2016 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2016 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

SILVER OAK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Silver Oak is consistent in its distinctive style of crafting age-worthy Cabernets with extravagant levels of sweet black fruits, vanilla, and savory elements. In exceptional years like 2016, those qualities become even more powerful and pronounced. The brand has dominated the space for high-quality domestic Cabernet Sauvignon over the past four decades, and their 2016 Napa release is among their finest.
 
This wine hails from the remarkable 2016 vintage, which the Wine Spectator ranks as the highest-rated vintage for Napa Valley Cabernet since 1997. The vintage produced powerful wines with superb intensity, balance, and fully-developed favors. 
 
Silver Oak’s distinct style comes by aging their Napa Valley Cabernet for an impressive 24 months in American oak barrels and two more years in the bottle before release. The extended barrel aging and time in the bottle results in a wine with beautifully integrated flavors that’s ready to drink now and will stand the test of time. 
 
SILVER OAK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2016 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $125
 
 
“Deep ruby in color, the 2016 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an opulent wine with notes of cassis, ripe raspberry, toasted coconut and shiitake mushroom. This wine has a rich entry, depth through the mid-palate, great structure without being heavy and exceptional length on the finish. Fresh cherry flavors balanced with floral notes and a subtle hint of black pepper add a beautiful complexity. Plush tannins lend to its ageworthiness. Given proper cellaring conditions, this wine will show beautifully through 2040.”
2018 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red

2018 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

HOURGLASS 

2018 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red
Hourglass HG III is strategically blended with the restaurant environment in mind and crafted in an approachable and expressive style that doesn’t require decanting. The winery describes it as a study in the art of blending. They make it with declassified Blueline Estate fruit and other meticulously selected sites that lend to the full spectrum of fruit and rich textures that make this wine so delightful. 
 
HG III beautifully intertwines Merlot, Petit Sirah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot contributes sleek textures and elegant bright red fruit components. Simultaneously, the Petite Sirah provides the anchoring deep dark blue and black fruits, while the Cabernet weaves these together with structural framing and elegant refinement. 
 
Hourglass is made by Toni Biagi, who spent nearly ten years crafting the high-scoring Plumpjack wines, which rank among the best in Napa Valley. HG III offers a superb pedigree, and at around $50, the value is unrivaled. 
 
HOURGLASS 
2018 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Rich, textural layers define HG III. The 2018 greets with lifted aromatics of bright Bing cherry, dark plum, and cedar box, with subtle hints of herbs de Provence, cocoa powder and hoisin. A medley of saturated black cherry, crushed blueberry and cola root burst forth on the palate, providing broad-shouldered, sumptuous texture. Rich and concentrated, yet balanced by lively acidity, a refined structure and well-integrated tannins, HG III delivers and eminently drinkable wine at cork-pull.”
2017 Silverpoint Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

2017 Silverpoint Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaPetaluma GapUSA

SILVERPOINT

2017 CHARDONNAY
PETALUMA GAP

2017 Silverpoint Chardonnay Petaluma Gap
Silverpoint’s master plan is to remain small and focused on producing tiny quantities of meticulously made wines. Their strategy parallels winemaker Don Van Staaveren’s patient and minimal intervention approach of winemaking. Don is a seasoned winemaker responsible for authoring the Chateau St. Jean wines that made history when his 1996 Cinq Cepages was the #1 wine on the Spectator Top 100 list. This wine proves that when a winemaker perfectly aligns his style with the proprietor’s goals, great things happen, and with a mere 91 cases made, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
Silverpoint Cellars sources their Chardonnay fruit from the renowned Rodgers Creek Vineyard, which sits in the heart of the cool-climate Petaluma Gap AVA. The site has maritime winds and heavy fog influences, along with chalky volcanic ash soils, which create an ideal environment for Chardonnay to develop expressive flavors and maintain natural acidity.  
 
Don barrel-aged the 2017 release for nine months sur lie, which played a crucial role in contributing to the wine’s creamy mouthfeel and opulent textures. With just 91 cases made, this pedigreed and micro-produced Chardonnay guarantees to impress.
 
