2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

DANIEL

2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD

In the wine world, history dictates that all roads eventually lead to Pinot Noir. The reason is because Pinots have a supple richness and elegance coupled with a balanced bright acidity that refreshes your palate.  So when your palate needs a reset with a red that’s refreshing and has a mouth quenching opulence, Pinot Noir is usually my answer. Daniel’s 2014 Laguna Vineyard Pinot is one of those wines and with just a 75 case production that satisfies on every level. It was composed by accomplished winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start working at Williams-Selyem and created in a deep, enchanting style full of wild and complex nuances that compel you for another sip.  At $60/btl this Pinot brought a smile to my face but at $39.99/btl… You’ll want to grab enough to share, or not (grin.)
 
Daniel Winery has a talent for finding unique sites that are capable of producing profound fruit with compelling flavors and firm structure.  This one was brought to life from the organically farmed Laguna Vineyard and created from heritage clones, Calera, Eden and Martini, this Pinot Noir.  With a deep core and satin texture, this Pinot opens up beautifully to dark berries, wild flowers, hints of graphite and vanilla.  With a total production of 75 cases, this Pinot will go fast…  
 
DANIEL
2014 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 33%
 
From PinotFile: “Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Inviting aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry and dried herbs draw you into the glass. A forceful attack of delicious dark cherry fruit expands in the mouth, carrying over to a finish with respectable intensity and a burst of acidity.” 92 Points

 

Customers that enjoy Daniel’s Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 

  

2015 Two Sisters Lindsay's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 Solamente Terra Blanca Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir
TWO SISTERS
2015 PINOT NOIR
LINDSAY’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “Plump red cherry, rust, dried sage, wild thyme and baking spices show on the nose of this top-end regional wine from Bill Foley. The palate shows cohesive well-woven flavors of strong red fruits, turned earth, brown spice, cracked pepper and a menthol-like finish. The acidity is perfect, the tannins soft but structural.”  93 Points
SOLAMENTE
2014 PINOT NOIR
TERRA BLANCA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Cellar Tracker Tasting Notes: “This deep ruby wine flaunts bright aromas of cranberries, black cherries, raspberries, pickling spice and violets. Medium-bodied, fresh, seamlessly alcoholic (14.5%) and with medium-weight but grippy tannins, it has impressive presence on the mid-palate. The medium length finish concludes with a wisp of oak. This is an outstanding Pinot...”
2017 Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Cotes De Provence Rosé

2017 Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Provence Rosé

with No Comment $40-$50FranceKevin VogtRosé

DOMAINES OTT

2017 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CHATEAU DE SELLE

2017 Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Cotes De Provence Rosé
As much as I love finding new, unknown wineries, I also enjoy bringing you producers that are dominating their category.  Domaines Ott is one of the most iconic producers of Rosé, and their Chateau de Selle recently earned a monster 95 Point score.  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 might start out light and bright, but it will win you over with striking minerality, brilliant depth and crystalline structure.  With the 95 Point score, don’t wait too long to secure yours.
 
With attention to every minute detail that begins with the terroir and follows through with stunning perfume bottle like packaging, Domaines Ott is the epitome of classic Provençal Rose.  While there might be a lot of Rosé’s 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…  
 
DOMAINES OTT
2017 PROVENCE ROSÉ
CHATEAU DE SELLE
 
Your Price: $46.99/btl
 
From Wine & Spirits: “The Château de Selle sits on a limestone slope in the forested inland reaches of Provence. The soil is nearly half rock and the sun is intense, an imposing landscape for cultivating anything, yet this rosé is one of the most elegant we tasted from the 2017 vintage. The concentration of the fruit comes through in the wine’s luxurious satin texture, while the flavors remain restrained-hints of melon, lemon and red cherry highlighting its earthy savor. It’s very pale, but don’t let the hue fool you: It’s structured and mineral, a firm rosé that wouldn’t be out of place at Le Bernardin.“ 95 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Rosé, may also enjoy these two outstanding Rosés…
2017 Azur Rosé of Syrah
 2017 Domaine La Croix Sancerre Rosé
AZUR
2017 Rosé of Syrah
 
Your Price $31.99/btl
 
A remarkably compelling, Provençal inspired Rosé, brought to life by the ever talented Julien Fayard, who learned his craft at Chateau Lafite Rothschild as well as gained valuable, first-hand experience as Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka…  Offers elegant layers of raspberry, strawberry and watermelon…
DOMAINE LA CROIX
2017 SANCERRE ROSE
SAINT-LAURANT
 
Your price: $29.99/btl 

Click to Order

Tasting Notes: “Nose is a cornucopia of fruit aromas, a full on attack. Supple, smooth, elegant in the mouth, shows great tension, with flavors of blood orange, white grapefruit, green melon. Great balance, incredibly long finish, a balanced, full flavored, clean, crisp wine.”
 
