2015 Azelia Barolo

2015 Azelia Barolo Piedmont, Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BaroloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

AZELIA 

2015 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
2015 Azelia Barolo
 
The reports on the 2015 Vintage in Italy’s iconic Piedmont region make it perfectly clear that 2015 marks the greatest vintage for Barolo since 2010. James Suckling, longtime European Bureau Chief for the Wine Spectator wrote that the “full capability of the nebbiolo grape’s expressive nature is alive in Barolo 2015.” 
 
When referencing a history of terrific wines from Azelia, Robert Parker alerted his readers that “wines from…Azelia, can hold their own with the very best in the region” and “prices are exceedingly fair considering the quality of what goes into the bottle.” 
 
Azelia Barolo even graced the wine list at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry restaurant in Yountville California, and for years, it’s cemented itself as one of the best values for classic Barolo in our shop.
 
Azelia bears all of the hallmarks of the vintage; Muscular, toned, aromatically complex, and full of energy, and if you love classically styled, penetrating and focused Barolo, the value that you get with Azelia is truly hard to find. 
 
AZELIA 
2015 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
 
Your Price: $45/btl
 
 
“Aromas of coal dust and tar with a distinctly savory, stony edge and nuances of dried herb-wrapped cherries. The acidity is assertive and delivers a strong burst of red plum-pit flavor, ahead of chalky, smooth tannins. Nice balance…” 
 
“This is an enriched expression that shows the intensity and tightness of Nebbiolo with just a margin of the immediate softness and accessibility of this warm vintage… comes together well on the palate with nice precision and focus...” 
2013 Valdez St Peter's Church Zinfandel

2013 Valdez St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyKevin VogtSonomaUSAZinfandel

VALDEZ

2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH

2013 Valdez St Peter's Church ZinfandelHave you ever tasted a perfectly cellared California Zinfandel and had an epiphany moment, realizing that many Zinfandels will get better with age?  A grand example is the 2013 Valdez Zinfandel from St Peter’s Church Vineyard which happens to have also been one of our top 5 wines of the year in 2018. 

The 2013 Valdez St Peter’s Church Zinfandel arose from a 5 acre vineyard in Alexander Valley that’s planted to nearly century old vines.
The Valdez family are some California’s most sought after wine growers, having farmed for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others.
Valdez crafts their Zins in a concentrated and well-built style that bodes exceptionally well for cellaring, and because we recently sold out of their value-priced Sonoma County Zinfandel, we’ve made a deal to fill the void with their 2013 St Peters Zin at a price that’s simply too good to pass up.
 
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH  
Retails at:  $45/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “This impeccably balanced zinfandel flaunts energizing flavors and aromas of ripe black cherries, concentrated pomegranate, and crushed blackberries with hints of white rose petals, cocoa powder and pipe tobacco. The perfect balance shines through with an amazing brightness that elegantly supports the richly focused flavors.  Simply stunning!”   94 Points
2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtOregonPinot NoirUSAWillamette Valley

STATE of MIND

2016 PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Great values in Pinot Noir can often come from the small and undiscovered producers that execute a steadfast goal of producing wines with sense of place, vibrancy and life, and that tell a story of their origins.  In many cases despite their small production, their passion for making the best wine possible is immeasurably large, and State of Mind’s 2016 Pinot Noir is a perfect example.
 
State of Mind’s 2016 Pinot Noir arose from a single vineyard planted by veteran Willamette winemakers, and located in heart of the Dundee Hills appellation.  
 
The wine was thoughtfully created by Michael Kennedy who’s an award-winning sommelier and vintner who was previously the Sommelier for Ritz-Carlton, before embarking on his own wine company in Napa Valley that’s been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Food & Wine Magazine and Barron’s.  
 
This wine has all the makings for greatness, but has a production level so low that many will never find out about it… It also comes from one of the greatest vintages in Willamette Valley history, rivaled only by 2012. The Wine Spectator rated the overall vintage 97 Points, highlighting balance and elegance. 
 
