and journey through some of Napa Valley’s most distinctive appellations, offering a vivid portrayal of their unique origins. Rutherford is one of the most celebrated terroirs in Napa Valley due to its dynamic complexity, powerful elegance, and dusty tannins. Courtney’s version spotlights each of those hallmark characteristics, as well as the incredible vintage, and at less than $50, it’s one of the best values in the region.
 
Rutherford plays an integral part of Courtney’s terroir expression series, with ideal temperatures coupled with gravel and loam soils and volcanic deposits. These elements produce dense Cabernet Sauvignon fruit heightened with a quintessential earthiness that’s unique to the region. 
 
Winemaker Courtney Benham has three decades of experience, and his talent for selecting vineyards of distinction is highly evident in this wine. The 2018 vintage showcases power and restraint, with concentrated fruit, earthy minerals, and a singular focus.  
 
COURTNEY BENHAM
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 RUTHERFORD
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $46
 
 
“The blue fruit, fresh flowers, sandalwood and dust are so beautiful in this. Full body, firm and polished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Really linear and tight. Persistent finish…”
94 Points
2015 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate

2015 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

THE VINEYARD HOUSE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 OAKVILLE ESTATE 

2015 The Vineyard House Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate
The Vineyard House is my go-to recommendation for anyone looking for $500 quality in Cabernet, but at a price that’s less than half that. Surrounding their Estate Vineyard are properties owned by Harlan Estate, Promontory, and Futo, which garner around $500 to $1600 per bottle. Jeremy Nickel owns the winery, and the brand is a tribute to his late father, Gil Nickel, of Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel wineries. The wine is under-the-radar, for now, but based upon the extreme quality inside the bottle and pedigree of the land, the brand will likely be a future cult wine.
 
Jeremy’s property is elevated above the benchlands of Oakville, overlooking To-Kalon and Martha’s Vineyards. The vines are grown in volcanic and sedimentary bedrock and produce fruit with superior concentration, power, and depth. 
 
This stunning wine emerges from one of Napa Valley’s top vintages, which the Wine Spectator describes as producing “significantly lower yields…Quality is high.” After developing for 24 months in oak, this remarkable wine expresses everything that I look forward to in upper echelon Oakville Cabernet. Still, we priced it at less than half of what you’d expect. 
 
THE VINEYARD HOUSE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 OAKVILLE ESTATE
Retails at: $225
 
 
 
“The Vineyard House Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is picture-perfect. Of all the Cabernet Sauvignons I taste every year, The Vineyard House always stands out as one of the best-of-the-best Napa Cabernets that could easily challenge any contender. It’s powerfully brooding, with a linear element that makes it incredibly complex and seamless, along with remarkable purity. It is a towering wine with a mouth-watering combination of wild Burgundy plums, crushed mountain blackberries, smooth blue fruits, and elegant florals. It has a defined presence on your palate, but with all elements perfectly in place. The finish stays on your palate long enough to evolve as it slowly expands, then tapers for over a minute. It’s simply a delight to behold, and you can enjoy it now and over the next couple of decades.”
97 Points
 
“Our 2015 Cab is a case study of power & balance. This reddish-purple wine displays concentrated aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, redcurrants, crème de cassis, violets, rosehips, tobacco leaf, forest floor, and pencil lead. Its seamless tannic structure and bright acidity will provide the stuffing for great longevity in your cellar. Patience will pay off in dividends, but our extended barrel aging adds a supple nature to the wine allowing for accessibility in its youth. The 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon will not disappoint with its polished but intense personality.”
2017 Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir Carneros

2017 Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir Carneros

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

BALDACCI

ELIZABETH PINOT NOIR
2017 CARNEROS 

2017 Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir Carneros
Baldacci crafts their Carneros Pinot Noir in a style that’s marked by concentrated fruit, intriguing textures, and palpable sense of place. The wine arose from Baldacci’s Estate Vineyard in Carneros, which is farmed by Josh Clark, one of wine country’s most sought after viticulturists whose clients include icons like Outpost, Hourglass, and Kinsella to list a few.
 
Michael Baldacci works closely with Ricardo Herrera to craft balanced wines with a sense of place and tangible value. Ricardo gained invaluable experience over the years at icons Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Dominus, and Screaming Eagle.
 
The Baldacci team is steadfast in producing wines that tell a story of their origins and vintage. They achieve this through highly-skilled vineyard management, top-level winemaking, and timely choices made during each step of the process. The results speak for themselves, and at this price, a single case may not be enough.
 