2016 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay

2016 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay

with No Comment $70-$80Atlas PeakCarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapa

PAHLMEYER

2016 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY 

2016 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay
Becoming Napa Valley’s first Cult Chardonnay after Demi Moore tried to seduce Michael Douglas in the hit movie Disclosure back in 1994, Pahlmeyer became nearly impossible to acquire, overnight. More than two decades later and it’s still making a powerful statement of prestige, along with three 95 Point reviews, the demand is still going full-bore.  It’s made in a style that has remarkable weight, dimension and intensity, and under the guidance of Bibiana Gonzalez Rave it’s only gotten better. She’s added a level of elegance to the wines that marries perfectly with the classic rich, unctuous style that Pahlmeyer is known for.
 
Created from the winery’s Estate Vineyard, as well as Antinori’s Antica Vineyard on Atlas Peak and Larry Hyde’s iconic Vineyard in Carneros, the 2016 has all the ingredients necessary to be everything you’d want in a powerful yet elegant Napa Valley Chardonnay.  With attention to every minute detail, the fruit was picked at night before being rigorously inspected by hand at the winery.  Kept for 11 months in 100% new Francois Freres oak Barrels, the wine is simply gorgeous.
 
PAHLMEYER
2016 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl
 
 
“… Apricot, honey, dried flowers and lightly buttery notes get a kick of energy from the freshness of vintage and the personality of the mountain sites (Estate and Antica) that inform this bottling, Winemaker Bibiana Gonzalez-Rave has brought an added level of finesse to the Pahlmeyer Chardonnay.”  95 Points
“The 2016 Chardonnay has a lovely savory, yeasty/toasty nose over a core of warm grapefruit, fresh apricots and allspice with a touch of candied ginger. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-filling stone fruit and spicy layers, supported by great freshness and finishing long and creamy.”  95 Points
“Gorgeous aromatics of heady voluptuousness conjure elements of caramel, honey and baked apple behind a golden hue of color in this memorable, no-holds-barred white. The flavors follow through along a lengthy layered pathway lined in sparks of anise and key lime, finishing in juicy crisp acidity.”  95 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2015 DuMOL Chloe Russian River Valley Chardonnay
 2014 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
DuMOL
2015 CHLOE CHARDONNAY
RITCHIE-LORENZO VINEYARDS
 
Your Price: $67.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Jeb Dunnuck: “… a big, rich, classic Russian River Chardonnay that has loads of ripe orchard fruits, honeysuckle, dried herbs/earth, and spice all soaring from the glass. It’s another impeccably balanced, pure, classic effort from this estate that does everything right.”  97 Points
PAHLMEYER
PROPRIETARY RED
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $175.00/btl
 
Your Price:  $159.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From James Suckling: “Fantastic aromatics with blackberries, blackcurrants and iodine. Licorice, too. Medium to fulll body, fine and velvety tannins and a very polished and gorgeous finish. Caressing and dialed in. Why wait? An intellectual wine here. Lovely now.” 97 Points
2016 Prisoner Wine Co Blindfold Proprietary White

2016 Prisoner Wine Co ‘Blindfold’ Proprietary White

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary WhiteUSA

PRISONER WINE CO.

2016 BLINDFOLD
PROPRIETARY WHITE

2016 Prisoner Wine Co Blindfold Proprietary White
In the wine world, thinking outside the box, creativity, experimentation and innovation is the best way to create something that people will remember. Prisoner Wine Company embodies all of these qualities.  As the sister version to the popular Prisoner Red, the Blindfold White projects what feels like Cirque du Soleil performance on your palate and the wine encompasses a truly unique varietal combination, built around a core of Chardonnay and enhanced with Rhone varietals that add energy, lift and a myriad of complex nuances.   This wine is surprisingly delicate and nuanced, and simply fascinating to swirl and taste, and even better, finding a wine of this level, at under thirty per bottle is enough to make even red wine only drinkers smile with delight.
 
