2018 Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay

2018 Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay

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GRAND NAPA

2018 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS

2018 Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay

Grand Napa Winery in Rutherford has an eye for locating vineyards that are capable of producing expressive, profound and varietally sound wines. Those of you that have tasted their Reds under their Grand Napa, Heir Apparent or Calculated Risk brands already know what a stunning value they offer. What you may not know is that they also produce a small amount of Chardonnay, and with 129 cases of their Los Carneros bottling, it’s no surprise. We’ve kept a close eye on their Chards over the years, and the moment we tasted this one, we felt like we had struck gold, due to its overwhelming quality and value.
 
Grand Napa’s 2018 Los Carneros Chardonnay is made in a pure and textured style that offers rich and inviting white fruits, impeccable weight and stunning natural acidity, that’s both refreshing and perfectly balances the wine’s subtle yet intriguing opulence.  
 
Carneros Chardonnays offer big fruit, and plenty of structure. It’s the cooling influences from the Pacific Ocean and the San Pablo Bay that funnel through the Coastal Mountain ranges, and allow the grapes a long growing season, with temperatures cool enough to maintain acidity and structure.
 
GRAND NAPA
2018 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS
Retails at: $59.99
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
 
“The Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay 2018 is beautifully balanced with perfect combination of sweet fruits and rich texture.  It begins on the palate with succulent honey dipped peaches, ripe apricots, lemon curd and highlighted with spring floral characteristics.  It has a beautiful richness on the palate with just enough acidity to give it a shimmering mouthfeel. This is the best Grand Napa Chardonnay that I’ve tasted.  Very well done.” 93 Points
2015 Heitz Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Heitz Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

HEITZ

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Heitz Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet SauvignonHeitz is one of Napa Valley’s most historic wineries, and it’s their undeviating style of producing profoundly hedonistic and age-worthy Cabernets that have become a hallmark of their brand. The winery has reliably produced their unmistakably intense, savory, well-built Cabernets since the 1960s. Their 2015 Napa Cabernet perfectly expresses their timeless approach, and with a 95 Point Score and Editors’ Choice, I recommend going all-in… 

Joe Heitz had a keen eye for discovering vineyards capable of producing age-worthy wines. The winery has vineyards in Oakville, Rutherford, St Helena, Howell Mountain, Oak Knoll, and Calistoga, and their Napa Valley Cabernet captures this diversity and is a pure representation of Napa Valley terroir. 
 
Each decision made at the winery, from when to pick, through the entire fermentation and aging process are purposefully made to guide the wine into a style that’s both stunning upon release and will stand the test of time, rather than be flashy and forward when consumed young.
 
HEITZ
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $63
 
Your Price: $59.99

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“Woody, herbal and elegantly structured, this wine is high-toned and freshly layered in bold red fruit. Given time in the barrel and the bottle, it shows its graceful edges and nuanced elegance with ease, finishing in dusty crushed rock. It vastly overdelivers on its price point.” 95 Points, Editors’ Choice
 
 
 “The 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon immediately entices with notes of black cherry, sweet plum, fresh raspberries, currants, anise, and clove. These notes are complimented by savory elements, reminiscent of sweet tobacco and new leather. The mouthfeel on this wine has gentle power. It is light and bright with fresh acidity yet there is weight and length that extends long after the first sip of wine. The structure is balanced with soft and developed tannins, only achieved by allowing this wine to age for two full years in barrel and full year in bottle before release.”
CASTELLO ROMITORIO 2015 BRUNELLO MONTALCINO, ITALY

2015 Castello Romitorio Brunello Montalcino Italy

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CASTELLO ROMITORIO

2015 BRUNELLO 
MONTALCINO, ITALY

CASTELLO ROMITORIO 2015 BRUNELLO MONTALCINO, ITALY

There are great wines that are made through decisions by the winemaker, and then there are great wines that are a result of the vintage, which is what Montalcino experienced in 2015. If you’ve read any of the vintage reports from winemakers and critics, the energy is contagious. Stefano Cinelli Colombini said, “the vintage saw textbook timing,” and James Suckling alerted his readers that it’s a vintage “nobody should miss”.  We agree, and here’s one of the best, and with triple 95 point scores.
 
Castello Romitorio has Italian history embedded in its DNA. The Estate dates back to the Middle Ages, and through time, transitioned from a temple to a fortress, a monastery, a castle, a Manor House, and now, lucky for us, a winery. 
 
