2015 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2015 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUncategorizedUSA

BRULIAM 2015 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD

 
If an individual vineyard’s unique terroir along with all of the nuances and complexities that it’s capable of producing were a voice, the Soberanes Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands would be one of the loudest and most beautiful in the New World.  The vineyard has become synonymous with excellence and is becoming more and more well known for producing fruit with otherworldly complexity. It’s easy to get excited when you see its name printed on a label, and wineries like Roar, Lucia and Black Kite all make single vineyard Pinots from it.  Bruliam Soberanes embraces clarity and definition and leaps from the glass with ripe boysenberry, mineral-laced cherries, wild rose, dark plum and holiday spices. With the average price of Pinot Noir from Soberanes estimated to be upwards of $50/btl, I strongly recommend making some serious room for this one..
 
Created from 100% Pisoni Clone, Soberanes is the latest vineyard planted by the Pisoni’s & Franscioni’s, whose families have been farming the area for over 100 years.  Bruliam brilliantly expresses the remarkably distinct flavors and textures that this vineyard is becoming known for.  It was strategically guided from grape to bottle by medical doctor-turned-winemaker Kerith Overstreet and this charming and sophisticated Pinot Noir should not be missed.
 
BRULIAM
2015 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
 
From Wine Enthusiast: “Deep and hearty aromas of boysenberry, hickory smoke, iron, bay leaf and forest floor show on this single-vineyard expression. Dark rhubarb, baked strawberry and red plum pop on the sip, with healthy pinches of mace and cinnamon spice. It is very complex.” 92 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two stunning Pinots…
 
2015 Daniel Grand Vent Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 Fort Ross FRV Vineyard Pinot Noir
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
GRAND VENT VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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Tasting Notes: “... Sultry aromas of Bing cherry, tart cranberry and strawberry rhubarb pie combine with fresh sage, subtle green peppercorn, white rose petals and lavender to make your mouth water from the first whiff.  Next, wave after wave of complex flavors taunt your palate with Morello cherries, Desertnyi pomegranate, perfectly ripe Japanese black plum that beautifully intermingle with hints of cola and a touch of earthy dried porcini mushroom.  Densely focused red and black fruit flavors linger on your palate in such a compelling way, that you never want it to stop…”  
FORT ROSS
2013 PINOT NOIR
FRV, SONOMA COAST
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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There are plenty of reasons why we love Fort Ross Pinot Noirs.  Their winemaking is second to none with Jeff Pisoni calling the shots. Further, their prices have also remained realistic over the years, despite the growing fan base and well-deserved scores.  The number one thing that keeps me coming back year-after-year is the ideal location of their vineyard… It’s centered in the idyllic Fort Ross Seaview AVA, which in 2011 was approved as its own Appellation within the Sonoma Coast, the area is also a source for such notables as Peter Michael, Marcassin, Martinelli, Flowers and Pahlmeyer, to list a few…
2015 Daniel Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2015 Daniel Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Anderson ValleyKevin VogtMendocinoPinot NoirUncategorizedUSA

DANIEL 2015 Daniel Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY

 
If you’ve been reading my emails for the last few years, you know how I feel about Pinot Noirs produced by DANIEL. They’re simply some of the best micro-produced Pinot Noirs that I’ve tasted at this price point. I’m not the least bit surprised that their 2015 Anderson Valley Pinot earned a phenomenal 96 point score from the Wine Enthusiast last month… After all, their wines are composed by accomplished winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start by working at Williams-Selyem… And the 2015 Anderson Valley includes fruit from the iconic Ferrington Vineyard, which was made famous by producers like Williams-Selyem and McPhail.  The wine is texturally compelling, bright and penetrating and transcends everything that you would hope for at this price level.  As thrilled as I am to see that the winery is now they’re getting the accolades that they deserve, it also means you’ll want move quickly to get yours… 96 Point Pinots at this price are few and far between…
 
Combining fruit from both warm and cool portions of Anderson Valley, this brilliant Pinot has abundant energy, focus, stamina and complexity.  It’s brimming with bright red fruits, holiday spices, candied cherries and sassafras.  We’ve introduced some stupendously high-quality Pinots from DANIEL, and this is yet another profound example of Pinot Noir.  With a total production of 200 cases, this Pinot Noir will only go to a lucky few.
 