SILVERPOINT
2017 CHARDONNAY
PETALUMA GAP
Retails at: $45
 
 
 
“Rich and pale gold color with a creamy texture balanced by a lively acidity. Hints of melon and white peach. Voluptuous. A long juicy finish lets you linger with this Chardonnay. 91 cases produced”
2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley

2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

MAROON

RESERVE MERLOT
SINGLE VINEYARD
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Maroon Reserve Merlot Single Vineyard Napa Valley
One of the leading factors in Maroon Winery’s success is its ability to identify properties capable of producing world-class grapes. They chose the historic Nichelini property for their Reserve Merlot. Nichelini is the oldest family-owned winery in Napa Valley and is not far from Kuleto Estate, Chappellet, Continuum, and Gandona. The wine perfectly balances power and elegance, and at our price, I recommend loading up. 
 
Nichelini’s vineyard sits at around 1,000′ in elevation, and the temperatures there are cooler than the Valley floor, providing ideal conditions for Merlot grapes to retain their natural acidity. Paul Maroon chose this site because he believed the vineyard’s unique climate was similar to Bordeaux.
 
This stunning Merlot emerges from one of Napa Valley’s top vintages, which the Wine Spectator describes as producing “Small crop… with deep dark fruit and spice flavors.” If you’re looking for a powerful yet elegant Merlot that you probably won’t find in your neighbor’s cellar, this is it. There were just 130 cases produced.
 
MAROON
RESERVE MERLOT
SINGLE VINEYARD
2015 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“Smooth, supple and elegant, this beautiful Merlot from Maroon has aromas of cassis, cherry pie, sage, violets, glove leather, spearmint, and sweet vanilla spice. On the palate, a seamless blend of black plums, crushed cherries, and fresh herbs lead to a balanced and lush finish with bright cherries right at the end.”
92 Points
 
“This delightful Merlot has aromas of fully ripened black cherry and plum intermingled with an appealing ray of slight spice and vanilla. The texture of the wine is very smooth from front to finish with a well-rounded texture on the midpalate. The tannins evolve and soften, resulting in a long, soft finale.”
130 cases produced
2017 Altagracia Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Altagracia Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

ALTAGRACIA

2017 EISELE VINEYARD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2017 Altagracia Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
The Eisele Vineyard dates back to the 1880s and is one of the New World’s great terroirs. The site was made famous by the Araujos in the 1990s through 2013 when Chateau Latour purchased it. Today, they farm the vineyard organically and biodynamically, and the new owners aim to make singular wines of the highest caliber. The wines invariably express remarkable depth, elegance, longevity, and balance. At around a quarter of their top Eisele Vineyard Cabernet’s price, Altagracia offers a beautiful introduction to this magical Estate.
 
At Eisele Vineyard, winemaking takes a back seat to terroir, allowing the vineyard to express its most clear voice. There is no signature style to their winemaking, yet their team is precise, uncompromising, natural, and honest in their approach, and all of this is highly transparent in their wines. 
 
The vineyard sits at the Eastern edge of Calistoga, at the Palisade Mountain Range base, where an ancient creekbed that bisects the Estate spread an alluvial fan of cobbly volcanic soils that make this site unique. The vines there produce small berries of thick-skinned, intensely flavored grapes. 
 
ALTAGRACIA
2017 EISELE VINEYARD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $135
 
 
“Blackberry and tile aromas with tobacco and spice. Some chocolate, too. Medium to full body and firm, velvety tannins that show a juicy finish. Fine yet dusty tannins. Rich for the vintage. Delicious now or hold.”
94 Points
 
“… Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia leaps from the glass, offering bold, expressive notes of blackberry pie, Black Forest cake and warm cassis with hints of garrigue, mossy tree bark, dusty soil and black pepper plus a fragrant waft of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a great core of rich, spicy black fruit preserves, framed with firm, chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing earthy.”
93 Points
 
“The 2017 Altagracia is closer to its brother the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet than ever. The nose is floral and delicate at first, opening with a whiff of laurel, musk and patchouli. The mouthfeel is generous and ample with spicy notes of cumin and turmeric. The tannins are fine and chiseled, revealed by a gentle hand on extraction in the cellar. Notes of mocha, espresso and graphite linger on the palate while the fruit breaks out in the finish with fresh fig and black currant, reminding us of the tiny berries that were the signature of the 2017 vintage.”
2016 Leto Cellars Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena

2016 Leto Cellars Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSaint HelenaUSA

LETO CELLARS

EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ST HELENA, NAPA VALLEY

2016 Leto Cellars Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena
The pinnacle wine produced by Leto Cellars is their Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, and it accurately lives up to its name. The wine is exceptional in terms of extract, power, and finesse. The only problem is with 72 cases produced, very few will get to experience this exceptional effort. 
 