 
STATE of MIND
2016 PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price:  Insider Club Members Only
 
Tasting Notes: “A finessed, sleek and elegant Pinot Noir from the WV, showing vibrant red & blue fruits on the nose, with rosemary, hazelnut, thyme, basil and rich earth.  The palate is fresh and offers juicy plum acidity at first, but as it opens, denser more rich flavors develop.   The wine evolves wonderfully with air and benefits from being paid against lighter meat dishes, and seafood accented with spices.  Drink this over the next 30 years.” 
2018 TOR Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay

2018 TOR Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay

with No Comment $50-$60CarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

TOR

2018 CHARDONNAY
CARNEROS, NAPA VALLEY

2018 TOR Carneros Napa Valley ChardonnayIf you enjoy some of California’s top Chardonnays, and you want to find one at an obtainable price, TOR’s 2018 Carneros Chardonnay is for you. When you read below about the origins of the grapes, and then consider that they’re paired with the immeasurable talents of winemaker Jeff Ames, you might just decide to skip right down to the order button…

Tor’s 2018 Chardonnay is a barrel selection from Steve Beresini’s heritage vines, Larry Hyde’s world-renowned Carneros fruit, and the iconic Durell Vineyard in Sonoma, and any one of these three sites could be considered one of California’s Grand Cru Vineyards.

All three sites were hand-harvested separately, and at their individual optimum ripeness before being pressed directly into small French oak barrels, where winemaker Jeff Ames was then able to identify and capture the best qualities from each vineyard, and harmonize them into something absolutely remarkable.

TOR
2018 CHARDONNAY
CARNEROS, NAPA VALLEY

Your Price: $55/btl

Click to Order

Winery Notes: “This wine is from three historic Chardonnay vineyards, the sum of this winemaker’s selection is greater than its parts. Steve Beresini’s thirty-year-old, dry-farmed heritage vines gives depth and texture, Hyde Vineyard’s wind-cooled topography gives minerality and precision, Durell vineyard contributes richness and opulence. 470 cases made.” 94 Points ~ International Wine Report

2017 Prisoner Wine Company Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Prisoner Wine Company ‘Cuttings’ Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUncategorizedUSA

PRISONER WINE CO. 2017 Prisoner Wine Company Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 
Birthed from high-elevation, steep, hillside vineyards that traverse through some of Napa Valley’s most sought after growing districts, Prisoner Wine Company’s Cuttings Cabernet can be described as the bigger more masculine brother to the popular Prisoner Red blend.  The wine is thoughtfully created from a diverse variety of clones and terroirs, which all lend to the wines vast complexity and infectious charm.  The newly released 2017 bursts from the glass with intense mulberries, wild plum, melted dark chocolate, black currants and vanilla bean.  Cuttings makes a powerful statement on what can be achieved at this price point…
 
Hailing from high-elevation vineyards including Bella Vista, Obsidian Ridge, and the York Creek Vineyard on Spring Mountain, the 2017 Cuttings was built around a core of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel. The wine models extravagance and offers deep, rich, hedonistic flavors, just like we’ve come to expect from Cuttings.  The wine is always made in an irresistibly plump, velvety style with plush tannins that make it impossible to resist diving in for another sip… another glass and then another.
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2017 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl   
YOU SAVE 27%
 
Winery Notes: “Cuttings combines the deep, intense flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon with the structure and richness of Petite Sirah and Syrah. A small amount of Zinfandel adds a nice layer of complexity and spiciness.  Deliciously smooth with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, and cocoa. Aromas of fresh roasted coffee, black currant, vanilla bean, brown spice, and wild berries.” 
 
 
2014 Rudius Kaley Elizabeth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Rudius Kaley Elizabeth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $80-$90Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

RUDIUS 2014 Rudius Kaley Elizabeth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

KALEY ELIZABETH 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 OAKVILLE 

 
Rudius is a wine so profound that it gave every one of our buyers a you gotta be kidding me moment the first time we tried it.  Even after tasting over 5,000 wines this year, Rudius stands out on multiple levels.  For starters, it gave me goosebumps when I first tasted it, and it hails exclusively from a secret vineyard source in Oakville just across from Screaming Eagle.  It’s serendipitous that Rudius chose not to list the vineyard name on their label, or they would have had to charge $175 per bottle, and less of us would get to experience this brilliant wine.  The wine was expertly crafted by Jeff Ames, who mentored under Thomas River Brown at Schrader, Maybach, Outpost and TOR before becoming head winemaker at TOR in 2005.  Since then, he’s made wines scoring in the high-90’s look easy, and words absolutely cannot express how great this wine is at $135/btl.
 
