2022 Two Old Dogs Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll Napa Valley

2022 Two Old Dogs Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaOak KnollSauvignon BlancUSA

TWO OLD DOGS

SAUVIGNON BLANC
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT
NAPA VALLEY 2022

2022 Two Old Dogs Sauvignon Blanc Oak Knoll Napa Valley
Major League teammates Chris Iannetta and Vernon Wells founded JACK Wines in 2012 over their passion for sharing wines with friends and family. Their success in the brand led them to expand their portfolio with Two Old Dogs and another partnership with highly respected vintner Jennifer Lamb.
 
Critically acclaimed winemaker Julien Fayard joined the team, bringing first-hand experience working in Bordeaux at Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. Julien relocated to Napa Valley, where he took the position of Philippe Melka’s director of winemaking and, today, focuses on his projects and is one of Napa Valley’s most sought-after winemakers. 
 
The Two Old Dogs 2022 Sauvignon Blanc comes from Oak Knoll District and was vinified in stainless steel to retain fruit purity and freshness that complement summertime’s leisurely atmosphere.
 
TWO OLD DOGS
SAUVIGNON BLANC
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT
NAPA VALLEY 2022
 
 
 
“The Two Old Dogs 2022 Oak Knoll Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and opulent with notes of fresh-cut grass, bay leaf, elderflower, gooseberry, and passion fruit. On the palate, the wine has flavors of zesty grapefruit, green guava, and mineral undertones with lively acidity and a clean, focused finish. This wine’s crisp, bright personality makes an excellent poolside or beachfront companion and pairs with many types of dishes, making it an easy choice for the summer and into the fall.”
95 Points
2019 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain

2019 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtMerlotNapaSpring MountainUSA

PALOMA

MERLOT 2019
SPRING MOUNTAIN

2019 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain
Paloma Vineyard was founded in 1983 by Jim and Barbara Richards after receiving a call from Dan Duckhorn, who knew the couple was searching for the perfect place to cultivate vines. Jim and Barbara spent the next 25 years planting primarily Bordeaux varietals and building what would later become one of Napa’s most celebrated Merlot Vineyards. In 2003, their 2001 vintage Merlot ranked #1 on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list, marking the first-ever domestic Merlot to earn that honor. 
 
Barbara’s devotion to the vines was particularly notable, having once claimed, “I can name all 7,500 of my children.” Jim and Barbara’s son, Sheldon, joined the team in 2003, spending the next several years learning the intricacies of viticulture and winemaking techniques from his parents. 
 
Paloma Merlot typically incorporates roughly 15% Cabernet Sauvignon to provide more structure to the final wine. The 2019 vintage was fermented and aged in French oak, then bottle-aged for 30 months before its release, promoting a refined integration of flavors, aromas, and supple tannins.
 
PALOMA
MERLOT 2019
SPRING MOUNTAIN
 
 
 
“The Paloma Spring Mountain Merlot 2019 begins with a fragrant nose of boysenberry jam, black plums, anise, French lavender, violets, and sweet vanilla. The palate continues with blackberry compote, concentrated black currants, Kalamata olives, baker’s chocolate, and licorice. This is a very dense, compact wine with amazingly concentrated, complex fruit interwoven with firm tannins that will allow it to age for well over a decade. As great as this wine is now, it will only improve over the next several years. I’ve enjoyed this wine over the decades, and this is the best vintage I can ever remember tasting.”
95 Points
2020 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Superiore Aia Vecchia Winery

2020 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Superiore Aia Vecchia Winery

with No Comment $40-$50ItalyKevin VogtProprietary RedTuscany

SOR UGO

SUPER TUSCAN 2020
BOLGHERI SUPERIORE
AIA VECCHIA WINERY

2020 Sor Ugo Super Tuscan Bolgheri Superiore Aia Vecchia Winery
The Pellegrini family members have been prominent growers in Tuscany for several generations, selling their fruit to other wineries, and after replanting their vineyards in 1995, they established their portfolio of small-lot Super Tuscan blends focusing on Bordeaux grape varieties. The Aia Vecchia estate, named after an ancient building standing in the center of the property, is located near the Tyrrhenian coast with a favorable microclimate combined with ideal soils for producing stunning wines. 
 
