2016 Matias Chardonnay Rosella's Vineyard

2016 Matias Chardonnay Rosella’s Vineyard

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtMontereySanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

MATIAS 

2016 CHARDONNAY
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD

2016 Matias Chardonnay Rosella's VineyardHow much would you expect to pay for a Chardonnay from one of the top vineyards in California? Chardonnays from Rosella’s Vineyard average around $50 per bottle, and producers like ROAR, Saxon Brown, and Loring all make Chardonnays from it. Matias perfectly articulates the vineyard’s best qualities, and at $55, the quality is ridiculously high. Of course, few other California Chardonnays can compete.  

Rosella’s vineyard was planted by Gary Franscioni, who’s one of California’s most distinguished growers, having also partnered in iconic sites like Pisoni, Garys’, Sierra Mar and Soberanes. Rosella’s vineyard sits on the Santa Lucia Mountain Range benchlands, and they chose it for its healthy maritime influenced climate and Arroyo Seco sandy loam soils. 
 
Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start working at Williams-Selyem authored this stunning California Chardonnay. The style is unabashedly Californian with super-rich, opulent flavors that span buttered pineapple, candied ginger, lemon meringue, and bright acidity.
 
MATIAS 
2016 CHARDONNAY
ROSELLA’S VINEYARD
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
 
 
“The 2016 Matias Rosella’s Chardonnay offers vivid aromas of green apples, sweet passionfruit, dried flowers and liquid minerals. The palate is full, rich and sultry with flavors of candied pineapple, exotic tropical fruits, key lime pie, butterscotch and sweet vanilla, without being heavy or flabby. These flavors and aromas combine to lead to a very long, balanced, mouth quenching finish.” 94 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 Works and Days Pinot Noir Hill Justice Vineyard Sonoma County

2016 Works and Days Pinot Noir Hill Justice Vineyard Sonoma County

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

WORKS AND DAYS

2016 PINOT NOIR
HILL JUSTICE VINEYARD
SONOMA COUNTY

2016 Works and Days Pinot Noir Hill Justice Vineyard Sonoma CountyI often hear about a winemaker’s hands-off approach to winemaking, but one of many things that struck me about Cabell Coursey’s winemaking is his hands-on approach. He believes that the more time spent in the vineyard directly results in better wine. He also picks early and ferments longer, which is a technique that he learned in Burgundy, and it creates balanced wines with fruit, acidity, and tannin. Once you taste it, I’m confident that it’s a wine that you’ll want to enjoy a lot more of in the future. 

Inspired by Burgundy, Cabell learned winemaking from the University of Burgundy in Dijon, France. Then he honed his skills in New Zealand and the Willamette Valley before working at iconic producers DuMOL and Kosta Browne.
 
The Hill Justice Vineyard is perched at 1100 feet on Sonoma Mountain, and the rocky, red-soils are rich in clay and produce exceptional quality fruit. The Swiss clonal selection is rare in California but thrives in the extreme environment. If you love Pinot Noir, you should try this beauty before its days are done.
 
WORKS AND DAYS
2016 PINOT NOIR
HILL JUSTICE VINEYARD
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
 
 
“Lavender aromatics accent a delicately built body that develops intensity as it opens. Asian spice, white pepper and toasted oak burnish on the palate before settling into a soft rounded finish of dark cherry.” 91 Points
2017 Mike and Molly Zinfandel R.W. Moore Vineyard

2017 Mike and Molly Zinfandel R.W. Moore Vineyard

with No Comment $30-$40CoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSAZinfandel

MIKE AND MOLLY

2017 ZINFANDEL
R.W. MOORE VINEYARD

2017 Mike and Molly Zinfandel R.W. Moore VineyardThe only thing deeper than the roots of the ancient vines in the 1905 planted R.W. Moore Vineyard, is the combined family ties in the Napa Valley wine industry of Mike & Molly Hendry. Mike’s grandparents purchased 120 acres at the base of Mount Veeder in the 1930s, where the Hendry Winery sits today, and Molly grew up visiting her uncle Bill at his R.W. Moore Vineyard, which Turley and Biale fans recognize. 

