2017 Heitz Cellar Cabenret Sauvignon Lot C-91 Napa Valley

2017 Heitz Cellar Cabenret Sauvignon Lot C-91 Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

HEITZ CELLAR

NAPA VALLEY LOT C-91
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017

2017 Heitz Cellar Cabenret Sauvignon Lot C-91 Napa Valley
Joe Heitz introduced Napa Valley’s first vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon from Martha’s Vineyard in the late 1950s, founded Heitz Cellar in 1961, and eight years later, he discovered he could create a wine with the qualities he desired most through site selection and assemblage. Since the inaugural vintage in 1969, Heitz Cellar has sourced fruit for Lot C-91 from premium parcels in St. Helena, Oakville, Rutherford, and Howell Mountain to create a complex, age-worthy wine with focus, depth, and length.
 
This historical cuvée has been released as an homage to Joe Heitz since his passing in 2000 and continues to incorporate his ideation of a complete, wholesome Napa Valley Cabernet. The 2017 Lot C-91 exudes elegance and power from superior site selection and expert blending, purposefully designed to guide the wine into a style that’s both stunning upon release and will stand the test of time.  
 
HEITZ CELLAR
NAPA VALLEY LOT C-91
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2017
 
 
 
“Wow. Such a racy and exciting nose! This is quite agile and nimble, full of red and blue berries in the forefront, then complemented by spiced orange, earl grey, red plums, potpourri, savory plums and chocolate. Tense and elegant on the palate, which is all about succulent red berries, nuance and texture. Nothing redundant here. A great Napa cabernet sauvignon that has real definition. A beauty by all accounts!”
96 Points
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
2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

with No Comment $30-$40ChileKevin VogtProprietary Red

VIK

MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile
Alex and Carrie Vik established VIK Winery in the rolling foothills of the Andes Mountains after nearly two years of scientific research seeking out the ideal terroir. After their search, they finally found the prime planting location in the Millahue Valley, in a pocket named “Lugar de Oro” or “Golden Place” by the native Mapuche people. The vines are planted in twelve undulating valleys of several different microclimates, all cooled by Pacific coastal breezes and Andes Mountain winds.
 
Milla Cala is a tribute to Old World meets New World by embodying the connection between the growing environment and the human hand. The vineyards are hand-harvested, and fermented with natural yeasts, giving a distinct house style. The 2018 release blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot, reflecting the region’s purity and rich complexity.
 
VIK
MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE
Retails at: $49
 
 
 
“Sweet berries, dried flowers, fresh mushrooms and some currants on the nose, following through to a medium to full body with fine, creamy tannins that give the wine form and tension. Juicy and savory fruit. A blend of cabernet franc, syrah, carmenere and merlot. Better to give this time, but already a beautiful, juicy red to drink. Drink or hold.”
94 Points
 
“A modern Bordeaux blend made by Cristian Vallejo who combines Cabernet Sauvignon with 18% Carmenere, 14% Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot from Millahue, Cachapoal. Aged for 20 months in oak, it is opulent and tasty with a nose of cherries, plums, blackberries, currants, eucalyptus and aromatic herbs wisely combined with spicy aromas from the ageing. Full-bodied with a lush texture and accomplished freshness, the long finish offers fruity and balsamic aromas.”
94 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