2014 Enos Totem Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Enos Totem Ridge Vineyard Knight Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtKnight's ValleyNorth CoastUSA

ENOS  2014 Enos Totem Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
TOTEM RIDGE VINEYARD
KNIGHTS VALLEY

 
How great can a wine really be? Anybody that’s tasted VISTA and JOSEPH JEWELL knows first-hand the quality of wines that we’ve been able to find at an incredible price.  The new 2014 ENOS Cabernet is in the same category.  The vintage brought a fuller, richer and more structured wine, which is exactly what this wine needed to become something people are going to talk about for a very long time.  When you taste it for the first time you’ll be shocked by the level of quality, which is amplified in all the right places… Totem Ridge Vineyard is located on the Southern edge of the Knight’s Valley, which is an appellation shared with icons like Peter Michael and Anakota and at $60/btl this Cabernet would likely make you very happy.  From Cherry Picked Wines it’s simply one of the greatest values in the shop.
 
Commanding a presence from one of Northern California’s best vintages, one that the Wine Spectator describes as producing “dense, charming, cellar-worthy wines,” the 2014 bursts from the glass with intense dark fruits, beautifully intertwined with vivid red currants, veins of minerals, lavender, chocolates, and slate.  On the palate the wine is deep and rich with intriguing, expansive flavors that bring you back for more.  This wine is only produced in exceptional vintages, so don’t wait for the next one to secure yours…
 
ENOS
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
TOTEM RIDGE VINEYARD
KNIGHTS VALLEY
Retails at:  $60/btl
 
 
 
Tasting Notes: “An enticing wine that has a beautifully pungent nose of bright red fruits, fresh black currants, green sage and cracked black pepper.  The approach is rich, concentrated and envelopes your palate with focused pressed blackberries, graphite, crème de cassis and cigar box.  The wine is vibrant and intense with impressive balance and brimming with crushed blueberries and ripe blackberry fruit followed by tobacco leaf and vanilla spice box.  The finish is long, and expansive with slightly dusty tannins… Unbelievable for the price”  93 Points
2017 Vineyard 36 Foundation Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2017 Vineyard 36 Foundation Napa Valley Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaOak KnollProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

VINEYARD 36  2017 Vineyard 36 Foundation Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2017 FOUNDATION
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 

 
Each year we make a handful of discoveries that are so inspiring, that the guys on our tasting panel can sometimes sell the wine completely out the instant it arrives in our warehouse.  Vineyard 36 is one of those wines, and when we tasted their 2016 Thirty Six Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard earlier this year, the wine disappeared in an instant.  As luck would have it, we just tasted their 2017 Foundation Proprietary Red, which includes 14% Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer George III heightened with Merlot from Oak Knoll.  We kept the wine hidden in our warehouse, just long enough to send you this note, (we hope). The wine was made at Vineyard 29, which is one of Napa Valley’s most innovative wineries with everything from gravity flow tanks to an optical sorter that can be programed algorithmically…  It was crafted by Keith Emerson who also makes Vineyard 29’s Cabernets…  At this price, you might want to skip straight to the order button.
 
Vineyard 36 is a partnership between professional athletes Cam Ward and Tim Gleason and their friend Jason Earnest.  With a shared goal of producing exceptional wines sourced from premier estates that express the diversity of Napa Valley’s finest terroirs, this is truly a winery to watch.  Wines of this quality and caliber at this price don’t not come around often, so I highly recommend grabbing what you can for your cellar, before this one disappears. 
 
VINEYARD 36 
2017 FOUNDATION
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $55/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Explosive red and black fruit aromas are complimented by hints of violets, perfume, baking spices and vanilla.  Bright Bing cherry, hints of sandalwood and clove with a mouthwatering acid profile, medium-full body and velvety tannin structure.  A slight mineral, slate component adds a nuance to this fresh, approachable red blend.  Drinkable upon release, will age gracefully for 10+ years.” 
2016 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

2016 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma MountainUncategorizedUSA

WESTWOOD 2016 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

2016 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED

 
Legend is defined by an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field, and this wine absolutely lives up to its name.  The 2016 was expertly crafted by Philippe Melka, whose vast experience includes winemaking at Bryant Family, Quintessa, Hundred Acre, and Dominus… He’s undeniably one of Napa Valley’s most sought after and accomplished winemakers and is an absolute legend at his craft.  After tasting the wine, I wasn’t at all surprised to find out that it’s already earned double 96 Point scores.  The wine is powerfully dramatic and glides seamlessly across your palate with precision and absolute elegance.  At fifty bucks per bottle it absolutely should not be missed.
 
