2016 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red

2016 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red

with No Comment $60-$70Atlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSt HelenaUSA

ORIN SWIFT 2016 Orin Swift Papillon Proprietary Red

2016 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED

 
The wine equivalent of a marathon runner, Orin Swift’s Papillon moves across the palate with stamina and escalating energy, building definition with each new stride.  With all five Bordeaux varietals entering the race, the 2016 pushed through 15 months of oak barrels, and offers a burst of sweet mulberries followed by an adrenalin rush of hedonistic delights that will leave you racing to track down another case.  Built from some of Napa Valley’s most iconic vineyard sources, including fruit from Atlas Peak and St. Helena AVAs, it’s no surprise that the previous three consecutive vintages have earned stellar 94 to 95 Point scores from Robert Parker… Don’t get lapped and miss out on your case of 2016.  
 
Carved from carefully chosen vineyards spread throughout various prestigious growing regions in Napa Valley, the 2016 offers up intense aromas beginning with dark cherries and plum and then moving to black chocolates, dried violets, and graphite that leap from the glass.  If you love deep, rich, full-bodied blends, this one is an absolute delight… 
 
ORIN SWIFT
2016 PAPILLON
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “An inky, dark garnet sits in the glass with bursting aromatics even from afar-ripe blackcurrant and blackberry with hints of Kirsch, Madagascar vanilla and cigar box. Velvety and rich on entry and through the mid, the wine offers flavors of dark plum, blueberry and notes of fennel, fresh leather and a subtle minerality. Plush, layered and dense, the wine finishes with dusty tannins and a lingering touch of black cherry.”
 
Customers that enjoy Orin Swift Papillon may also enjoy these two fantastic Reds…
2016 Orin Swift Machete Proprietary Red 2017 Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert
ORIN SWIFT
2016 MACHETE
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 

Click to Order

The 2016 Orin Swift Machete stampedes from the glass with a glorious and persistent perfume layered with blueberry velvet cake, dried violets, and incense, intertwined with a tinge of bacon fat and wood smoke.  Machete  has clinched coveted positions on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list on three separate occasions. The 2016 is one of their best yet and I wouldn’t miss it… 
ORIN SWIFT
8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
2017 PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $45.99/btl 

Click to Order

Riveting, seductive and sensual were the first words to come to my mind when I tasted the 2017 blend.  The wine is primarily Zinfandel heightened with Petite Syrah and Syrah.  Dave Phinney is clearly a master at blending and creating new and unique wines that are wildly delicious and irresistible upon release. 
2014 Silverado GEO Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 Silverado GEO Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

SILVERADO  2014 Silverado GEO Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon

2014 GEO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY

 
Coombville is one of Napa’s hottest up-and-coming regions, and at the same time it’s one of the coolest, literally… The cooler daytime temps allow the Bordeaux varietals to slowly ripen, developing deep, complex flavors. I find Cabernet Sauvignon from Coombsville incredibly alluring with a sort of earthy hedonism that makes them absolutely unique. The soils are rocky and volcanic, and the wines always reflect those characteristics beautifully.  Luminaries Caldwell, Paul Hobbs, Pahlmeyer, Purlieu, Meteor and Favia to name just a few, all source from this idyllic terroir.  Silverado has farmed their Mt. George Ranch Vineyard in Coombsville for a couple of decades, and GEO was made to celebrate 20 years there.   
 
Silverado Vineyards is owned by the Disney family, who bought their first 81 acre vineyard in Yountville in 1976.  They’ve since strategically acquired vineyards in Stags Leap, Carneros and Coombsville, propelling the winery to become exclusively estate-grown.  The 2014 GEO perfectly illustrates all of the hallmarks that I love about Coombsville with concentrated blackberry, scorched earth, sultry minerals and satiny texture.  With the 95 Point score from James Suckling, don’t wait too long to secure your case.  
 
