2014 Horse & Plow Blockhouse Vineyard Grenache

2014 Horse & Plow Blockhouse Vineyard Grenache

HORSE & PLOW

2014 GRENACHE 
BLOCKHOUSE VINEYARD

 
2014 Horse & Plow Blockhouse Vineyard GrenacheA farmer needs faith that a bountiful harvest will come, and sometimes when trying new wines, faith plays a role when discovering one that could completely change your perspective on an unfamiliar varietal. It just might open up new fields of curiosity and paths to enjoyment. Horse & Plow’s single vineyard Grenache is from Yountville, just a stone’s throw from our shop, and it completely rocked my world when I tasted it.  This beautifully proportioned and profoundly pleasing red should be the wikipedia reference for California Grenache.  With a round, velvet lined core, the 2014 envelopes your palate in a bumper crop of plump, juicy flavors with red plum, wild berries, mineral, cocoa and subtle spice.  The only down-side comes from the realization that there were only 6 barrels produced.
Unearthed by husband and wife winemaking team Chris Condos and Suzanne Hagins, who combined their talents to really shine in this remarkable expression of Grenache. Chris began his career as winemaker at Pine Ridge, and he’s also consulting winemaker at Kathryn Kennedy, and Suzanne gained valuable experience in the cellar at DeLoach, David Bruce and Goldeneye wineries… I strongly recommend filling your saddle bags with as much as you can carry… You’ll be glad you did.  
 
HORSE & PLOW
2014 GRENACHE 
BLOCKHOUSE VINEYARD
Retails at:  $34.00/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes:Lovely notes of cherry and vanilla, wild herbs and black plum compose this bright and fruity red with plenty of spice to balance.”
 
Customers that enjoy Horse & Plow’s Grenache may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
2015 Sans Liege The Offering Proprietary Red 2013 Titus Napa Valley Malbec
SANS LIEGE
2015 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $29/btl 
Made in a magnetic style that draws you in with lavish aromas that become increasingly compelling with aeration, Sans Liege’s Southern Rhone inspired blend The Offering is wine that I simply love.  A remarkable fusion of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2015 saturates your taste buds with a velvety texture, intermixed with vibrant red fruits, crème de cassis, juicy blackberries, and savory spices that you coming back for more.
TITUS 
2013 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
There are a handful of California winemakers whom many would refer to as legendary or iconic, and whose triumphs and experience are so profound that their very name rings with excellence.  Philip Titus is etched permanently onto that list…  Revered for his work authoring Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill wines for nearly three decades, leaving countless World Class wines in his wake.  
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red

2014 Laird Jillian’s Blend Napa Valley Proprietary Red

LAIRD

JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY

2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary RedWhen Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.  The 2014 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, which is sourced from the winery’s renowned Mast Ranch and Linda Vista Vineyards.  Their Mast Ranch Cab sells for $80/btl… Because we love it so much, we worked some magic to be able to offer you the wine at our lowest price since their 2011 vintage.
 
Developing for 21 months in oak, the 2014 has a striking core with layers of blueberry and blackberry fruit, intertwined with espresso roast, liquid floral, cassis and black chocolate.  Those of you who’ve enjoyed earlier vintages of Laird’s popular Jillian’s Blend, likely need no further convincing.  l can’t wait for you to try the 2014… 
 
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Winery Notes:Complex and precocious just like the real Jillian. Its deep, ruby red appearance accompanied by viscous legs leads the way to a seductive bouquet of toasted oak, lavender and ripe strawberries. A medium bodied palate, with delicate tannins and acidity, leads the way to tart dusty cherries and boysenberries that dance across your palate, while flavors of clove, vanilla and blueberry custard unfold on the finish.”
 
