2013 Cavalier Barolomeo Altenasso Barolo

2013 Cavalier Bartolomeo ‘Altenasso’ Barolo Piedmont, Italy

CAVALIER BARTOLOMEO

2013 ALTENASSO BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY

2013 Cavalier Barolomeo Altenasso Barolo
In wine, how important is the vintage?  A great vintage usually means the grapes had the ideal conditions needed to develop flavors gradually, and to optimal maturity.  Things like heat spikes can prematurely advance the fruit, affecting the depth, structure, acid and balance. Rains near harvest can balloon grapes with un-needed water, diluting flavors.  Weather is unpredictable and when an area experiences optimum conditions, it always piques my interest for the wines that will come out of it.  Hence, the 2013 Cavalier Bartolomeo Altenasso Barolo. The 2013 vintage in Piedmont is one of the areas best, earning a vintage rating of 97 Points. The Wine Spectator’s Vintage Chart goes back to 1978 and there have only been 3 other 97 point vintages and none that have scored higher.  Not only are 2013 vintage Barolos hard to find due to increased demand, but they’re nearly impossible to find under forty bucks…
 
An absolute classic depiction of 2013 Barolo that offers up a flower-infused bouquet of dried rose petals, crushed violets, tart raspberry, pipe tobacco with hints of leather.  It’s unbelievably good for the price. And don’t just take my word for it…  This wine is poured by the glass at Michael Chiarello’s popular Bottega restaurant in Yountville.  Keep in mind that Barolos this good that are priced this low never stick around for very long…  
 
CAVALIER BARTOLOMEO
2013 ALTENASSO BAROLO 
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 50%
 
From The Wine Spectator:This is spicy, with a touch of medicinal herbs shading the core of cherry, leather and tobacco. Tar and mineral elements chime in on the lengthy finish. Lean and sinewy. Best from 2021 through 2026. 800 cases made.”  91 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Cavalier Bartolomeo’s Altenasso Barolo may also enjoy these two Italian wines…
2011 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino 2013 Giovanni Rosso Barolo
LIVIO SASSETTI
2011 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
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
2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino

2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino

LIVIO SASSETTI

2013 PERTIMALI 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

2013 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello Di Montalcino
If you could only drink only one Brunello di Montalcino, what would it be?  Robert Parker wrote “it would have to be Pertimali.”  The only problem is they’re a microscopic Italian producer owning only 7 hectares (about 17 acres), and they’re highly-desired…  That desire turns into more of a frenzy when Pertimali scores 98 Points like it has this vintage, and we don’t expect our allocation to last.  Seldom do I taste a wine that’s so incredibly enthralling that it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up… This one did and Antonio Galloni wrote that Livio Sassetti is “One of Italy’s finest,” and they’ve been making hits since 1982…  With the near perfect score this vintage, my only guarantee is that once you taste it, you will wish you bought more…
 
Absolutely hands-on in every way possible, each individual wine is hand-tended by Livio and his two sons.  With attention to every detail, their Brunello has become a Sommelier favorite, gracing the Grand Award winning wine lists of Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and many others as well…  Because of the minuscule production, there’s simply never enough of this wine to satisfy demand.  I strongly recommend securing your case, before this one runs out… 
 
LIVIO SASSETTI
2013 PERTIMALI 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $80.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 12%
 
From James Suckling:This is intense and complex yet subtle with fantastic aromas of rose petal, plum, clove and fresh mushroom. Hints of stems. Full body, focused and polished with a linear line of tannins and fabulous length. A beauty. Better after 2021 but already a joy to taste.” 98 Points

 

Customers who enjoy Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2013 Parusso Barolo Bussia 2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia
PARUSSO
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY 
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

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From James Suckling: “This is one of the greatest wines I have ever had from here. So much ripe cherry, raspberry and floral character. Medium body, super-refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much going on here…”  97 Points
ALDO CONTERNO 
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 

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From James Suckling: “...Shows a beautiful complexity of ripe fruit such as cherries as well as orange peel undertones with lemon and pineapple highlights. Medium body and well-defined tannins.”  96 Points
2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon

CABAUD

2013 MON HOMMAGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2013 Cabaud Mon Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon
You might 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… However, most people haven’t heard of Cabaud, and with their tiny production, there’s no surprise.  The previous vintage caught the eye of Robert Parker who scored the 2012 91-94 Points and now with the 2013 vintage, which Robert Parker said might be the finest vintage he’s experienced over the last 37 years, I wouldn’t wait for the scores to secure the 2013.  Finding new wines made by top winemakers, that are somewhat unheard of, pays off big at times… I would estimate Morlet’s Cabs to range from $165 to around $300/btl.  At $130 Cabaud is a killer deal…I cannot put into words how incredible this wine is. 
 