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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From Wine Enthusiast: “Oodles of black cherry and sour cherry fill the aroma and flood the flavors of this full-bodied, concentrated and deeply fruity wine. The ripeness is balanced by good fruit acidity, making the wine both seductive and refreshing to sip. Made from Ferrington Vineyard and the old-vine Beaujolais Vineyard, it has the structure to age and improve…” 96 Points, Cellar Selection
 
Customers that enjoy DANIEL Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2014 Daniel Laguna Vineyard Pinot Noir
2015 Daniel Grandvent Vineyard Pinot Noir
DANIEL
2014 PINOT NOIR
LAGUNA VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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This profound Pinot was composed by accomplished winemaker Dan Fitzgerald, who got his start working at Williams-Selyem…
 
Winery Notes:  “This Daniel Pinot Noir is brilliant ruby red in color. The bouquet opens with Huckleberry coulis and black cherry, followed by charcuterie and cedar. This pinot boasts incredibly concentrated red and dark fruit that lingers with a silky texture on the palate. A wine capable of long term aging, every sip offers new nuance.”  75 Cases Produced (3 Barrels)
DANIEL
2015 PINOT NOIR
GRAND VENT VINEYARD
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “…. Sultry aromas of Bing cherry, tart cranberry and strawberry rhubarb pie combine with fresh sage, subtle green peppercorn, white rose petals and lavender to make your mouth water from the first whiff.  Next, wave after wave of complex flavors taunt your palate with Morello cherries, Desertnyi pomegranate, perfectly ripe Japanese black plum that beautifully intermingle with hints of cola and a touch of earthy dried porcini mushroom.  Densely focused red and black fruit flavors linger on your palate in such a compelling way, that you never want it to stop…” 97 Points
2014 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo

2014 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo Piedmont, Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BaroloBaroloItalyKevin VogtPiedmontUncategorized

GIACOMO GRIMALDI 2014 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo

2014 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY

 
There’s a renaissance happening in Piedmont, with some Italian producers moving towards a more elegant and approachable style of winemaking. The more traditional approach is to produce wines that are more tightly-wound, compact and need more time in the cellar before they’re ready to enjoy.  One of the best examples of the newer style of winemaking is Giacomo Grimaldi’s 2014 Barolo.  Their method of combining 12 months in oak barrels and 18 months in larger casks lends to the wines balance and approachability.  The wine still hasn’t lost its sense of history and antiquity that comes from the Barolo vineyards, one of which the Grimaldi family has owned and farmed since 1930. In fact, it’s that feeling combined with the new approach to winemaking that truly makes this wine special. We loved it so much that we bought every bottle available in California before our glasses were even emptied, and we taste pretty fast.
 
Scrumptious, focused and harmonious all come to mind when tasting this remarkable wine.  The 2014 is big and round, with penetrating fruits wrapped in black chocolates, dusted with savory spices.  This could be the poster child for that “new school” style of winemaking that once you taste it, you’ll have a tough time going back.  It is extremely limited and will most likely sell out today!
 
GIACOMO GRIMALDI
2014 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
 
Your Price: $42.99/btl 
 
From The Wine Spectator: “Cherry and plum flavors resonate throughout this red, joined by notes of eucalyptus, tar, tobacco and spice. The fruit persists, with a firm grip of tannins as this fades on the finish…” 92 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo may also enjoy these two Barolos… 
2014 Parusso Anniversary Barolo   2013 Giovanni Rosso Barolo  
PARUSSO
2014 BAROLO
ANNIVERSARY EDITION
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl
 

From Vinous: “…one of the most stunning wines of the vintage… Rich, deep and explosive on the palate, with stunning aromatic presence and overall intensity, the 2014 is remarkably vivid. Beams of supporting tannin give the wine its energy and persistence….”   94+ Points
GIOVANNI ROSSO
2013 BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl

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From The Wine Spectator: “A fruit-driven style, this red also displays ample tannins. Cherry, strawberry, floral and leafy tobacco flavors are backed by a vibrant structure, and this winds down with hints of mineral, earth and tobacco…”  93 Points

 

2016 Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce Pinot Noir

2016 Walter Hansel Pinot Noir(s)

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUncategorizedUSA

WALTER HANSEL

2016 PINOT NOIR(S)
CUVEE ALYCE | NORTH SLOPE

 
Showcasing the best of Russian River Valley, Walter Hansel produces profound wines with sense of place, harmonious balance and elaborate texture. When they come up in a conversation, it’s easy to reminisce about how they’re a model of consistency, and how their wines continually outshine the vast majority in their category.
 
Then comes the reviews, and they’re second to none… Their 2016 Cuvee Alyce and North Slope Pinots have already earned monster scores from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, and when your brand sets a standard of undeviating quality and exceptionally high scores, it can be tough to stand out among your own vast accomplishments. Walter Hansel took that as a challenge and their 2016’s stand tall as some of their best Pinot Noirs in the last decade.  Don’t miss this opportunity to secure yours… There’s simply never enough of these brilliant Pinots to satisfy demand.