Formulated from dozens of distinguished vineyard sites throughout California, Prisoner Wine Company’s  Blindfold the 2016 leaps enthusiastically from the glass with apricot preserves, yellow orchard fruits, mineral-infused pear, and notions of honeysuckle. Resting for 10 months in a combination of fermentation vessels, the new Prisoner white casts a tremendous amount of enjoyment and simply has to be experienced to truly be appreciated.
 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2016 BLINDFOLD
PROPRIETARY WHITE
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl
YOU SAVE 15%
 
From The Wine Spectator: “Opens with a smoky, buttery brioche note, which lingers in the background as a spicy accent to the vanilla pudding and lemon curd flavors and opulent core of apricot preserves. Not a shy wine, but has a supple texture and plenty of expression on the long finish. Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne and Chenin Blanc. Drink now.”  89 pts
 
2015 Prisoner Wine Co 'Cuttings' Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Prisoner Wine Co 'The Prisoner' Proprietary Red
PRISONER WINE CO.
2015 CUTTINGS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
PRISONER WINE CO.
2016 THE PRISONER
PROPRIETARY BLEND
Retails at:  $47.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl  

Click to Order

A wine of unrestrained jubilance and infectious charm, the new 2016 Prisoner unshackles a bounty of deliciously elaborate flavors, and with even more vibrancy and determination. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2016 escapes powerfully from the glass, permeating with beautifully focused ripe cherries, wild strawberry, chocolate, and crushed violets.
2015 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2015 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

GOLDENEYE

2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY

2015 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Duckhorn Wine Company has always had an eye for discovering premium vineyard sites.  Just look at Three Palms Vineyard in Calistoga or their recent purchase of Calera Vineyards on Mount Harlan.  In 1996 Dan Duckhorn recognized the potential for world-class Pinot Noir in California’s Anderson Valley AVA.  Perfectly positioned near the Pacific Ocean and with a wide diurnal temperature variation, spanning 40-50 degrees, Duckhorn seized the opportunity to create a Pinot Noir that would stand on its own as one of California’s finest.  They now produce a handful of Pinots under the Goldeneye label, and with the top level ranging $80-$125, their Anderson Valley Pinot at $45/btl is delightful.
 
Combining fruit from both warm and cool portions of the Valley, the tension created from the contrast of styles and flavors gives this Pinot a classic portrayal of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. Housed for 10 months in oak, the 2015 is rich, wonderfully textured and bursts from the glass with soaring dark fruits, forest floor, Columbian coffee and holiday spices.    I’ve enjoyed Goldeneye for years and the 2015 ranks among my favorite vintages of this revered Anderson Valley Pinot.   
 
GOLDENEYE
2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at:  $58/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl
YOU SAVE 22%
 
From Wine Enthusiast, “This is a full-bodied, ripe and mouthfilling wine that offers generous black-plum and black-cherry flavors, a smooth texture and a lingering finish. The aroma is nicely spiced in new oak accents that meld well with the black fruits on the palate.” 91 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific wines…

 

2014 Black Kite Kite's Rest Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir  2014 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot
BLACK KITE
2014 PINOT NOIR
KITE’S REST VINEYARD
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast, “Great fruit concentration and grace make this wine a winner. It feels medium-bodied despite its high degree of ripeness, showing that balance is attainable with significant power. It has ripe, plummy aromas, fresh red cherry and cranberry flavors, supportive tannins and excellent acidity.” 93 Points Editor’s Choice
DUCKHORN
2015 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $56/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 

Click to Order

The consensus in the wine industry points to Merlot being back and with serious vigor. The varietal took a hit in 2004 with the debut of the movie Sideways which besmirched Merlot causing US Merlot sales to crater. A study by Vineyard Financial Associates estimates that it cost Merlot farmers over 400M in lost revenue in the decade following the movie.  Of course none of that made Duckhorn blink, in fact they’ve been climbing to new heights, and recently went on to become the #1 Wine in the World on the 2017 Wine Spectator Top 100 list with their 2014 Three Palms Merlot. 
Giornata Mixed 15 Pack