SILVERADO 
2014 GEO CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
COOMBSVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 
 
From James Suckling: “Vibrant aromas of blueberries and blackcurrants follow through to a full body, a tight and dense center palate and a long and silky finish. So beautiful. Polished and refined...” 95 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Silverado GEO Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabernets…
2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
 2014 Cimarossa Riva di Cimarossa Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
DUCKHORN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $78.00/btl
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Beginning with a gorgeous nose of boysenberry, cherry, strawberry, cedar, sage and licorice, this lush and lively Cabernet captures the rich diversity of Napa Valley. On the palate, the alluring fruit flavors are underscored by bright acidity, firm polished tannins and notes of fig, licorice and cinnamon that linger on the well-structured finish.”
Cabernet Sauvignon 82% | Merlot 10% |
Petit Verdot 6% | Cabernet Franc 2%
CIMAROSSA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 HOWELL MOUNTAIN
RIVE DI CIMAROSSA
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 

Click to Order

From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rive Di Cimarossa has a dense ruby/purple color, classic lead pencil shavings intermixed with blackcurrant, mulberry and blackberry fruit. That dense color is followed by a full-bodied wine with sweet tannin, low acidity and outstanding ripeness and purity. Drink it now and over the next 15-20 years.”  92 Points 
2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red

2017 Vista Rutherford Red Blend

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedRutherfordUSA

VISTA  2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red

2017 RED BLEND
RUTHERFORD

Update: We are SOLD OUT of the 2017 Vista Rutherford Red Blend.  However, we just received the 2017 Vista Atlas Peak Proprietary Red.  Quite frankly, we think it may be even better than the Vista Rutherford.  And it’s STILL only $23 btl.   Click Here for More Details

 
How do you get an incredible Rutherford Cabernet Blend for $23? Frankly, you don’t, unless something unusual happens… Originally intended to be a Single Vineyard Cabernet, a winemaking miscommunication led to some barrels from other high-end projects getting accidentally blended into the same tank.  The result is an absolutely stunning Rutherford Blend that needs a new home… When I first tasted this wine I was asked to estimate the retail price with no information other than what was on the label.  After considering the focused and penetrating red fruits, classic Rutherford dust characteristics and long, pleasant finish, my number was $75-$95/btl… Turns out it was $95, had it been finished as a single vineyard Rutherford Cabernet.  We knew this wine would leave countless fans wanting more, which was proven by around a 1/2 pallet/week in re-orders that have poured in.  Now the wine is nearly sold out, so if you haven’t stocked up yet, this is the last call… 
 
Originating 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. Predominately Cabernet, heightened with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2017 saturates your palate in seductive red berries laced with dried lavender, red currants, iron, and Rutherford dust.   If you look for value Reds from Napa Valley, I strongly recommend that you double or even triple down on this one, before it’s too late…   
 
VISTA 
2017 RED BLEND
RUTHERFORD
Intended Retail $95/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl

Click to Order

Tasting Notes: “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

2016 DuMOL Single Vineyards Limited Releases

with No Comment Kevin VogtSonomaUSA

DuMOL

SINGLE VINEYARDS
2016 LIMITED RELEASES 
PINOT NOIR | CHARDONNAY | SYRAH | VIOGNIER

 
If you had to choose one wine brand to be the only wine that you could enjoy for the rest of your life, what would it be? DuMOL would certainly be high on my list.  Their wines are simply stunning every year… The 2016’s offer Grand Cru level complexity and just like we’ve come to expect from the brand they’re exceptionally charming and offer wave upon wave of pure joy the moment they touch your lips.  Each of these limited release offerings perform at the highest level, with flavors and aromas so deep, focused and absorbing that they tell a story of their origins in vivid detail.  With a solid reputation for excellence and high-scores, there’s simply never enough of the Fall releases to satisfy demand…
  
I welcome you to mix and match a case however you would like, or you may order each one individually and in any quantity below… As always, ground shipping is included on all full or mixed 15 bottle cases.  
 
2016 DuMOL Ryan Widdoes Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 DuMOL Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
DuMOL 
2016 RYAN PINOT NOIR
WIDDOES VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $89.99/btl

Click to Order

From Vinous: “The 2016 Pinot Noir Ryan Widdoes Vineyard is one of the highlights in this range of Pinots. Bright, floral notes and punch, red-toned fruit give the 2016 presence and vivacity. A rush of pomegranate, red cherry, blood orange and star anise build into the voluptuous, racy finish. There is so much to like here. The Widdoes emerges from a dry farmed parcel planted with Martini clone Pinot, which is always so distinctive.” 92-95 Points
DuMOL 
2016 ESTATE PINOT NOIR
ESTATE VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $99.99/btl