This legend arose from the biodynamically farmed Annadel Gap Estate Vineyard located between Mt Hood and Sonoma Mountain.  The area is heavily influenced by morning fog and high-winds, and the variety of soil types lend to the wines vast complexity.  The final blend includes 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and was enhanced with Rhone Varieties.  The flavors are incredibly individualistic, intense and well-balanced and introduce themselves in a silky and enchanting style that make this wine as unique as it is delicious.
 
WESTWOOD
2016 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 

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“… Aromas of sweet, savory soil are primed with rich tones of blueberry preserves. Generous and a true extrovert, this red gives wide berth on the palate to creamy boysenberry and luscious, ripe plum. Red floral and graphite strike an accord with high-energy acidity...” 96 Points 
From Wine Enthusiast, “This red is brightly layered in fresh blue fruit, meat and garrigue, showing plenty of density and complexity. It has a wild character that’s intriguing and energetic, with lasting threads of white and black pepper on the finish.”  96 Points, Editor’s Choice
 
Customers who enjoy Westwood Legend may also enjoy these two outstanding Reds…
2015 Steps Reserve Barrel Select Proprietary Red 2017 Hourglass HG III Proprietary Red
STEPS
BARREL SELECT
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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Tasting Notes: “Rich, opulent aromas emerge laced with fresh black raspberries, chocolate covered cherries, espresso roast and a touch of sweet vanilla oak.  Penetrating, velvety flavors of crushed blackberries, black plum, minerals, kirsch and hints of roasted coffee expand across your palate as layer upon layer of complexity unfolds.  The supple yet slightly dusty tannins beautifully frame the plush fruit as it elegantly caresses your palate through the long pleasurable finish...” 95 Points
HOURGLASS
2017 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl

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From Jeb Dunnuck: “Moving to the barrel samples, the 2017 HG3 is a fruity, forward, total charmer that gives up medium to full-bodied notes of blue and black fruits and leafy herbs. It’s well-made and already hard to resist, yet I suspect it will keep for more than a decade.” 91-93 Points
2018 Domaine Ott Chateau de Selle Provence Rose

2018 Domiane Ott Chateau de Selle Provence Rosé

with No Comment $40-$50FranceKevin VogtProvenceProvenceRoséUncategorized

DOMAINE OTT 2018 Domaine Ott Chateau de Selle Provence Rose

2018 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CHATEAU DE SELLE

 
Every different kind of wine has at least one brand that sets a prescience of quality, and act as a reference-standard for the category. When it comes to dry Rosé from Southern France, Domaine Ott reigns supreme. They’re one of the most iconic producers of Rosé wines, and they’re consistently high-scoring, and they always sell out.  Château de Selle was the first estate acquired by Marcel Ott in 1912 and they’ve continued to create some of the most detailed and intellectually profound Rosé on the market.  Emerging from Provence, France where greater than 50% of the wine output is Rosé, Domaines Ott’s Chateau de Selle will win you over with detailed mandarine orange, lime peal, striking minerality and crystalline structure.  This is simply one of the best Rosés in the world and with Labor Day weekend coming up fast, now is the time to stock up.
 
With attention to every minute detail under consideration, beginning with the terroir, and finishing with the stunning perfume bottle like packaging, Domaines Ott is the epitome of classic Provençal Rosé.  While there might be a lot of Rosés available in the $20-$30 range that are easy to love, Domaines Ott will have you infatuated from the moment it touches your lips. Rosé simply doesn’t get any better…
 
DOMAINE OTT
2018 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CHATEAU DE SELLE
Retails at:  $54.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
 
From Wine & Spirits: “De Selle was Marcel Ott’s first estate, an imposingly rocky slope of gypsum, red clay, dolomite, gravel and sandstone in Taradeau that he purchased in 1912. The rosé it produced in 2018-a blend of grenache with cinsault, syrah and mourvèdre-is more open than the Clos Mireille: De Selle is immediately inviting in its fresh, floral scents of melon and rosemary. The urge to drink it becomes only more immediate when the tangy wine hits the palate, delivering seashell minerality like a jolt of electricity. Bright and energetic, it would make short work of a dozen oysters.“ 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Rosé, may also enjoy these two outstanding Provence Rosés…
2017 Chateau des Garcinieres Cotes du Provence Rose
 2018 Domaine Ott Clos Mireille Provence Rose
CHÂTEAU DES GARCINIÈRES
2018 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CÔTES DE PROVENCE
 
