2018 Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

MASTERY

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Mastery’s 2018 release offers a deep, powerful reflection of Napa Valley’s highest-rated vintage in more than twenty years; a vintage revered for producing “wines that are rich and dark, but detailed, restrained in style and very terroir-driven,” as written by the Wine Spectator. Winemaker Rudy Zuidema’s cumulative knowledge over the past 30 years is commanding in this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon which beautifully articulates the terroir of Rapp Ranch and Shadybrook Estate Vineyards in Coombsville. 
 
Forged from vines grown in Coombsville’s volcanic soils, this powerful, focused, penetrating Cabernet celebrates its origin in memorable detail. Three barrels made up the entire production in the 2018 vintage, each chosen for varietal focus, concentrated flavors, and a masterful combination of strength and elegance. You’ll find these qualities in many of the world’s most outstanding wines. At $95, Cabernet Sauvignon doesn’t get any better!
 
MASTERY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018
 
 
 
“Mastery 2018 is a sumptuous wine with aromas of violet, blueberry, cassis, balsamic glaze, English toffee, cigar box, and petrichor. On the palate, the wine is rich and powerful, with flavors of blackberry pie, dark chocolate, and gingerbread. The 2018 vintage is elegantly layered with an intense structure that will slowly unravel to reveal its intricacies for those who lay this beauty down in the cellar.” 
96-97 Points
2019 Janzen Beckstoffer To-Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon

2019 Janzen Beckstoffer To-Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

JANZEN

BECKSTOFFER TO-KALON
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019

2019 Janzen Beckstoffer To-Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon
The renowned Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard, initially planted by Hamilton Crabb in 1868, is widely regarded as a Napa Valley First Growth. With a rich heritage of producing exceptional wines that consistently receive high scores, its fruit draws some of Napa Valley’s most distinguished winemakers. Kirk Venge, one of Napa’s most in-demand winemakers, whom you might recognize from Eleven Eleven, Macauley, B Cellars, and Venge wines, crafted this remarkable expression. 
 
The detail-oriented viticultural team keeps the vineyard in optimum health, ensuring the vines grow deep into the well-drained soils in search of nutrients that aid in the fruit’s distinguished flavors and robust structure. Janzen’s 2019 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon unabashedly displays the signature characteristics that have made the legendary piece of land incredibly valuable.
 
JANZEN
BECKSTOFFER TO-KALON
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019
 
 
 
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard comes from one of the greatest sites in the valley and is all varietal. Its ruby/purple color is followed by a perfumed, expressive bouquet of red and black currants, flowery incense, leather, chocolate, and baking spices. It’s medium to full-bodied on the palate and nicely balanced, with velvety tannins, a round, supple mouthfeel, and a great finish. It’s drinking nicely already, but I see no need to delay gratification either. Nevertheless, it should have 15 years of prime drinking.”
95 Points
2019 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah Hawkes Bay NZ

2019 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah Hawkes Bay NZ

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNew ZealandSyrah

TRINITY HILL

GIMBLETT GRAVELS SYRAH
HAWKES BAY NZ 2019

2019 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah Hawkes Bay NZ
The Gimblett Gravels District lies within the winegrowing region of Hawke’s Bay and boasts poor, stony, gravelly soils ideal for New Zealand-grown Syrah. In 1993, Trinity Hill recognized the immense prospects for viticultural excellence in this small subregion formed by the ancient Ngaruroro River, becoming among the first to cultivate Syrah in Gimblett Gravels.
 
Trinity Hills takes pride in being a certified member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, emphasizing biodiversity and reducing its environmental impact. Notably, New Zealand has the highest number of certified organic wineries globally. The 2019 Gimblett Gravels Syrah is an impressive blend of the three estate vineyards: Gimblett Estate, Tin Shed, and Gimblett Stones. The unique terroir is evident in this bright, spicy wine, offering a quintessential taste of the region.
 
TRINITY HILL
GIMBLETT GRAVELS SYRAH
HAWKES BAY NZ 2019
 
 
 
“Wow. The white-pepper and black-fruit combination here is impressively fresh and vibrant. Really bursting from the glass. The palate has such fine-cut tannins that form a crisp outer shell around very juicy red and dark berries. Cascading, grainy finish. Superb. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
96 Points
2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

SONOMA BENCH

PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Sonoma Bench Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
The Green Valley AVA, nestled within the larger Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, is renowned for producing exceptional Pinot Noir. It benefits from the unique climate that brings in fog during the evenings and dissipates slowly, making it one of the last areas in the region to see sunlight. The cool temperatures and extended hangtime provide ideal conditions for the fruit to mature slowly and develop nuanced flavors with a refined complexity.
 