The Bolgheri DOC, home to Italian legends Ornellaia, Sassicaia, and Tignanello, was established in 1994 but previously gained recognition under the Super Tuscan monikerbecause producers in the region were defying the Italian wine laws by incorporating international varieties, particularly those from Bordeaux. 
 
The Aia Vecchia 2020 Sor Ugo is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in barriques, plus another six months in the bottle, resulting in a richly layered, powerful red with stunning complexity.
 
SOR UGO
SUPER TUSCAN 2020
BOLGHERI SUPERIORE
AIA VECCHIA WINERY
 
 
 
“The 2020 Sor Ugo is packed with blackberry, cloves, leather, menthol, licorice and chocolate. Rich and resonant in the glass, with tons of energy, Sor Ugo has plenty to offer. The substantial, expansive finish is especially of note. I would prefer to drink this over the next decade or so.”
93 Points
2022 Admire By Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2022 Admire By Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

ADMIRE

BY DAN KOSTA
PINOT NOIR 2022
SONOMA COAST

2022 Admire By Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Dan Kosta is a pioneer of domestic Pinot Noir, having co-founded Kosta Browne Winery with Michael Browne in 1997 and consistently producing award-winning wines, including Wine Spectator’s number-one wine in 2011. His passion for wine began in his early childhood growing up in Sonoma, surrounded by some of California’s finest vineyards and watching the evolution within the industry.
 
Admire is Dan’s newest Pinot Noir project, announced earlier this year, naming it after his admiration for the variety and paying tribute to producers that came before him and helped shape his vision. 
 
The 2022 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is the inaugural release that celebrates the rugged coast Dan calls home and gives the same excellent qualities Dan’s wines are known for at a much lower price point.
 
ADMIRE
BY DAN KOSTA
PINOT NOIR 2022
SONOMA COAST
 
 
 
“The Admire Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2022 begins with a deep, rich nose that includes red and black fruits, cola beans, baking spices, fresh herbs, and purple flowers. It continues on the palate with sweet black cherries, cranberries, and ripe red plums wrapped in soft, supple tannins that carry it to a long, elegant finish. These qualities allow it to be enjoyed immediately. Kudos to Dan Kosta and crew for making this high-quality easy-drinking Pinot Noir, then pricing it to be enjoyed much more regularly than its more expensive brethren.”
94 Points
2018 Top Source Red Blend Columbia Valley

2018 Top Source Red Blend Columbia Valley

with No Comment $30 and underColumbia ValleyGrenacheKevin VogtProprietary RedSyrahUSAWashington State

TOP SOURCE

RED BLEND 2018
COLUMBIA VALLEY

2018 Top Source Red Blend Columbia Valley
Meredith Hyslop is a Walla Walla native who graduated from the Walla Walla Wine Institute in 2007 before moving to Dijon, France, to complete a Master’s program in International Wine business. After her studies, Meredith moved to the Languedoc-Roussillon in Southern France, where she spent 12 years working in the wine industry and found many significant similarities to the climate of her home in Eastern Washington.
 
Realizing that Syrah and Grenache thrive in Columbia Valley’s volcanic soils and high diurnal range, Meredith founded Top Source to showcase Rhône-style blends from the AVA’s idyllic conditions and terroir. 
 
Meredith hand-selected three organically farmed sites for her 2018 Red Wine, blended at bottled at her partner’s winery, Cayuse Vineyards, one of Washington State’s most iconic producers. The Blend combines 70% Syrah with 30% Grenache, aged in neutral oak, highlighting the region’s fruit and world-class growing conditions.
 