Cabernet Sauvignon 65% | Syrah 18% | Merlot 10% | Malbec 5% | Petit Verdot 2%

 

Customers who enjoy Laird’s Jillian’s Blend may also enjoy these two outstanding wines from Laird…
2014 Laird Phantom Ranch Pinot Noir 2013 Laird Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
LAIRD
2014 PINOT NOIR
PHANTOM RANCH
Retails at:  $55/btl
 

Click to Order

 
Composed in a chillingly deep, velvety style that I love, and we don’t have anything else quite like it on our tasting menu in Yountville…  Laird’s 2014  Phantom Ranch is haunted by spine-tingling allure, laced with shades of wild blueberries, spring flowers, vanilla and spices. If you enjoy full-bodied, deep, velvety Pinots, I strongly recommend a case of this limited release.
LAIRD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $52.99/btl
 
Laird’s 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is built from almost equal parts Mast Ranch and Flat Rock vineyards.  The winery produces single vineyard Cabernets from both of these sites which retail for $80 to $90 per bottle…  It’s a brand that I love, and in fact we featured their 2012 vintage as one of our top 5 wines of the year in 2017.

 

2014 Solamente Terra Blanca Vineyard Pinot Noir

2014 Solamente Terra Blanca Vineyard Pinot Noir

SOLAMENTE

2014 PINOT NOIR
TERRA BLANCA VINEYARD

2014 Solamente Terra Blanca Vineyard Pinot Noir
Appropriately named Solamente (translates to only), this was the only Pinot Noir on my mind, after a grueling 100 wines tasted.   All I could think about is how perfectly this wine hit the spot, with it’s layered and silky mouthfeel, depth and elegance, this gorgeous Pinot tastes every bit like a top-level California Pinot Noir, and the only difference is that it doesn’t have the premium price tag that normally comes with one…  It was composed by Rolando Herrera, who gained valuable first-hand experience as Director of Winemaking for legendary winemaker Paul Hobbs.  Layers of dark fruits emerge, delicately woven throughout are subtle expressions of sassafras, wild flowers, English tea and spice.  At $65/btl retail this wine would put a big smile on your face.
 
Arising from the Terra Blanca Vineyard located Carneros, the 2013 perfectly marries Dijon and Pommard clones, both icons for producing wines of notable elegance with profound aromas.  After quietly resting for 12 months in oak barrels, this 2014 Pinot Noir is shining brightly now and is poised to drink beautifully over the next 5-7 years. 
 
SOLAMENTE
2014 PINOT NOIR
TERRA BLANCA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
Your Price:
 
Cellar Tracker Tasting Notes: This deep ruby wine flaunts bright aromas of cranberries, black cherries, raspberries, pickling spice and violets. Medium-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with medium-weight but grippy tannins, it has impressive presence on the mid-palate. The medium length finish concludes with a wisp of oak. This is an outstanding Pinot…
 
Customers that enjoy Solamente’s Terra Blanca Vineyard Pinot,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2014 Black Kite Knight's Rest Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014
BLACK KITE
2014 PINOT NOIR
KITE’S REST VINEYARD
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
Your Price: $44.99/btl 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast, “Great fruit concentration and grace make this wine a winner. It feels medium-bodied despite its high degree of ripeness, showing that balance is attainable with significant power. It has ripe, plummy aromas, fresh red cherry and cranberry flavors, supportive tannins and excellent acidity.” 
 
93 Points, Editor’s Choice
JOSEPH JEWELL 
2014 PINOT NOIR
HALLBERG VINEYARD
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
Your Price:
 
Tasting Notes, “… Pristine elegance combined with an incredibly delicate balance, weaving in all of the intricate details and building like a romance novel. This wine may not be my first love, but it is the first California Pinot Noir that simply left me speechless and completely satisfied...”
 

