2018 Vina Pomal Organic Reserva Rioja Spain

2018 Vina Pomal Organic Reserva Rioja Spain

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRiojaSpainTempranillo

Viña Pomal

Organic Reserva
Rioja, Spain 2018

2018 Vina Pomal Organic Reserva Rioja Spain

Rooted in Haro, one of Rioja’s most historically charged enclaves, Bodegas Bilbaínas’s Viña Pomal speaks with the authority of place. Founded in 1901, the estate is Rioja’s longest-standing bottling winery, its extensive estate vineyards forming the backbone of a house style guided by continuity rather than reinvention. This classic Rioja Alta subtly resets expectations for what a traditionally framed Reserva can deliver at this level.

The 2018 vintage is built entirely on Tempranillo, a focused expression that allows variety and zone to emerge without dilution. Sourced from certified organic vineyards, the wine favors equilibrium, emphasizing freshness, structure, and natural balance. In a Reserva category often shaped by blending, this purity feels deliberate, sharpening the wine’s connection to place.

In the cellar, tradition completes the picture. A long maceration builds depth and structure before the wine is raised for eighteen months in American oak, a hallmark of classical Rioja élevage. The result is a Reserva defined by polish and drinkability, where savory nuance, measured oak, and fresh fruit move in alignment.

Viña Pomal
Organic Reserva
Rioja, Spain 2018

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“All Tempranillo, the 2018 Vina Pomal Reserva is a medium-bodied red aged 18 months in American oak and 18 months more in bottle. Smooth, supple tannins provide a rounded richness of red fruit and a hint of citrus, with light spice, anise, and woody undertones. It has the classic element of balsamic that floats between aromas of violet and vanilla. Drink now through 2030.”

92 Points

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Columbia ValleyKevin VogtMerlotUSAWashington State

Pedestal

Merlot 2021
Columbia Valley

2021 Pedestal Merlot Columbia Valley

Washington State has proven, time and again, that Merlot thrives here, but Pedestal captures the variety at a particularly high register. The 2021 release reflects an approach centered on site expression, precision farming, and patient élevage, yielding a wine that delivers depth and polish. It is a Merlot built to command attention rather than chase it.

Pedestal is a product of the Long Shadows philosophy: pairing world-class vineyard sources with a singular, disciplined vision. In 2021, that vision comes into focus through a carefully assembled blend of Columbia Valley Merlot drawn from vineyards prized for consistency and character. The result is a wine that feels deliberately shaped to emphasize clarity, depth, and longevity.

Guiding the final expression is Michel Rolland, whose influence appears not through excess, but through control. Trained in Bordeaux and refined through decades of working with Merlot at the highest level, Rolland brings a philosophy rooted in balance, texture, and age-worthiness. The 2021 Pedestal reflects that sensibility at every turn: expressive, composed, and built to evolve with understated confidence.

Pedestal
Merlot 2021
Columbia Valley
Retails at: $75

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“A blend put together by the incredibly talented Michel Rolland, the 2021 Merlot Pedestal is based on 80% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 9% Petit Verdot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep plum/purple hue is followed by a brilliant, full-bodied, unctuous beauty that has loads of darker currant and black cherry fruits, some chocolate and leafy herbs notes, velvety tannins, and a layered mouthfeel that just begs to be drunk. It’s easily one of the finest expressions of Merlot in the state, and it would stand up just fine to some of the top Merlot releases from France and Napa. Drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years.”

96 Points

2019 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Red Napa Valley

2019 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleProprietary RedUSA

Bevan Cellars

Ontogeny Red
Napa Valley, 2019

2019 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny Red Napa Valley

Jeb Dunnuck’s Top Value 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet, Bevan’s Ontogeny delivers a rare convergence of elite Napa pedigree, undeniable power, and genuine accessibility. It performs comfortably at the level of the valley’s most coveted Cabernets, yet does so without spectacle or excess. With time in bottle, the 2019 vintage has settled into a composed, expressive phase, offering depth and polish that feel assured rather than forced.