The Exceptional Selection is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon drawn from a micro-block of half-century-old vines in the heart of St Helena. The low-yielding, dry-farmed vines have deep root systems that provide a vivid portrayal of their unique terroir, which delivers with powerful intensity, grace, and balance.  
 
After developing for 21 months in oak, the wine has enticing aromas of rich black fruits, roasted espresso, dark chocolate, and rocky minerals. With 3 barrels made and a savings of nearly $50/btl, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure a case.
 
LETO CELLARS
EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ST HELENA, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“The precisely shaped and exquisitely balanced Leto Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 begins with an elegant nose filled with black plums, black currants, smooth blue fruits, baking spices, rose petals and sweet vanilla oak. There is a seamless combination of freshly crushed mountain blackberries, kirsch, and light tobacco notes on the palate. The finish is focused, penetrating, balanced, and long, making this wine a truly exceptional selection.”
94 Points
2016 Peter Franus Zinfandel Brandlin Vineyard Mount Veeder

2016 Peter Franus Zinfandel Brandlin Vineyard Mount Veeder

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSAZinfandel

PETER FRANUS

2016 ZINFANDEL
BRANDLIN VINEYARD
MOUNT VEEDER

2016 Peter Franus Zinfandel Brandlin Vineyard Mount Veeder
Zinfandels’ most distinct characteristics shine at high elevations. The altitude contributes to the vine’s ability to produce more concentrated fruit with amplified structure, savory intensity, and richness. Peter Franus, whom Robert Parker wrote has “the Midas touch when it comes to Zinfandel,” has sourced his Zin from the Brandlin Vineyard at 1200 feet elevation on Mount Veeder since the early ’90s. The 2016 release is a stunning example of Mountain grown Zinfandel, and at our price, the value is abundant.
 
Brandlin was planted in the 1920s and is one of the oldest vineyards on Mountain Veeder. The family planted the hillside vineyard to a field blend with multiple varietals, and the head-trained vines rely on winter rains as their sole source of irrigation. This dry-farming practice creates a deep root system that perfectly articulates the terroir of the Mountain. 
 
Peter ferments his Zinfandel at a cooler temperature to accentuate the zesty and forward fruit. He also ages exclusively in Burgundian French oak barrels, which adds complexity and increases refinement. 
 
PETER FRANUS
2016 ZINFANDEL
BRANDLIN VINEYARD
MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at: $40
 
 
 
“My immediate impression of the 2016 vintage—classic Brandlin! Brilliant medium ruby with an array of aromatic notes—bramble fruits, white pepper, basil, rose petal, and a touch of sweet oak. The palate entry is gentle, leading to flavors of anise and strawberry. The wine embraces that PF goal of a structure that is elegant, balanced, lively and refreshing. The lengthy finish will return to remind you how much you are enjoying this wine.”
2017 Vin Perdu Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2017 Vin Perdu Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VIN PERDU

PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY 

2017 Vin Perdu Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Vin Perdu is blended to emphasize each premium vineyard component’s unique characteristics, maximize the potential of the vintage, and then articulate it with elegance. In 2017 the wine arose from La Sirena, Amuse Bouche, and Fantesca vineyards and was crafted by Heidi Barrett. Heidi is a world-class winemaker whose past and present clients include Amuse Bouche, Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Grace Family, and many others. At under $100, this is, as Vinous writes, “an absolutely joyous wine.”
 
For the 2017 Blend, Heidi selected 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc from some of Napa Valley’s most premier sites. The wine highlights the vintage’s elegance, with stunning balance, enthralling complexity, and plush textures. 
 
Vin Perdu is the delicious result of a powerful partnership between Heidi Barrett and John Schwartz. In 2002 they created Amuse Bouche, a Pomerol-inspired Merlot that’s arguably the best in the Valley. With super-premium fruit from Amuse Bouche and several of Heidi’s other projects, Vin Perdu was born. 
 