 97 Points Kevin M Vogt, Master Sommelier

2001 Young Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Library Release

2001 Young Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Library Release

YOUNG RIDGE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2001 NAPA VALLEY
LIBRARY RELEASE 

2001 Young Ridge Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Library ReleaseHave you ever pulled a wine out of the back of your cellar and been stunned by how well it was drinking?  When an age-worthy wine develops over a decade or more, the complex chemical reactions between the sugars, acids and tannins can transform and alter the aroma, color, mouthfeel and flavor.  Not all wine has the ability to develop into something far better than what it was upon release, but when all of the contributing factors are perfectly balanced, I’ve tasted $8 wines that have outperformed current vintage wines at 20 times their price.  Young Ridge’s 2001 Napa Valley Cabernet awed me over the way that it’s positively developed.  A perfumed bouquet grabbed me at the first whiff with complex, compelling and hedonistic notes that are profoundly pleasing.  On the palate the wine is deep, penetrating and silky, with fine grained tannins, dark berries, cassis, coco and baking spices.  This wine hit my palate beautifully.
 
Originating from a single vineyard perched high on a ridge in the rolling western hills of Napa Valley, this finely sculpted and beautifully detailed 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is firing on all cylinders right now.  If you love perfectly aged Cabernet Sauvignon, and don’t want to have to wait 15 years to enjoy one… This one’s for you. 
 
YOUNG RIDGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2001 NAPA VALLEY
LIBRARY RELEASE 
Retails at:  $78.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes,Wild dried rose petals and camomile tea on the nose with dried cherry, red currant and asian plum.  The palate follows with silky and elegant red fruits, spice box, and hints of dried berries.  Buy it and drink it now, it is perfectly ready to go.”
2013 Willliams Selyem Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2013 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

WILLIAMS SELYEM

2013 Willliams Selyem Sonoma County Pinot Noir2013 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY

If you’ve ever wondered if California’s most Iconic Pinot Noir could get any better, you’ll find your answer in their 2013 Sonoma County…  Some of the greatest wines in the world reward patience, and this is one that already has. Tasting it now must feel similar to winning the lottery, twice…  Once when you were able to acquire this sought-after wine, and a second time when you discover that it’s developed into something far greater than you ever imagined.  I recommend sitting down before tasting it because the perfume alone will knock you off your feet, as wild raspberries, holiday spices, plum and black tea intertwine in perfect detail.   We bought every bottle we could after tasting this wine and we’re thrilled to feature it by the glass.
 
With their inaugural vintage in 1982, Williams-Selyem became a reference-standard for high-quality domestic Pinot Noir.  They made history in 2007 when Wine Enthusiast awarded their Litton Estate Pinot a perfect 100 Points…  This was the first Pinot Noir in North America to earn 100 points score from any major wine publication.  Forged from iconic sites including Rochioli, Bucher and Lone Oak Vineyards, the 2013 delights your senses with vivid red fruits and finely detailed flavors that overlay in layers across your palate. 
 
WILLIAMS SELYEM
2013 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes:The nose leads with raspberry and fresh mountain strawberry notes followed by a wonderful stone fruit lift. The aromas transition into darker elements of bitter cherry, Carnauba wax, and mocha. Notes of smoky herbs, cinnamon, and black tea are framed with well integrated acid and tannin. The Sonoma County will offer early enjoyment with its soft and supple mouthfeel and texture.”
 
Customers that enjoy Williams Selyem’s Sonoma Coast Pinot,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2014 Joseph Jewell Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 Williams Selyem Central Coast Pinot Noir
JOSEPH JEWELL 
2014 PINOT NOIR
HALLBERG VINEYARD
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
It’s rare for me to taste a wine and immediately get the feeling that I may have just come across my next wine-of-the-year.  Joseph Jewell’s 2014 Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir gave me that very feeling.  With stunning length, detail and balance, the 2014 washes over your palate with supernatural weight and complexity fit for a king.  In my mind this sets the bar for cool climate California Pinot Noir with a plush, satin core lined in detailed blackberry, cigar box, black tea and touches of spice.
WILLIAMS SELYEM
2013 PINOT NOIR
CENTRAL COAST
Your Price: $64.99/btl
 