Click to Order

From Vinous: “The 2016 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard is a potent, brooding wine that expresses all the natural structural intensity of this site. Black cherry, plum, gravel, graphite, smoke and dark spice notes add to the wine’s virile personality. The 2016 is not at all subtle, but it packs a serious punch. It should also age nicely for a number of years. Today, the tannins definitely make themselves felt.” 92-95 Points
2016 DuMOL Chloe Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay 2016 DuMOL Isobel Charles Heintz Vineyard Chardonnay
DuMOL 
2016 CHLOE CHARDONNAY
RITCHIE VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

Click to Order

From Jeb Dunnuck: “The 2016 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard comes from one of the top terroirs in the Russian River, and Andy has been working with two parcels from this vineyard since 2001. David Ramey and Mark Aubert also source fruit from these same parcels. This crazy good effort is a match for a Grand Cru White Burgundy and has a reductive, complex, layered style as well as sensational minerality, spice, white flowers, and orchard fruits. It needs 2-3 years of bottle age (I’m not sure bottles would last that long at my house) and will keep for 10-15 years.” 97 Points
DuMOL 
2016 ISOBEL CHARDONNAY
CHARLES HEINTZ VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

Click to Order

From Jeb Dunnuck: “From a cooler, foggy site just east of Occidental, on the edge of the Green Valley portion of the Russian River, the 2016 Chardonnay Charles Heintz comes from 35-year-old vines, was barrel fermented and aged, and bottled unfined. This deeper, richer, more powerful Chardonnay boasts sensational notes of honeyed orchard fruits, brioche, and salty minerality. With integrated acidity, a big, rich mid-palate and a great finish, it’s a quintessential Sonoma Coast Chardonnay to drink over the coming decade or more.” 96 Points 
2106 DuMOL Eddie's Patch Greywacke Vineyard Syrah 2016 DuMOL Lia's Wild Mountainside Viognier
DuMOL 
2016 EDDIE’S PATCH SYRAH
HOPPE-KELLY VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $89.99/btl

Click to Order

From Jeb Dunnuck: “From the Greywacke Vineyard (this is a new vineyard for this cuvée), the 2016 Syrah Greywacke Vineyard Eddie’s Patch is reminiscent of a release from the Côte Brune side of Côte-Rôtie. Ample crushed rocks, smoked meats, ozone, pepper, and ripe back fruits give way to a full-bodied, seamless and elegant Syrah that continued to gain in stature and depth as it sat in the glass. Perfectly ripe, impeccably balanced, and long, give it a year or two and enjoy over the following decade or more.” 96+ Points
DuMOL 
2016 LIA VIOGNIER
WILD MOUNTAINSIDE
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Jeb Dunnuck: “I was pretty much blown away by the 2016 Viognier Wild Mountainside, which is up with some of the best expressions of this variety coming out of the New World. Flower oil, pineapple, apricot and some tropical notes all flow from a deep, rich, concentrated Viognier that stays vibrant and fresh. It’s a dead ringer for a Condrieu from the likes of Vernay or André Perret.” 94 Points
2016 Chavy-Chouet Les Narvaux Vineyard Meursault

2016 Chavy-Chouet Les Narvaux Vineyard Meursault

with No Comment $60-$70BurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

CHAVY-CHOUET  2016 Chavy-Chouet Les Narvaux Vineyard Meursault

2016 MEURSAULT
LES NARVAUX VINEYARD

 
What makes the village of Meursault and the wines produced there so special? You might argue it’s the location in the heart of the Côte de Beaune between Volnay  and Puligny-Montrachet.  Others would opine that Meursault is one of the oldest and most celebrated places in the world producing Chardonnay. For me, it’s the hallmark characteristics of Meursault that I find profound… Classic Meursault should have deep complexity, citrus fruits and fresh floral notes coupled with rich, nutty flavors of toasted almonds and roasted hazelnut, subtle stone and liquid mineral qualities.  Chavy-Chouet’s single vineyard Meursault Les Narvaux has everything that I look for in a great bottle of Meursault and at under $100/btl you’ll think you are dreaming the moment you taste it.
 
Even the most devout Burgundy aficionado probably hasn’t heard of Chavy-Chouet’s Meursault Les Narvaux and with a mere 50 cases imported into the US, I’m not at all surprised.  The wine comes from a hillside parcel, perched right above Premier Cru vineyards Poruzots and Genévrières, where the soft, chalky, clay soils are shallow and gravelly, with bare rocks and marl that produce exceptional fruit.  With the price of Meursault often reaching hundreds of dollars per bottle, this is the perfect introduction to superior quality white Burgundy at a relative value.
 