Located in the northwest of the town of Montalcino, the vineyard has soils composed of clay and Albarese, from which fossils and shells emerge, evidence of an ancient coastal seabed. The 2015 vintage offers remarkable power, dynamic complexity, and a purity of fruit that’s spectacular.  
 
CASTELLO ROMITORIO
2015 BRUNELLO 
MONTALCINO, ITALY
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99

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“… a suave and supple expression that shows a slightly more opulent texture compared to many of its peers… You taste the natural richness and exuberance of the fruit, with variety-specific elements of wild cherry, blue flowers and soft earth…” 
95 Points
 
“… laced with spicy, dark red fruits, wild, sweet and spicy floral tones that give way to savory herbs, hints of animal musk and black earth. On the palate, it’s soft, enveloping, almost creamy in texture and offset by a mix of savory spice, fine tannin and saturating mineral tones as black cherry and sage seem to hover on the senses. The finish is spicy and long, structured, but also with vibrant primary fruits holding on strong, as a twang of savory herbs lingers long…” 95 Points
 
“A dense and rich Brunello with lots of ripe fruit, spices and hints of new wood. Full-bodied, chewy and rich. A muscular wine that needs time to come together. Better after 2022.” 95 Points
 
 
2018 Arrived Proprietary White Paso Robles

2018 Arrived Paso Robles Proprietary White

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ARRIVED

PROPRIETARY WHITE
2018 PASO ROBLES 

2018 Arrived Proprietary White Paso Robles

One of the rarest wine types in France is White Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the two primary grapes used in it are Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche. There are only around 175 acres of Clairette Blanche planted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and in California, it’s almost non-existent. Arrived is a blend of both grapes, and arose from the Paper Street Vineyard, which is owned and farmed by the iconic Dusi Family. This wine is guaranteed to give you one of those where have you been all my life epiphanies the moment you try it.

Arrived Proprietary White is a near 50/50 blend of Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche that was fermented in stainless steel tank and spent just nine months in neutral barrels. On the palate, the wine offers a kaleidoscope of poached pear, tropical banana, lime peel, honeysuckle, and stony minerals. 

The wine arose from chalky, limestone-rich white soils that produce vibrant wines with remarkable clarity, detail, depth, and balance. The vineyard is in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles and is a site carefully chosen by one of the areas most distinguished farming families. With a total production of 100 cases, don’t hesitate to secure yours.

 

ARRIVED
PROPRIETARY WHITE
2018 PASO ROBLES
Retails at: $36

Your Price: $25
 
 

“Gravenstein apple, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemon zest, asian pear, and a core of minerality that continues to develop in the glass. Lifted, concentrated, showing a bright purity of fruit. Succulent. Balanced. Refreshing. 100 Cases Produced” 
52% Grenache Blanc | 48% Clairette Blanche

2014 Anarchist Wine Co. The Philosopher Proprietary Red

2014 Anarchist Wine Company ‘The Philosopher’ Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

ANARCHIST WINE CO.

THE PHILOSOPHER 
2014 PROPRIETARY RED

2014 Anarchist Wine Co. The Philosopher Proprietary Red

Anarchist makes their Philosopher Blend in a soft, supple style with lush fruit and a silky mouthfeel, so it’s easy to theorize why so many people would like it. We offered the 2013 last year, which earned 97 Points, and a Double Gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, and the wine quickly made many friends due to its easy-drinking style that’s so easy to love. The 2014 vintage has more depth and richness and fills your palate with a beautiful medley of fruits and complexity. At our price, the hypothesis points to a case.

There are many theories as to why the Anarchist wines are so darn good. Some might attribute it to the unorthodox blending of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals, and others to the delicious, open-knit style. If you dig deeper into this wine, you’ll find that it all began at The Wine Foundry, which is a custom-crush winery, making luxury brands, and that has access to some spectacular fruit sources. 

The 2014 Philosopher was built around a core of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and blended with Syrah, Malbec, Merlot, and Petite Verdot. The 2014 transcends from a vintage unanimously recognized for its unrivaled quality, and one that brought a more opulent, fuller wine that fills every inch of your palate with bliss and delight.   

