2018 Capture Tradition Sauvignon Blanc

2018 Capture Tradition Sauvignon Blanc

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonomaUSA

CAPTURE

2018 TRADITION
SAUVIGNON BLANC

 

2018 Capture Tradition Sauvignon BlancCapture seized our attention more than a decade ago with their very first vintage, and we knew immediately that the brand was something special. At the time, the late Denis Malbec was the winemaker, and today they’re crafted by Winemaster Graham Weerts, who has extensive winemaking experience throughout Bordeaux and South Africa, as well as Stonestreet and Arrowood wineries in Sonoma County.
 
Capture Sauvignon Blanc has always stayed true to its traditions of crafting a Bordeaux-style Sauvignon Blanc that’s balanced, pure, rounded, and loaded with detailed stone fruits and earthy minerals.  
 
The winery’s decision to ferment in stainless steel and age the wine for ten months sur lie further highlights the purity of the fruit. The resulting wine is palate refreshing with finely sculpted flavors and energy. I highly recommend a case while supplies last.
 
CAPTURE
2018 TRADITION
SAUVIGNON BLANC
 
Your Price: $25
 
“Bordeaux-like with its crisp citrus, lemon, and white flower bouquet, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Tradition is medium-bodied, vibrant and pure on the palate, with beautiful purity and freshness. It’s impeccably made and well worth drinking…” 91 Points
 
“The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc Tradition comes 76% from Alexander Valley and 24% from Lake County, made in stainless steel with lees stirring. It offers gregarious scents of tarragon, chive and mown grass with kiwi, gooseberry, white peaches, flint and lychee notes. The palate is light-bodied and lively with pure fruits, bright acidity and a long, refreshing finish.”  90 Points
2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red Blend

2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red Blend

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

VISTA

2017 RUTHERFORD
PROPRIETARY RED

 
2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red Blend
Being part of a wine brand that’s shattering records and has everybody talking is a great feeling, and VISTA has inspired more gushing comments and endless re-orders than any wine that we’ve featured, period. This wine is a $23 Rutherford Blend that tastes like it should cost many times its price, and if you haven’t opened one lately, I bet you’ll be shocked by how great it is now. We bought every bottle available and we’re now nearly out of the 2017 vintage, so this will likely be the last opportunity to stock up on this record-setting red.  
 
The 2017 originates from Rutherford, an area long celebrated for its exceptional terroir and dusty tannins, this wine embodies many of the hallmarks that I look for in Rutherford Cabernet. The blend is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, heightened with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the 2017 vintage saturates your palate in seductive red berries laced with dried lavender, red currants, iron, and Rutherford dust. 
 
The unparalleled value and unrestrained demand for this wine has been solely due to its vastly overdelivering and mimicking many of the same qualities that you’d expect in much higher-end Rutherford wines. The focused, penetrating red fruits, superb richness and classic Rutherford dust characteristics make it irresistible, and unexpectedly great for this modest price.
 

VISTA
2017 RUTHERFORD
PROPRIETARY RED

Your Price: $23
 
 
“Scintillating aromas of fresh blackberries, tart red currants, cocoa powder and vanilla spice. The palate is dense, rich and powerful with a beautiful combination of bright red fruit characteristics that perfectly intertwine with deep black fruits including blueberry compote, crushed black raspberries, ripe red plum, baking spices and bittersweet chocolate. Intense and penetrating, this wine displays concentrated, powerful fruit with a gorgeous center core that finishes with a long, focused finish and slightly dusty tannins.”  92-95 Points Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2016 Ramey Napa Valley Claret

2016 Ramey Napa Valley Claret

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

RAMEY

2016 CLARET
NAPA VALLEY2016 Ramey Napa Valley Claret

When one of the greatest American winemakers, with 40 years experience and more accomplishments than we can list, releases his version of a Claret style blend that’s made with a goal of exemplifying the best of qualities of Napa Valley terroir in a given vintage, I pay close attention… When that particular vintage ranks as the highest rated since 1997, according to the Wine Spectator Vintage Report, you might as well skip down to the order button.