The historic R.W. Moore Vineyard is located in Napa Valley’s highly acclaimed Coombsville region and is an entirely dry-farmed vineyard, where winter rains are the sole source of irrigation. The vines are a field blend of approximately 95% Zinfandel intermixed with Petite Sirah, Carignane, Mourvedre, and Mourtaou. 
 
The wine team made the 2017 vintage in a richly elegant, enchanting style that envelopes your palate in plush dark fruits, satiny tannins, and compelling spice notes. At $36, this Old Vine Zinfandel is an absolute joy.
 
MIKE AND MOLLY
2017 ZINFANDEL
R.W. MOORE VINEYARD
Retails at: $40
 
 
 
 
“This graceful wine is aged in French oak, one-third of it new. Brambly, rich red fruit remains lifted and structured on the palate, alongside a grip of baking spice, black pepper and leather.” 91 Points
 
 
 
“A blend of 95% Zinfandel and 1% each of Petite Sirah, Carignan and Mourvèdre as well as 2% of the rare Cabernet Pfeffer. In some years it shows red fruits like raspberry and cherry; in others, dark fruits like black cherries and blackberries. The vines are dry-farmed, giving small, peppery, intense berries. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028” 91 Points
2016 Pavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2016 Pavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleRutherfordSpring MountainUSA

PAVI

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY 

2016 Pavi Cabernet Sauvignon Napa ValleyPavi means lightning, and their new 2016 Napa Cabernet precisely reflects that. The 2016 vintage has a regal presence on the palate that’s defined by lush fruit and superior richness. Renown winemaker Rob Lawson owns the winery, and throughout his career, Rob helped craft some of the top brands produced at Napa Wine Company while he was GM. He’s also responsible for helping shape the 2007 Kapcscandy Grand Vin, which scored a perfect 100 point score from Robert Parker.   

Pavi’s 2016 release combines high-quality grapes from Rutherford, Oakville, and Spring Mountain AVAs. The Rutherford vineyard is on the Southeastern end of the AVA, just South of Caymus, and the Oakville fruit comes from the center of Oakville.
 
The final blend is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon along with 3% Petite Verdot, which contributes to the lush, dark fruit. The only downside is there were only 150 cases of this beauty produced, and at this price, you might want to strike quickly…
 
PAVI
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $85
 
 
“This is a lush, full-bodied wine, rich and bright with dark-fruit flavors and floral aromas. The intense flavors of black cherry, peppery spice, and cocoa come together in a balanced wine that is a perfect complement to savory grilled and braised meats, mushroom pizza and the perfect hamburger”
2019 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley

2019 Pop 300 Rose Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaOakvilleRoséUSA

POP 300

2019 ROSÉ
NAPA VALLEY

2019 Pop 300 Rose Napa ValleyFor wine lovers, being in-the-know can sometimes result in finding a wine that so overperforms that you’ll feel like you stole something when you try it. POP 300’s Rosé hands you all of that on a silver platter, and here’s why… Many wine lovers would argue that To Kalon in Oakville is the most celebrated vineyard in California. A little known secret is that there’s a tiny block of Pinot Noir in the center of this magical vineyard, and it’s called Wilsey-To Kalon. There, location combined with being connected yields some incredible fruit, and POP 300 Rosé has my vote for being in the Lucky Land Club.

Oakville produces some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world, but very few people would consider that Pinot Noir even exits in the region. This genuinely unique Rosé of Pinot Noir is made by Luke Russ, whose day job is the Commercial Director at O’Shaughnessy Winery.
 
Luke made the 2019 vintage in a brightly focused style, with vivid red cherry, mineral-infused raspberry, pink grapefruit, and spring flowers. This beauty is one of the most scarce Rosés that we watch for each year, and there’s never enough to match demand.
 