TOP SOURCE
RED BLEND 2018
COLUMBIA VALLEY
Retails at: $30
 
 
 
“The 2018 Red Wine Columbia Valley combines Syrah (70%) with Grenache (30%). The palate is wonderfully stony with bright red fruits that mingle with orange rind, umami and pretty pomegranate seed flavors. The salty accents really make this sing.”
93 Points
2021 Standard Deviation Grenache Bennett Valley

2021 Standard Deviation Grenache Bennett Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Bennett ValleyGrenacheKevin VogtSonomaUSA

STANDARD DEVIATION 

GRENACHE 2021
BENNETT VALLEY

2021 Standard Deviation Grenache Bennett Valley
Standard Deviation is the culmination of two great minds in the wine industry with dreams to create high-quality, micro-production wines at an everyday budget. Winemaker Justin Harmon and Vintner Josh Peeples bring Standard Deviation from exceptional terroir in Bennet Valley. Justin is known for his Argot wines, while Josh owns Elyse Winery and has made wine since 2002. He previously co-founded a start-up order management software company for the beverage industry in the late 1990s.
 
Grenache grapes are widely grown worldwide and used to produce single-varietal wines and blends, particularly notable in the wines of the Rhône Valley. Bennet Valley in Sonoma County provides an ideal growing environment for Grenache with a cool climate that lengthens the grapes’ hang time, promoting deep flavor development. The exemplary 2021 vintage produced lower yields, further concentrating flavors and aromas, resulting in a remarkably pure, fresh, complex wine.
 
STANDARD DEVIATION 
GRENACHE 2021
BENNETT VALLEY
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The Standard Deviation 2021 Grenache from Bennet Valley opens with fresh lavender, rosemary, bright red fruits, white pepper, and an earthy minerality. On the palate, the wine has concentrated flavors of bing cherry, strawberry, cranberry, savory spice, and blackberry compote. The wine has a silky texture and fresh acidity that perfectly complements the fruit flavors and delivers a delicious finish.”
94 Points
2020 Jayson by Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2020 Jayson by Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

JAYSON BY PAHLMEYER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2020

2020 Jayson by Pahlmeyer Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Jason Pahlmeyer was drawn to the rugged terroir of Atlas Peak over 35 years ago to grow grapes with the intense concentration and soulful structure that comes from mountain-grown fruit. His wines became an instant success, and over the years, Pahlmeyer Winery has attracted some of California’s most accomplished winemakers, beginning with Randy Dunn in the inaugural 1986 vintage, followed by Bob Levy of Harlan Estate and Helen Turley, with Katie Vogt taking the reins in 2019.
 
Notably, in the 2020 vintage, the small crop of estate Cabernet Sauvignon typically intended for their flagship wine, Pahlmeyer Red ($240 retail), went into this year’s Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon. Due to the limited yield, winemaker Katie Vogt decided not to produce Pahlmeyer Red and, instead, create a wine with exceptional character and undeniable prestige for a fraction of the price.
 
JAYSON BY PAHLMEYER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2020
 
 
 
“Aromas of blackcurrant, sliced plum, coriander and cardamom. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Nicely concentrated, without being overblown. Sweet spice and black fruit wash over the palate, with some black-tea notes coming through as well. I like the subtlety here. Drink or hold.”
93 Points
2021 Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

SILVER GHOST 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2021

2021 Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Proprietor and winemaker of Silver Ghost, Weston Eidson, attended graduate school in the UK, leading him to discover some of Europe’s most extraordinary wine-growing regions and inspiring his journey into wine. Weston also explored South Africa and Chile before landing in Napa Valley, where he met Jason Moore of Modus Operandi and learned valuable skills working the 2012 harvest. He’s since learned from his mentor, Russell Bevan.
 
Weston’s great-grandfather John Montagu was an automobile pioneer with connections to Charles Rolls and Henry Royce. Silver Ghost pays homage to his favorite vehicle, the 1909 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, and like the classic car, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant red wine displays nuanced characteristics and authenticity from a dedicated winemaking team and fruit from Napa’s finest vineyards.
 
