2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache El Dorado

2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache El Dorado

with No Comment $30-$40GrenacheKevin VogtUSA

LA SIRENA

AVIATRIX GRENACHE
EL DORADO 2019

2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache El Dorado
Heidi Peterson Barrett is one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated and talented winemakers and has created some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wines since the 1980s. Between her position as an independent winemaker at Dalla Valle in the late 1980s and developing a small project called Screaming Eagle soon afterward, Heidi’s career took flight as she earned five 100-point scores for her efforts within a few short years.
 
Heidi started La Sirena in 1994, and Aviatrix, a brand that’s an homage to her love of flight as a helicopter pilot, is a boutique line of small production wines she crafts with her distinguished expertise, unparalleled passion, and very adventurous spirit. The 2019 Grenache comes from El Dorado County, an area recognized for producing Rhône-style wines with incredible complexity and pure varietal character at a price point with sky-high appeal.
 
LA SIRENA
AVIATRIX GRENACHE
EL DORADO 2019
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The 2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache has a complex and intriguing nose with aromas of rosemary, lavender, peppercorns, red cherry, berry bramble, and cigar box. On the palate, flavors of cranberry, red plum, white pepper, and dried herbs are in a delicate balance with soft, ripe tannins and juicy acidity. This wine drinks best with a slight chill that allows the complex range of flavors dances into an elegant, lengthy finish.”
95 Points
 
2019 Heir Apparent Proprietary Red Cellar Selection Spring Mountain

2019 Heir Apparent Proprietary Red Cellar Selection Spring Mountain

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSpring Mountain

HEIR APPARENT

PROPRIETARY RED
CELLAR SELECTION
SPRING MOUNTAIN 2019

2019 Heir Apparent Proprietary Red Cellar Selection Spring Mountain
Heir Apparent winemaker Dwight Bonewell is a master of assemblage who strives to create compelling wines from some of Napa Valley’s most coveted vineyards. His 2019 Cellar Selection Red Wine hails from the Spring Mountain AVA, a tiny region with around 20 different soil types that create a patchwork of unique terroirs that give the wines their signature supple, balanced tannins, deeply pronounced flavors, and enchanting elegance.
 
The 2019 growing season saw a long, warm summer with very few extreme heat spikes and a relatively mild finish with ample hang-time that preserved deep color, finesse, and a soft tannic structure. This small production of 390 cases is a harmonious blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon with a plush, silky mouthfeel, lengthy finish, and keen balance of bright fruit and lively acidity.
 
HEIR APPARENT
PROPRIETARY RED
CELLAR SELECTION
SPRING MOUNTAIN 2019
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“The Heir Apparent Cellar Selection Spring Mountain District Red Wine 2019 has a bright, fresh nose and palate, including spiced red plums, fresh raspberries, hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, and light, elegant florals. The palate has a focus and concentration that combine with the fruit and spice elements that resolve into a fascinating, easy-drinking red blend that finishes with mouth-quenching fruits and berries.
92 Points
2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville

2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

POP 300

CHARDONNAY
OAKVILLE 2021

2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville
The Oakville AVA produces some of the world’s most enchanting and complex Cabernet Sauvignon, but very few people know that Chardonnay also exists in the region. Proprietor Luke Russ was raised in Oakville and maintained close relationships with his neighbors, allowing him to obtain Chardonnay grapes from a hidden parcel near a creek, offering the much-needed cooling influence for the Chardonnay grapes.
 
Luke is the Commercial Director at O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery on Howell Mountain, and with this wine, he showcases his deep roots and impressive connections. Crafted in a rich, opulent, California-style, POP 300’s 2021 vintage was aged on the lees for ten months in new French oak barrels, adding body and creaminess to this delightful Oakville Chardonnay.
 
POP 300
CHARDONNAY
OAKVILLE 2021
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The 2021 Pop 300 Oakville Chardonnay begins with rich aromas of honeysuckle, peach, melon, toast, and meringue. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with flavors of apricot, nectarine, passion fruit, and roasted marshmallow. The finish is long and strong with deep flavor intensity and a round mouthfeel.”
91-92 Points
2018 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2018 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

SIXTEEN by TWENTY

CHARDONNAY 2018
SONOMA COAST

2018 Sixteen by Twenty Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
Sixteen by Twenty Winery gets its name from an artist’s most common canvas size used for oil paintings because the dimensions create an ideal balance for displaying their artwork. As artists, owners David and Karen Dunphy apply this balance philosophy to every wine they produce.
 
