2018 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

2018 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaReviewUSAZinfandel

ROBERT BIALE

BLACK CHICKEN ZINFANDEL
2018 NAPA VALLEY

2018 Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel Napa Valley

 
The Biale family has deep roots in Napa Valley agriculture, and their flagship Black Chicken Zinfandel is an absolute classic. The story of how the wine got its name is as rich and intriguing as the wine itself. In the 1940s, the Biale’s were also poultry farmers, but had a multiparty phone line. To stay incognito with their wine sales, customers would call and ask for a dozen eggs and a Gallo Nero or Black Chicken, which was the code-word for a jug of Aldo Biale’s homemade Zin. Fast-forward some 80 years later, and Black Chicken Zinfandel has a rock solid reputation for its relentless quality.
 
The Biale’s source the iconic Black Chicken Zinfandel grapes from the same vineyard that they’ve farmed for generations. This vineyard is in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll district, where the complex soils and a micro-climate that’s one of the coolest in Napa Valley produces gorgeous fruit with incredible character.  
 
The 2018 vintage was a faultless growing season, that was virtually uninterrupted by significant heat spikes, providing a prolonged hang-time, allowing the fruit to accumulate intense flavor and complexity. The resulting wine is penetrating, deep and supple, with laser definition and a mouth-quenching elegance that’s a hallmark for the wine. 
 
ROBERT BIALE
BLACK CHICKEN ZINFANDEL
2018 NAPA VALLEY
  
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
 
 “… The nose is full of vibrant black cherries, raspberries, cinnamon, white cake, fresh purple flowers, and subtle dried herbs. The entry is bright and gives way to supple, round tannins with a kiss of toasted oak. The lovely finish is the signature of this elegant and remarkably balanced Zinfandel.”
2018 Arrived Proprietary White Paso Robles

2018 Arrived Paso Robles Proprietary White

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary WhiteReviewUSAWillow Creek

ARRIVED

PROPRIETARY WHITE
2018 PASO ROBLES 

2018 Arrived Proprietary White Paso Robles

One of the rarest wine types in France is White Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the two primary grapes used in it are Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche. There are only around 175 acres of Clairette Blanche planted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and in California, it’s almost non-existent. Arrived is a blend of both grapes, and arose from the Paper Street Vineyard, which is owned and farmed by the iconic Dusi Family. This wine is guaranteed to give you one of those where have you been all my life epiphanies the moment you try it.

Arrived Proprietary White is a near 50/50 blend of Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche that was fermented in stainless steel tank and spent just nine months in neutral barrels. On the palate, the wine offers a kaleidoscope of poached pear, tropical banana, lime peel, honeysuckle, and stony minerals. 

The wine arose from chalky, limestone-rich white soils that produce vibrant wines with remarkable clarity, detail, depth, and balance. The vineyard is in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles and is a site carefully chosen by one of the areas most distinguished farming families. With a total production of 100 cases, don’t hesitate to secure yours.

 

ARRIVED
PROPRIETARY WHITE
2018 PASO ROBLES
Retails at: $36

Your Price: $25
 
 

“Gravenstein apple, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemon zest, asian pear, and a core of minerality that continues to develop in the glass. Lifted, concentrated, showing a bright purity of fruit. Succulent. Balanced. Refreshing. 100 Cases Produced” 
52% Grenache Blanc | 48% Clairette Blanche

2016 Oddero Rombone Barbaresco

2016 Oddero Rombone Barbaresco

with No Comment $50-$60BarbarescoItalyKevin VogtNebbioloReview

ODDERO

2016 BARBARESCO
ROMBONE 2016 Oddero Rombone Barbaresco

Barbaresco is Italy’s other Iconic wine that’s produced from the Nebbiolo grape, and if Barolo is the King, then Barbaresco is the Queen, having a slightly more elegant structure. Oddero’s 95 Point Barbaresco from the Cru Vineyard Rombone is a stunning value and offers a brilliant play between tension and elegance that’s coupled with profound power and freshness.

The Oddero family has been active in Barolo and Barbaresco since the 1800’s, and in 2006 their wines were brought to an entirely new level when they hired Dante Scaglioni, who spent 25 years as the winemaker for legendary producer Bruno Giacosa.  

The Rombone vineyard is laden with limestone and veins of clay, and it’s known for producing wines that exhibit freshness, remarkably penetrating fruit, and stunning complexity. The climate in Barbaresco is slightly milder than neighboring Barolo and the wines are noticeably less tannic and exude elegance.