Claret is a British term used to describe a red blend made from the top 5 most classic Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Ramey’s 2016 Claret includes 4 of the top 5 Bordeaux grapes, forged from a vast selection of Appellations in Napa Valley.

David Ramey is one of the great pioneers in the California wine industry, and throughout his career, he’s helped put many iconic wineries on the map including Dominus, Rudd Estate and Jericho Canyon. His Napa Valley Claret is made in a round, supple style that’s abundantly complex, deep and layered. With solid scores from many of the top critics in the Country, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure your case.

RAMEY
2016 CLARET
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $42

Your Price: $39.99

Click to Buy

 

Wine Enthusiast: “This blends a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon with 26% Merlot, 12% Malbec, 8% Syrah and 2% Petit Verdot. Together, they interweave into a cohesive whole of clove, black pepper and meaty intensity and integrated oak. Soft and round on the palate, it pleases at an unbelievable price.” 92 Points

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “…Medium to deep ruby-purple, it offers aromas of bay leaf, sage brush, cardamom, anise and clove with mint chocolate, underbrush, blackberries and blackcurrants. It’s medium to full-bodied, rounded and easygoing in the mouth, with gentle, grainy tannins and great freshness to lift the finish. It would be all too easy to glug a bottle of this “luncheon Cab,” as David Ramey calls it.” 91 Points

Jeb Dunnuck: “This medium-bodied, silky, nicely textured red offers notes of ripe black cherries, currants, and assorted tobacco and herbal notes, and it’s textured and balanced. Drink it over the coming decade.” 90 Points

2015 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

2017 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50CarnerosKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

LAIRD 

2017 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH 

2015 Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is remarkably versatile, and stylistically it can be crafted in more ways than just about any other varietal, ranging from light, bright and elegant, to deep, rich and opulent, and of course, everything in-between. Laird’s Single-Vineyard Pinot from Ghost Ranch definitely lives on the full-bodied end of the spectrum, and beautifully reflects that style.
 
Ghost Ranch is a stunning 9 acre vineyard located on the Sonoma side of Carneros. The site got its name from vineyard workers that had reported seeing children between the rows of vines, and when approached, they would vanish.
 
The winery has always attracted expert winemakers, and they’re currently made by Brian Mox whom previously consulted for both Lewis and Etude.
 
The 2017 is an idyllic example of a deep, full-bodied, and lavish Pinot Noir that doesn’t give an inch in terms of balance. So, if you enjoy Big Pinots, the scariest thing about Laird’s Ghost Ranch Pinot would be missing out on a case.   
 
LAIRD 
2017 PINOT NOIR
GHOST RANCH
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $43/btl
 
Tasting Notes: “The Laird Ghost Ranch Pinot Noir 2017 is a rich, supple wine with bright acidity along with a lush, satiny mouthfeel. It begins with ripe boysenberry, cherry cola and baking spices, with a hint of sweet vanilla. The finish is penetrating and long, with an overall balance that draws you back in, sip after sip…” 93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

2015 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (Pre-release)

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

SILVER OAK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY

Silver Oak has dominantly defined the space for high quality domestic Cabernet Sauvignon over the past 4 decades. They’re one of the most recognizable names across the globe in premium level Cabernet Sauvignon from the New World, and the upcoming release of the 2015 Napa Valley epitomizes the distinctive Silver Oak style that’s made them so revered. 
 
Bursting on the scene, the remarkable 2015 vintage was the fourth straight drought-influenced growing season, and one that produced stunningly high quality fruit, but incredibly low yields.  The 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet reveals beautiful focus that’s supported by silky tannins that slowly reveal layer after layer of crushed blackberry, wild raspberries, tea leaves, clove, black chocolates and hints of pepper. 
With allocations at the lowest that they’ve been in years, the only challenge to this vintage will be having enough available to satisfy demand…  
 
