2016 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2016 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSAYountville

KEEVER

2016 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 

2016 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Keever Vineyard’s motto is that great wine should tell a story, and theirs is an inspiring tale written by a passionate family of proprietors and some of the most talented winemaking and farming in the industry. It takes place on a 6-acre rock-laden hillside Southwest of Yountville, nestled at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains where the earth has eroded from the slopes over millennia. Then add in Jim Barbour, one of the absolute top grape growers, and Celia Welch, a legendary winemaker. We’ve had the Inspirado on our best seller’s list for years, and the 2016 vintage is among their very best yet. 
 
Appropriately named Inspirado, which translates to Inspired, this release was penned with 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, and drafted with Merlot and Petite Verdot. It envelopes your taste buds with rich, scrumptious textures, and intermixed are fine details of rocky minerals, cocoa dusted black fruits, and vanilla bean. 
 
The wine was authored by Celia Welch, whom you might recognize from Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens, Barbour, Dalla Valle, and at under $100/btl, this is one of the best wines in the shop, period.
 
KEEVER
2016 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $80
 
Your Price: $75
 
“… It has an exotic, complex bouquet of black raspberry and cassis fruits intermixed with some forest floor, dried flowers, and cedar. This carries to a medium to full-bodied red that has sweet tannin, a rounded, approachable style, and loads to love.”  93 points
“Once in a handful of years, Mother Nature serves up a growing season in which every detail is just exactly right. A Spring full of enough rainfall but not too much, a Summer of enough heat but not too much, and an Autumn with warm days and cool nights. The 2016 Inspirado captures this season beautifully, showing warm blueberry, spiced plum, and dark cherry notes, all floating atop more subtle base notes of vanilla and toasty oak. The palate impression reflects the aromas, with ripe fruit, a touch of spice, and a finish that showcases the soft, satiny texture of this beautiful blend.”
2015 Chateau Chantelune Margaux Bordeaux France

2015 Chateau Chantelune Margaux Bordeaux France

with No Comment $40-$50BordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHÂTEAU CHANTELUNE

2015 MARGAUX
BORDEAUX, FRANCE

2015 Chateau Chantelune Margaux Bordeaux France
The region of Margaux produces some of the most powerful yet beautifully elegant wines in all of Bordeaux. Most are blends led by Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing to the power and depth, and Merlot, which weaves in a captivating elegance and supple fruit. Chateau Chantelune is a brilliant example of Margaux, and with the string of high-scores combined with the low price, this could go very quickly…
 
Shaped from the highly sought after 2015 vintage which the Wine Spectator describes as “truly special” in Margaux, the Chateau Chantelune 2015 is deeply concentrated with a satiny texture and striking complexity. Chantelune is an extraordinary 7 acre parcel of 40-year-old vines situated on the highest point in the appellation.
 
The wine is carefully guided from grape to bottle by José Sanfins, who’s also the director at Château Cantenac Brown. Our panel was floored by the quality, and this wine perfectly represents everything I love about Margaux.
 
CHÂTEAU CHANTELUNE
2015 MARGAUX
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“….a total beauty in this wonderful vintage. Margaux may have been the sweet spot in all of Bordeaux in 2015, and the combination of the ideal conditions and incredibly talented winemaker José Sanfins make this wine simply sensational…. It begins with gorgeous aromas of blackberries and ripe currants along with graphite, spring florals and spices all taking shape. Medium to full-bodied, with wonderful concentration and depth, yet lovely elegance. It remains beautifully textured and polished with a gorgeous mouthfeel through the opulent finish.” 94 Points
 
“Owned and produced by José Sanfins, who is the manager at neighboring classed growth Château Cantenac Brown, this wine balances the elegance of Margaux with the richness of the vintage, giving swathes of black-currant fruit that has been lifted by the new-wood aging. Drink this wine from 2023.” 93 Points
 
 
“Very intense and ripe dark fruits with strikingly fresh dark berries on the nose. This leads to a concentrated palate with intense dark-plum and blackberry flavors. Try from 2021.” 92 Points
 
“This sports a sanguine note out front, followed by fresh and enticing damson plum, cherry preserve and raspberry coulis flavors. Richly layered, but with silky tannins that let the fruit hold sway throughout, while light violet and black tea details add background nuance. A mineral edge underscores the finish. Best from 2022 through 2032. 708 cases made.” 92 Points
2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso Di Montalcino Italy

2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso Di Montalcino Italy

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin VogtRosso

CASTELLO ROMITORIO

2018 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY

2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso Di Montalcino Italy
Rosso di Montalcino from a great producer can offer immense value, and provide one of the purest and most vivid interpretations of Sangiovese Grosso grape. Rossos require only one year of age before release, which often results in a fresher and more vibrant Sangiovese that can also be enjoyed young. Castello Romitorio Brunello gets monster scores, and they fashioned their Rosso from younger vines on the Estate. And, they made it with the same exacting standards that make their Brunellos so great. At about 1/2 the price of their Brunello, the value is abundant.
 
