2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT

2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT

with No Comment $40-$50ItalyKevin VogtNapaProprietary Red

CAVALLI

TENUTA DEGLI DEI
TOSCANA IGT 2018

2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT
The Cavalli family has been crafting fine wines in Tuscany since the 1970s. Their Tenuta Degli Dei estate is located near Panzano in Chianti, a region known for its rich marl soils and sunny southern exposure. Tommaso Cavalli, the current winemaker, is committed to sustainable farming practices and works with his father, Roberto, to produce wines that are both delicious and environmentally friendly.
 
The 2018 Cavalli is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It is a full-bodied wine with a dense, robust structure and an underlying elegance. Antonio Galloni describes it as “wonderfully inviting…with exceptional balance and tons of character.” The wine will age gracefully, but it is also enjoyable to drink now. 
 
CAVALLI
TENUTA DEGLI DEI
TOSCANA IGT 2018
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The 2018 Tenuta Degli Dei is dense, juicy and wonderfully inviting. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. In the glass, the 2018 is intensely aromatic and layered, with exceptional balance and tons of character. Here, too, the wine’s overall sense of harmony can only be described as exquisite.”
96 Points
2020 Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

2020 Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

MORGAN

TWELVE CLONES
PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

2020 Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
Dan and Donna Lee opened Morgan Winery in 1982, winning Gold and Platinum Medals at the Los Angeles County Fair, from Wine & Spirits Magazine in 1996, and from the San Francisco Chronicle in 2003. These awards helped to establish Morgan Winery as one of the Central Coast’s most recognized labels.
 
The winery’s flagship wine is the Twelve Clones Pinot Noir. This wine pays homage to the numerous clones of Pinot Noir that give it its layers of complex flavors and aromas. The fruit for the 2020 vintage comes from some of Santa Lucia Highlands’ best vineyards, including Morgan’s organically farmed Double L Vineyard, and was whole berry fermented, matured for nine months in French oak, and is a splendid example of the region’s best traits.
 
MORGAN
TWELVE CLONES
PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at: $38
 
 
 
“Dark plum and purple-flower aromas show on the nose of this clonal combination. The bold palate is hearty and rich with flavors of black raspberry, blood-orange rind and crushed graphite, offering immense, impressive depth.”
94 Points
2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

ECO TERRENO

CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018

2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Eco Terreno combines Mark Lyon’s relentless drive for sustainability with his remarkable winemaking skills and vast experience gained after spending nearly four decades as lead winemaker at Sebastiani Vineyards. Mark knows that delicious wines begin with healthy vines, and his biodynamically farmed vineyards provide him with the ingredients to craft exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
We discovered this wine last Fall around the time we started asking if there were any more exceptional domestic Cabernets under $30. When it hit our glass, the wine decisively revealed beautifully concentrated, pure, and complex Alexander Valley fruit, perfectly polished and balanced. We selected it as one of the top-ten value wines under $40 last year, and the wine continues to put a smile on my face every time I try it. 
 
ECO TERRENO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $32
 
 
 
“The 2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley opens with wild strawberries, black plum, gingerbread, and coffee grounds. The baking spice notes in the wine beautifully combine with the fruit aspects to create an ideal balance with flavors of supple fruits, nutmeg, and dried herbs. The bright acidity gives the wine an exciting brevity that carries into a long pleasant finish and leaves a smile on your face.”
96 Points
2021 Apsara Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

2021 Apsara Chardonnay Petaluma Gap

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtPetaluma GapSonomaUSA

APSARA

CHARDONNAY 2021
PETALUMA GAP

2021 Apsara Chardonnay Petaluma Gap
“Apsara” is a Sanskrit word that translates to an angelic dancer with balance, purity, and expression and accurately describes each of Apsara Cellars’ exquisite wines, vinified with precision by co-founder Robin Akhurst. Robin and Aneeta met over 20 years ago, studying biology and environmental science in Indonesia. Their travels piqued their interest in preserving the ecosystem with organic, biodynamic, and sustainable vineyard and winery practices.
 
Robin obtained his degree in Enology and spent the next four years working alongside some of the world’s top winemakers, including Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, Two Hands Wines in the Barossa Valley, as well as Schrader, Outpost Cellars, Myriad, and Carter Cellars in the Napa Valley. Robin sourced his 2021 Chardonnay from the Petaluma Gap in Sonoma County, then matured it in French oak barrels. The resulting wine is a refreshing, light-natured, beautifully aromatic, and layered Chardonnay with delectable flavors. 
 
APSARA
CHARDONNAY 2021
PETALUMA GAP
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Apsara 2021 Petaluma Gap Chardonnay opens with elegant aromas of acacia and honeysuckle blossoms, fresh Meyer lemon, golden apple, croissant, and crushed rocks. On the palate, the wine has flavors of apricot, lemon custard, cream, and a hint of vanilla. The bright acidity carries through to the finish, and the moderate to low alcohol level allows this wine to be enjoyed independently.”
96 Points
2022 AXR Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

2022 AXR Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaSauvignon BlancUSA

AXR

SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA VALLEY 2022 

2022 AXR Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
AXR’s estate is a historic property founded over 130 years ago that has been a brewery, restaurant, inn, saloon, and winery with the first woman vintner in California in 1886. The property sits at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains with layers of sedimentary soils formed from eons of rainwater runoff, giving a distinct character and range of depth.
 
Winemaker and part-owner Jean Hoefliger was born in Switzerland and gained initial experience making wine in Bordeaux, working for Château Lynch-Bages and Château Carbonnieux, and later in South Africa at Meerlust. AXR’s 2022 Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in three different vessels, 70% in barrel, 18% in stainless steel, and 12% in concrete eggs, before five months of maturation in 20% new French oak, giving a white Bordeaux-style and mouthfeel with expressive Napa Valley fruit. 
 