Released February 1st, 2020
 
SILVER OAK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY
 
Pre-Release Price:  $125/btl
 
Winery Notes: “Our 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep, rich red color with a purple rim.  A robust wine with an assertive and alluring attach, it has notes of strawberry, cigar and tea leaves with a touch of black pepper and clove.  A mouthwatering mid-palate of raspberry is followed by an expressive and bright finish.  With lush and silky tannins, this age worthy wine will show beautifully through 2038 given proper cellaring conditions.”
2015 Azelia Barolo

2015 Azelia Barolo Piedmont, Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BaroloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

AZELIA 

2015 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
2015 Azelia Barolo
 
The reports on the 2015 Vintage in Italy’s iconic Piedmont region make it perfectly clear that 2015 marks the greatest vintage for Barolo since 2010. James Suckling, longtime European Bureau Chief for the Wine Spectator wrote that the “full capability of the nebbiolo grape’s expressive nature is alive in Barolo 2015.” 
 
When referencing a history of terrific wines from Azelia, Robert Parker alerted his readers that “wines from…Azelia, can hold their own with the very best in the region” and “prices are exceedingly fair considering the quality of what goes into the bottle.” 
 
Azelia Barolo even graced the wine list at Thomas Keller’s French Laundry restaurant in Yountville California, and for years, it’s cemented itself as one of the best values for classic Barolo in our shop.
 
Azelia bears all of the hallmarks of the vintage; Muscular, toned, aromatically complex, and full of energy, and if you love classically styled, penetrating and focused Barolo, the value that you get with Azelia is truly hard to find. 
 
AZELIA 
2015 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
 
Your Price: $45/btl
 
 
“Aromas of coal dust and tar with a distinctly savory, stony edge and nuances of dried herb-wrapped cherries. The acidity is assertive and delivers a strong burst of red plum-pit flavor, ahead of chalky, smooth tannins. Nice balance…” 
 
“This is an enriched expression that shows the intensity and tightness of Nebbiolo with just a margin of the immediate softness and accessibility of this warm vintage… comes together well on the palate with nice precision and focus...” 
2013 Valdez St Peter's Church Zinfandel

2013 Valdez St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyKevin VogtSonomaUSAZinfandel

VALDEZ

2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH

2013 Valdez St Peter's Church ZinfandelHave you ever tasted a perfectly cellared California Zinfandel and had an epiphany moment, realizing that many Zinfandels will get better with age?  A grand example is the 2013 Valdez Zinfandel from St Peter’s Church Vineyard which happens to have also been one of our top 5 wines of the year in 2018. 

The 2013 Valdez St Peter’s Church Zinfandel arose from a 5 acre vineyard in Alexander Valley that’s planted to nearly century old vines.
The Valdez family are some California’s most sought after wine growers, having farmed for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others.
Valdez crafts their Zins in a concentrated and well-built style that bodes exceptionally well for cellaring, and because we recently sold out of their value-priced Sonoma County Zinfandel, we’ve made a deal to fill the void with their 2013 St Peters Zin at a price that’s simply too good to pass up.
 
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH  
Retails at:  $45/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “This impeccably balanced zinfandel flaunts energizing flavors and aromas of ripe black cherries, concentrated pomegranate, and crushed blackberries with hints of white rose petals, cocoa powder and pipe tobacco. The perfect balance shines through with an amazing brightness that elegantly supports the richly focused flavors.  Simply stunning!”   94 Points
2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtOregonPinot NoirUSAWillamette Valley

STATE of MIND

2016 PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2016 State of Mind Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Great values in Pinot Noir can often come from the small and undiscovered producers that execute a steadfast goal of producing wines with sense of place, vibrancy and life, and that tell a story of their origins.  In many cases despite their small production, their passion for making the best wine possible is immeasurably large, and State of Mind’s 2016 Pinot Noir is a perfect example.
 
State of Mind’s 2016 Pinot Noir arose from a single vineyard planted by veteran Willamette winemakers, and located in heart of the Dundee Hills appellation.  
 
The wine was thoughtfully created by Michael Kennedy who’s an award-winning sommelier and vintner who was previously the Sommelier for Ritz-Carlton, before embarking on his own wine company in Napa Valley that’s been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg, Food & Wine Magazine and Barron’s.  
 