ODDERO
2016 BARBARESCO
ROMBONE 
 
Your Price: $55

 

“Black-skinned berry, iris, leather, hazelnut and menthol aromas whiff of forest floor. The smooth, full-bodied palate shows tension and finesse, offering fleshy black cherry, espresso and licorice alongside fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2021-2030”  95 Points

 

“Sweet berry aromas with hints of flowers and spices. Very perfumed. Full-bodied, firm and chewy with a velvety texture and a flavorful finish. Shows lovely intensity and flavor. Drink from 2022.” 93 Points

2016 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Washington State

2016 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Washington State

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtReviewUSAWashington State

DOUBLE CANYON

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
HORSE HEAVEN HILLS
2016 WASHINGTON STATE

2016 Double Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills Washington StateCalifornia isn’t the only state on the West Coast capable of producing World-Class Cabernet Sauvignon. There’s an Appellation inside the Columbia Valley called Horse Heaven Hills that’s home to iconic vineyards like Champoux in Alderdale, which Quilceda Creek fans might recognize. They’ve produced five perfect 100 point Cabernets from it. Double Canyon sources from four sites within the Alderdale region, and at $23, you’ve really got to try it.

The Horse Heaven Hills Appellation is defined by it’s proximity to the Columbia River, strong winds, and volcanic soils, which produce a distinct mineral nuance. The area even caught the eye of Andre Tchelistcheff, legendary winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyards. 

The 2016 combines fruit from Phinny Hill, Destiny Ridge, Alder Ridge, and their own Double Canyon Estate Vineyard. The final blend beautifully expresses the 88% Cabernet Sauvignon heightened with Syrah, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec, which all contribute to the rich textures and compelling flavors.  

DOUBLE CANYON
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
HORSE HEAVEN HILLS
2016 WASHINGTON STATE
Retails at: $25

Your Price: $23
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“… What impressed us about this wine beyond its value were its numerous layers of aromas and flavors. Roasted coffee, cedar, and blackberry are distinctive on the nose, and on the palate, tobacco, underbrush, and grainy tannins keep the mouth dry with chalky, teeth-gripping texture. It’s structured and clean, with a sweet, toasty finish.”    93 Points

2015 Mending Wall Proprietary Red Mortar & Stone

2015 Mending Wall Mortar & Stone Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Atlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedReviewUSA

MENDING WALL

2015 PROPRIETARY RED
MORTAR & STONE

2015 Mending Wall Proprietary Red Mortar & StoneCombining the power of Mountain-grown Zinfandel with the voluptuous texture of Calistoga Petite Sirah can be magical. Mending Wall Mortar and Stone is a stunning example of this. The Zinfandel arose from the iconic Aida Vineyard atop Altas Peak, and the Petite Sirah comes from one of the most celebrated vineyards for that varietal in the New World, which was the former source for Carver Sutro. And on top of all that, Thomas Brown is the winemaker… 

Frank Dotzler, one of the co-owners of Mending Wall, was also one of the co-founders of Outpost Winery. Frank teamed up with Mark & Donna Walker (owners of the super-high scoring, Cult brand Pulido-Walker,) as well as his long-time winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown for this project. Thomas made history as the first American winemaker to receive a perfect 100 point score from the Wine Spectator.

This tiny production, proprietary blend harnesses the power and intensely concentrated flavors of Atlas Peak Zinfandel with the showy, voluptuous textures of Petite Sirah in way that pulls on the best qualities of both varietals in total harmony. If you love big, lush, concentrated blends with copious charm, this is for you. 

MENDING WALL
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
MORTAR & STONE

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“The Zinfandel from high atop Atlas Peak (Aida Vyd, an original Turley source) is robust, showy mountain fruit. Vines in the historic Mountain Peak vineyard produce some of the most impressive berries we’ve seen in this varietal, nicely structured and spicy rather than super jammy. That spice component pairs beautifully with the final vintage of our estate Syrah. Once again, the venerable Palisades Vineyard Petite Sirah completes the blend, lending tannic backbone and deep, black color.It has a seductive appeal-dark, sultry, moody in the very best ways-with good balance between earthy inputs and luscious fruit notes.”

2017 Calculated Risk Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection

2017 Calculated Risk Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaReviewSt HelenaUSA

CALCULATED RISK

BARREL SELECTION
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Calculated Risk Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel SelectionI love watching a brand that we’ve featured from their early days gain momentum, with high scores and well-deserved acclaim. Grand Napa Vineyards in Rutherford also produces the Calculated Risk and Heir Apparent brands, and top publications like James Suckling and Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate feature all three brands with high scores. With a mere 178 cases produced, the 2017 Calculated Risk Barrel Selection Cab impressed our panel, as well as James Suckling. 