With twenty years of winemaking experience in Sonoma, David Sayre has established enduring partnerships with talented growers from the county’s finest vineyards. The grapes for Sonoma Bench’s 2021 Russian River Pinot Noir underwent meticulous hand-sorting and destemming before fermentation. The wine aged for nine months in 30% new French oak barrels, resulting in a flawlessly balanced Pinot Noir that’s an absolute delight.
 
SONOMA BENCH
PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
 
 
“Beautifully reflecting the true essence of the Pinot Noir grape, the Sonoma Bench Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021 begins with an elegant nose of red cherries, light florals, fresh sage, and subtle baking spices. The palate continues with bright cherry cola, dried mushrooms, and sassafras combined with a saline minerality. This lighter-styled offering has a beautiful, balanced, complex finish that will make any Pinot Noir purist smile.”
94 Points
2020 Edict Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2020 Edict Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

EDICT

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE 2020

2020 Edict Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Edict’s winemaking mantra of “truth, generosity, and love” guides each decision from the vineyard to the winery, ensuring premium quality in their finished wines. With 30 years of experience and partnerships with some of the best growers from Carneros to Calistoga, Edict’s Vineyard Manager carefully selects the healthiest fruit with the most significant varietal expression.
 
Edict’s winemaking team focuses on bringing out those unique varietal expressions, highlighting the fruit and harnessing ripe, almost chewy tannins, a smooth texture, and deep, bold aromatics. The 2020 Oakville Collinetta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with rich layers of flavor, power, and energy, and with all Edict wines can age but is ready to be enjoyed now.
 
EDICT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE 2020
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“The Edict. Collinetta Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 begins with a generous nose including black currants, blackberry jam, baker’s chocolate, and crushed stones. The supple palate has a pretty combination of mouth watering bright red fruits, combined with deep, ripe black fruits – a textbook signature of Oakville Cabs. It has a long, linear styled finish leaving your palate begging for another sip.”
94 Points
2020 Raoul Gautherin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

2020 Raoul Gautherin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons

with No Comment $40-$50BurgandyChablisFranceKevin Vogt

RAOUL GAUTHERIN

CHABLIS 1ER CRU
VAILLONS 2020

2020 Raoul Gautherin Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons
Since 1585 the Gautherin family has cultivated vines on Chablis’ most exposed hillside sites, crafting beautiful wines that tell a detailed story of their origins. Because of low intervention in the vineyard and winery, natural yeasts, and limited or no use of oak, Chablis is one of the purest expressions of Chardonnay worldwide.
 
Raoul Gautherin’s father and son team relies on familial knowledge passed down over several generations and sustainable farming practices that focus on the vitality of the vines to produce world-class wines. The Vaillons Premier Cru vineyard produces wines with distinct minerality and delicate white fruit aromatics, making it one of Chablis’ most desired sites. The 2020 vintage provided wines with rich flavors and deep complexity that are dangerously easy to drink now and will pay tribute to those with the patience to cellar and age.
 
RAOUL GAUTHERIN
CHABLIS 1ER CRU
VAILLONS 2020
 
 
 
“The Raoul Gautherin 2020 1er Cru Chablis opens with expressive notes of chamomile, yellow apple, bread dough, chalky minerality, and oceanic salinity. On the palate, the wine has a silky smooth texture with flavors of apple, quince, apricot, and pastry. This wine has an impeccable balance of rich flavors and bright acidity that flows into a long finish.”
95 Points
2018 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

PURLIEU

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Purlieu Wine Company, whom you may know from their second label Le Pich, specializes in single-vineyard wines from some of Napa Valley’s most prized locations, including Beckstoffer To-Kalon, Georges III, Missouri Hopper, and Sugarloaf. Their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a cuvée of several majestic sites and a tribute to the valley with its multiple soil types and microclimates contributing to its remarkable complexity.
 
Originally from France, Julien Fayard’s two decades of winemaking expertise are well respected. He began honing his skills at Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux, then gained more valuable experience as Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka at elite producers such as Lail, Gemstone, Hundred Acre, Vineyard 29, and Mastery. The 2018 release is living up to its expectations from a fabulous vintage known for elegance, intricate flavors, and sophistication with substantial longevity.
 