POP 300
2019 ROSÉ
NAPA VALLEY
 
 
 
“This release of the 2019 vintage of POP 300’s Rosé just happens to coincide with the ripening of many different fruits from our orchard, and it reminds me of quite a few of them. The nose begins with white peach, yellow plum, ripe raspberries and white flowers. The palate is deep and supple with flavors including ripe peach, Asian pear, honeydew melon along with a saline/mineral quality. The rich mouthfeel is beautifully balanced with bright acidity. This is an absolutely wonderful warm weather wine.” 91 Points
2015 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

2015 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

BERINGER

2015 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

2015 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private ReserveAs much as I love tasting and discovering new, and as-of-yet undiscovered wine producers, there’s nothing like the feeling of historic significance, pride and antiquity that I get from tasting a wine that helped pave the way for Napa to become one of the greatest wine regions of the world. Beringer’s flagship Private Reserve Cabernet hasn’t skipped a beat either, and their 2015 ranked as the #24 Wine-Of-The-Year on James Sucklings Top 100 in 2018 with an outstanding 99 Point score. Here’s a chance to own it, and at a fantastic price… 

Beringer is one of Napa Valley’s most historically significant wineries. Period. After all, they’re California’s oldest continually operating winery, and they’re the only winery in history to have both a red and white wine honored as the #1 wine on the Wine Spectator Top 100. 
 
The 2015 Private Reserve was built on a core of 62% fruit from Bancroft and Steinhauer Ranches atop Howell Mountain, which provided enormous structure and richness. Made even better with fruit from the iron-rich Home and Chabot Vineyards in St. Helena and topped with fruit from Spring Mountain and Mount Veeder to round out the stunningly complex blend…
 
BERINGER
2015 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $170
 
Your Price: $135
 
 
“The spice and walnut aromas are so enticing. Undertones of blackberries and black truffles. Full-bodied, dense and layered with fantastic tension and seamless tannins. It goes on for minutes. All about classic structure and beauty.”  99 Points, Top 100 Wines of 2018
 
 
“…This full-bodied, ripe, voluptuous beauty shows the vintage to a T, offering a blast of sweet blackcurrants, licorice, ground herbs, and graphite aromas and flavors. Blockbuster styled, with full body and an expansive, sexy texture, it has the depth and density to continue drinking brilliantly for 20+ years.” 97 Points
 
“… the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of plum preserves, baked blackberries and cassis with hints of menthol, sandalwood and chocolate box. Full-bodied with soft, seductive tannins and a lively backbone supporting the generous, ripe, opulent fruit, it has a decadent spiciness and great length.” 95+ Points
2018 Morgan G-17 Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands

2018 Morgan G-17 Syrah Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMontereySanta Lucia HighlandsSyrahUSA

MORGAN 

2018 G-17 SYRAH
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

2018 Morgan G-17 Syrah Santa Lucia HighlandsMorgan is one Santa Lucia Highlands’ top producers, and they’ve been around for nearly 40 vintages crafting varietally sound, high-scoring wines that offer stupendous value. Winemaker Dan Lee was San Francisco Chronicle’s Winemaker-of-the-Year in 2003, and his wines continually delight. His new 2018 G-17 Syrah has already earned dual 94 point scores, and at $24, the level of value is nearly untouchable.  

The G-17 Syrah masterfully intertwines fruit from Paraiso, Double L, Tondré, Griva, and Ventana Vineyards into a picture-perfect rendition of cool-climate California Syrah with supple bacon-infused dark fruits, black pepper, and polished tannins. 
 
The 2018 vintage beautifully projects the 94% Syrah and is brightened with 3% Grenache along with 3% Tempranillo. On the palate, the wine offers the perfect amount of lush dark fruits and intriguing smoked meats and spices. At $24, one case won’t be enough. 
 
MORGAN 
2018 G-17 SYRAH

SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

 
Your Price: $24
 
 
Lively aromas of black raspberry jam on French toast, dark hibiscus, tar and lavender show on the cool-climate nose of this bottling, which includes 3% each of Grenache and Tempranillo. The palate is vibrant with flavors of pepper, lavender and lilac, set against the richer black-raspberry and black-plum backdrop.” 94 Points
 
 
“Deep, lush garnet color with rich fruit nose; silky, lush and juicy with blackberry fruit and toasty oak; spice and good balance; if every Syrah was made with such finesse and style, it would be the most popular varietal.” 94 Points
2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet FrancKevin VogtMerlotNapaProprietary RedUSA

LATERAL 

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Lateral Proprietary Red Napa ValleyLateral is a wine inspired by the Bordeaux region of St. Emilion and influenced by the interplay and tension created between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Proprietor Marty Mathis, whom you might recognize from his super high-scoring Kathryn Kennedy wines, decided to showcase how each of these iconic grapes can harmonize to compliment yet contrast each other way that’s different from other Bordeaux style blends, and the results simply have to be tasted.  