The vineyard team is hands-on in the vineyards, individually positioning each vine shoot, removing unhealthy or damaged clusters, and ultimately harvesting by hand for utmost quality fruit. The Sonoma Coast AVA is their favorite region for Chardonnay because of the oceanic influence that gives a distinct minerality, ripe fruits, and fresh acidity. The 2018 vintage is noticeably softer and more elegant than previous vintages and celebrates the unique personality of the vineyards, displayed brilliantly.
 
SIXTEEN by TWENTY
CHARDONNAY 2018
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The 2018 Sixteen by Twenty Sonoma Coast Chardonnay has inviting aromas of acacia blossoms, peach, passion fruit, butterscotch, sweet baking spices, and wet stones. On the palate, the wine is rich and creamy in texture with flavors of apricot, melon, vanilla cream sauce, and honeycomb. The pronounced flavors are balanced by bright acidity that promotes a long-lasting finish.”
93 Points
2017 Pecchenino Barolo San Giuseppe

2017 Pecchenino Barolo San Giuseppe

with No Comment $50-$60BaroloBaroloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

PECCHENINO

BAROLO 2017
SAN GIUSEPPE

2017 Pecchenino Barolo San Giuseppe
The same family has run Pecchenino Winery since the end of the 20th century. They own 86 acres of vineyards in Dogliani, Bossolasco, and Monforte d’Alba, where they have a modern winery dedicated to Barolo production. The vineyards within Monforte d’Alba cover several different Menzione Geografica Aggiuntivas (MGAs), which are specially delineated areas of Barolo similar to a French cru and represent quality and distinction.
 
The age of the vines is between 15 and 40 years, giving a complex range of fruit, spice, and earth components further enhanced by 24 months in large casks and 12 months in cement tanks. The wine is a signature classic of the region on the palate with a rustic, robust structure, intense flavors, and silky tannins, resulting in this bottle being the first emptied at our recent tasting and one that you won’t want to miss.
 
PECCHENINO
BAROLO 2017
SAN GIUSEPPE
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99
 
 
“A rather soft and rich young Barolo with strawberry and floral character and hints of watermelon. It’s full-bodied and layered. Rich finish. So attractive now, but will age nicely. Try after 2023.”
94 Points
2018 Paradise Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select Sonoma County

2018 Paradise Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

PARADISE RIDGE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
BARREL SELECT 2018
ROCKPILE, SONOMA COUNTY

2018 Paradise Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select Sonoma County
Intensely focused on sustainable viticulture, Paradise Ridge Winery’s team takes it to the nth degree by calling on sheep for weed abatement and natural fertilization. They meticulously care for each vine using strategic canopy management, cover crops, and a focus on biodiversity, promoting healthy vineyards. This considerable commitment flows through every aspect of wine production when seasoned Sonoma County winemaker Dan Barwick guides the grapes from vine to bottle, crafting elegant, age-worthy wines with a site-specific identity.
 
Their Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon arose from 7 unique blocks from sustainably farmed Rockpile and Branham Vineyards in the northwest corner of Sonoma County inside the Rockpile AVA. It’s called Rockpile for its rocky soils consisting of sandstone and shale at 2,000 feet above sea level, producing concentrated wines with refreshing acidity. The 2018 vintage saw a mild summer without significant heat spells that continued into the autumn, allowing the tannins to achieve ideal ripeness and full flavor evolution for a perfectly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
PARADISE RIDGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
BARREL SELECT 2018
ROCKPILE, SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The Paradise Ridge Barrel Select Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 begins with a deep, sultry nose of wild red and black berries, bramble, green herbs, espresso grounds, and kitchen spices. It continues on the palate with beautifully focused, concentrated red currants, mountain blackberries, cocoa powder, and crushed stone. Mouth-quenching acidity and crunchy tannins support the bright, juicy fruit. The penetrating flavors and long finish stay with you on the palate for nearly a minute.”
93+ Points
Goldeneye Brut Rose North Coast NV

Goldeneye Brut Rose North Coast NV

with No Comment $30-$40Champagne/SparklingKevin VogtNorth CoastSonoma CoastUSA

GOLDENEYE

BRUT ROSÉ
NORTH COAST NV

Goldeneye Brut Rose North Coast NV
Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Goldeneye Winery in 1996 to expand their winemaking repertoire into cool-climate, Burgundian varietals in Northern California. The Pacific marine influence brings mild temperatures, fog, and wind to the vineyards, providing an ideal environment for growing classic sparkling wine grapes Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.
 
