2018 Saracina Old Soul Red Mendocino

2018 Saracina Old Soul Red Mendocino

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMendocinoProprietary RedUSA

SARACINA

OLD SOUL RED
2018 MENDOCINO

2018 Saracina Old Soul Red Mendocino
An area that’s a pinnacle of sustainable farming, Mendocino County has 25% of its grape growers certified organic, the largest percentage in the nation. Many wineries in this region are less interested in building extravagant tasting rooms and instead are focused on naturally crafting exceptional wines that express the identity of Mendocino County.
 
Saracina’s 2018 Old Soul is a blend of 43% Zinfandel, 31% Malbec, and 26% Petite Sirah, all grown on site-specific vineyards ideal for each varietal to express its most unique characteristics. The 2018 release has an “intriguing personality,” as noted by Wine Enthusiast, offering tremendous quality for the price, perfectly representing the region’s soul with a conscious sense of place and delightful energy.
 
SARACINA
OLD SOUL RED
2018 MENDOCINO
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“Based on Malbec, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah, the 2018 Old Soul Red By Saracina is another outstanding, sexy red from winemaker Alex MacGregor. Medium to full-bodied, it has lots of blue fruits, notes of peppery herbs and violets, and a balanced, delicious style. Enjoy bottles over the coming 2-4 years or so.”
91 Points
 
“Tones of dark chocolate and rich black fruit give an intriguing personality to this full-bodied, moderately tannic wine. Cocoa notes melt on the palate as the flavors expand through a lingering finish.”
91 Points
2018 Erickson & Caradin Ivy & Thistle Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak

2018 Erickson & Caradin Ivy & Thistle Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak

with No Comment $40-$50Atlas PeakCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

ERICKSON & CARADIN

2018 IVY & THISTLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ATLAS PEAK

2018 Erickson & Caradin Ivy & Thistle Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak
True wine lovers and collectors in their own right, Erikson & Caradin set out to create Cabernet Sauvignons that top the highest standards. The two found their beginnings in 2013 when they sold the entirety of their small production to good friends and select restaurants. They continue to remain craft-focused today, with only 50 barrels produced across eight separate designations.
 
The 2018 Ivy & Thistle is the fourth vintage of one single row of Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the steepest part of the Atlas Peak Vineyard, providing intensely concentrated and expressive mountain fruit. The cool vintage allowed for a longer hang time, producing beautifully complex fruit that winemaker Kevin Morrisey fermented in concrete before aging in second-use barrels. These practices encourage the fruit’s natural expression of its terroir to be the main focus in this limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
ERICKSON & CARADIN
2018 IVY & THISTLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ATLAS PEAK
Retails at: $140
 
Your Price: $49
 
 
“The 2018 Erikson & Caradin Ivy & Thistle Cabernet Sauvignon has pronounced aromas of lavender, purple lilacs, black currants, black plums, cardamom, and graphite. The flavors are rich and intense on the palate with black cherries, crushed blackberries, dark chocolate, and dried herbs. The wine is full-bodied with velvety tannins and a very smooth, persistent finish that is drinkable today or can be aged up to 10 years.”
93 Points
2018 Chateau Guillon Bordeaux Graves

2018 Chateau Guillon Bordeaux Graves

with No Comment $30 and underBordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHÂTEAU GUILLON

2018 BORDEAUX
GRAVES

2018 Chateau Guillon Bordeaux Graves
Graves, named for its deep gravel soils, is historically significant as the home of the first vineyards in Bordeaux and famed first-growth Chateau Haut-Brion. Bordeaux is now one of the most sought-after wine regions globally. Its top producers sell their wines for monumental prices; however, most wines produced in this classic region are surprisingly affordable.
 
Chateau Guillon manicures their pristine vineyards with an attention to detail that artistically translates into their gloriously structured red wine. This Left Bank blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon scored an impressive 95 points at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards, securing its spot as one of the more collectible wines in the fantastic 2018 vintage.
 
CHÂTEAU GUILLON
2018 BORDEAUX
GRAVES
 
Your Price: $24.99
 
“Sweet, full and mellow, with settled, attractive, bright red berries, blackberry, cedar and leather. Extremely elegant and well put together, this is an accomplished and hugely satisfying wine”
95 Points
2019 Edict Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

2019 Edict Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAnderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

EDICT

2019 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY

2019 Edict Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
Edict creates varietally and regionally sound, hand-crafted wines based on “truth, generosity, and love,” a motto that guides them each vintage. They source their Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, an area that saw the arrival of viticulture during the Gold Rush in 1849; however, the region’s geographic isolation made it difficult to settle until a more effective implementation of roads in the 1960s and 1970s.
 