 

2016 Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce Pinot Noir 2016 Walter Hansel North Slope Pinot Noir
WALTER HANSEL
2016 PINOT NOIR
CUVEE ALYCE
 
Your Price: $45/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Cuvee Alyce leaps from the glass with gregarious black cherries, pomegranate and cranberry notes with touches of red roses, lavender and dried Provence herbs plus a waft of black soil. Medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins and great freshness, it is simply packed with taut fruit and finishes on a lingering mineral note…” 95 Points
WALTER HANSEL
2016 PINOT NOIR
NORTH SLOPE
 
Your Price: $42/btl

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From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2016 Pinot Noir The North Slope is medium ruby-purple in color and scented of crushed red plums, mulberries and black cherries with touches of baking spices, violets and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, it offers bags of rich berry flavors in the mouth with a sexy, plush texture and scintillating freshness, finishing long...” 94 Points
2017 Vista Atlas Peak Proprietary Red

2017 Vista Atlas Peak Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underAtlas PeakKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUncategorizedUSA

Vista

2017 Proprietary Red
Atlas Peak

2017 Vista Atlas Peak Proprietary Red“Capturing a depth and richness that is completely unheard of at this price, Vista Atlas Peak unfurls aromas of muddled blackberries, black plum, crushed granite, graphite  and hints of vanilla.  The palate is powerfully concentrated with a stunning array of flavors including deep black cherries, blackberry tart, blueberry syrup, with hints of tobacco and chocolate.  Powerful mountain fruit created a wine that is focused and linear in style, yet richly structured with balanced fruit tannins and a palate staining mid palate that leads to a long, intense finish.”  94 – 96 Points  Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

 

VISTA 
2017 Proprietary Red
ATLAS PEAK
 
Your Price: $23/btl

2013 Humanitas George’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUncategorizedUSA

HUMANITAS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 GEORGE’S VINEYARD

 
Clinching the #5 spot on my list of the Top Five Wines of 2018 is a wine that is so immediately compelling that I get a blissful sense each time I taste it. Experiencing that in a wine, particularly at this price, compels me to put some in my own cellar so I can experience it again and again.  With the clarity and definition fitting a wine you’d rightfully pay much more for, the 2013 Humanitas George’s Vineyard Cabernet cascades across your palate with enticing flavors and penetrating intensity, revealing endless layers of silky dark fruits, bittersweet chocolate, dried violets, and hints of sweet vanilla…  Over-achieving at its $65 retail price, make sure to join our Insider’s Club and unlock special values.
 
Authored by winemaker Rob Lloyd, former winemaker at Rombauer,  this gorgeous 2013 Cabernet was sourced from a single vineyard in Wooden Valley, located near Altamura. Benefitting from 22 months in oak barrels and now with 3 years of development in the bottle, words can’t express how great this wine is drinking right now… With a mere 240 cases produced, and very few remaining, I strongly recommend grabbing yours, now. 
 
HUMANITAS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 GEORGE’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 

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Tasting Notes: “A prodigious wine that is intensely focused and penetrating without being cloying on the palate.  The linear construction concentrates expansive layers of red currant, animal blood and crushed blackberries with toasty sweet vanilla and supple tannins.  The perfect combination of both red and black fruits, violets, graphite and cocoa powder, all wrapped in a mouth-quenching style that makes your palate beg for another sip.” 95 Points

2018 The Optimist Special Mixed 15 Pack

Cyber Monday

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtUncategorized
Literally mixing things up in 2018,  We’ve carefully created 4 assorted 15 bottle cases that not only would we be proud to have in our own cellar… but at prices substantially lower than even our normal discounts.  We’ve showcased some of the best-of-the-best wines that we’ve tasted this year, and made sure that each one of these special cases would not only be a joy to own, but would also make fantastic gifts.
 
To learn more about the wines featured in each case, select your preferred price range by clicking on any of the four mixed cases below.  You’ll be directed to our website where you can read about each of the wines in the case, then place your order.  Each case includes 3 bottles each of 5 different wines and ground shipping is included in most States.

 

The Optimist
Winery Retail Price: $717
Our Normal Low Price: $465
 
Cyber Monday Price: $299

Click to Order

 
2018 The Optimist Special Mixed 15 Pack
The Statesman
Winery Retail Price: $1020

Our Normal Low Price: $672

Cyber Monday Price: $399

Click to Order

 