At the core of Ontogeny’s identity is its primary fruit source, the storied Tench Vineyard, located directly across the road from Screaming Eagle in Oakville. From this privileged site, the wine draws its concentration, translating elite terroir into layers of dark fruit, texture, and mineral-driven intensity.

The 2019 vintage shows Ontogeny at a point where power and precision are fully aligned. Dense fruit is framed by polished tannins and steady freshness, creating a profile that feels complete without sacrificing tension. It is generous without excess, confident without weight, and deeply satisfying right now, with the structure to continue rewarding patience.

Bevan Cellars
Ontogeny Red
Napa Valley, 2019

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“A blend put together by Bevan from the single vineyards, the Ontogeny cuvée is year-in, year-out one of the greatest values in Cabernet Sauvignon. His 2019 Ontogeny is no exception, revealing a dense purple hue as well as rock star notes of crème de cassis, violets, tobacco leaf, and chocolate. It’s a big, classic Bevan wine and has remarkable purity, silky, polished tannins, and not a hard edge to be found. Don’t miss it!”

98 Points, #1, Top Values In 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2021 Flanagan Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

2021 Flanagan Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNorth CoastUSA

Flanagan

Cabernet Sauvignon
the beauty of three
North Coast 2021

2021 Flanagan Cabernet Sauvignon North Coast

Born from the same discipline as Flanagan’s flagship Cabernets, the 2021 the beauty of three North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon rewrites expectations. Made without shortcuts and raised alongside the estate’s most important wines, it exists because Flanagan chose care over compromise. The result is a Cabernet defined by proportion, shaped by intention rather than outcome.

Sourced primarily from the Kelsey Bench in Lake County, with complementary fruit from Sonoma County, the beauty of three strikes a measured balance between power and refinement. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the structural core, while Merlot adds dimension and nuance, bringing composure and lift. The focus remains on precision and movement, allowing each vineyard source to speak without unnecessary intervention.

The 2021 growing season further sharpened that sense of place. Lower yields and careful vineyard work delivered fruit with natural energy and definition. Time in barrel, followed by extended bottle rest, has preserved those qualities, resulting in a Cabernet that expresses its origin and season with confidence.

Flanagan
Cabernet Sauvignon
the beauty of three
North Coast 2021
Retails at: $38

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“The Flanagan 2021 North Coast ‘Beauty of Three’ Red has a fresh and linear profile, with aromas of raspberry and cherry, layered with ripe plum and blackcurrant, plus earthy notes of damp soil, fallen leaves, and black tea leaves. On the palate, the wine is clean and precise, with a seamless, elegant structure and refined tannins that frame the fruit without weight. The wine has balanced acidity that carries it through a polished finish, emphasizing purity and restraint.”

93 Points

2023 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Napa Valley

2023 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

Frisson

Proprietary Red
Toucher Vineyard
Napa Valley 2023

2023 Frisson Proprietary Red Toucher Vineyard Napa Valley

Frisson’s 2023 Toucher Vineyard Proprietary Red captures a more refined side of Napa Valley, one defined by balance, nuance, and drinkability rather than sheer force. Built on a Cabernet core and shaped by careful blending, it delivers immediate appeal while retaining the structure and detail serious Napa reds demand. The result feels both current and timeless, polished yet expressive.

That refinement begins in Toucher Vineyard, a valley-floor site where gravelly loam soils provide natural concentration and control. Thoughtful vineyard design and modern trellising promote even ripening, allowing the fruit to build depth while preserving freshness. The vineyard’s inherent balance comes through clearly in the glass, grounding the wine’s elegance in its true origins.

In the cellar, a patient, measured approach carries that balance forward. Twenty months of aging in French oak adds texture and cohesion without overshadowing the fruit, allowing each component to settle into harmony. Generous yet composed, the wine unfolds with ease, finishing with confidence and an effortless pull toward the next glass.

Frisson
Proprietary Red
Toucher Vineyard
Napa Valley 2023
Retails at: $82

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“An easy-drinking, medium-bodied red dominated by Cabernet and Merlot, balancing blackberry and black cherry fruit with spiced plum and lighter touches of apricot and ripe fig. Elegant cedarwood spice weaves a blanket around the bright, lifted fruit, while the palate offers a soft, supple, and smoothly textured feel. The fruit source is Toucher Vineyards, a valley floor site on gravelly loam soils.”