This secret vineyard source has beautiful red soils that give wines from this area intense, prolific flavors, and with neighbors like Screaming Eagle, Rudd, Dalla Valle’s Maya and Joseph Phelps’ Bacchus Vineyards, no doubt this is a great place to source fruit.  The wines from this vineyard have a trademark intense red-fruited perfume, dark, supple fruits, crushed rock and brilliant complexity.  If you enjoy the best wines that Napa Valley has to offer, you do not want to miss this… 
 
RUDIUS
KALEY ELIZABETH 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 OAKVILLE
Retails at: $135/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kaley Elizabeth comes from the Tierra Rojo vineyard in Oakville planted in 1988 and contains a small splash of Cabernet Franc. The nose explodes with baked cherries, blackcurrant cordial and blueberry pie notes with touches of Chinese five spice, wood smoke and beef drippings with a waft of dried herbs. Full-bodied, rich and spicy with mouth-filling savory and spice layers, it has a solid backbone of chewy tannins and a lively line, finishing long. 300 cases were made.”  96+ Points
2016 Cru9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Cru9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

CRU9 2016 Cru9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
STOP TALKING…
2016 NAPA VALLEY

 
Selected for having unparalleled concentration, remarkable depth and laser focus, CRU9’s 2016 Cabernet was the obvious choice for our #2 pick this year.  The wine could be the poster child for classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and throughout the year, it became increasingly clear that this wine was truly special as it generated an open tap of enthusiastic comments and large re-orders.  Resonating from secret vineyard sources in Oakville, St. Helena, and Rutherford, the 2016 exhibits all the best traits of the vintage.  On the palate, waves of concentrated blackberry, sandalwood, black currants, white flowers and earthy minerals circulate and add new dimensions as the wine opens up… At the winery retail of $60/btl it’s amazing, and it’s simply one of the best Cabernets in the shop.
 
Emerging from a Blockbuster vintage, which the Wine Spectator rated the 2016 vintage from Napa Valley as the best since 1997 for Napa Cabs, the 2016 is confident and authoritative, yet finely detailed and effortlessly balanced.  Notably, CRU9 also gives back and helps support two nonprofit women shelters, Ruby’s Place in CA and House of Hope in IA.  Every time you buy a bottle of CRU9, you also help level the playing field for survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse, and homelessness.
 
CRU9
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
STOP TALKING…
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2016 has an intense purple color offering a powerful nose of ripe blackberries, black cherry, dried currants, crushed rocks, cigar box and hints of cinnamon.  On the palate, it is intensely penetrating and focused with concentrated wild mountain blackberries, cassis and velvety tannins. It finishes in a linear style that’s so focused and penetrating, it brings an immediate smile to your face and is exceptionally satisfying.  In a world where hundred plus dollar Napa Cabs are the norm, this is the ultimate ‘Bang for your Buck’ wine. Superb! Drink now through 2029.” 97 Points
2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNorth CoastPinot NoirRussian River ValleyUncategorizedUSA

JOSEPH JEWELL  2015 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

 
We’ve introduced some unbelievable values this year, however, there’s still just one that I can honestly say is the best wine I’ve ever tasted in this price range. Every time I taste it, I ‘m perplexed that a wine we can offer at this price can taste like it costs more than double the price.  The 2015 combines fruit from Hallberg, Floodgate and Bucher Vineyards and Williams-Selyem and Gary Farrell fans likely recognize these sites as being spectacular.  The 2015 makes a gorgeous, elegant entrance onto your palate with stunning balance, detail, intensity, and length, and it perfectly portrays everything that I’m exited about in cool climate California Pinot Noir.  It truly drinks like a killer $40+ Pinot, and wines of this quality don’t come around often.
 
This Pinot has been lingering on my mind since I first tasted it, and in equal detail are the mineral-laced raspberries, red cherries, black tea, wild rose and touches of violets that are etched in my memory.  The 2015 was elevated for 11 months in Francois Freres, Ermitage and Rousseau barrels, and has blossomed over the last 3 years in the bottle. If you love Pinot Noir, and better yet, even if you don’t… try a case of this, and I think you’ll become and instant fan.
 