2018 The Statesman Special Mixed 15 Pack
The Sophisticate
Winery Retail Price: $900

Our Normal Low Price: $555

Cyber Monday Price: $399

Click to Order

 
2018 The Sophisticate Special Mixed 15 Pack
The Globetrotter
Winery Retail Price: $729

Our Normal Low Price: $639

Cyber Monday Price: $399

Click to Order

 
2018 The Globetrotter Special Mixed 15 Pack
2016 Skryne Napa Valley Red Blend

2016 Skryne Road Napa Valley Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUncategorizedUSA

SKRYNE ROAD

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Skryne Napa Valley Red Blend
The path to wine enlightenment can have a few bumps and rough spots along the way, but it should also be full of memories and new experiences.  Turning onto Skryne Road is like driving on a perfectly smooth road, with curves beautifully shaped, and in all the right places.  It is an absolute pleasure to explore… Wow!  One taste will make you do a brake check, so you can slow down to enjoy the seamless ride.  And while the varietals in the blend might hint at a ride through Tuscany, this wine is completely new world…  It’s created in voluptuous style, laced with holiday spices, sassafras, supple berries and black chocolates.  The blend is paved with Cabernet Sauvignon at over 70% and beautifully landscaped with Merlot, Sangiovese and Petite Sirah…
 
The name Skryne Road (pronounced screen), pays tribute to the winery owners routes and family home on Skryne Road in Ireland.  After arriving in Napa Valley in 1994 they embarked on the path towards producing a wine.  The first descriptors that come to mind when tasting this wine are riveting, deep and enchanting. You won’t believe how great this wine is…
 
SKRYNE ROAD
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $62/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Our 2016 Blend is bright with flavors of bramble-berry and black cherry combined with vanilla bean. The palate is round and supple, with fruity characteristics of raspberry jam and soft, silky tannins. Culminating with hints of peppercorn and baking spices“
2014 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUncategorizedUSA

JOSEPH JEWELL 2014 Joseph Jewell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2014 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

 
When I first introduced Joseph Jewell’s sensational value Pinot in September, I asked you what the best wine that you’ve ever tasted in the $20 range was?  I’m confident now that many of you have had a chance to try this Pinot, you would agree that it is this Joseph Jewell…   I can tell you without ANY hesitation that it’s my choice too and I personally bought 7 cases for my home cellar, which tells you what I think of it.  The 2014 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.  It truly drinks like a killer forty dollar Pinot, and wines like this don’t come around often at this price
 
This Pinot hasn’t left my mind (or my glass for very long) since I first tasted it, and in equal detail are the mineral-laced blueberries, bramble fruit, black tea, dried rose and touches of violets that are etched in my memory.  The 2014 was elevated for 11 months in Francois Freres, Ermitage and Rousseau barrels, and has blossomed over the last 3 years in the bottle. If you love Pinot Noir, and better yet, even if you don’t… try a case of this, and I think you’ll become and instant fan.
 
JOSEPH JEWELL
2014 PINOT NOIR
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $38/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “A special barrel selection from our favorite Russian River vineyard sites, this wine offers elegance from start to finish. This wine beckons with an exquisite bouquet of raspberry and black cherry laced with hints of rose petals and violets. A soft mid-palate is highlighted by fresh, bright red fruits that linger long on the finish.”
2015 Hundred Acre ARK Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon(s)

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUncategorizedUSA

HUNDRED ACRE

2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON(S)
ARK | KAYLI MORGAN

 
What does it take to make a perfect 100 Point wine? It takes much more than impeccable fruit sources, extreme vineyard management and a highly-skilled winemaker.  For Hundred Acre it’s Jayson Woodbridge’s relentless pursuit of perfection, absolutely no compromises and no single detail overlooked… The results simply cannot be denied, and the countless Hundred Point wines left in his dominating wake are an absolute joy to behold, but nearly impossible to acquire… Imagine a wine so deep and bold that each sip gives you goose-bumps… Sounds great right? You simply have to experience them to understand…
 
The 2015 can be defined as the height of the drought in Napa Valley, which in turn produced smaller berries with tremendous concentration and much lower yields.  With the scarcity of the 2015’s, it would be wise to secure yours before the scores are released.
 
 
2015 Hundred Acre ARK Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon
HUNDRED ACRE
2015 ARK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $499.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “The single estate vineyard ARK is located just outside St. Helena, California at the base of Howell Mountain. It was originally planted in the 1880’s, but was sadly lost to Prohibition. It took us five years to rebuild; she is our pride and joy. The ARK is comprised of nine different blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon, planted meter by meter in nine different volcanic soil strata. The vineyard stretches through a sixty-million-year time sequence: three ancient beach fronts, a prehistoric weapons quarry, and spans a 180-degree arc of the sun over its half-mile length.” 
HUNDRED ACRE
2015 KAYLI MORGAN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $499.99/btl

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Winery Notes: “Kayli Morgan is where it all started. In August of 2000, I paid the highest price to date ever paid for planted vineyard land in Napa Valley. After examining the vineyard over a week’s time, I knew I had to own it and that it would make one of the world’s greatest wines. Six weeks later we harvested the first vintage of Hundred Acre, and in a year that was panned by the press, I made one of the highest scoring wines of the vintage…the rest is history….  Kayli Morgan is a single estate vineyard and 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.”