93 Points

2021 Marquis de Goulaine Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Loire Valley France

2021 Marquis de Goulaine Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Loire Valley France

with No Comment $30 and underFranceKevin VogtLoire ValleySancerreSauvignon Blanc

Marquis de Goulaine

Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
Les Landelles 2021
Loire Valley, France

2021 Marquis de Goulaine Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Loire Valley France

Marquis de Goulaine’s Les Landelles Sauvignon Blanc delivers a level of freshness, balance, and site expression that immediately sets it apart as an exceptional value. Floral aromatics and fresh herbal notes emerge with immediacy and restraint, capturing Touraine’s cool influence and mineral soils in strikingly pure form.

That purity is rooted firmly in Touraine’s geology and climate. Beneath the vines, tuffeau limestone intermingles with sands and flint clays, soils that naturally favor tension and aromatic definition. Above ground, the region’s position between Atlantic influence and a more continental rhythm allows Sauvignon Blanc to ripen slowly, preserving acidity while sharpening expression.

Les Landelles delivers its message with Loire-like precision. Bright acidity defines the structure, bringing focus to citrus and herbal notes while allowing the wine’s mineral character to surface naturally. There is no excess weight, resulting in a finish that feels both refreshing and distinctly place-driven.

Marquis de Goulaine
Touraine Sauvignon Blanc
Les Landelles 2021
Loire Valley, France

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“The Marquis de Goulaine 2021 Touraine Les Landelles is lively and expressive, with aromas of lime zest, grapefruit pith, subtle green tropical fruit notes, and freshly cut grass, white peach, and chalky soil. On the palate, the wine is sharp and focused, driven by racy acidity and flavors of citrus, green apple, and gooseberry, with a Touraine limestone minerality. The wine finishes clean and with hints of oceanic salinity and a crisp, refreshing sensation.”

94 Points

2021 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Silver Oak

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Few wineries have shaped the modern idea of American Cabernet Sauvignon quite like Silver Oak. From the outset, its ambition was never about fleeting acclaim, but about crafting wines built to endure, bottles that reward patience while offering real pleasure from the first pour. That clarity of purpose remains central to the estate today, and it is unmistakable in the 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet, which has earned exceptional critical praise.

That level of consistency is no accident. Silver Oak has long believed that true quality comes from control rather than excess, a philosophy most clearly embodied in its decision to oversee its own barrel aging through a dedicated Missouri cooperage. By shaping every element of élevage, the estate ensures that oak supports rather than dominates, framing the fruit and allowing each vintage to express strength and restraint with precision.

The 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon brings this philosophy into sharp focus. A deep, composed core of fruit is carried by a polished texture and impeccable balance, hallmarks of the Silver Oak style. The wine shows presence without weight, structure without rigidity, and finishes with a steady, confident length that speaks to both immediate pleasure and long-term evolution.

Silver Oak
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021
Retails at: $200

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“Silver Oak’s 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet might well be one of the finest wines they’ve produced. Compact and beautifully poised, it marries generosity of fruit with a firm structural frame and focused aromatics. A panoply of blackberry and warm spice—smoked paprika, cinnamon, tobacco—lifts from the glass, interwoven with black truffle and loamy earth. Full-bodied, with a solid foundation of lengthy tannins buttressing the wine, it’s carried by a firm spine of juicy acidity. Rich oak spices are balanced by graphite minerality, a potpourri of dried flowers, and a chalky-earth finish that lingers. This is undoubtedly set to be one of Silver Oak’s longest-lived wines: ripe and generous enough to enjoy young, yet built on a sturdy foundation that will reward long-term cellaring. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Malbec are blended before barreling down for 24 months in American oak, of which 85% was new, 15% was once-used, and aged 20 additional months in bottle before release.”