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 northwest of Montalcino’s town, the vineyard has soils composed of clay and Albarese, from which fossils and shells emerge, evidence of an ancient coastal seabed. Their 2018 Rosso is robust, vibrant, and unleashes a flurry of concentrated red and blue fruits, rose garden, and intriguing spice. 
 
CASTELLO ROMITORIO
2018 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO, ITALY
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso di Montalcino takes time to blossom in the glass, yet it is totally worth the wait. A pretty and understated display of cherry and strawberry mixed with dusty earth, roses and hints of undergrowth opens nicely. Soft, silky textures flood the palate with ripe red and hints of blue fruit, sweet yet perfectly contrasted by saline-minerality, along with hints of fine tannin that slowly mount toward the close. The finish is remarkably long, as notes of dried wild berries, blueberry skins and hints of violet florals linger.” 91 Points
 
 
“Limpid garnet color, translucent. Appetizing nose so typical for Sangiovese: the tangy aroma of Marasca cherry. With increasing bottle age, this cherry fruit turns from fresh and crisp to mellow and dried, in the young wines the fruit is pristine, varying in intensity with each vintage. The body is sinewy and bone-dry: not a prettified, mollified Sangiovese but a wine as rugged as the land. There is fine, bright acidity and a lovely tannic grip. This has impact but is not heavy. A little age sits wonderfully on this rustic charmer: bottle age will give you scents of leather, wild thyme and polished wood.” Anne Krebiehl MW
2016 Waterfall Proprietary Red Old Vine Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley

2016 Waterfall Proprietary Red Old Vine Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

WATERFALL 

2016 PROPRIETARY RED
(OLD VINE CABERNET FRANC)
SONOMA VALLEY

2016 Waterfall Proprietary Red Old Vine Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley
At $23, we knew Waterfall’s 2016 Red would be an instant hit, and based on the torrent of re-orders and glowing feedback, we were right. After all, it’s made by Helen Keplinger, whom you might recognize from her work at Bryant, Carte Blanche, and Grace Family, and even at the winery retail price of $42, a wine of this caliber would make anyone do a double-take. At $23, very few can compete.
 
Waterfall’s 2016 Proprietary Red is composed of 100% Cabernet Franc, and Helen crafted it from ancient 80-year-old vines. On the palate, the wine is stunningly balanced, finely detailed, long, and expansive. 
 
This beauty comes from the incredible 2016 vintage, bringing a supple and inviting style that envelopes your palate with rich, enchanting flavors, silky tannins and perfectly ripened dark berries. At this price, you can’t have too much of this in your cellar. 
 
WATERFALL 
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
(OLD VINE CABERNET FRANC)
SONOMA VALLEY
Retails at: $42
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
“Polished textured with melted tannins. Balancing acidity with aromas of raspberry pie, blueberry and strawberry jam combined with nuances of rose petal and violets + spicy notes on the finish.”
2019 Leto Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

2019 Leto Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaPope ValleySauvignon BlancUSA

LETO

SAUVIGNON BLANC
2019 NAPA VALLEY

2019 Leto Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
Proprietor Brad Warner proves again that he’s got a talent for identifying vineyards capable of producing powerfully compelling, memorable wines. For his 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, he discovered a vineyard in Pope Valley, a remote, high-elevation region positioned behind Howell Mountain, that falls within the greater Napa Valley Appellation. The 2019 vintage is loaded with concentrated stone fruits and is finely sculpted and full of energy. With only 115 cases made, you might want to order yours before sharing…
 
The 2019 vintage arose from a single, high-elevation site in Pope Valley, where a dramatic diurnal temperature shift helped the fruit maintain natural acidity, but gain full ripeness. 
 
Once harvested, Brad fermented the juice at cool temperatures and aged it in stainless steel tanks to preserve the freshness. On the palate, it’s pristinely focused, alluring, and full of energy, and at $22, you should grab some while you can…
 
LETO
SAUVIGNON BLANC
2019 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $22
 
 
“Pale yellow robe. The bouquet fresh, with notes of white flowers and citrus fruit. The mouth dynamic, with crisp acidity and stone fruit. A pleasant finish.”
2016 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina

2016 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

RADIO-COTEAU

2016 PINOT NOIR
LA NEBLINA

2016 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina
Radio-Coteau has always been a brand for those “in the know,” and their name is a French colloquial expression that suggests “word of mouth,” which is how most find out about their brilliant wines. Their Pinot Noirs are captivating, compelling, balanced, and individualistic, and their flagship Pinot is named La Neblina, which is Spanish for “fog.” It’s sourced from five fog-laden vineyards in Western Sonoma County. When you learn about these vineyards and who created this wine, the 95 point score shouldn’t come as a surprise. 
 