Anderson Valley is the coolest grape-growing appellation in California, encouraging lower natural sugars and higher acidity, resulting in fresher, more nuanced Pinot Noir. Rich and ethereal with ripe cherry and baking spice flavors evenly balanced with refreshing acidity, this wine is a classic example of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, offering a level of sophistication you’d expect of wines at twice our price. 
 
EDICT
2019 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at: $54
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Super aromatic with a perfume of cherry vanilla and cedar earth. Grown on gravelly soils in Mendocino County, north of Boonville, and aged 10 months in 41% new French oak. Notes of black cherry, a pinch of salt on a tobacco leaf, and an earthy, sandalwood vibe throughout. Round and plump, it delivers a savory side of black olive and anise.”
95 Points
2019 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Chardonnay

2019 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Chardonnay

with No Comment $30 and underAtlas PeakChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

VISTA

ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
2019 CHARDONNAY

2019 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Chardonnay
Marked with superior concentration and uncanny value, the Vista brand is synonymous with a price-exceeding quality unmatched in its category. Their Reserve Chardonnay emerges from Atlas Peak, on the western slopes of the Vaca Mountain Range, where cool nighttime temps encourage exquisite aromas and flavors while maintaining fresh acidity.
 
For generations, Chardonnay has thrived on Atlas Peak; popularity furthered in the mid-90s when Antinori began producing Atlas Peak Chardonnay for Antica. Pahlmeyer also sourced Chardonnay from Atlas Peak, an area now well-known for producing expressive and profound Chardonnay with a clear sense of locality. At $25, this will take your “house” Chardonnay to an entirely new level.
 
VISTA
ATLAS PEAK RESERVE
2019 CHARDONNAY
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“The 2019 Vista Atlas Peak Reserve Chardonnay begins with a fascinating nose that includes elegant honeysuckle, bright passionfruit, candied lemon, hints of vanilla bean, and white flowers. It smoothly traditions to a rich, supple mouthfeel that’s fleshy on the palate, combining honey-dipped Asian pears, and quince, with just enough bright acidity and tropical fruit character to keep it lively and fresh.”
93 Points
2018 Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley

2018 Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

LARKMEAD

2018 FIREBELLE
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley
Strategically planted above two colluvial fans extending from the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges with 300 feet of ancient riverbed gravel beneath the topsoil, Larkmead’s 110-acre vineyard contains seven distinctive soil profiles, providing unique flavor characteristics in the fruit. The vineyard is planted with the most suitable varieties, clones, and rootstocks, creating the wide range of flavors and nuances that’s become a hallmark of Larkmead wines.
 
Merlot is grown in well-drained, rich loam soils full of clay and gravel, resulting in more plush density that enhances the softness of the wine. The winery’s super high-scoring Firebelle blend is based around a core of 75% Merlot, enriched with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, showing refined beauty, grace, and a substantial aging potential with its fine-grained tannins and exquisite balance.
 
LARKMEAD
2018 FIREBELLE
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $120
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Marrying 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is focused, soft and rounded in feel, with an underlying structure that should lend well to aging. It shows integrated notes of cedar, dried herb and slate that mix with a core of blueberry and plum. Lingering accents of nutmeg and cocoa nib mark the close….”
97 Points, #39 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2021
 
“Lovely aromas of tile, blackberries and plums with some lavender and violets, following through to a full body with chewy, round tannins that are layered into the pretty, not overly ripe fruit…”
96 Points
2019 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate Russian River

2019 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate Russian River

with No Comment $80-$90Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

ROCHIOLI 

2019 PINOT NOIR
ESTATE RUSSIAN RIVER

2019 Rochiolo Pinot Noir Estate Russian River
The Rochioli’s understood the potential of their land from very early on, deciding to put their family’s name on their product, selling their first estate-bottled Pinot Noir in 1985. The wine was immediately honored as the Best Pinot Noir in America by Wine Spectator and is one of the few wineries in California to have consistently scored above 90 points since that first vintage.
 
Tom believes that if America were to adopt a Grand Cru system similar to Burgundy’s, his vineyard would fall into the same prestigious status because of the several different soil types and varying elevation levels. He ferments each block separately, capturing every aspect of what defines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir in an expression that is pure Rochioli. 
 