VIN PERDU
PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $95
 
 
“The 2017 Vin Perdu is racy and voluptuous, not to mention incredibly delicious. Succulent red cherry, rose petal, mocha, plum and spice are all given an extra kick of textural richness in the 2017, a wine that benefits from the addition of fruit that would have gone into some of the higher end wines in a more typical vintage. Plush, opulent and creamy, the 2017 is an absolutely joyous wine to enjoy over the next decade or so.” 
93 Points
 
“A pure and fruity red with lovely raspberries and dark chocolate. Medium to full body, round and fine tannins and flavorful finish. 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% cabernet franc. Drink now or hold.” 
93 Points
 
“The fruit for this was harvested on October 2nd and 3rd, just before the 2017 fires… Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with underlying hints of candied violets, forest floor, cigar box and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with black fruits and savory layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bright freshness, finishing long.”
92 Points
2015 Larry Hyde Pinot Noir Hyde Estate Vineyard

2015 Larry Hyde Pinot Noir Hyde Estate Vineyard

with No Comment $60-$70CarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

LARRY HYDE

2015 PINOT NOIR
HYDE ESTATE VINEYARD

2015 Larry Hyde Pinot Noir Hyde Estate Vineyard
Napa Valley Grower-of-the-Year for 2020 Larry Hyde of Hyde Vineyard produces powerfully expressive, profound fruit, which is why he’s attracted many of California’s top producers, including Paul Hobbs, Aubert, Kistler, and DuMOL, to make wine from his vineyard. Larry planted the vineyard in the heart of Carneros in 1979, and in 2009 he decided to craft wine under his own label. Larry created this one from some of the best blocks in the vineyard, and this 2015 Estate Pinot is massive but delivers the regal elegance you’d expect from a top Pinot Noir producer. 
 
Larry and his team continually strive to produce the best wine possible from the Estate, and in doing so, they aren’t afraid to take risks. Much of his success resulted from Larry’s experimenting with new clones and planting methods. 
 
Hyde Vineyard benefits from cooling influences from the Pacific Ocean and the San Pablo Bay that funnel through the Coastal Mountain ranges and allow the grapes a long growing season. These geographical conditions keep Carneros cool enough to maintain acidity and structure in the grapes. If you want a mind-blowing Pinot Noir that drinks fantastic now and provides nearly endless delight, this is it.
 
LARRY HYDE
2015 PINOT NOIR
HYDE ESTATE VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $69.99
 
 
“Powerfully juicy and rich-tasting, with concentrated dried berry and dark cherry flavors that are backed by firm acidity and tannins. Cream and chocolate details show on the savory finish. Drink now through 2022…”
92 Points
 
“… intense and complex with deep aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, plum, spice and earthy notes. On the palate, it is rich and powerful capturing an elegant style while offering tiers of dark berry flavors and soft tannins.”
2018 Foley Johnson Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

2018 Foley Johnson Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

FOLEY JOHNSON 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 RUTHERFORD 

2018 Foley Johnson Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
Bill Foley is a titan in the wine industry, with around thirty successful brands, including Merus, Lancaster, Kuleto, and many others. Foley Johnson is paramount, and not only because it bears his name, but it’s in the heart of Rutherford, one of the top regions in America for growing premium Cabernet. Paragons Quintessa, BV, and Scarecrow all set precedence for quality there. The best will fuse elegance, complexity, and dusty tannins in a way that makes you want to enjoy them regularly, but with an average price of over $100, it can be tough to find one at a modest price. At under $40, Foley Johnson is one of the best values in the region. 
 
Reigning from Rutherford, an area long celebrated for its exceptional terroir and dusty tannins, this exemplary Cabernet Sauvignon shines with all of the Rutherford hallmarks I love. The 2018 release is compelling, focused, and packed with concentrated red and black fruits, wild violets, crushed rock, and, of course, beautiful Rutherford dust. 
 
The wine is made by Giovani Verdejo, who gained his experience working at Merus and assisting under Dave Lattin at Kuleto Estate. Gio aged the 2018 Cab for 18 months in a mix of French, American and Hungarian oak, and he completed the blend with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah.
 
FOLEY JOHNSON 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 RUTHERFORD 
Retails at: $75
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“Upon opening our 2018 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, aromas of black cherry and cassis fill the glass, followed by a hint of mocha. On the palate, bold tannins are balanced with concentrated flavors of ripe fig with savory notes of black olive and dried herbs. Well structured and full bodied, our Cabernet Sauvignon is approachable now, but will age beautifully over the next 5-10 years.”