The 2016 La Neblina comes from Radio-Coteau Estate, Hallberg, Dierke, Alberigi and Laguna Vineyards, and perfectly laces together each organically farmed site. On the palate, the wine has lovely weight and compelling layers and nuances that let you know you’re into something extraordinary.
 
The winery believes winemaking is a team effort, and Eric Sussman leads the orchestration. He brings diverse experience from Yakima, Washington, to Burgundy, Bordeaux, and over to the Russian River, where he was the assistant winemaker at Dehlinger before launching his brand. Here’s a chance to try the flagship, and at a fantastic price… 
 
RADIO-COTEAU
2016 PINOT NOIR
LA NEBLINA
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“Named for the coastal fog that rolls in at night to blanket western Sonoma, this wine blends fruit from five sites, including Eric Sussman’s Radio-Coteau estate in Occidental, and Hallberg, Dierke, Alberigi and Laguna, all of them farmed under organics. It seems to capture coastal energy with lovely density to its flavors of red raspberry and pomegranate, powerful and bold, refreshingly ripe and succulent. There’s a lot of vibrato to the flavors, a harmonic intensity that makes it thrilling to drink now and suggests a long life ahead.”  95 Points
 
“The 2016 Pinot Noir La Neblina is supple, open-knit and absolutely delicious. Understated and gracious, with lovely fruit purity, the 2016 has quite a bit to offer. Sweet red cherry and plum fruit are nicely pushed forward. Succulent and inviting, the 2016 will drink well with minimal cellaring.”  92 Points
 
“Fermented with a touch of stems, it spent 16 months in one-third new French oak. Bright raspberries, citrus, and spring flowers notes as well as a hint of wild strawberry all emerge from the glass. This vibrant, pure, racy Pinot Noir has high yet integrated acidity, a beautifully chiseled, crisp style, and a great finish.”  91 Points
2017 Seabright Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Greenwood Block

2017 Sebright Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Greenwood Block

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

SEBRIGHT CELLARS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY 
GREENWOOD BLOCK

2017 Seabright Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Greenwood Block
Some of the best wines are so magnetic that there’s a romance that builds with each subsequent release. That can become intensified on the rarest wines, because of their limited availability, which makes you eagerly await the next release. Sebright is that wine in a nutshell, and virtually everyone that experienced any of their previous vintages, has been asking for more. At our price, it’s a steal, and just like previous years, and once you try it, you’ll wish you had ordered more…
 
With a mere 100 cases produced, chances are you haven’t heard of Sebright Cellars, but I can guarantee once you taste it, you won’t soon forget it. Sebright produced the 2017 Greenwood Block Cabernet from a small vineyard located South of Chateau Montelena Winery and across from Vincent Arroyo in Calistoga.  
 
Veteran Calistoga winemaker Tom Eddy makes the wine, and this exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon perfectly reflects his vast experience. The 2017 vintage precisely balances red and blue fruits, with intriguing minerality and firm, perfectly integrated tannins. We bought every bottle that we could, again, and it’s most certainly not going to be enough.
 
SEBRIGHT CELLARS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 NAPA VALLEY 
GREENWOOD BLOCK
Retails at: $70
 
 
 
“Sebright Winemaker Tom Eddy did a masterful job making this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. After 30 months in oak, it has developed a complex nose of mixed berry cobbler, ripe cherries, crushed minerals, and vanilla spice. The palate is deep and concentrated with flavors of mountain blackberries, black cherry, sage, mint, bittersweet chocolate, and subtle baking spices. It’s a beautiful wine to drink now, but will cellar past 2032.”  95 Points
2017 Parallel Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2017 Parallel Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

PARALLEL

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY

2017 Parallel Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
I’ll be honest, we’re always looking for top quality Cabernet, and sometimes the devil is in the details. For instance, Parallel’s 2017 Napa Cabernet includes more than 60% fruit from Andy Beckstoffer’s iconic Georges III Vineyard in Rutherford, one of the best in Napa Valley. It’s balanced with fruit from Renteria’s stunning Oakville Vineyard on Skellenger Lane, near Plumpjack and Turnbull’s Fortuna Vineyards. Then add that the wine is made by Philippe Melka, whose experience includes winemaking at Bryant Family, Quintessa, Hundred Acre, and Dominus, and at around $100, this is one of the best values in upper echelon Napa Cabernet. 
 