The 2021 release is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced with Merlot, and Petite Verdot, aged 22 months in French oak barrels, resulting in a supple and powerful Cabernet that’s not only ready-to-drink now but will continue to develop additional complexity with age.
 
SILVER GHOST 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2021
Retails at: $45
 
 
 
Ripe, dark-fruited character with vanilla, licorice, walnuts and moist earth. Medium- to full-bodied with supple tannins. Juicy and sleek with a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”
92 Points
2018 Taupenot-Merme Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru Red Burgundy

2018 Taupenot-Merme Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru Red Burgundy

with No Comment $100 and overBurgandyFranceKevin VogtRed Burgandy

TAUPENOT-MERME

CHARMES CHAMBERTIN 2018
GRAND CRU RED BURGUNDY

2018 Taupenot-Merme Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru Red Burgundy
Romain Taupenot descends from a long line of vignerons dating back to the 17th century. Today, he produces nineteen different wines across seventeen appellations in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, with a significant portion of fruit sourced from Premier Cru and Grand Cru sites. Old vines represent most of Domaine Taupenot-Merme’s holdings, with new plantings propagated from cuttings from each site’s best vines. 
 
The prestigious village of Gevrey-Chambertin produces some of the world’s most famous and sought-after wines, and the 68-acre Charmes-Chambertin vineyard was officially granted Grand Cru status in 1937.
 
Romain considers himself a hands-off winemaker as he prioritizes his work in the vineyard and uses minimalistic approaches in the cellar. The fruit for the 2018 Charmes-Chambertin was hand-harvested, de-stemmed, and cold-soaked before fermentation in stainless steel, then aged in French oak. The wine shows beautifully now and will gain ethereal complexity from extended aging time in the bottle.
 
TAUPENOT-MERME
CHARMES CHAMBERTIN 2018
GRAND CRU RED BURGUNDY
Retails at: $345
 
 
 
“The 2018 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru has a seductive, plush nose laden with pure red cherries, cranberry and wild strawberry fruit. Nicely integrated new oak, quite luxurious in style. The palate is well balanced with fine tannins, crisp acidity (perhaps acidified?) With just a little shrillness towards the finish. It does improve with aeration and develops a pleasing harmony. Tasted blind…”
93 Points
2019 Saracina Old Soul Red Mendocino County

2019 Saracina Old Soul Red Mendocino County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMendocinoMendocino RidgeProprietary RedUSA

SARACINA

OLD SOUL RED
MENDOCINO COUNTY 2019

2019 Saracina Old Soul Red Mendocino County
Saracina Vineyards thrives at the southern end of Mendocino County along the foothills of the Mayacamas range and the headwaters of the Russian River, in an area that prizes sustainable viticulture. Mendocino has the most significant percentage of certified organic grape growers, and most producers are less interested in building extravagant tasting rooms, focusing instead on naturally crafting exceptional wines that express the region’s identity.
 
Saracina was founded in 2001, and in 2018, the Taub family purchased the property and took over as proud stewards of the vineyards. Their team studies the differences in each microclimate with extensive soil analysis and rootstock matching to ensure each vine planted thrives to the fullest extent. 
 
The Old Soul red is a field blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, and Malbec that changes slightly with each vintage to give the best expression of the growing season. The 2019 vintage was aged in a combination of American and French oak with only 10% new barrels allowing a gentle integration of flavor complexity while retaining a sense of place.
 
SARACINA
OLD SOUL RED
MENDOCINO COUNTY 2019
 
 
 
“This is a rich, full-bodied red blend. Integrated aromas and flavors of boysenberry, marionberry, black and red plum, bramble, chocolate, vanilla, toasted oak and anise greet the nose and palate. Ripe, plush tannins coat the mouth and are well-matched by the ripe nature of the fruits. Acidity adds a line of freshness right down the center.”
93 Points