JOSEPH JEWELL 
2015 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $40/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “My favorite Pinot Noir brand that I’ve discovered in the last few years, the Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir always over-delivers.  The elegant nose is seamless with bright cherries, mixed berries, flowers and spice.  Then comes the wonderfully balanced, nuanced palate which begins with red cherries, crushed raspberries and plum skin, then balanced by dried rose petal, subtle spices and a touch of oak.  The mouth quenching finish brings lingering flavors, lasting for over a minute, then leaving your palate begging for another sip.” 95 Points
2017 Montagu Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay

2017 Montagu Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNorth CoastUSA

MONTAGU 2017 Montagu Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay

2017 CHARDONNAY
RITCHIE VINEYARD

 
Chosen for its profound sense of place, brilliant details and irresistible opulence, Montagu’s singe-vineyard Ritchie Chardonnay stands tall as our #4 Wine in 2019.  Ritchie Vineyard has an epic history of producing some of California’s most distinguished Chardonnays, and it’s a site celebrated by powerhouses Aubert, DuMOL, Ramey, Patz & Hall, and the list goes on…  Kent Ritchie planted his vineyard in the early 1970’s… now fast-forward nearly 50 years, the Old Wente Clone vines now have gnarly trunks and produce tiny quantities of choice grapes. The only problem is the average price of Chardonnay from Ritchie is North of $60/btl… That’s where we come in, and Montagu’s Ritchie Chardonnay is an amazing value at their $55 price.  At our price, you won’t believe your taste buds…  
 
The Ritchie Vineyard is centered in the iconic Russian River Valley, and the soils are pure sandy Goldridge loam, which originates from the bed of an inland sea.  It enjoys the cooling fog from the Pacific, and the grapes are able to achieve optimum ripeness and maintain brilliant acidity.  This gorgeous Chardonnay was created by Weston Eidson who gained valuable winemaking knowledge from mentors Jason Moore and Russell Bevan.  You won’t find a better Chardonnay at a lower price.  
 
MONTAGU
2017 CHARDONNAY
RITCHIE VINEYARD
Retails at:  $55/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Shimmering in the glass like freshly polished brass, every other element in this wine shines as brightly too.  The nose is deep, supple, and rich with ripe apples, honeysuckle and baking spices.  The palate spans a full and opulent array of flavors, combining butter baked pear, violets and hints of ginger, along with a gorgeous mouth-coating intensity, all without being too heavy.  Then comes the finish, which wraps you in a warm, comforting blanket, lingering on and on, then putting you in a very happy place.” 94 Points
2013 J Gregory Extol Proprietary Red

2013 J Gregory Extol Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

J. GREGORY 2013 J Gregory Extol Proprietary Red

2013 EXTOL
PROPRIETARY RED

 
I knew from the very first taste that J Gregory’s 2013 Extol deserved a spot on my top 5 list for 2019.  The wine is made in an enthralling style that washes over your palate in rich layers of perfectly ripened berries, focused red currents, baker’s chocolate and spice.  It was is created by Mark Jessup who was on the original winemaking team at OPUS ONE from 1979 through 1987, and his flagship “Extol” Proprietary Red is his version of OPUS ONE, and the 2013 was built around a solid core of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and dressed with Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Merlot.  The wine has a magnetic bouquet that draws you in, and on the palate, the wine is incredibly layered and powerful, yet supple and balanced.  At the winery price of $115, believe me, it’s an incredible bargain.  I recommend going big, because this one is going to fly…
 
Enchanting, profound, hedonistic are all fitting descriptors of the 2013 Extol which spent 22 months developing in French oak.  The flavors are profoundly stunning, pure and supple and on the palate the 2013 wraps your taste buds in a restrained opulence that I find incredibly appealing.  You might need someone to pinch you to make sure you’re not dreaming of a time when OPUS ONE was around the same price.  
 
J. GREGORY
2013 EXTOL
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $115/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “You just know from the moment this wine kisses your lips… it’s really something special. This brilliant expression has an exquisite nose of wild crushed ripe blackberries, alluring red currants, dried herbs and smoke. Impressively structured with a beautifully supple approach, the rich, viscous, velvety texture perfectly frames the opulent layers of bing cherry, brooding mountain berries and cassis.  Then comes a breath of sweet pipe tobacco, green herbs and sweet vanilla oak. The supple fruit tannins perfectly balance a mesmerizing flow of precisely orchestrated fruits, then ending with a long, elegant, mouth watering finish.” 97 Points