Giornata

with No Comment $30 and under$30-$40$40-$50Central CoastKevin VogtNebbioloUSA

GIORNATA

Giornata Mixed 15 Pack
Proving that Italian varietals can produce stunning wines outside of Italy… Winemaker Brian Terrizzi is on a mission to give these varietals a voice, from an area that he found perfectly suited for Italian grape varieties.  With cuttings from some of Italy’s top wine Estate’s planted in the similar soils of Paso Robles, his wines are gaining world-wide acclaim.  After honing his skills at Rosenblum Cellars, winemaker Brian Terrizzi gained more valuable first-hand experience with Italian varietals, working for Paolo DeMarchi at Isole e Olena in Tuscany.  Each of his new releases has stunning purity, balance and delineation, and each one simply put a smile on my face.  If you haven’t experienced these sacred Italian varietals grown in the perfect California climate, you’ll want to try a mixed case.  You’ll be surprised by how profound each wine is.
 
You may order each wine individually below, or click on the 3 bottle image above to order a mixed 15-Pack which includes 5 bottles of each.  His production is tiny with just 2 to 6 barrels of each of the below wines produced.  I strongly recommend securing some before they run out… 
 

Click to Order Mixed 15 Pack

2017 Giornata Coyote Glen Vineyard Vermintino

50 Cases Produced
 2015 Giornata Luna Matta Vineyard Anglianico

50 Cases Produced
 2014 Giornata Luna Mata Vineyard Nebbiolo

145 Cases Produced
GIORNATA
2017 VERMENTINO
COYOTE GLEN VINEYARD
Retails at: $30.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl

Click to Order

 
Notes: “Sourced from Vermentino in the 30 year old Coyote Glen vineyard. The fruit is destemmed and placed directly in unlined terra-cotta amphora and fermented on the skins for three weeks with native yeasts. Elevage continues in the same vessel for about eight months where it racked to tank and then bottled by hand and labeled by Brian and Stephy’s 12 year old twin daughters.”
GIORNATA 
2015 AGLIANICO
LUNA MATTA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Aglianico Luna Matta Vineyard offers up an attractive bouquet of ripe cherries, dried herbs, sweet soil and pencil shavings. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with a chewy chassis of tannin and more weight and body than its sibling from the French Camp Vineyard. It’s a more complete wine.”  91 Points
GIORNATA 
2014 NEBBIOLO
LUNA MATTA VINEYARD
 
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Nebbiolo has expressive baked cherries, black raspberries and red currants on the nose with hints of black soil, charcoal and dried roses. Medium to full-bodied, with a racy acid backbone lifting the intense red berry flavors, it has a chewy frame and long, fragrant earth-laced finish.” 
90+ Points
 
2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonDiamond MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

VON STRASSER

2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN

2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
When I look back at my top-selling wine of all time, which was the 2007 Ascent Diamond Mountain Cabernet, I can’t help but to find similarities in Von Strasser’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was also created exclusively from Diamond Mountain fruit.  An idyllic expression of the areas distinct volcanic terroir, this stunningly elegant and penetrating wine saturates your taste buds with an abundance of blackberry cassis, mineral laced raspberry, Ghirardelli chocolate and roasted coffee. The overall texture, is both deep and elegant and foreshadows the long and expansive finish.  It’s rare to find a Diamond Mountain Cabernet that we can offer you , and this is the first time since Ascent that we’ve found one for you…
 
Von Strasser was a fixture on Diamond Mountain for more than two decades and while they sold the vineyard in 2015, they kept the brand, and purchased a new winery on Silverado Trail where the wines are now being made. Von Strasser gained valuable experience at Trefethen and Newton wineries and he has extensive experience working with Diamond Mountain fruit.  His 2013 Cabernet is drinking so beautifully right now, it was astonishing how elegantly this wine hits your palate and it continues to impress all the way through the finish.
 