 

ANARCHIST WINE CO.
THE PHILOSOPHER 
2014 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $42

Your Price: $29.99
 

“Classic Cabernet aromas of black cherry, plum and violets, along with toffee, mocha, with hints of vanilla bean. Mouth-filling palate with ripe cassis, cacao, cigar box and blueberries. Nicely balanced acidity in a full-bodied wine, with well integrated tannins.”

2016 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2016 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

COSA OBRA

2016 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

 

2016 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot NoirCosa Obra makes my short-list of the leading values in Pinot Noir that we’ve introduced over the years. We still get requests for it months, and even years after our offering. The perceived value that gets packed into each bottle is palpable, and the 2016 vintage is a splendid example. This vintage brought a more powerful, meatier style of Pinot from the famed Sangiacomo Vineyard. At our price, I’m confident that people will be talking about this long after it’s gone. 

The Sangiacomo Vineyard is the source for Cosa Obra, and its storied history earned more than its fair share of memorable, highly-rated wines. The 2016 vintage spent just nine months in French oak, preserving the wines vibrant and lively flavors, yet adding a lightly toasty finish.

Cosa Obra sources the fruit from a tiny block of Pommard Clone grapes that produces intriguing aromas and a dense Pinot Noir fruit. It erupts from the glass with a vibrant medley of dark cherries, exotic spices, wild roses, and subtle meaty characteristics.

COSA OBRA
2016 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $32

Your Price: $29.99

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“Garnet in color, the nose opens slowly over time revealing aromas of dark cherry, spice, and tobacco. A full mid palate with flavors of black cherry, blueberry-pomegranate and cherry cola, embellished with toasty oak in the background. Wellrounded, integrated tannins and texturally appealing with a soft and sleek mouthfeel.”

2016 Arietta Quartet Proprietary Red

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ARIETTA

2016 QUARTET
PROPRIETARY RED

Harmonious is the first word that comes to mind when tasting Arietta’s Quartet. The wine brings together four Bordeaux varietals in a way that perfectly complements, supports, and defines one-another. The blend was composed by Andy Erickson, who made Screaming Eagle from ’05 – ’10, and he also makes Mayacamas, which just ranked #2 in the recent Wine Spectator Top 100. With 95 Points and a spot on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100, don’t miss this vintage of Arietta Quartet.  

Arietta built this superior blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc around a core of Coombsville fruit that’s paired with carefully chosen sites in Carneros and Calistoga. The 2016 benefits from two new Cabernet Vineyards in Southern Napa that are both managed by one of Napa Valley’s top viticulturists, Mike Wolf. 

The 2016 was finely tuned for 22 months in oak and made its entrance from one of Napa Valley’s most exceptional vintages, and one that the Wine Spectator ranks as the highest-rated vintage since 1997. If you’re looking for a stunningly complex and deeply hedonistic blend to add to your cellar, this one is absolutely singing.

ARIETTA
2016 QUARTET
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $68
 
 
“Winemaker Andy Erickson coaxes beautiful fruit and structure from this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, many of the grapes from Coombsville and Carneros. Juicy and weighty on the palate in blackberry and blueberry, it offers firm integrated tannin and undeniable elegance, with lovely teases of dried herb, graphite and exotic spice.” 
95 Points, Editors’ Choice, #48 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of 2019
 
“The 2016 Quartet is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep purple-black in color, it features youthful, vivacious black and red currants notions with an undercurrent of black plums, mulberries, Indian spices and fragrant earth plus wafts of tobacco and new leather. Full-bodied and laden with decadent black fruit and spicy layers, it has a velvety backbone and long spicy finish.” 94 Points
2016 Oddero Rombone Barbaresco

2016 Oddero Rombone Barbaresco

with No Comment $50-$60BarbarescoItalyKevin VogtNebbioloReview

ODDERO

2016 BARBARESCO
ROMBONE 2016 Oddero Rombone Barbaresco

Barbaresco is Italy’s other Iconic wine that’s produced from the Nebbiolo grape, and if Barolo is the King, then Barbaresco is the Queen, having a slightly more elegant structure. Oddero’s 95 Point Barbaresco from the Cru Vineyard Rombone is a stunning value and offers a brilliant play between tension and elegance that’s coupled with profound power and freshness.

The Oddero family has been active in Barolo and Barbaresco since the 1800’s, and in 2006 their wines were brought to an entirely new level when they hired Dante Scaglioni, who spent 25 years as the winemaker for legendary producer Bruno Giacosa.  