PURLIEU
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $115
 
 
 
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is fabulous. Silky tannins and plush fruit wrap around the palate in a super-expressive Cabernet Sauvignon that has so much to give. Bright acids perk up the blackberry jam, mocha, licorice, spice and gravel flavors. The 2018 is fresh, vibrant and loaded with personality. I loved it.”
94 Points
2020 Chateau Hautes Versannes Saint-Emilion Bordeaux

2020 Chateau Hautes Versannes Saint-Emilion Bordeaux

with No Comment $30 and underBordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin VogtSaint Emilion

CHÂTEAU HAUTES VERSANNES

SAINT-EMILION 
BORDEAUX 2020

2020 Chateau Hautes Versannes Saint-Emilion Bordeaux
Chateau Hautes Versannes’ vineyards grow on siliceous silty soils around the village of Saint-Sulpice de Faleyrens in the celebrated Saint-Émilion AOC. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines have an average age of 40 years and produce concentrated fruit with distinct terroir markers, such as rich, ripe red fruit, dark brambly black fruit, herbs, and spices.
 
The 2020 vintage for Saint-Émilion has been rated as an excellent vintage, particularly for Merlot, due to the nearly perfect weather that continued through harvest and contributed to a structure with fine to firm tannins. This wine is a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc aged in concrete vats giving clean, polished, pure flavors from France’s most acclaimed wine regions.
 
CHÂTEAU HAUTES VERSANNES
SAINT-EMILION 
BORDEAUX 2020
 
 
 
“Intense nose of rum, red liquorice and violets seasoned with cocoa and spices and earthy undertones. Really smooth on the palate, rich and vivid.”
95 Points
2021 L'Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

2021 L’Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley

with No Comment $30 and underDry Creek ValleyKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonoma

L’OBJET BLANC

SAUVIGNON BLANC
COMSTOCK VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY 2021

2021 L'Objet Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Comstock Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
L’Objet is the creation of winemaker/owner Danny Glover. Danny spent several years writing and producing in the artistic Los Angeles music culture before discovering a captivating Pinot Noir that inspired and drew him into the winemaking world. He honed in on his new passion by working for Clos du Bois, Armida, and Dutcher Crossing before launching his brand and pursuing the finest fruit quality from conscientious, hardworking growers.
 
Danny sources Sauvignon Blanc from the Comstock Family Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, valuing Bob and Sandy Comstock’s meticulous attention to detail that pays off each vintage with exceptional quality—the 2021 growing season experienced warm days with cool, foggy nights and a lengthy hang-time, perfect for complex flavor development that jumps out of the glass in this fresh and lively Sauvignon Blanc.
 
L’OBJET BLANC
SAUVIGNON BLANC
COMSTOCK VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY 2021
 
 
 
“The L’Objet 2021 Comstock Family Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley opens with pronounced aromas of acacia, jasmine, Meyer lemon, passion fruit, and cantaloupe. On the palate, the wine has a smooth texture with fresh tropical fruit flavors, pink grapefruit, and jasmine. The wine has a crisp finish that balances the depth of flavors in quite a delightful drinking experience.”
94 Points
2018 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley

2018 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Columbia ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedUSAWashington State

PIROUETTE

PROPRIETARY RED
COLUMBIA VALLEY 2018

2018 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley
Nine of the world’s top winemakers make up the Long Shadows brand that Allen Shoup created after decades of building the Chateau Ste Michelle brand and its affiliate wineries to international recognition. Allen retired from Chateau Ste Michelle in 2002 to focus on his newest endeavor to promote Washington wines by bringing in celebrated international winemakers.
 
Allen hired Gilles Nicault as the Director of Winemaking because of his expertise, flexibility, and eagerness to merge his winemaking skills with each vintner who joined the team as a co-owner of their wine. Philippe Melka and Agustin Huneeus, Sr worked as a team to create the 2018 Pirouette by combining Old-World winemaking and New World technology elements to make this Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in French oak. The resulting wine is, as Decanter proclaims, “Hauntingly good.”
 
PIROUETTE
PROPRIETARY RED
COLUMBIA VALLEY 2018
 
 
 
“Hauntingly good, this a stunning new bottling by Philippe Melka. Dense and chewy, once in the month, this takes on a glorious range of flavours from sagebrush and pipe tobacco to blackcurrant jelly and chocolate cake. The vibrant sense of tension and silky tannins both add to the enjoyment, as this has a long way to go in the cellar.”
96 Points