CHAVY-CHOUET
2016 MEURSAULT
LES NARVAUX VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Nose of honeysuckle, white fruits, and crushed rocks. Rich, creamy, clean and pure in the mouth, with flavors of tangerine, white peach, melon and honey. Incredibly vibrant, fresh and delicious. Only 50 cases imported.”
 
Customers that enjoy Chavy-Chouet Meursault may also enjoy these two terrific White Burgundies…
2016 Maison Roche De Bellene Chassagne-Montrachet
MAISON ROCHE de BELLENE
2016 CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET VV
 
Your Price: $89.99/btl

Click to Order

Many people believe that the greatest Chardonnay vineyards in the world surround the Montrachet Vineyard in Burgundy… One of the best white wine growing villages is named Chassagne-Montrachet and includes the Montrachet Vineyard.
DOMAINE FRANCOIS GAUNOUX 
2016 “MONOPOLE” MEURSAULT
“CLOS DE MEIX CHAVAUX”
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

Click to Order

Importer’s Tasting Notes: “Nose of white flowers, minerals. Great mouthfeel, rich, supple and pure, very silky. Flavors of pear, apple, nectarine blend with minerality and salinity.  This is a wine of great tension, balance and energy, truly a breathtaking wine. 30 cases import”
2016 Y Rousseau Son of a Butcher Proprietary Red

2016 Y. Rousseau ‘Son of a Butcher’ Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSonomaUSA

Y. ROUSSEAU

2016 Y Rousseau Son of a Butcher Proprietary Red2016 PROPRIETARY RED
SON OF A BUTCHER

 
One of the greatest contributing factors to some American blends being so delicious upon release is the ability for American winemakers to be as creative as they want when making a wine.  They have the unrestricted artistic freedom to blend any varietals together. A perfect example is Y. Rousseau’s Son of a Butcher which utilizes the intense color and firm structure of the Tannat grape, and is made even more compelling with additions of Bordeaux Varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. I’m certain that if you could have seen the grins that came over the faces of our tasting panel when we tasted this wine, you would’ve already ordered a case…
 
Why tannat? Aside from the vast and unique contributions that Tannat (deemed the “healthy grape” due to high levels of antioxidants) adds to the blend, like robust character, intense fruit, spice and structure, winemaker Yannik Rousseau is from South West of France where the grape is widely grown.  Tannat on it’s own can often be gripping and powerful, but when blended with Bordeaux varietals, the power of the Tannat grape can be harnessed into something truly special.  This wine has that magic and it’s clear from the moment the wine splashes into your glass and the deep, fragrant perfume of ripe blackberry pie, roasted coffee, white pepper and dried flowers lets you know you’re going to like it…
 
Y. ROUSSEAU
2016 PROPRIETARY RED
SON OF A BUTCHER
 
Your Price: $23/btl
 
Winery Notes: “45% Tannat 25% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Merlot 15% Cabernet Franc. Son Of a Butcher shows the softer side of Yannick’s favorite red grape – Tannat – and its amazing potential as a blending variety. The deep, dark, spicy bouquet revolves around blackberries, white pepper, plums, violets, dry leaves with notes of licorice and roasted coffee. Supple and full-bodied, it’s an unmistakable California resident, rich and with youthful vibe, but the one who doesn’t forget its French heritage. Aged for 18 months in 15% new and 85% neutral French oak barrels.“
 
Customers who enjoy Y. Rousseau’s Son of a Butcher may also enjoy these two stunning Reds…
2015 Hoopla The Mutt Proprietary Red 2017 Vista Rutherford Proprietary Red
HOOPLA
2015 THE MUTT
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $23/btl

Click to Order
VISTA
2017 RED BLEND
RUTHERFORD
 
Your Price: $23/btl

Click to Order

 
Tasting Notes: “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 Prisoner Wine Co ‘Cuttings’ Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUncategorizedUSA

PRISONER WINE CO.

