2018 Agnes et Didier Dauvissat Chablis Burgundy France

2018 Agnes et Didier Dauvissat Chablis Burgundy France

with No Comment $30 and underBurgandyChablisChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

AGNÈS et DIDIER DAUVISSAT

CHABLIS 2018
BURGUNDY, FRANCE

2018 Agnes et Didier Dauvissat Chablis Burgundy France
Agnès and Didier Dauvissat were vineyard workers who dreamed of vinifying wine from vineyards they owned, so they bought and planted their first small plot of vines in 1987. Today they hold just over 30 acres of vineyards spread across Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru Beauroy, Bourgogne Rouge, and Crémant de Bourgogne, producing terroir-distinct wines from each appellation.
 
Dauvissat is a prominent name in the area, and Didier’s cousin, Vincent, of a respected Chablisienne estate nearby, mentored Didier. The stylistic similarities in their wines go beyond the last name. The 2018 Chablis has clean, pure fruit aromatics and a crisp minerality from fermentation in stainless steel, a hallmark of the region that’s created a demand for unoaked Chardonnay worldwide.
 
AGNÈS et DIDIER DAUVISSAT
CHABLIS 2018
BURGUNDY, FRANCE
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Agnès et Didier Dauvissat 2018 Chablis opens with aromas of honeysuckle, applesauce, cinnamon, quince, and white chalk. On the palate, the wine has concentrated flavors of apple and pear with complementary, secondary characteristics of mascarpone and pastry dough. This wine has an impressive depth of aromas and flavors with mouthwatering acidity with incredible purity.”
95 Points
2019 Castello Romitorio Colli Sensi Chianti Tuscany

2019 Castello Romitorio Colli Sensi Chianti Tuscany

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

CASTELLO ROMITORIO

COLLI SENESI CHIANTI
TUSCANY 2019

2019 Castello Romitorio Colli Sensi Chianti Tuscany
Italian artist Sandro Chia believes the best expressions of art and wine thrive with a minimalistic approach. This philosophy is a guiding principle for his wines, and his estate is becoming known for producing wines of superb quality, character, and value. Sandro purchased Castello Romitorio in 1984 and initiated a complete restoration of the historic property that previously served as a Roman temple, fortress, monastery, castle, and manor house.
 
Colli Senesi is the Southernmost subregion of Chianti DOCG with warmer conditions and slightly more stringent production rules requiring a minimum of 75% Sangiovese in the blend resulting in more substantial, fuller-bodied wines. The 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi is 100% Sangiovese and encompasses the winery’s vision of artistic exploration and commitment to excellence and sustainability. 
 
CASTELLO ROMITORIO
COLLI SENESI CHIANTI
TUSCANY 2019
 
Your Price: $24
 
“Castello Romitorio 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi opens with delicate notes of rose petals, violets, ripe red cherry, ground nutmeg, dried sage, and black tea leaves. The wine has flavors of cranberry, red plum, wild strawberry, and white pepper with vibrant acidity and silky tannins. This beautifully balanced, classic wine is easy-drinking and effortlessly over-delivers for the price.”
94 Points
2016 Levy & Mcclellan Ampersand Red Blend Napa Valley

2016 Levy & Mcclellan Ampersand Red Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtProprietary RedUSA

LEVY & MCCLELLAN

AMPERSAND RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2016

2016 Levy & Mcclellan Ampersand Red Blend Napa Valley
Bob Levy began his winemaking career in the mid-1970s at Cuvaison, moving on in the early 1980s as winemaker and general manager at Rombauer before dedicating himself to several years at Merryvale, where he met his future business partner, Real Estate Developer Bill Harlan. Bob became Harlan Estate’s founding winemaker and Director of Winegrowing and embarked on an illustrious career as Director of Winegrowing for all of the Harlan Family Domain properties, including BOND ESTATES, Promontory, and The Napa Valley Reserve. He recently handed over those responsibilities to the next generation; however, he continues to oversee the Harlan family winegrowing teams and properties. Over time, Bob worked with over 100 unique hillside cabernet vineyard sites in Napa Valley during his career.
 
Levy & McClellan was founded in 1999 by Bob and his wife, Martha McClellan, capitalizing on Bob’s profound experiences in the vineyard to select a prime location to plant a vineyard with specific ideas not previously done. His philosophies included producing a wine that would share the structure of a hillside cabernet while preserving the terroir’s character and providing a pleasurable experience through the finish with soft tannins. Martha is also a talented winemaker, crafting the wines at Sloan Estate, Checkerboard Vineyards, and Vineyard 7 & 8. She and Bob created Ampersand to tell the vintage story; Their 2016 Proprietary Red is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon-based with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, giving a clear portrait of excellence. 
 