AXR
SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA VALLEY 2022 
 
 
 
“A bright and vivid white with so much energy and brightness with lime, mango and sliced green pineapple. Tangy, crunchy, and crisp. Drink now.”
91 Points
2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaRutherfordSaint HelenaUSA

HEIR APPARENT

RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Grand Napa Winery in Rutherford produces Heir Apparent wines, and winemaker Dwight Bonewell’s expert blending skills and access to exceptional vineyards paired beautifully with another outstanding vintage. Dwight crafts his Reserve Cabernet from a rigorous selection of high-quality sites in Rutherford, St Helena, and Calistoga, resulting in a multi-faceted wine embodying Napa Valley’s distinctive personality.
 
The 2019 growing season saw few challenges and a mild autumn, giving the grapes a long hang-time resulting in exceptional flavor development while retaining acidity. This particular vintage is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc added to accent the mid-palate and maintain balance, just like many of the great wines of Bordeaux.
 
HEIR APPARENT
RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“Aromas of raspberries, sour cherries, kirsch, lemon zest and sweet spices. It’s full-bodied with sleek tannins framing a juicy, sweetly fruited core. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2019 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

BUCCELLA

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Buccella is Latin for ‘mouthful’ and accurately depicts the winery’s bold style of Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from small, diverse, premium quality vineyards in Napa Valley. Meticulous farming, elite clonal selection, and minuscule yields are critical factors in maintaining this quality level. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon provides layers of complexity, depth, and balance between concentrated flavors and structure, promising several years of enjoyability.
 
Buccella winemaker Landon Donley gained experience interning for Australian powerhouse Mollydooker before joining Spottswoode Estate as the assistant winemaker. At Spottswoode, he learned to craft wines worthy of 100 Point scores, and everything he gleaned there translates into each spectacular glass of Bucella.
 
BUCCELLA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
 
 
 
“The inky-hued 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is surprisingly structured and powerful, with a big nose of cassis, chocolaty oak, scorched earth, and graphite. Where many 2019s are plush and opulent, this has a solid core of tannins that keeps it focused and elegant, with wonderful purity of fruit. I like it. It certainly offers pleasure today, yet smart money will give these 4-5 years in the cellar, and I suspect it will see its 20th birthday in fine form.”
95+ Points
2019 Mantanzas Creek Merlot Alexander Valley

2019 Mantanzas Creek Merlot Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

MATANZAS CREEK

MERLOT 2019
ALEXANDER VALLEY

2019 Mantanzas Creek Merlot Alexander Valley
The owners of Matanzas Creek launched operations in 1977 and built a reputation on sustainably farmed grapes and a beautiful lavender field, providing a haven for pollinators and promoting biodiversity. The winery is certified under the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and was one of the first wineries to bear the Certified California Sustainable logo on the label with the 2017 release.
 
The Merlot growing in Alexander Valley near the Mayacamas Mountains takes on a robust character due to the limited availability of water and the diverse soil composition. The grapes have a distinct power balanced by finesse, and the 2019 vintage is a fine example of the region’s terroir and the superior quality that Matanzas Creek is known for.
 
Professionally reviewed back in August 2022, this wine recently wowed our panel with focused, concentrated fruit, graphite, cocoa, inky blackberry, and fine tannins. 
 
MATANZAS CREEK
MERLOT 2019
ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“The 2019 Merlot Alexander Valley is fleshy with aromas of cocoa, blackberry, and fresh turned soil, and its palate is supple in texture, with fine tannins and notes of red plum, red flowers, and cocoa. This red is perfect for youthful drinking over the next few years.” Tasted in August of 2022.
89 Points
2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BLACK PINE

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Roger Roessler spent more than four decades in the restaurant business, and through the years, he naturally found his true passion in life: wine. Roger’s Black Pine Pinot Noir encompasses dedication and a love for the varietal at an affordable price without compromising quality. 
 
This Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir comes from hand-selected sites blended to bring a consistent wine, vintage to vintage, and showcases the talents of the winery’s grower partnerships. The 2021 release has a silky, smooth texture with bright fruit and spice and over-delivers for a wine in this price range.
 
BLACK PINE
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021
Retails at: $38
 
 
 
“The Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 begins with a nose of bright pomegranate, dried cranberries, cola bean, cardamom spice, and fresh violets. The concentrated, ripe palate continues with tart/sweet cherry juice and powerful intensity, projecting baking spices, fresh florals, and a silky smooth mouthfeel. These textures, flavors and aromas build to a long, supple, rich finish.”
93 Points
2019 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaOakvilleRutherfordUSA

CROZE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Croze Fine Wines produced its first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1998, built on a philosophy of elegance and balance, and 2019 marks its 20th year of production. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon combines grapes from Rutherford, Howell Mountain, and Oakville AVAs, including Oakville’s Money Ranch Road Vineyard, which became famous when it was the source of Napa’s first 100 Point wine.
 
Croze’s winemaker, Daniel Benton, intimately understands the vineyards he works with and elevates each plot’s finest attributes in his wines. The 2019 vintage matured for 28 months in French oak barrels, and while approachable and drinkable now, this wine has a structure worthy of additional aging in the cellar.
 
CROZE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The 2019 Croze Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon begins with a rich nose of sweet blackberries, milk chocolate, vibrant black currants, Spring violets, and vanilla bean. The penetrating palate follows by balancing richness and freshness with power and elegance, expressing these traits with concentrated red currants, ripe cassis, and nicely structured fine-grained fruit tannins. The lingering, rich flavors and mouth-quenching acidity carry these characteristics through to a long, fulfilling finish. This one keeps calling me back for more…”
94 Points