This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and Parallel’s 2017 is a stunning portrayal of the best qualities of the vintage. The fruit achieved optimal ripeness, and they harvested on 9/28 and 10/2, which is about a week before the wildfires. 
 
The 2017 vintage has an intensely captivating style that draws you in with a powerful bouquet of dark fruits, blue violets, dried herbs, and espresso. The Oakville fruit contributes the dark and supple berries, and intense black currants, while the Rutherford grapes offer the floral characteristics and signature dusty tannins. 
 
PARALLEL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $110
 
 
 
“Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon displays notes of prunes, spice cake, plum pudding and blueberry preserves with touches of red currant jelly, dried herbs, tobacco and olives. Full-bodied, firm and chewy and with tons of fruit at the core, it finished long and spicy.”  92 Points
 
 
 
“Savory, herbal and thick in brawny concentration, this powerful wine is darkly layered in blackberry, black currant and wild raspberry. Clove, dried herb and a twist of sage figure into the midpalate, adding complexity and welcome intrigue as generous oak layers throughout.”  92 Points
2016 Ciavolich Divus Montelpulciano D'Abruzzo

2016 Ciavolich Divus Montelpulciano D’Abruzzo

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin Vogt

CIAVOLICH

2016 DIVUS 
MONTELPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO

2016 Ciavolich Divus Montelpulciano D'Abruzzo
If you love Italian reds and enjoy finding great value, you should know about the Montepulciano grape, which is the second most widely planted varietal in Italy. According to Jancis Robinson, the variety likely originated in Tuscany and is related to Sangiovese. Revered for producing deeply colored wines with supple fruit, natural acidity, and muscular tannins, Montepulciano may become your new favorite value grape. The very best come from the village of Abruzzo, and at $23, the Ciavolich 2016 Divus is a remarkable example of just how great they can be. 
 
The Ciavolich Estate sits in the Abruzzo Hills and faces the Adriatic Sea, and they made Divus from the oldest vines on the property. The 60-70 year-old vines grown are in calcareous clay soils and planted on a Tendone system, where the grapes are trained overhead, which is beneficial for frost protection.  
 
The 2016 vintage was a solid one in Italy, and they harvested the grapes under ideal conditions. On the palate, the wine is incredibly elegant and offers supple fruit, with really interesting licorice and black pepper notes. 
 
CIAVOLICH
2016 DIVUS 
MONTELPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
 
“Black raspberries, citrus, licorice and bilberries make for a beautiful nose. While the medium-bodied palate certainly isn’t the most concentrated for Abruzzo, it is all about elegance, purity and finesse. Drink now.”  92 Points
2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 

2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander ValleyAsk me “What’s the best Cab under $20?” and I can honestly say that I haven’t found one that I like better than Katherine Goldschmidt’s 2015 Crazy Creek. When you take a closer look at the vineyard, it’s easy to see why. For years, fruit from Crazy Creek went to Simi for their Reserve Cabernet ($75), and in 2016 Silver Oak recognized the significance of this site and added it to their holdings. The days of finding a Cabernet from Crazy Creek at under twenty bucks are soon to be a thing of the past, and with a 94 point score on top of everything else, you may want to double down, or better… 

Crazy Creek Vineyard got its name from the seasonal creeks that furcate the land, and the earth beneath results from hundreds of thousands of years of erosion. Before they replanted the vineyards in 2017 and 2018, the older, low vigor vines produced tiny yields of Cabernet with more power and depth than what’s typically found in the region.  
 
The 2015 vintage releases a dense core and remarkable palate presence and saturates your palate in an abundance of chocolate-covered cherries, roasted coffee, and black currants. This wine perfectly expresses just how inspiring Cabernet Sauvignon can be from Alexander Valley, and it does so at a price that will make you smile. 
 
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 
2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY
Retails at: $24
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
 
 
“Named for Goldschmidt’s middle daughter, the wine’s grapes hail from Crazy Creek, a vineyard known to produce some iconic wines. Big, bright, blue fruit notes on the nose are meaty, with a chocolate espresso twist and dry tannins showing on the palate. It’s a little masterpiece with a dark chocolate finish that way over delivers on price-to-quality.”  94 Points
 
 
 
 
“Rich and robust with aromas of black cherry, black tea, dark spices, and mocha. Bold and structured showing ripe black currant, cherry, and plum flavors. Very smooth, soft, and supple finish.”