LEVY & MCCLELLAN
AMPERSAND RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2016
 
Your Price: $350
 
 
“The Levy & McClellan 2016 Ampersand has alluring aromas of lavender, violet, black currant, black plum, black olive, cedar, and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and densely concentrated with flavors of black cherry, blackberry, baking spices, and dried herbs, balanced with bright, refreshing acidity and seductively smooth tannins. This wine immediately grabs your attention and doesn’t easily let go with its infinitely long finish.”
98 Points
2020 Domaine De Leyre-Loup Morgon Beaujolais France

2020 Domaine De Leyre-Loup Morgon Beaujolais France

with No Comment $30 and underBurgandyFranceKevin Vogt

DOMAINE DE LEYRE-LOUP

MORGON 2020
BEAUJOLAIS, FRANCE

2020 Domaine De Leyre-Loup Morgon Beaujolais France
Domaine de Leyre-Loup is located in Beaujolais and encompasses 25 acres of vines on granitic soils perfectly suited to growing expressive Gamay of rare richness and high quality. The Morgon AOC is the second largest Beaujolais Cru known for powerful wines that are good for laying down and developing delightful earthy, Pinot Noir-like notes over time.
 
The Domaine’s 50-year-old vines in Morgon give fruit with great concentration and structure that get hand-harvested and sorted, partially destemmed before fermentation. The grapes undergo a traditional, regional fermentation with semi-carbonic maceration in stainless steel resulting in a softer tannin extraction and the creation of lively fruit and spice aromatics that the 2020 vintage shows off in a delicate, focused style.
 
DOMAINE DE LEYRE-LOUP
MORGON 2020
BEAUJOLAIS, FRANCE
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2020 Domaine de Leyre-Loup Beaujolais Morgon begins with aromas of bright red fruits such as cranberry and raspberry with hints of white pepper, dried herbs, and earth. On the palate, the wine has concentrated fruit flavors of ripe strawberry and juicy fruit punch accented by herbal notes of black tea and sweet tobacco leaf. This wine has an impressive flavor intensity that awakens your taste buds and keeps them alive.”
94-95 Points
2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50CoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

COHO

HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley
Gary Lipp worked in the California wine industry for over 35 years, founding Coho in 2002 with the principles he learned from his experiences working in multiple aspects of wine production. He started strong and continued down a path of excellence by hiring renowned winemaker Phillip Titus to help achieve his goal of crafting flavorful yet balanced wines. Philip has been with Chappellet for nearly 30 years and has produced some of California’s most sought-after wines. 
 
Gary introduced Headwaters Proprietary Red in 2005 after a fire destroyed the winery’s inventory of Cabernet Sauvignon for their 100% varietal wine. Thanks to the wine community’s generosity, Coho produced a red blend from Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. This Bordeaux-style blend still focuses on fruit from Coombsville, and the cooler 2018 vintage is already exquisite with layers of delicate complexity, creating aromas and flavors reminiscent of the Old World.
 
COHO
HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Dark plums, mulberries, cloves and earthy undertones. It’s full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Full and fruity with structure and freshness on the palate. Long finish. Very polished. Drink in 2023.”
93 Points
2019 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

2019 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

SULLIVAN

COEUR DE VIGNE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD 2019

2019 Sullivan Coeur De Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
Jim Sullivan’s obsession with wine began in the 1950s, making wine at home from a small plot of vines gifted to him and his new bride as a wedding present. Jim moved his family to a dusty Rutherford farm in 1972, establishing Sullivan Estate, which has been quietly producing and selling wine to friends, family, and wine lovers for nearly five decades.
 
Winemaker Jeff Cole earned a degree in Wine and Viticulture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo before working with Schramsberg and J. Davies Vineyards, joining Sullivan in 2013. The 2019 Coeur de Vigne is a Left Bank Bordeaux-inspired blend with a clear and powerful voice, articulated through Jeff’s precise winemaking with an emphasis on displaying the dynamic terroir and rich potential offered by the Rutherford estate.
 
SULLIVAN
COEUR DE VIGNE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD 2019
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“Blended with 8% Petit Verdot and 2% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this hearty red is brimming in thick tannin, considerable oak and expansively youthful layers of vanilla, cassis and plum. Impressive in its grasp of both variety and appellation, it is worth cellaring; enjoy best from 2029–2034.”
94 Points “Cellar Selection”
2021 Jean-Marie Reverdy Caillottes Sancerre Loire Valley

2021 Jean-Marie Reverdy Caillottes Sancerre Loire Valley

with No Comment $30-$40FranceKevin VogtLoire ValleySancerre

JEAN-MARIE REVERDY

CAILLOTTES SANCERRE
LOIRE VALLEY 2021

2021 Jean-Marie Reverdy Caillottes Sancerre Loire Valley
Domaine La Villaudière is a multi-generational winery run by Jean-Marie Reverdy and his wife Catherine, with the help of their elder son and estate winemaker Guillaume. They handcraft brilliant Sancerre, centered around sustainability, family, and preserving classic Sancerre terroir. The Sancerre AOC brings a level of sophistication to Sauvignon Blanc, unmatched by any other region in the world, with traditional farming practices and winemaking techniques passed down for generations.
 
The winery sources this stunning Sauvignon Blanc from vines grown on the renowned Caillottes soil, known for producing fruit with elaborate aromatics. The 2021 ‘Caillottes’ Sancerre offers a specific sense of place, capturing the chalky minerality and zesty citrus fruit that’s part of the region’s identity and why it’s celebrated worldwide as the epitome of Sauvignon Blanc.
 