The fruit for this wine was sourced from some of the finest and coldest vineyard sites in the North Coast AVA, maintaining high levels of refreshing acidity and brightness. The North Coast Brut Rosé was made in the traditional Champagne method with 26 months en tirage creating a beautiful balance of vibrant fruit and yeasty brioche notes that are almost too easy to enjoy. This lovely wine is my new favorite domestic sparkler.
 
GOLDENEYE
BRUT ROSÉ
NORTH COAST NV
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The Goldeneye North Coast Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine opens with aromas of orange blossom, strawberry cream cheese, sour cherry, apricot, and brioche. On the palate, the wine has a creamy, supple mousse and flavors of strawberry, grapefruit, and toasted pastry dough. The depth of flavors is impressive and contributes to a long, delightful finish.”
94 Points
2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $80-$90Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

SILVER OAK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018

2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Driven by the belief that their best wines are still ahead, Silver Oak’s steadfast focus is on Cabernet Sauvignon aged exclusively in American oak and guided by sustainability and precision viticulture. Silver Oak’s team utilizes precision viticulture to understand each vine’s status in real time, making informed farming decisions on a block-by-block basis. These tools are centered around consistency and are detectable in their wine. 
 
Their 2018 vintage epitomizes their commitments and distinctive style with concentrated dark fruits, vanilla, fresh dill, and Kalamata olives. Arriving from the 2018 growing season, Silver Oak aged this wine for 24 months in American white oak barrels, creating a classic expression of Silver Oak’s distinctive style that’s delightful now, and will provide enjoyment for years to come.
 
SILVER OAK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018
 
Your Price: $89.99
 
 
“Ruby in color, the 2018 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of cassis, caramel, juniper and pomegranate. Lifted and vibrant on the nose, this wine is fresh on the palate with a juicy, fruit-forward core. Its silky mouthfeel will provide drinking pleasure through 2044 given proper cellaring.”
2019 Skinner Grenache Rogue El Dorado

2019 Skinner Grenache Rogue El Dorado

with No Comment $30 and underGrenacheKevin VogtUSA

SKINNER

GRENACHE ROUGE
EL DORADO 2019

2019 Skinner Grenache Rogue El Dorado
Skinner Vineyards is one of the country’s first wineries, established in 1861 by a Scottish miner named James Skinner. The winery serendipitously ended up back in the hands of the same Skinner family in 2006 when Kevin and Kathy Skinner came across the name on an old map and purchased 25 acres a mile from the original property.
 
The Skinners planted their vineyard modeled after the initial planting during the Gold Rush, including an assortment of Rhône varietals for which the winery is known. Grenache is part of the Skinner legacy and thrives in the rocky soils and warm, dry climate of El Dorado County, producing a wine that strikes a balance between bright, juicy fruit and vibrant acidity.
 
SKINNER
GRENACHE ROUGE
EL DORADO 2019
Retails at: $36
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Vivid, sunbaked fruit flavors and a great structure of moderate acidity and tannins balance this wine out beautifully on a high level. Blackberry and raspberry notes mingle with hints of cedar, clove and black pepper for a tasty complexity.”
92 Points
2018 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge

2018 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMendocino RidgePinot NoirSonomaUSA

WAITS-MAST

PINOT NOIR 2018
MARIAH VINEYARD
MENDOCINO RIDGE

2018 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Mariah Vineyard Mendocino Ridge
Waits-Mast Cellars began in 2005, crafting their first barrel of Pinot Noir, and within two years, Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits watched their dreams become a reality with their boutique brand focused on high-quality Pinot Noir. Shalini Sekar joined the team as the winemaker in 2013 and came from a background in music with a Master’s Degree in Flute and Piccolo Performance but shifted her focus to studying Enology and Viticulture and sharpened her skills at Williams-Selyem and Copain Custom Crush.
 
The Mariah Vineyard is sustainably farmed and found in the Mendocino Ridge AVA at 2300 feet above sea level, resulting in more sunlight hours because of its position above the fog layer. The 106-case production 2018 vintage has a density not seen in previous vintages with an intensely bright color and layers of complexity that begin to unfold as soon as a glass is poured and continues into the long, complex finish.
 
WAITS-MAST
PINOT NOIR 2018
MARIAH VINEYARD
MENDOCINO RIDGE
Retails at: $47
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“Quite flavorful and nicely structured, this well-concentrated wine grown at 2,300 feet in elevation is worth keeping to enjoy how it develops over time. Engaging raspberry, red cherry and redwood aromas are followed by mouthfilling, ripe black fruit flavors on a full body braced by moderate, fine-grained tannins. Best from 2026.”
95 Points “Cellar Selection”