From The Wine Enthusiast:Juicy strawberries and plum are cut with allspice and star anise on the sharply spiced nose of this wine from one of the Golden State’s legendary producers. The palate shows the juice of darker berries, from blackberries to black cherries, with an Earl Grey tea bitterness and dried sage complexity.”  92 Points
2015 Octopoda North Coast Cabernet Franc

2015 Octopoda North Coast Cabernet Franc

OCTOPODA 

2015 CABERNET FRANC
NORTH COAST

2015 Octopoda North Coast Cabernet FrancPulling you in like tentacles from the deep, Octopoda is the real deal in great Cabernet Franc. Some of the best Cabernet Francs produced in California are regarded for their profound elegance and aromatics.  The only problem is that finding a great one, and at a reasonable price is about as rare as spotting a mythical sea creature.  And, there’s a reason that Cabernet Franc grapes are in higher demand and cost more on average then Cabernet Sauvignon. When carefully selected and produced, they can rival some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons out there.  Case and point, this one is really special and sucks you in…
 
Inked from a single vineyard North of Calistoga, the 2015 Octopoda Cabernet Franc is oozes squid ink black fruits, volcanic minerals, camphor, and black cherries and graphite with flavors deeper than the Mariana Trench. Held captive for 14 months in oak barrels, this 2015 is absolutely stunning right now and should age gracefully for the next decade or more.  
 
OCTOPODA 
2015 CABERNET FRANC
NORTH COAST
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes:Complex, lush and well balanced. This offers great intensity of dark fruit, baking cocoa, fresh herbs and licorice. The fruit shows beautiful ripeness tempered with savory herb notes.”
 
Customers who enjoy Octopoda’s Cabernet Franc may also enjoy these two outstanding Reds… 
2014 Selene Chesler Cabernet Franc
2015 James Joseph Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Franc
SELENE
2014 CHESLER
CABERNET FRANC
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
 

This profound interpretation of Cabernet Franc and Merlot was created by legendary winemaker Mia Klein, whose track record includes making wines for Dalla Valle, Spottswoode, Araujo, Viader, and Chappellet, as well as being named Winemaker of the Year by Food & Wine Magazine.  This perfectly choreographed dance between the dominant Cabernet Franc is softened by blending elegant Merlot. 

JAMES JOSEPH
2015 CABERNET FRANC
RESERVE, NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
 
With a total production of only 4 barrels, this rarely bottled varietal from James Josephgrabs you right from the start.  Showing surreal-like tension between Atlas Peak and Diamond Mountain terroirs, the 2015 is locked and loaded with crushed black fruits, camphor, burning embers, and black cherries, laced with volcanic minerals, graphite and crushed rock
2015 Ty Caton "Ty's Red" Sonoma Proprietary Red

2015 Ty Caton “Ty’s Red” Sonoma Proprietary Red

TY CATON

2015 PROPRIETARY RED
TY’S RED, SONOMA 

 
2015 Ty Caton "Ty's Red" Sonoma Proprietary RedYou may already be one of the many people who repeatedly orders case after case of Ty Caton wines from us, and if not, you might want to start. The reason being, Ty proves every vintage that great wine doesn’t need to be expensive.  His 2015 Proprietary Red has “crowd pleaser” written all over it.  A tell-tale sign of this wine’s popularity is made obvious by the number of bottles we drink personally (grin).  At under $25, this wine oozes with fun-filled charm as it serenades your senses with lush black raspberry fruit, chocolate covered cherries, holiday spices and Japanese tea.  Making a grand entrance from the newly recognized Moon Mountain AVA, which lies on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder, Ty Caton’s talent for blending will make you grin too.  
Merging Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Merlot in a style that’s both intriguing and one that makes you want to come back for another sip, the 2015 is really drinking beautifully.  This wine is filled with qualities hard to find at this modest price point, so if you’re looking for a blend that delivers weekend quality at a weekday price, we’re certain you’ll like this one…
 
TY CATON
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
TY’S RED, SONOMA 
Retails at:  $36.00/btl
Your Price: $24.99/btl
YOU SAVE 30%
 
Winery Notes:With savory aromas and a deep luscious color, this much-loved wine strokes your palate with flavors of dark cherry, blackberry and cassis. The thick velvety texture gives way to toasty oak and finishes with just a hint of chocolate. Enjoy with your favorite grilled meats.” 