Your Price: $23/btl

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Importers Tasting Notes: “... This biodynamic Rosé is vibrant and fresh; aromas of white peach and passion fruit emerge from the glass with a hint of lavender to remind us of its home by the sea. As with previous vintages, the mouth is filled with delicate raspberry and wild strawberry. The hallmark minerality of the wine is persistent thru the lively finish. Crisp and lovely, the striking acidity makes it a perfect example of why all others try to imitate the Rosés’ of Provence!”
 
DOMAINE OTT
2018 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CLOS MIREILLE
Retails at:  $54.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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From Wine & Spirits: “Clos Mireille sits close to the sea, a patch of schist and clay in La Londe Les Maures. Planted to grenache, with some cinsault, rolle and syrah, and farmed organically, it produced a tight rosé in 2018, succulent and strong. It tastes vividly of sea spray, powered by Meyer lemon-like acidity, while herbal notes play at the edges, like an echo of the scrub that grows between the vines. For all its power, this is a quiet wine, a rosé that demands close attention over a leisurely fish dinner.”  94 Points
2015 Mira Stanly Ranch Los Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir

2015 Mira Stanly Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot Noir

MIRA 2015 Mira Stanly Ranch Los Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
STANLY RANCH

 
Have you ever read about a wine with a narrative so compelling that you knew it was something you absolutely had to have?  That’s what happened when we wrote about Mira’s 2014 Stanly Ranch Pinot and we sold it all out in a matter of hours.  Fortunately for all of us and especially those who missed the 2014, the 2015 is a superb follow-up.  After all, it’s made by winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez, who has two decades of experience at one of the top wine Estates in the world.  He’s responsible for crafting the 2001 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia “Masseto” which received 100 points from Wine Spectator and was described as possibly the best Tuscan red ever…  And the vineyard? You might recognize Stanly Ranch from high-scoring, single-vineyard Pinots made by Saintsbury, Cherry Pie, and Merryvale to name a few.  At $45, this is a Pinot worth trying… Join our Insider’s Club (free) and you may want to stock up with enough to share.  
 
Cut from the historic Stanly Ranch Vineyard on the Eastern side of the Los Carneros Appellation which was originally planted in 1870, this Pinot has terrific intensity, brilliantly detail and plenty of focused fruit.  It has all of the components necessary to be something outstanding and our panel was thrilled with the quality at this modest price point.  Just don’t wait too long to secure yours, because this might go fast. 
 
MIRA
2015 PINOT NOIR
STANLY RANCH
Retails at:  $45/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “White chocolate, floral and fruit aromas lead the senses into juicy flavors of fresh plums, sweet berries, hints of tobacco and soft tannins. In its youth this is a very tight wine with an acid back bone that ensures years of complexity.”
2015 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Beaulieu Vineyards Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

BEAULIEU VINEYARDS 2015 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

GEORGES DE LATOUR
2015 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 
When I tasted BV’s flagship Georges de Latour Cabernet last Fall, I knew huge scores weren’t far behind… The 2015 has such incredible intensity, matched equally with concentration, balance and length, that it will rock-the-world for just about anybody that tastes it.  The wine has Napa Valley history embedded deep into its DNA, and is a timeless classic that embodies every quality that makes Rutherford so wondrous.  Under the guidance of one of the world’s most iconic winemakers, Andre Tchelistcheff, BV built on a reputation of excellence and achievements, and now, nearly 80 vintages later, Georges de Latour is still turning heads. Just look at the group of 96-98 point scores.
 
Enchanting, profound and deeply hedonistic all come to mind when tasting the 2015.  This vintage was made in the winery’s new state-of-the-art facility and it perfectly combines time-honored traditions with modern technologies.  Birthed from the iconic BV Ranches Numbers 1 and 2, originally planted by Georges de Latour in the early 1900’s…  Now that the reviews are out, I wouldn’t hesitate long to secure your case.
 
BEAULIEU VINEYARDS
GEORGES DE LATOUR
2015 PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $145.00/btl
 
Your Price: $119.99/btl 

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98 Points
 
“A complex red with blackcurrants, forest floor and mint. Eucalyptus, too. Love the aromas. Full body with ripe tannins that roll on the palate. Very harmonious and precise. Needs four to five years to come together, but already a joy to taste.”