VON STRASSER
2013 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DIAMOND MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $50.00/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Immediate nose is pleasing with dark fruit of blueberry, blackberry and leather layered with flavors of licorice, coffee, pomegranate and subtle earthy undertones.  Wrap it up with supple tannins to enjoy now or up to 10 years.”
2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot

2014 Barlow Calistoga Merlot

with No Comment $30-$40CalistogaKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

BARLOW

2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA

2014 Barlow Calistoga Napa Valley Merlot
Many of California’s best Merlots come from the sleepy town of Calistoga, on the Northern-most end of Napa Valley.  The area is distinguished by volcanic soils and the largest diurnal temperature variation in Napa Valley.  Daytime highs and night time lows span up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and while the hot daytime temperatures allow the grapes to develop deep and compelling flavors, the cool nights help to maintain acidity and structure.  With all of the contributing factors working in unison, this area has proven that it can produce some of the best Merlot in California… Just look at last year’s #1 wine in the Wine Spectator.  Interestingly, Duckhorn’s iconic 3 Palms Vineyard is just a short distance from Barlow’s Estate Vineyard and I believe the micro-climate on the South-Eastern edge of Calistoga where both of these Merlots originate is perfectly suited to produce some of Napa’s best Merlot.
 
Barlow’s Estate Vineyard is farmed by father and son team and you can literally taste the care that goes into each bottle.  They produce just over 300 cases of their Merlot and at $35/btl the level of quality is literally shocking when you taste it.  The 2014 was housed for 22 months in oak and has blossomed for 2 years in the bottle.  You simply have to try this…  
 
BARLOW
2014 MERLOT
CALISTOGA
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl
 
Winery Notes: “The 2014 Barlow Merlot has a deep, concentrated violet-purple color with aromas of rich raspberry, ripe red cherry with an essence of sweet French vanilla. The palate is highly concentrated with deep and generous flavors of currants, blueberries and Bing cherries. The tannins are soft and luxurious and are a great counterpart to the sweet flavors of toasty oak.” 
308 Cases Produced 
 
Customers who enjoy Barlow’s Calistoga Merlot, may also enjoy these two terrific Merlots…

 

2015 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot 2014 Frostwatch Bennett Valley Merlot
DUCKHORN
2015 MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $56/btl
 
Your Price: $45/btl 

Click to Order

The consensus in the wine industry points to Merlot being back and with serious vigor. The varietal took a hit in 2004 with the debut of the movie Sideways which besmirched Merlot causing US Merlot sales to crater. A study by Vineyard Financial Associates estimates that it cost Merlot farmers over 400M in lost revenue in the decade following the movie.  Of course none of that made Duckhorn blink, in fact they’ve been climbing to new heights, and recently went on to become the #1 Wine in the World on the 2017 Wine Spectator Top 100 list with their 2014 Three Palms Merlot.  
FROSTWATCH
2014 MERLOT
BENNETT VALLEY 
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 

Click to Order

From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Merlot is scented of red and black plums, dried Mediterranean herbs, vanilla and spice box. Full-bodied in the mouth, it has a relatively tannic backbone dominating the fruit and drying out the finish slightly, but there is a lot of expressive fruit to love and it should reward another 3-5 years in bottle.”  90+ Points
2015 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay

2015 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay

with No Comment $40-$50ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

CHATEAU MONTELENA 

2015 Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay2015 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY

 
The best wines evoke memories, intellectual thoughts and feelings when you taste them, and every time I taste Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay, thoughts of Independence and patriotism come to mind.  Two hundred years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, Chateau Montelena made a pivotal statement at the 1976 Judgement in Paris when their 1973 Chardonnay came in 1st place.  It eclipsed all other French and California Chardonnays at the historic tasting, as depicted in the movie Bottle Shock…  Continuing their legacy of producing enchanting, brightly focused Chardonnays, the 2015 is remarkably tropical this year with bright, freshly picked kumquat, nectarine, lemon oil and candied ginger.  Symbolizing the American dream, hard work and independence, here’s a chance to own the most celebrated Chardonnay in US history…
 
Remaining true to their roots and focusing on the pure expression of fruit, crisp acidity and mineral finish, Chateau Montelena is unlike many California Chardonnay producers that have adopted a creamy, buttery, profile with a heavier oak influence.  Kept for just 10 months in neutral French oak barrels, the 2015 is bright and focused with vivid Island fruits, candied lemon, shaved almonds and tangerine oil. I strongly recommend a case of this iconic Napa Valley Chardonnay for your cellar.  
 