 

Customers that would enjoy Ty Caton’s Ty’s Red may also enjoy these two outstanding Reds…
2015 B Sharp Napa Valley Proprietary Red 2013 Titus Napa Valley Malbec
B. SHARP
PROPRIETARY RED
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Tasting Notes: “With an attractive dark inky hue, the wine features sultry aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice, smoke, and spice. On the palate, the flavors expand with generous notes of briary blackberry, ripe boysenberry, cranberry, cassis, dark chocolate truffle, blood orange peel, and a kiss of oak. The plush texture is elevated with a burst of lively acidity leading to a long, dry finish that makes you want more! Outstanding.” 
92 Points, Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier to the Stars.
TITUS 
2013 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
There are a handful of California winemakers whom many would refer to as legendary or iconic, and whose triumphs and experience are so profound that their very name rings with excellence.  Philip Titus is etched permanently onto that list…  Revered for his work authoring Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill wines for nearly three decades, leaving countless World Class wines in his wake.  
2015 Prisoner Wine Company Derange Proprietary Red

2015 Prisoner Wine Company Dérangé Proprietary Red

PRISONER WINE CO.

2015 DÉRANGÉ
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Prisoner Wine Company Derange Proprietary RedBest described by the catchy slogan from the early 1900’s, Go big, or go home, which references experiencing something to the fullest and being bold and extravagant, Prisoner Wine Company found a way to bottle it… Tipping the scales of extract, and deep chocolaty flavors, this larger-than-life Cabernet Sauvignon Blend hails from iconic sites including Lee Hudson’s renowned Carneros Vineyard, Sage Canyon on Spring Mountain, Heitz Taplin, to list a few.  Held captive for 18 months in French oak barrels, this bold, dramatic and monstrous blend was a tough fugitive to catch.  We’ve imprisoned bottles in our shop for months, and just got the go-ahead to release them to you…
Created in big, masculine style, the 2015 Dérangé is an unapologetic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel.  Bursting with intense black fruits, clove spice, unsweetened berry cobbler, black chocolates, and more chocolate… this deep and velvety wine has a finish that goes on and on.  I strongly recommend securing a case before it’s too late. 
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 DÉRANGÉ
PROPRIETARY RED
Your Price: $99.99/btl
 
Winery Notes:In the late spring of 2016, all 2015 TPWC lots were evaluated for character. The most concentrated and delicious lots of each variety were selected for the first vintage of Dérangé. After lot selection, all barrels destined for Dérangé were hand-selected by tasting each and every one. This red blend is full of black cherry, clove spice, blackberry cobbler, and vanilla toast. The mouthfeel is full on the entry and the soft tannins and balanced acidity are a delicious combo.”
 
Customers that enjoy Prisoner Wine Company’s Dérangé, may also enjoy these two terrific wines from Prisoner Wine Co…
2016 Prisoner Wine Company "The Prisoner" Proprietary Blend 2015 Prisoner Wine Company "Cuttings" Cabernet Sauvingnon 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2016 THE PRISONER
PROPRIETARY BLEND
Retails at:  $47.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl  
A wine of unrestrained jubilance and infectious charm, the new 2016 Prisoner unshackles a bounty of deliciously elaborate flavors, and with even more vibrancy and determination. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2016 escapes powerfully from the glass, permeating with beautifully focused ripe cherries, wild strawberry, chocolate, and crushed violets.
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel

2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel

GAMBA 

2016 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH

 
2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley Old Vine ZinfandelWhat pairs best with Memorial Day & 4th of July holidays?  For me, the answer is Zinfandel. Although the grape allegedly originated in Croatia, Zinfandel thrives better in California than any place else, period.  For that reason, Zinfandel is purely American.  If I had to choose only one Zinfandel to serve, it would have to be Gamba.  A perennial crowd favorite and proving to be top contenders on California’s Zinfandel scene, Gus Gamba’s old vine Zinfandels are gaining world-wide acclaim.  After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers “...Gamba’s name is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma, such as Hartford Court, Carlisle, Bedrock and even the superstar Turley over in Napa.
Fashioned from an organically farmed vineyard planted in 1920, the ancient vines have relied on winter rains as their sole source of irrigation for over 95 years.  Yielding just 1.5 tons per acre of strikingly intense, concentrated, pristinely focused fruit, the 2016 exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel. It’s simply stunning and absolutely rocking…
 
GAMBA 
2016 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes:This 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel from the Gamba Starr Road Ranch offers hints of dried raspberry, blueberry compote, herbs, and candied plum on the nose. Dark and alluring in color, and the palate is bold yet well-integrated, with a velvety texture and weighty, yet graceful structure. Fully ripe, this Zin showcases knockout layers of mouth filling blackberry cobbler, herb and leather on the palate. This sumptuous wine embraces concentration and velvety richness. Robust, it finishes dusted in allspice, and cinnamon toast.
 
Customers that enjoy Gamba’s Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins…
2013 Valdez St Peter's Church Vineyard Zinfandel 2016 Gamba Estate Old Vine Zinfandel
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Valdez winery is owned by Ulises Valdez, one of California’s most sought after wine growers.  When he’s not farming vineyards for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others, he’s cultivating his dream of building a successful brand.  This Zinfandel arose from a 5 acre vineyard in Alexander Valley that’s planted to nearly century old vines, this wine exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel.  Rosenblum fans might also recognize this vineyard from single vineyard Zinfandels that they produced in the 1990’s.
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL 
ESTATE, OLD VINE
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Everybody loves being the guest that brings the best wine to the party…  All you need is a couple 15-packs of Gamba and you can be that person, every time.  Always a crowd favorite and proving to be top contenders on California’s Zinfandel scene, Gus Gamba’s old vine Zinfandels are quickly gaining world-wide acclaim.  After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers, “… Gamba’s name is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma, such as Hartford Court, Carlisle, Bedrock and even the superstar Turley over in Napa.”
2012 Prim Family Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

2012 Prim Family Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

PRIM 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2012 HOWELL MOUNTAIN

2012 Prim Family Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
There’s something magical that happens when a powerful Howell Mountain Cabernet has a few extra years in the bottle…  As good as they can be at release, they really blossom into something even more incredible with a little extra age. The two challenges in enjoying one on a regular basis are the high cost, and patience to wait that long.  With the average cost of 2012 Howell Mountain Cabernet likely well over $100, you get the picture…  The 2012 Prim Howell Mountain Cabernet is a stunningly brilliant example that’s riveting, deeply focused, and underlines all of the qualities that make Howell Mountain wines so wonderous. On CellarTracker a consumer tasted this wine a year ago and wrote, “$80 retail and worth it.”  I couldn’t agree more, and it’s even better now…  Of course I recommend grabbing as much as you can, because this likely won’t last the day.
Crafted by Rudy Von Strasser who’s been making hits since the 1980’s.  He gained experience while interning at Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, then at Icons Trefethen and Newton.  Reigning from a vineyard perched at 1,700 feet, Prim’s 2012 Howell Mountain Cabernet has developed into a wine that I just can’t get enough of… 
 
PRIM 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2012 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $80/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes:Enticing aromas of crushed blackberries and cassis are complemented by dark chocolate. Black licorice, cocoa powder, and espresso add complexity to this opulent wine. Exceptional concentration and a rich mouth-feel create a powerful impression that finishes with polished tannins enticing minerality, an exceptional vintage from our Howell Mountain vineyards.”
Cabernet Sauvignon 92% | Malbec 6% | Petit Verdot 2%