2016 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

As the big, masculine brother to the popular Prisoner Red blend, the 2016 Cuttings is a larger-than-life Cabernet Sauvignon that always makes an indomitable entrance with a spectacular display of unbridled richness, voluptuous textures and satin layers. Hailing from high-elevation vineyards including Bella Vista, Obsidian Ridge, and the York Creek Vineyard on Spring Mountain, Prisoner Wine Company’s  Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon is a one-of-a-kind, dramatic, ostentatious effort that oozes with otherworldly intensity.  Bursting with intense mulberries, melted dark chocolate, unsweetened blackberry cobbler, and vanilla bean.  Cuttings makes a powerful statement on what can be achieved at this price point…
 
Cuttings was thoughtfully inspired by steep, hillside vineyards and expert blending, and the 2016 was built around a core of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, elevated with Petite Sirah, Syrah and Zinfandel.  Modeling extravagance with deep, rich, hedonistic flavors, and just like we’ve come to expect from Cuttings, the 2016 was made in a 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.
2016 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 27%
 
Winery Notes: “Deliciously smooth with flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, and cocoa. Aromas of fresh roasted coffee, black currant, vanilla bean, brown spice, and wild berries.”
 
2017 The Prisoner Proprietary Red 2015 Prisoner Wine Co Derange Proprietary Red
THE PRISONER
PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl
 

Electric, jubilant, infectiously charming, the new 2017  Prisoner unshackles a posse of vibrant and elaborate flavors that are both intense and broadening, and become even more complex with aeration. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2017 permeates with unsweetened cherry cobbler, wild strawberries, chocolate dipped blueberries and liquid floral.
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 DÉRANGÉ
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $99.99/btl

Click to Order
2014 Bucher Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 Bucher Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUncategorizedUSA

BUCHER 2014 Bucher Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

It’s always all about the vineyard, and Bucher has attracted luminaries like Williams Selyem, Merry Edwards and Siduri to craft single-vineyard Pinot Noirs bearing their vineyard name. When a vineyard like this becomes a thing of legend, I always seek out wines produced by the Estate that owns and farms the land too.  Bucher’s Vineyard is extraordinarily special, located on Westside Road in Healdsburg, and originally planted in 1997 with the assistance of Bob Cabral, former winemaker at Williams Selyem.  Numerous high-scoring and memorable wines are rising from this site, and the 2014 Bucher Russian River Estate Pinot Noir is no exception.  Even at the winery’s $40 retail price, this is a wine worth hoarding…
 
Thoughtfully constructed from seven different blocks inside the Bucher Estate, and orchestrated from a labyrinth of revered Pinot Noir clones including Swan, Mt Eden, Pommard and Dijon, the 2014 Bucher exhibits the depth and complexity that you would expect from a high end Pinot Noir.  The wine was made by Pinot artist Adam Lee whom you might recognize from Siduri, and with just a handful of cases left of the 2014, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
BUCHER
2014 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $40/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Fragrant aromatics of tart cherry and cranberry, along with hints of baking spices and sandalwood, introduce this classic Russian River Valley Pinot. From the smooth entry and mouthfeel to the broad, lingering finish, this wine offers a full complement of flavors with depth, richness, and varietal purity. Wild berry, plum, and black cherry mingle with traces of earth, anise, spice box, and a mineral essence. The tannin and oak structure will continue to integrate with additional bottle aging...”
 
Customers that enjoy Bucher’s 2014 Russian River Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2017 Black Pine Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2014 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
BLACK PINE
2017 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $30/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl

Click to Order

YOU SAVE 23%

Brought to life by Drew Huffine, whose experience includes working with many elite Pinot Noir producers including Kosta Browne, DuMOL, Auteur, Copain and Donum, the 2017 was conceived from carefully chosen vineyards located in the Petaluma Gap, Russian River and Sonoma Coast.  If you’ve tasted any of the earlier vintages of Black Pine, you already know what to expect…
JOSEPH JEWELL
2014 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $38/btl
 
 
The 2014 Joseph Jewell Russian River Pinot combines fruit from Hallberg, Floodgate and Bucher Vineyards… Williams Selyem and Gary Farrell fans likely recognize these sites.  The 2014 washes over your palate with stunning balance, detail and length, and it perfectly portrays everything that I look for in cool climate California Pinot Noir.
2015 Foley Johnson Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Foley Johnson Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

FOLEY JOHNSON  2015 Foley Johnson Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD, NAPA VALLEY