CHATEAU MONTELENA 
2015 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $58.00/btl
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 13%
 
From Vinous: “Just bottled, the 2015 Chardonnay is shaping up to be a gorgeous wine. The warmer vintage has resulted in a slightly richer style of Chardonnay, although the house style built on energy and tension is still very much in evidence. Candied lemon, white flowers and mint are nicely textured. Soft, enveloping and gracious, the 2015 will drink well with minimal cellaring.” 92 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Chateau Montelena Chardonnay may also enjoy these two terrific Chardonnays…

 

2014 Red Mare Dutton Ranch Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2015 Failla Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
RED MARE
2014 CHARDONNAY
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
A luminous interpretation of Dutton Ranch fruit, the 2014 washes over your palate with classic Granny Smith apple, spiced pear, juicy yellow melon and subtle lemon bar.  Big and full across the palate and crafted in a plump, round style, if you’re searching for a top-level California Chardonnay without the high price tag that usually comes with one, I would saddle up and secure a case of Red Mare before this one rides off into the sunset
FAILLA
2015 CHARDONNAY
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
After dominating one varietal for nearly two decades as winemaker at Turley Wine Cellars, the natural progression is to start a new challenge, create something fresh, then conquer that too… Ehren Jordan’s viticultural training in France greatly influenced his farming and winemaking choices, which are evident in this sensational Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.  
2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

ORRIN-SAGE

2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA MOUNTAIN

2014 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir

When we introduced the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir in April, we genuinely felt it was WAY too good to be priced where it was.  Of course that’s exactly what we strive to bring you, and it simply defines what our tasting panel looks for.  Of course, over the years we’ve discovered some truly stunning Pinots that have delivered exceptional quality, but Orrin-Sage set a new bar… This was and still is the best Pinot at this price that we’ve ever featured.  It sold out the day that we sent out the offer back in April, but as luck would have it, the winery had a distributor that did not take an order and we grabbed it immediately.
 
Arising from the rugged Sonoma Mountain AVA, a unique area which gains some of the cooling influence from the Petaluma Gap and produces brilliant Pinot Noir fruit.  Bevan, Siduri and Flowers are just a few of the wineries that have crafted Pinots from this unique area. This wine was expertly made by Justin Harmon who gained valuable experience as an intern under Russell Bevan.  It has an undeniable meaty character coupled with remarkable weight and perfect balance making it a wine that I truly can’t get enough of…  Of course with just 6 barrels produced, don’t wait… 
 
ORRIN-SAGE
2014 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $49.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “One glance and the brilliantly shimmering transparent cherry red color starts pulling you in. Then comes the enticing nose with ripe black cherries, bright pomegranate, allspice, nutmeg, wet leather, fragrant dried lavender and a touch of vanilla. On the palate, a mesmerizing cascade of flavors including crushed black raspberries, tart cherry, fresh sage leaf, candied lime peel and hints of Asian spices.  It’s so alluring that your instinct to swallow will override your will to allow it to linger longer on your palate… and when you do, you’ll be left with a penetrating, long, highly pleasurable finish that absolutely begs for another sip.” 
96 Points and where have you been all my life…
Kevin M Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
Customers that enjoy the Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning wines…

 

2015 Cosa Obra Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015 Orrin-Sage Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay
COSA OBRA
2015 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $32.00/btl
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 
It’s telling when any one wine is still requested and praised months or even years post offering…  When this happens, some might call it storied or legendary, but when a value Pinot Noir makes this list, it simply speaks to the above average quality of the wine.  For those of you who tasted, loved and are still talking about 2013 Cosa  Obra Pinot, all I can say is, wait until you taste the 2015…
ORRIN-SAGE
2015 CHARDONNAY
SONOMA MOUNTAIN
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
There’s something mystical about a wine so under-the-radar that all of the information available is written on the bottle… But, etched in your mind are the flavors which write a story of its origins, and the care that went into creating it.  That’s the feeling that washed over me when I tasted Orrin-Sage’s 2015 Chardonnay, and it was met with a feeling of blissful disbelief when I found out what we could offer this wine for.