98 Points

2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape France

2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape France

with No Comment $40-$50Chateauneuf-Du-PapeFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

Clos du Mont-Olivet

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rhone Valley, France 2022

2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape France

Clos du Mont-Olivet tells a vivid story of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Founded in 1932, the estate has long pursued a holistic vision, assembling vineyard holdings across multiple lieux-dits to express the region’s full breadth in a single wine. The 2022 vintage carries this philosophy forward, offering a composed, layered portrait shaped by the collective voice of the region, where complexity emerges from diversity, balance, and an understanding of the terroir.

 

That vision is grounded in decades of thoughtful vineyard acquisitions, guided by traditional farming practices. By working parcels across the appellation, Clos du Mont-Olivet has built a living archive of Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s soils and exposures, allowing each site to contribute its own nuance. The result is a style defined by continuity and clarity, one that privileges harmony over immediacy.

A standout at our recent tasting, the 2022 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape distinguished itself through balance and composure. Built around Grenache and supported by a full spectrum of traditional Rhône varieties, it carries depth without heaviness, unfolding with measured structure and confident authority.

Clos du Mont-Olivet
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rhone Valley, France 2022

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“The effusive nose of ripe raspberries and sour cherries pulls you into this concentrated and well-structured Chateauneuf. Firm core with plenty of licorice, black olives and spices, and a long, complex finish that’s beautifully supported by the expertly crafted tannins. A cuvee based on grenache made since 1932. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.”

94 Points

2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Post & Beam

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022

2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

For generations, Far Niente has set a benchmark for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, defined by precision, balance, and enduring quality. Post & Beam emerges from this celebrated lineage with a clear purpose, offering a refined yet accessible expression of Far Niente’s winemaking philosophy, rooted in measured experience.

The name Post & Beam draws inspiration from the historic barns at Nickel & Nickel, where lasting craftsmanship has long defined the Far Niente family’s approach to winegrowing. That same sense of strength and simplicity carries over into the 2022 vintage, which brings together fruit from multiple Napa Valley AVAs to form a Cabernet Sauvignon that speaks to both the region’s diversity and harmony.

The hallmark of the 2022 Post & Beam Cabernet Sauvignon is its texture. Ten months in French oak lend gentle structure and polish, allowing supple tannins and layers of dark fruit to unfold with ease. It offers immediate pleasure while retaining the structure and depth that define truly memorable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Post & Beam
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022
Retails at: $55

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“Richly appointed, with dark blue and purple fruit and a plush mouthfeel. Notes of plum liqueur and fresh roasted coffee grace the palate. Dark chocolate and anise entwine in the wine’s well-defined structure and satin-lined tannins. Spiced red tea and sandalwood engage with chocolate notes on the finish.”

95 Points

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

Sans Liege

The Offering 2023
Central Coast Red

2023 Sans Liege The Offering Central Coast Red

Sans Liege captures the lively energy of the Central Coast through a Rhône-inspired lens, presenting itself as a conversation between worlds. Rooted in Rhône tradition and shaped by California terrain, the wine reflects a deliberate pursuit of balance, texture, and expression.

At the center of this dialogue is Curt Schalchlin, whose time in France fostered a strong respect for Rhône varietals and their expressive range. Rather than replicate Old World formulas, Schalchlin applies those lessons locally, sourcing fruit across Paso Robles and Solvang with an eye toward nuance and harmony. His approach is guided by observation and nuance, allowing each site to contribute its distinct element to the blend.

In the 2023 vintage, these harmonious flavors come together with notable brilliance. Bright acidity carries layered flavors, while soft tannins provide shape without weight. The Offering moves seamlessly from lift to depth to savory resonance, finishing with a sense of balance that invites another sip and rewards time in the glass.

Sans Liege
The Offering 2023
Central Coast Red
Retails at: $33

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“The Offering 2023 Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre blend by Sans Liege is bright, fresh, and concentrated, beginning with aromas of rose petals, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, vanilla, white pepper, and black tea leaves. On the palate, the wine has a balanced complexity of flavors, including red cherries, plums, mixed berry pie, cured meats, peppercorns, and dark chocolate, that glide on the palate. The wine has silky tannins, creating a smooth mouthfeel, and the concentration of the flavors carries into the finish, ending with a crisp, rocky minerality.”

94 Points