JEAN-MARIE REVERDY
CAILLOTTES SANCERRE
LOIRE VALLEY 2021
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“Domaine La Villaudière 2021 ‘Caillottes’ Sancerre opens with aromas of bay leaf, rosemary, lime, white peach, and crushed sea shells. On the palate, the wine displays vibrant acidity and flavors of grapefruit, lemon yogurt, and gooseberry. This wine is mineral and citrus fruit-driven, balanced by a soft mouthfeel with remarkable concentration.”
94 Points
2019 Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder

2019 Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtMerlotMt VeederNapaUSA

MT. BRAVE

MERLOT 2019
MT. VEEDER

2019 Mt. Brave Merlot Mt. Veeder
Mount Veeder is Napa Valley’s largest AVA, yet it produces less than two percent of Napa’s total wine production, with the lowest average yields in the region. The mountain is an ancient seabed with thin, rocky soils and 30-degree slopes at varying angles creating several different microclimates that enjoy temperatures ten to fifteen degrees cooler than the Valley floor.
 
Chris Carpenter has a well-respected reputation for vinifying mountain-grown fruit and created classic vintages at Lokoya and Cardinale before taking on the Mt. Brave project, which began in 2007. The eastern-facing slopes of the vineyard produce fruit with tiny, concentrated berries full of lush flavors and rich structural components. The 2019 Merlot is near perfection and a clear standout with complex aromatics, depth of flavors, seductive mouthfeel, and long-lasting finish. 
 
This wine is the epitome of Napa Valley Mountain-grown Merlot and gets Merlot-of-the-vintage for my palate.
 
MT. BRAVE
MERLOT 2019
MT. VEEDER
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Aromas of violets and blackberries with some black olives follow through to a full-bodied palate with finesse, polish and great length. Velvety tannins. Incredible finish. Great class here. Drinkable now, but better to hold for about five or six years.”
98 Points
2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino

2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

PATRIZIA CENCIONI SOLARIA 

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO 2016

2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino was one of the first regions in Italy to receive DOCG status in 1966 and is one of the most sought-after Italian wines. Fifty years later, the Wine Spectator ranks Brunello’s 2016 vintage as one of the highest-rated vintages in the region’s history, earning an overall vintage rating of 99 Points and noting a “Textbook growing season resulting in wines of finesse and elegance, balance and harmony.”
 
Winemaker Patrizia Cencioni knows Montalcino’s best wines are born in the vineyard and developed in the cellar. Solaria Vineyard, planted in 1989, sits 300 meters above sea level on a natural plateau composed of coarse tuff and clay soils, contributing to the wine’s incredible depth. Patrizia ages this wine for 30 months in a cask to fully integrate the flavors, and now, after extended time in the bottle, the wine is singing brilliantly.
 
PATRIZIA CENCIONI SOLARIA 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO 2016
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino holds your attention with a gorgeous bouquet of lavender giving way to cherry, blackberries, earthy minerals and white smoke. This is dark in character and silky in feel with a savory, almost-salty display of polished black fruits and minerals. Brisk acids provide grip and lend a cheek-puckering tension. Fine tannins add to the 2016’s already-youthful poise, yet they don’t get in the way. A mix of sweet violet florals and lingering ripe fruit satiate the palate. I love the balance here. The 2016 almost tricks you into thinking that it doesn’t need time in the cellar to show its best. But don’t be fooled; this will only get better with time.”
93+ Points
2018 Tolosa Heritage Pinot Noir Edna Valley

2018 Tolosa Heritage Pinot Noir Edna Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Central CoastKevin VogtPinot NoirUSA

TOLOSA

HERITAGE PINOT NOIR
EDNA VALLEY 2018

2018 Tolosa Heritage Pinot Noir Edna Valley
Tolosa Winery is part of the Alpha Omega Collective and specializes in Burgundian varieties grown in Edna Valley, California’s coolest AVA. The region’s transverse valley extends inland from the Pacific Ocean and funnels cold air and fog, creating an ideal environment for cool-climate varietals such as Pinot Noir. The Franciscan Mission of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa planted the first vines in the area and is the inspiration behind the winery’s name, paying homage to the hardworking farmers who pioneered the land.
 
Tolosa’s winemaker works to convey the distinct character of the wine, beginning in the vineyard with specially selected clones for each unique soil type, followed by gentle fermentation in stainless steel and oak barrels for a fine-tuned, integrated Pinot Noir. The 2018 vintage features earthy, herbal tones and bright red fruit aromatics, trademark characteristics of the Edna Valley AVA Pinots that elevate and delight the senses at a very fair price point.
 
TOLOSA
HERITAGE PINOT NOIR
EDNA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $32
 
 
“Hearty aromas of black raspberry and muddled plum are lifted by sage and pepper on the ripe but clean nose of this bottling. There’s a pleasantly herbal kick to the palate, where the sagebrush aspects wrap around the dark-mulberry and wild-plum flavors. Rocky tannins give both structure and minerality.”
93 Points