BALDACCI
ELIZABETH PINOT NOIR
2017 CARNEROS
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“Our motto is no whimpy Pinot Noir! I approach this varietal as a lighter, yet sturdy red wine from our portfolio. We work towards a balanced fruit load, per vine, in the vineyard. We use our clones to create nuance and texture in the final wine. There is nothing formulaic about Pinot Noir. It is much more challenging to produce than Cabernet Sauvignon. We strive for a fruit forward expression that is more dark rather than red berry. We de-stem everything and cold soak for no more than 3 days to achieve a color and tannin profile that is more structured. Everything is fermented in open top, small volume tanks with daily punch downs until dry. We use 40% new French oak to marry our fruit with the spice from the wood.”
2015 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2015 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

TOGETHER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Together Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Together Cabernet Sauvignon harnesses Mountain fruit’s power through gentle winemaking, barrel age, and time in the bottle and delivers it with supreme elegance, refinement, and balance. The wine is crafted by Grant Long Jr, whom you might know from Witchery, Aonair, James Joseph, and Steps. Grant produced the 2015 vintage in the deeply enchanting style that we’d expect from his wine, and at $80, it’s worth every penny. Of course, at our price, very few wines can even complete.
 
Grant flawlessly merged hillside Cabernet Sauvignon fruit sourced from the surrounding mountains of Napa Valley, then enhanced it with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, which are vital in balancing the distinct Mountain terroirs. 
 
This remarkable 2015 was cave-aged for around 20 months in premium oak barrels, and after blossoming in the bottle for more than three years, the flavors have come together spectacularly. There are very few cases of this boutique Cabernet produced, and priced at 1/2 of the winery retail, you simply can’t order too much of this.
 
TOGETHER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $80
 
 
 
“Following the spectacular 2014 vintage, the Together Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is even more enticing. It begins with a concentrated nose of muddled blackberries, cassis, black plums, fresh lavender, and vanilla spice. The brooding palate has impressive balance with the wine’s deep, dark bass notes in perfect harmony with the brighter red fruit character. The rich, supple texture caresses your taste buds into a blissful, satiated state. It then finishes very long, with a complexity that teases your palate in such a beautiful way, and leaving you absolutely needing that next sip. Then the next. Then the next…” 
94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
2018 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

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

PRIDE MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Pride Mountain Vineyards is a paradigm producer on Spring Mountain that defines its wines’ success by their uncanny ability to be identified in blind tastings. This distinction is due to the Estate’s highly unique terroir and their undeviating focus on producing intensely flavored wines that honor their fabulous property. At around $80, their 2018 Cabernet is a benchmark for high-elevation hillside Cabernet in Napa Valley, and you might grab some while you can.
 
The Estate Vineyards are at the top of Spring Mountain, and they straddle the Napa and Sonoma County line. The extreme elevation provides warm mornings and chilly afternoons that result in longer hang-time, contributing textural and flavor characteristics that don’t exist anywhere else in the world. This location is only part of the reason why their wines are so desirable. 
 
Winemaker Sally Johnson employs traditional winemaking practices designed to let the terroir of the grapes take center stage. Her method includes 100% destemming the red varietals and fermenting over two-weeks in stainless steel tank before transferring the wine to French oak barrels for roughly 18 months. 
 
PRIDE MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $76
 
 
“Black currant, Morello cherry and just-ripe black mission fig dance with the aromas of sage, candied violets, star anise and black truffle. The palate is dense and compact with incredible structure. Layers of complex black and red fruit fill the mouth, while sandalwood, bay, graphite and forest aromatics linger with the velvety tannins on the long and dynamic finish. This is a showstopper!”
2015 Crowley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District

2015 Crowley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSpring MountainUSA

CROWLEY VINEYARD

2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

2015 Crowley Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District
Crowley Vineyard represents the epitome of a passionate grower whose quality of fruit and biodynamic viticulture is recognized by wineries like Barnett, Behrens Family, Sherwin, Robert Craig, but who also makes a small amount of wine of their own. The wines are made by Stephen Tebb, who spent the last ten years as Director of Winemaking for Robert Craig, and specializes in Mountain Terroir. Stephen created Crowley’s version from superior blocks and clones within the vineyard, and at the winery price of $95, it’s absolutely stunning. Of course, at our price of $49, you can’t have too much of this wine in your cellar.  
 
The vineyard is at the top of Spring Mountain, where rocky and well-drained, red volcanic Aiken loam produces densely concentrated fruit. At 2000 feet elevation, the days are around 10 degrees cooler than the valley floor and combined with the highest rainfall in Napa Valley and unique soils, create fruit with intense flavors, fine structure, and soft tannins. 
 
Stephen crafts this wine using gentle and minimal handling, resulting in Crowley’s Spring Mountain Vineyard’s pure expression of the land. The 2015 release is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and spent 18 months in 70% developing new French oak barrels. The wine is rocking now and will also go the distance in the cellar.
 
CROWLEY VINEYARD
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
SPRING MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“The Crowley Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 begins with a super-rich, deep nose beginning with concentrated blackberry purée, cherry pipe tobacco, creme de cassis, and purple flowers, leading to hints of crushed minerals and sweet vanilla spice. The palate is very focused and concentrated, with penetrating mixed berries, black plums, and exotic spices. It finishes with a pristine balance, stunning linearity, exceptional richness, and uncanny length. This one is extraordinary, and I highly recommend it.”
96 Points