 
How much would you expect to pay for a Cabernet from Napa Valley’s revered Rutherford AVA?  Iconic producers Quintessa, BV and Scarecrow all set a precedence for quality in Rutherford.  I recently checked the average retail price of the nearly 3 dozen 2015 vintage Rutherford Cabernets listed in the Wine Spectator and they averaged over $140/btl…  This is a real barometer to the quality of this appellation, and if you’ve followed my emails for a while, you know that one of my favorite Rutherford producers is Foley Johnson.  Their name is synonymous with great value, and even at the winery retail price of $75 it’s a terrific find.  At $39.99/btl, it competes favorably with the best in the Valley.  As a testament to the quality of Foley Johnson’s 2015 Rutherford Cabernet, the winery auctioned 10 cases of 2015 Rutherford Cabernet at the 2018 Premiere Napa Valley Auction and it went for $1800 per case… 
 
Arising from Rutherford, an area long celebrated for its exceptional terroir and dusty tannins, and as conveyed by Andre Tchelistcheff, legendary winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyards, “Cabernets need a touch of that Rutherford dust.” This exemplary 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon shines with all of the hallmarks that I love most about Rutherford.  It’s brimming with bright, focused red fruits, crushed violets, graphite, chocolate covered raspberries and of course, beautiful Rutherford dust.
 
FOLEY JOHNSON 
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RUTHERFORD, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl
YOU SAVE 46%
 
Winery Notes: “This 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon has a focused deep red to purple color with a brilliantly dark core. The nose exudes an initial attack of bright dark cherry, black fruits, purple flowers and cocoa with a background hint of savory herbs. The palate offers nice heft and weight, with elegant flavors of blue and black fruits, roasted coffee, graphite, vanilla and sage. Its full mouthfeel is structured by firm tannins leading into a poised finish...” 
2014 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red

2014 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red

with No Comment $70-$80Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUncategorizedUSA

KEEVER  2014 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red

2014 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED 

 
Occasionally, we offer a wine so great that it becomes an object of legend, and Keever Inspirado is at the top of that list.  Appropriately named Inspirado, which translates to Inspired, the wine was carefully constructed by Celia Welch who’s an absolute legend.  You might recognize her artistry from Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens, Barbour, Dalla Valle… The 2014 Inspirado is even richer and more opulent than the 2013, opening up to a basket of ripe berries intermixed with holiday spices, black chocolate and vanilla bean. The long and expansive finish is a hallmark of this wine, and it’s so compelling, that it always leaves me thinking about the wine long after tasting it.  At under $100/btl, this is absolutely stunning… 
 
A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon that’s inspired with additions of Merlot and Malbec, the 2014 Inspirado envelops your taste buds with rich, scrumptious textures that come layered in sweet blackberries, espresso roast, scorched earth and dried cherry. This is, without a doubt, one of the best bottles in the shop under $100/btl right now…
 
KEEVER 
2014 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 

Click to Order

Winery Notes: “This Bordeaux-style blend shows all the complexity that one would expect, ranging from dark juicy blueberry aromas to mocha, dried cherry, and faint hints of vanilla. The aromas promise great things to come, and the palate impression delivers the same, opening with dark purple fruit tones wrapped in an expansive, velvety texture, then transitioning into darker and more savory notes but with the same rich, very polished tannins. The combination of Cabernet clones as well as the other Bordeaux-based varieties in this blend lend to the wine a sense of completeness and of density from entry to finish.” 
 
Customers who enjoy Keever Inspirado may also enjoy these two stunning wines…
2016 Hourglass HGIII Proprietary Red
 2013 Cabaud Benedictions Cabernet Sauvignon
HOURGLASS
2016 HG III
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $53.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 

Click to Order 

The Hourglass HGII Blend was authored by legendary winemaker Toni Biagi. Tony spent nearly 10 years crafting the high-scoring  Plumpjack wines, which rank among the best in Napa Valley, and their top Estate wines can go for around $200/btl and garner 100 point scores…  At under fifty, the HG III is a low price of admission for wine of this outstanding pedigree.  
CABAUD
2013 BENEDICTIONS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE, NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $150/btl
 
 
What do you get when you combine the highest level of winemaking with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Andy Beckstoffer’s heritage vineyards in Oakville?  You get a wine that competes with the best in the world… Many of you know winemaker Luc Morlet from his work at Newton Cellars, Peter Michael, or from his own label Morlet which is raking in 100 point scores…