97+ Points
 “… Deep purple-colored, with a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberries, graphite, and smoked herbs, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, terrific purity, and building tannins, which become even more apparent with extended air time… This is the real deal and count me impressed. It’s approachable today thanks to its purity and balance, but given its old-school, classic feel, I’ve no doubt it’s going to evolve for 2-3 decades.” 

97 Points
“... Dense in colour, the 2015 expresses superbly the intensity of Napa Cabernet along with hints of mint and spice. It’s surprisingly fresh on the palate with total absence of over-extraction, the fruit, oak and tannins being in perfect harmony, leading to a firm and polished finish. This is historical Napa at its very best.”

96+ Points
 “… very deep purple-black in color and reveals bags of crushed blackberries, black cherries and warm cassis notes with mocha, Sichuan pepper and hoisin plus unsmoked cigars and cedar chest hints. Full-bodied and absolutely laden with layers of black fruits and spices, it has a firm, grainy frame and seamless freshness, finishing very long.” 
 
 
Customers who enjoy BV Georges de Latour Cabernet may also enjoy these two icons… 
Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical
2016 Quintessa Proprietary Red
BERINGER
PRIVATE RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
VERTICAL COLLECTION
2013 | 2014 | 2015
Retails at: $1020/6-Pack
 
Your Price: $750/6-PACK 

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[2014] From Jeb Dunnuck: “...sports an inky, opaque color to go with killer notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, hints of oak, graphite and minerality. Rich, full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, it’s tight and backward, and is more reminiscent of a 2013 than a 2014…” 96 Points
 
[2015] From James Suckling: “The spice and walnut aromas are so enticing. Undertones of blackberries and black truffles. Full-bodied, dense and layered with fantastic tension and seamless tannins. It goes on for minutes. All about classic structure and beauty…” 99 Points
QUINTESSA
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
RUTHERFORD, NAPA VALLEYYour Price: $190/btl 

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “… Very deep purple-black in color, it comes bounding out of the glass like a pedigree pup with exuberant notions of crème de cassis, warm blueberries and black cherries with hints of redcurrants, kirsch, candied violets, crushed rocks, cigar box and fallen leaves plus a waft of truffles. Full, rich and beautifully laced with layers of floral notes and fragrant earth, the profound black and blue fruits build slowly in the mouth, achieving great energy and depth with a beautiful velvety frame, finishing long and perfumed.” 97+ Points
2014 Primus Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Primus Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonChileKevin VogtMaipo ValleySouth America

PRIMUS 2014 Primus Maipo Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE

 
Did you know that Chile’s Maipo Valley has a Mediterranean Climate, similar to Napa Valley? Wine regions with a Mediterranean climate are characterized by their long growing seasons of moderate to warm temperatures and they’re perfectly suited for ripening Bordeaux varietals.  Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo Valley even shares some of the similar flavor characteristics to Napa Valley Cabernet with prominent black current and black cherry fruit.  One glaring difference between the two is the price of land and labor is significantly lower, and because of that, winemakers are able to devote any necessary resources to create high quality wines at exceptionally low prices.  A perfect example is the 2014 PRIMUS Cabernet, which is ridiculously great at under twenty bucks.   
 
With no expense spared in the winemaking, the grapes are double hand sorted before making their way into stainless steel fermenters.  The 2014 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged in French oak barrels for a full year before bottling.  On the palate the wine is firmly concentrated and loaded with classic black currants, dark cherry, mint, and sage.  I highly recommend stocking up… 
 
PRIMUS
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl
 
From James Suckling: “A fine and silky red with fresh mint and herb as well as light currant aromas. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a clean finish…” 92 Points
 
Customers who enjoy PRIMUS Cabernet Sauvignon may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…
2016 Shottesbrooke Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon
 2016 Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon
SHOTTESBROOKE
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
LANGHORNE CREEK, AUSTRALIA
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 

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From James Halliday: “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
FAMIGLIA BIANCHI 
2016 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 

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Winery Notes: “A classic Cabernet Sauvignon that can compete with the best from around the world, this wine displays a deep ruby color and great “legs.” Spicy and complex aromas of black pepper, licorice, toasty coffee grinds and hints of fresh mint mingle with cassis and wild berries. Ample and persistent in the mouth, with a harmonious structure that highlights its personality and pedigree.“
2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