This wine has all the makings for greatness, but has a production level so low that many will never find out about it… It also comes from one of the greatest vintages in Willamette Valley history, rivaled only by 2012. The Wine Spectator rated the overall vintage 97 Points, highlighting balance and elegance. 
 
 
STATE of MIND
2016 PINOT NOIR
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price:  Insider Club Members Only
 
Tasting Notes: “A finessed, sleek and elegant Pinot Noir from the WV, showing vibrant red & blue fruits on the nose, with rosemary, hazelnut, thyme, basil and rich earth.  The palate is fresh and offers juicy plum acidity at first, but as it opens, denser more rich flavors develop.   The wine evolves wonderfully with air and benefits from being paid against lighter meat dishes, and seafood accented with spices.  Drink this over the next 30 years.” 
2018 TOR Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay

2018 TOR Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay

with No Comment $50-$60CarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

TOR

2018 CHARDONNAY
CARNEROS, NAPA VALLEY

2018 TOR Carneros Napa Valley ChardonnayIf you enjoy some of California’s top Chardonnays, and you want to find one at an obtainable price, TOR’s 2018 Carneros Chardonnay is for you. When you read below about the origins of the grapes, and then consider that they’re paired with the immeasurable talents of winemaker Jeff Ames, you might just decide to skip right down to the order button…

Tor’s 2018 Chardonnay is a barrel selection from Steve Beresini’s heritage vines, Larry Hyde’s world-renowned Carneros fruit, and the iconic Durell Vineyard in Sonoma, and any one of these three sites could be considered one of California’s Grand Cru Vineyards.

All three sites were hand-harvested separately, and at their individual optimum ripeness before being pressed directly into small French oak barrels, where winemaker Jeff Ames was then able to identify and capture the best qualities from each vineyard, and harmonize them into something absolutely remarkable.

TOR
2018 CHARDONNAY
CARNEROS, NAPA VALLEY

Your Price: $55/btl

Click to Order

Winery Notes: “This wine is from three historic Chardonnay vineyards, the sum of this winemaker’s selection is greater than its parts. Steve Beresini’s thirty-year-old, dry-farmed heritage vines gives depth and texture, Hyde Vineyard’s wind-cooled topography gives minerality and precision, Durell vineyard contributes richness and opulence. 470 cases made.” 94 Points ~ International Wine Report

2017 Prisoner Wine Company Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Prisoner Wine Company ‘Cuttings’ Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUncategorizedUSA

PRISONER WINE CO. 2017 Prisoner Wine Company Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 
Birthed from high-elevation, steep, hillside vineyards that traverse through some of Napa Valley’s most sought after growing districts, Prisoner Wine Company’s Cuttings Cabernet can be described as the bigger more masculine brother to the popular Prisoner Red blend.  The wine is thoughtfully created from a diverse variety of clones and terroirs, which all lend to the wines vast complexity and infectious charm.  The newly released 2017 bursts from the glass with intense mulberries, wild plum, melted dark chocolate, black currants and vanilla bean.  Cuttings makes a powerful statement on what can be achieved at this price point…
 
Hailing from high-elevation vineyards including Bella Vista, Obsidian Ridge, and the York Creek Vineyard on Spring Mountain, the 2017 Cuttings was built around a core of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel. The wine models extravagance and offers deep, rich, hedonistic flavors, just like we’ve come to expect from Cuttings.  The wine is always made in an irresistibly plump, velvety style with plush tannins that make it impossible to resist diving in for another sip… another glass and then another.
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2017 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl   
YOU SAVE 27%
 
Winery Notes: “Cuttings combines the deep, intense flavor of Cabernet Sauvignon with the structure and richness of Petite Sirah and Syrah. A small amount of Zinfandel adds a nice layer of complexity and spiciness.  Deliciously smooth with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, and cocoa. Aromas of fresh roasted coffee, black currant, vanilla bean, brown spice, and wild berries.”