The Rombone vineyard is laden with limestone and veins of clay, and it’s known for producing wines that exhibit freshness, remarkably penetrating fruit, and stunning complexity. The climate in Barbaresco is slightly milder than neighboring Barolo and the wines are noticeably less tannic and exude elegance.

ODDERO
2016 BARBARESCO
ROMBONE 
 
Your Price: $55

 

“Black-skinned berry, iris, leather, hazelnut and menthol aromas whiff of forest floor. The smooth, full-bodied palate shows tension and finesse, offering fleshy black cherry, espresso and licorice alongside fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2021-2030”  95 Points

 

“Sweet berry aromas with hints of flowers and spices. Very perfumed. Full-bodied, firm and chewy with a velvety texture and a flavorful finish. Shows lovely intensity and flavor. Drink from 2022.” 93 Points

2016 Shottesbrooke Cabernet Sauvignon

2016 Shottesbrooke “Langhorne Creek” Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underAustraliaCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtLanghorne Creek

SHOTTESBROOKE

2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
LANGHORNE CREEK, AUSTRALIA

 

2016 Shottesbrooke Cabernet SauvignonSome of the most complex and hedonistic Cabernet Sauvignon for your dollar, comes from down-under. The grape has a long history in Australia that dates back to the mid-1800s. Luminaries Penfolds, Leeuwin and Cape Mentelle have helped to canonize Australian grown Cabernet as a serious contender on the world stage. Shottesbrooke’s 2016 Cabernet reminded me of this, and with 93 and 95 Point scores, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours. 

Hailing from the Langhorne Creek Appellation, which is located inside the Fleurieu zone, and is also home to the McLaren Vale region, Shottesbrooke’s 2016 perfectly expresses the area’s rich terroir. 

The 2016 is loaded with classically styled, profound notes of eucalyptus, blue plums, juniper berry, and baking spices. The wine is intensely aromatic, wildly complex, approachable, and at our price, offers extraordinary value.

SHOTTESBROOKE
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
LANGHORNE CREEK, AUSTRALIA
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
“While not particularly deep, the hue is youthful, and the fragrant eucalypt nuances that accompany the fresh cassis of the palate are regional (and shared with Coonawarra). The finely spun tannins are a feature of a medium-bodied cabernet made to be drunk whenever the idea pleases you. Screwcap. 14.5% alc. To 2030”  95 Points
 
“Dark dusty garnet color. Aromas of blackberry jam, black plum, juniper berry, and wet slate with a tart, dry full body and an interesting, very long ripe blackberry, black plum, bergamot, and dates finish with woody tannins and heavy oak flavor. Robust and aggressively structured cab for similarly inclined fare.” 93 Points, Gold Medal Exceptional 
2018 Venge Scout's Honor Proprietary Red

2018 Venge Scout’s Honor Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VENGE

2018 SCOUT’S HONOR
PROPRIETARY RED2018 Venge Scout's Honor Proprietary Red

Venge’s Scout’s Honor is anything but your average Zinfandel blend. Kirk Venge mastered the art of enhancing the blend with Charbono and Petite Sirah to create a concentrated, extracted red that balances the jammy characteristics from the Zinfandel. It’s that delicious combination that inspired more poetic comments than any other blend that I’ve offered, and here’s a chance to try their 2018, which is classic to their hallmark style. 

Created using a state-of-the-art, 100% gravity-flow method, the 2018 Scout’s Honor is concocted from at 63% Zinfandel, 16% Charbono, 12% Petite Sirah and 9% Sirah. The wine was created from old-vines and was made in a deep, rich, extracted style and offers oodles of blueberry cobbler, crushed herbs, and spices. 

This iconic blend was authored by Kirk Venge, who was named “One of the Top 20 New Winemakers in the World” by Food & Wine Magazine. Kirk also makes the high-scoring Janzen and Bacio Divino wines, as well as several other cult brands.

VENGE
2018 SCOUT’S HONOR
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $39

Your Price: Insider Club Members Only
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Wine Country Connection Reveiw

“The 2018 Scout’s Honor has a deep nose of blueberry cobbler, roasted coffee beans, dried violets and hints of vanilla. On the pallet the wine has a dense core of black cherry fruit, intense blueberry, blue herbs, black pepper, strawberry and hints of cherry pipe tobacco. The wine is absolutely delicious, so-much-so that my glass was emptied before I could finish my tasting notes, so I had to go back for a second.”