LA FOLLETTE 2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

2016 CHARDONNAY
LORENZO VINEYARD

 
There are several key qualities that I look for in absolutely top-quality Chardonnay.  First I look at color intensity, and evaluate it for a golden hue that’s both striking and pure.  Next, is aroma, and I want to smell both complexity and precision detail. On the palate, the most important thing that I seek is balance.  A great Chardonnay can be rich, and opulent, but it needs to be finely threaded with enough acidity to be refreshing, and to not fall flat.  I found all of the above in a glass of 2016 La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay, and it turns out I wasn’t alone… With 94-95 Point scores from Robert Parker and Jeb Dunnuck, this micro-produced Chardonnay is screaming for your attention.  At under $40, it’s truly one of the best examples California Chardonnays that I’ve tasted in years.
 
La Follette is all about showcasing terroir, and their goal is to create a wine that is transparent to the individual site from which it was hewn.  The Lorenzo Vineyard lies in the middle of Sonoma’s Iconic Russian River Valley AVA and the vineyard gets plenty of cooling fog in the mornings and evenings which help the grapes maintain acidity throughout their lifecycle.  The 10 acre vineyard is planted to Old Wente Clone, which is a classic Chardonnay clone preferred for producing wines with intense aromatics, and rich textures.  With just 128 cases produced, I wouldn’t wait to secure yours.
 
LA FOLLETTE
2016 CHARDONNAY
LORENZO VINEYARD
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl  
YOU SAVE 20%
 
 
“A step up, the 2016 Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard comes from a vineyard in the Russian River and spent ten months in 20% new French oak. It has riveting notes of caramelized lemons, white flowers, salty minerality, and toasted bread. Clean, pure, medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity and a great finish, it has a racy, vibrant style that’s backed up by terrific intensity and depth. It’s a beauty.“  95 Points
“The 2016 Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard has gregarious scents of honeycomb, pink grapefruit, green mango and nectarines with touches of croissant and apple blossom. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate with great tension and tightly wound mineral and tropical layers, finishing with great length and depth. 128 cases produced.” 94 Points
 
Customers who enjoy La Follette Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay  may also enjoy these two terrific Chardonnays…
2017 Vine Cliff Los Carneros Chardonnay
 2017 Montagu Durell Vineyard Chardonnay
VINE CLIFF
2017 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS 
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “.. opens up with inviting citrus notes of Meyer lemon and mandarin orange, followed by floral notes of honey suckle, and jasmine. A second breath of wine takes you to a place of minerals, with hints of flint and wet stones. The gentle kiss of oak seems to seep through the fruit ever so slowly. The beauty of this vintage is reflected by the perfect balance between fruit, oak, and acid. The palate exhibits a depth of fruit flavors ranging from golden delicious apple, tangelo, and nectarine. On the finish the wine ends with a medley of honey, citrus, and floral notes.”
MONTAGU
2017 CHARDONNAY
DURELL VINEYARD
Retails at:  $55/btl
 

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Winery Notes: “This Chardonnay hails exclusively from the DurellVineyard in Sonoma Coast. The Chardonnay is bright, powerful, and driven by a flinty minerality balanced with tropical fruit notes of white peach, honeyed apricots, and lemon curd with hints of mint and citrus. This wine was fermented in French barrels and spent one year in barrel leading to wonderfully balanced oak integration while sur lee aging developed rich complexity.”
2015 Waterfall Old Vine Proprietary Red

2015 Waterfall Old Vine Napa | Sonoma Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSonomaUSA

WATERFALL 2015 Waterfall Old Vine Proprietary Red

2015 PROPRIETARY RED
OLD VINE, NAPA | SONOMA

 
You might recognize winemaker Helen Keplinger from when she was featured on the front page of the Wine Spectator, or from her work at Bryant Family, Kenzo, Grace Family, Carte Blanche or from her own label Keplinger, but most people probably haven’t heard of Waterfall… Of course, with 140 cases made of their Proprietary Blend, it’s no surprise.  At a small fraction of the price of the above mentioned wines, I couldn’t wait to taste this wine and it absolutely did not disappoint.  The wine combines equal quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and arose from old, dry farmed vines.  On the palate the wine is deeply concentrated, focused and finely detailed.  At $40, a wine of this caliber would make anyone do a double take… At $35, the quality is overflowing. 
 
Cascading in from the remarkable 2015 vintage, which was the fourth straight drought influenced growing season and one that produced stunningly high quality fruit, but incredibly low yields.  The 2015 spent an impressive 21 months in oak barrels and now with a couple years in the bottle, it’s really starting to flow.  
 