ROCHIOLI 
2019 PINOT NOIR
ESTATE RUSSIAN RIVER
 
Your Price: $89.99
 
 
“This is a blend of several single-vineyard designates, predominantly Little Hill (53%) and Big Hill (15%), with additions from West Block, East Block and Sweetwater as well. Dark plum and raspberry accent a lively and expansive palate framed by rounded tannins and easy oak accents. Enjoy from 2029–2034.”
96 Points, Top 100 Cellar Selection
 
“Delicate and refined, this is filled with concentrated raspberry tart flavors that are laced together by plenty of cedary and underbrush accents. The fresh, juicy finish shows touches of ripe minerality and hints of white pepper. Drink now through 2027.”
94 Points
2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

CALCULATED RISK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 OAKVILLE

2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Dedicated to crafting wines that express their true sense of the land and natural varietal character, Calculated Risk’s Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is a textbook example of the winery’s driving force. Oakville’s notorious complexity is powerfully bestowed and incarnated with robust intensity, keen focus, and lasting balance. 
 
Winemaker Dwight Bonewell added two Oakville Vineyards together; Money Road, near Oakville’s center, and a State Lane property bordering Yountville AVA, creating a broad interpretation of Oakville terroir, equaling a balanced, polished easy-drinking style. Priced in line with many Oakville neighbors at $120, at $46, it doesn’t take a calculus degree to sum up this deal… 
 
CALCULATED RISK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 OAKVILLE
Retails at: $120
 
Your Price: $46
 
 
“Plenty of ripe berries and cherries here with some chocolate and hazelnut undertones. It’s full-to medium-bodied with round tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows richness with balance…”
93 Points
2018 Sebright Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Sebright Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

SEBRIGHT

2018 RESERVE 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY

2018 Sebright Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Named after the Silver Sebright bantam chickens that help maintain the biodiversity of their environmentally friendly farmed vineyards, Sebright Cellars quietly produces superior quality boutique Cabernet from their own single-acre Garnett Creek Vineyard in Calistoga. Double planted to clone 7, a clone also used by Screaming Eagle, Sebright’s vineyard produces concentrated fruit enriched with minerality and fresh acidy.
 
Veteran Calistoga winemaker Tom Eddy’s vast experience gives him the tools needed to lucidly reveal the vineyard’s site-specific terroir with singular focus, robust fruit character, and structure for aging. Their 2018 vintage is magnificent, and so if you haven’t tried Sebright before, and you’re looking for a wine that none of your friends have heard of but will rock them to their core when they try it, this is it.
 
SEBRIGHT
2018 RESERVE 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“The Sebright Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 begins with a deeply extensive, sultry nose that includes crushed blackberries, blueberry cobbler, black currants, baking spices, and violets. These aromas dance in unison with a concentrated palate of burgundy plums, bing cherries, crushed earthy minerals, and black tea, combined with a focused intensity to the fruit. The finish is balanced, with power, finesse, and satiny tannins that create a long, plush finish. This outstanding wine is delightful to drink now but will reward collectors with 15 or more years of enjoyment.”
96 Points
2018 Laird Chardonnay Red Hen Ranch

2018 Laird Chardonnay Red Hen Ranch

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

LAIRD

2018 CHARDONNAY
RED HEN RANCH

2018 Laird Chardonnay Red Hen Ranch
With over 50 years of vineyard expertise farming some of Napa Valley’s most prime locations, the Laird family’s intimate knowledge of their vineyards is the foundation of their wines. Considered their “home vineyard,” Red Hen Ranch, located in the Oak Knoll District, is on the same property as the winery, allowing their team the ability to monitor it year-round closely. 
 
A stand-out in the Laird Family’s portfolio of vineyards, Red Hen Ranch vineyard is influenced by cool sea breezes from the San Pablo Bay, consistently producing a Chardonnay with pronounced fruit flavors and a refreshing balance of acidity. The winery’s philosophy centers on creating wines with unmasked identity, and winemaker Brian Mox beautifully translated the 2018 vintage into its distinctive vineyard voice with delectable opulence. 
 
LAIRD
2018 CHARDONNAY
RED HEN RANCH
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $32
 
 
“A full-bodied white with aromas and flavors of buttered toast, praline, grilled peach and dried mango. Ripe and flavorful with salted-butter notes on the finish. Drink now.”
93 Points