Owner Dwight Bonewell produces multiple brands, all under one umbrella, and that’s a good thing because Grand Napa has access to a selection of Napa Valley’s top vineyards. When creating the 2017 Calculated Risk Barrel Selection, his team selected fruit from Coombsville and St. Helena AVA’s to create a wine that’s powerful, penetrating, and balanced.  

The 2017 Barrel Selection is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and it lights up your senses with cocoa dusted black fruits, graphite, and crushed flowers. The wine perfectly fuses the elegance and restrained power of Coombsville, with St. Helena structure and depth. 

CALCULATED RISK
BARREL SELECTION
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY

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“Wild flowers and roses with a fresh, blackberry and blackcurrant edge to the nose, too. The palate has soft, ripe and almost creamy tannins on offer, in a soft, easy mode. Drink or hold.”  91 Points

2017 Turley Old VInes Zinfandel

2017 Turley Old Vines Zinfandel

with No Comment $30-$40Central CoastKevin VogtOld Vine ZinfandelReviewUSA

TURLEY

2017 ZINFANDEL
OLD VINES

 

2017 Turley Old VInes ZinfandelTurley is an American Icon that’s been a benchmark producer of Old Vine Zinfandel for nearly three decades. Their first vintage of 1993 Hayne Zinfandel ranked #11 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list, and they’ve remained a paragon in their field ever since. They now produce an eye-popping forty-seven separate wines from over fifty Certified Organic Vineyards, and they specialize in ancient vines. Their Old Vines Zinfandel beautifully displays their undeviating winemaking philosophy that’s an anthem of their brand.

The 2017 Old Vines Zinfandel was carefully stitched together from a vast collection of ancient vineyards spanning across seven iconic regions across California and created from vines ranging from 41 to 129 years old, the 2017 showcases old vine depth, and with no shortage of personality. 

The winery has always attracted some of California’s most talented winemakers, beginning with Helen Turley. Helen passed the torch to winemaker Ehren Jordan, and now Ehren to Tegan Passalacqua, who worked under Jordan before becoming Director of Winemaking. 

 

TURLEY
2017 ZINFANDEL
OLD VINES

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“… the 2017 Zinfandel Old Vines features exotic spice accents over a core of blueberry and boysenberry compote, crushed black cherries and berries with notes of cinnamon stick and potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, it has loads of spicy black and blue fruits in the mouth with firm, ripe tannins to frame and juicy acidity, finishing long and very spicy.”  92 Points

“The 2017 Zinfandel Old Vines is rich, ample and fleshy. The heat of the year gave the Old Vines a little extra kick. Dried cherry, licorice and spice add an exotic flair to this super-expressive wine loaded with class and pedigree.” 91 Points

“Sleek and briary, with generous black cherry, licorice and toasty spice flavors. Drink now through 2024.” 90 Points

2015 Mazzei Philip Cabernet Sauvignon Tuscany

2015 Mazzei Philip Cabernet Sauvignon Tuscany

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonItalyKevin VogtReviewTuscany

MAZZEI PHILIP

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 TUSCANY

 

2015 Mazzei Philip Cabernet Sauvignon TuscanyWine can be profound, and deeply meaningful, and sometimes the story behind the wine can be of monumental proportions. Mazzei created their “Philip” Cabernet Sauvignon as an homage to Philip Mazzei, who wrote the beautiful phrase “all men are created equal” which was incorporated in the Declaration of Independence” by his friend Thomas Jefferson. And the wine? The wine is riveting, deeply hedonistic, and highly detailed. It’s also one of the coolest labels that I’ve seen. 

Mazzei created Philip from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, coming from two sites, Belguardo and Fonterutoli Estate. The 10-20-year-old vines were grown in limestone and sandstone soils and produce fruit of remarkable power and profound delineation. 

This stunning wine emerges from Tuscany’s best vintage in nearly two decades, and one the Wine Spectator rated 97 Points referencing “Long-lived, powerful and concentrated reds, yet the best have purity and elegance…” 

 

MAZZEI PHILIP
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 TUSCANY

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“A dark-fruited red that shows mulberries, blackberries, creme de cassis, vanilla and dark chocolate with a touch of fresh herbs and cedar. Full body, round yet structured tannins and a chewy finish. Drink in 2020.” 94 Points

“The 2015 Philip, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, is powerful and rich in the glass, with copious blackberry jam, chocolate, spice and chocolate notes. Deep, fleshy and bold, the Philip has a lot to offer….” 92 Points