WATERFALL
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
OLD VINE, NAPA | SONOMA
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Nose of purple flowers, tobacco, cedar and campfire. Mouth coating, dense and chewy, with flavors of black plum, black cherry, cocoa. Great grip and texture, with fine tannins. A fantastic blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Franc, from a single vineyard in Sonoma Valley, is from 80 year old, head trained, dry farmed vines. Aged 21 months in 30% new French oak and bottled unfined and unfiltered.” 140 cases made.
 
Customers who enjoy Waterfall Proprietary Red may also enjoy these two stunning Blends… 
2015 Tobias Formation Proprietary Red 2017 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red
TOBIAS 
2015 FORMATION
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $50/btl
 
Your Price: $33/btl 

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From Wine Enthusiast: “Hearty and full bodied, this wine is loaded with blackberry, dark chocolate and beef flavors and structured with moderate tannins and a rich mouthfeel. Blended from Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, it has good concentration, ripeness and length, and it’s easy to enjoy.” 90 Points
CHAPPELLET
2017 MOUNTAIN CUVEE
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $33/btl 

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Winery Notes: “This lush and layered Bordeaux blend begins with alluring fruit-driven aromas of cherry, currant and plum, as well as sophisticated undercurrents of graphite, cedar, clove and nutmeg. The berry and spice notes are echoed on the round, mouth- coating palate, where they mingle with hints of black tea, vanilla and savory herbs. An underpinning of tannins provides weight, structure and impressive length to the finish.“
2014 Valdez St Peter's Church Zinfandel

2014 Valdez St Peter’s Church Zinfandel

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyKevin VogtSonomaUncategorizedUSAZinfandel

VALDEZ 2014 Valdez St Peter's Church Zinfandel

2014 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH

 
There are many different interpretations of Zinfandel produced in California, ranging from  intensely jammy, to those that have a brawny build and concentrated core, to a pure, supple and well-balanced style.  This remarkable single-vineyard Zin from Valdez falls in the brawny, well-built category with a deep and concentrated core of fruit, unending depth and escalating persistence.  What makes this Zin extra-special is that it also attracts some of the best attributes of the other styles of Zin. It has just enough intense jammy fruit to let you know it’s classic Old Vine Zinfandel and a purity of flavors and balance reflecting the talented family that produced it. The Valdez family are some California’s most sought after wine growers, having farmed for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others.  Their St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel is simply one of the best Zin’s produced in California, which is why their 2013 earned a spot on my top 5 wines of the year list in 2018…
 
Arising from a 5 acre vineyard in Alexander Valley that’s planted to nearly century old vines, this wine exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel. Rosenblum fans might also recognize this vineyard from single-vineyard Zinfandels that they produced in the 1990’s.  Carved from one of Sonoma Counties greatest vintages, this exemplary ancient vine Zinfandel is a must-have.
 
VALDEZ
2014 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl
 
Tasting Notes: “This focused, penetrating zinfandel flaunts intense flavors and aromas of rich Bing cherries, concentrated cranberry, and black currants with hints of Spring flowers, bakers chocolate and black olives. The amazing balance of flavors makes your palate thirst for more after every sip of this beauty.”
 
Customers that enjoy Valdez St. Peter’s Church Vineyard  Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins… 
2016 Gamba Family Ranches Zinfandel 2107 Quivira Pillsbury Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL
FAMILY RANCHES
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “… a bold, well structured wine with an aromatic nose of ripe berries, brown spice, and black licorice. The color is a beautiful and vibrant dark crimson. The wine is deftly balanced, with flavors that burst on the palate, offering well defined dark cherry, raspberry and blueberry that give way to dark chocolate, spicy pepper and a hint of nutty oak. The frame is firm yet round without harsh edges, with an appealing, weighty, yet buoyant mid palate, and a refreshing lift on the lengthy, enjoyable, toasty finish.”
QUIVIRA
2017 ZINFANDEL
PILLSBURY VINEYARD
DRY CREEK VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From Jeb Dunnuck: “… the 2017 Zinfandel Pillsbury Vineyard (100% Zinfandel) has a classic bouquet of plums, mulled currants, cedary spice, and incense. Elegant, medium to full-bodied, rounded, and fleshy on the palate, with good purity, it’s another beautiful Zinfandel from this estate.” 93 Points