 
Lateral’s 2016 vintage slants towards cooler-climate, expressive vineyards, primarily located in the Southern portion of Napa Valley. On the palate, it’s a highly detailed wine with spiced red fruits, wild mint, rock minerals, rose and cocoa dusted plum. 
 
A stunning example of just how inspiring Right Bank influenced blends from Napa Valley can be, Marty loves to showcase the lush textures and richness of Merlot entirely opposing the aromatic qualities and structure of Cabernet Franc.  At under $40, you might grab a case quickly, before this deal goes sideways.
 
LATERAL 
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
 
“Very deep dark royal purple color. Classic Bordeaux style nose with tobacco leaf herb notes and dark brooding black berry aromas plus hints of cherry cream candies. Ideal amounts of subtle creamy oak barrel influences. Soft ripe plums, vanilla cream and loamy earth notes are complex and very inviting. Fresh but rich in the mouth (like so many wines of 2016), lithe and elegant mouth-feel leads to cranberry, minerals and dark cocoa flavors. Tannins are still youthful and acid balance portends well for cellar development; This is a bigger style of LATERAL to be en- joyed now and over a longer period of years”  67% Merlot | Cabernet Franc 33%
2018 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley

2018 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

LIMERICK LANE

2018 ZINFANDEL
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley

 
When a winery employs the right combination of talent and drive, the sky is the limit… Limerick Lane is owned by fourth-generation winemaker Jake Bilbro who grew up at his father’s Marietta Cellars, where he spent 16 years running the winery with his dad. The wines are made by Chris Pittenger, who gained first-hand experience working at iconic wineries Biale, Torbreck, Marcassin, and Williams-Selyem. The delicious result is in each bottle of this impressive 95 Point Russian River Zinfandel.
 
Limerick Lane’s Russian River Zinfandel at the core is a field blend, which includes ancient Zinfandel vines interplanted with other rare varieties like Pelousin and Negrette. The fruit is co-fermented and offers unparalleled power, depth, and stunning definition.  
 
The 2018 was built around a base of Estate fruit and includes grapes from Sodini, which Bedrock and Carlisle fans might recognize. The vintage also perfectly balances fruit from Webber, Katz-Ponzo & Banfield Vineyards. The result is a brilliant wine that Zinfandel fans will be rejoicing over for years to come.
 
LIMERICK LANE
2018 ZINFANDEL
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $39.99
Click to Order
 
 
 
“The 2018 Zinfandel Russian River Estate shows the quality of the vintage beautifully. Classic black and blue fruits, violets, peppery herbs, and spiced orange zest notes all emerge from the glass, and this puppy hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, no hard edges, a seamless texture, and just everything in the right places. Flawlessly balanced and already a joy to drink, it’s going to keep for 10-12 years in cold cellars.” 95 Points
2018 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

2018 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

RAEN

2018 PINOT NOIR 
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST

2018 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

After tasting Carlo & Dante Mondavi’s new Pinot, it became abundantly clear that their family’s intense passion for the wine industry and talent for identifying vineyards capable of producing world-class wine passed to them. After all, they grew up at their grandfather’s OPUS ONE Winery, and honed their skills further at their father’s cult brand Continuum, before going out on their own. The 96 Point 2018 Raen Pinot Noir is the result of the culmination of their upbringing, cultivated by their father and grandfather. 
 
Raen’s 2018 Royal St Robert Cuvee combines fruit from Freestone, Occidental, Bodega, and Fort Ross Seaview Sea Field Vineyards. It is a barrel selection that they handpicked from their finest barrels, to create a textbook cool-climate Pinot with brilliant definition, balance and fruit. 
 
At the winery, they utilized 100% whole cluster fermentation for added structure and depth, and on the palate, the wine is detailed, focused, and loaded with intense red fruits, minerals, and floral-infused herbs. At $60, you should try it.
 
RAEN
2018 PINOT NOIR 
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99
Click to Order
 
 
 
“Intense aromas of dried strawberry with stone and mineral undertones. Medium to full body with tight, firm tannins and beautiful length and depth. This needs three or four years to come together”  96 Points