Combining fruit from Glass Mountain in St Helena with Beckstoffer’s iconic Missouri Hopper Vineyard in Oakville, you can taste the magic of these two sites, each enhancing the best qualities of the other and melding together perfectly.  After resting for nearly 20 months in barrel and for another 3 years in the bottle, this 2013 is mind-bogglingly great!  It reminded me of when I first tasted Humanitas Signum and the recent Keever Inspirado, yet ramped up a notch. This is absolutely one of the best bottles in the shop under $150/btl right now… 
 
CABAUD
2013 MON HOMMAGE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $130/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: A dense purple color is accompanied by mesmerizing wet stone and liquid minerals interwoven with blackberry jam, crushed blueberries, red currant and spring flowers.  The full-bodied opulence, sweet tannin, and extraordinary richness combine in a hypnotic way. It is the wine equivalent of sliding in between satin sheets and finding warmth and suppleness, but also balanced firmness and incredible tone, all in perfect balance.  Let your mind wander…” 97 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

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.”
2013 Mira Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Mira Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

MIRA

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 NAPA VALLEY

2013 Mira Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
With two decades of winemaking experience at one of the top wine Estates in the world under his belt, along with a long and decorated history of making exceptional wines, winemaker Gustavo Gonzalez has everything it takes to create incredible wines.  He is 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.”  Calling on everything he’s learned over the course of his winemaking career and channeling it into creating a premier Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Mira’s 2013 Cabernet had me in awe over the quality.  At $55/btl it stands tall among the best in it’s category…one sip and you’ll be writing me thank you emails when you taste it.
 
Created from a selection of some of Napa Valley’s top sites, Mira’s 2013 Cabernet immediately struck me with its subtle yet structured style and compelled me further with its remarkable detail and long, elegant finish.  Like many of the best 2013’s from Napa Valley, it’s really showing off its breed and class now.  This is definitely a can’t-miss wine. 
 
MIRA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2013 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $55.00/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes:Deep brick red with a slight purple hue to the wine’s color. Beguiling blackberry and blueberry dominate the aromas with more complex cranberry, cinnamon, currant and pipe tobacco coming through as the aromas unfold. With noteworthy tannins and an earthy mouthfeel, the wine has a lingering, long and pleasant finish making it drinkable today and for many years to come.” 
2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia

2013 Aldo Conterno Piedmont Barolo Bussia

ALDO CONTERNO 

2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY 

2013 Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia
When considering a list of Barolo’s top producers, it would be impossible to exclude Aldo Conterno. Inspired by the modern style of Angelo Gaja, Aldo cut a path that includes both modern and old worlds.  Old world Barolos are know for tannins and heavy structure, which allows them to age forever, however they often need to be cellared for years before consuming.  The more modern Barolos are accessible after just a few years in the bottle and they open up to be brilliant and compelling wines that are easy to love.  The 2013 Barolo Bussia has already earned 96 Points from James Suckling and offers a gorgeous expression of Nebbiollo.  It’s a wine that will leave you thinking about it for days after trying it.  
Bussia, one of the “cru” vineyard/districts located in the commune of Monforte d’Alba is one of the most desirable growing areas in Barolo and is famous for the dynamic terroir which expresses a penetrating structure and focused concentration of fruit.   Aldo’s Barolo Bussia comes from three distinct blocks in Bussia and offers old world complexity with new world accessibility.  At under $100/btl there are few Barolos in my mind that would compare.  
 
ALDO CONTERNO 
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 22%
 
From James Suckling: “...Shows a beautiful complexity of ripe fruit such as cherries as well as orange peel undertones with lemon and pineapple highlights. Medium body and well-defined tannins.”  96 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Aldo Conterno’s Barolo Bussia may also enjoy these two terrific Italian wines…
2011 Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino
2013 Parusso Barolo Bussia
LIVIO SASSETTI
2011 PERTIMALI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
Your Price: $44.99/btl 

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From The Wine Enthusiast, “Floral and refined, this opens with alluring scents of violet, iris, perfumed berry, earth and a whiff of pressed powder. The savory, elegant palate offers up juicy wild cherry, raspberry, truffle, anise and white pepper framed in a network of silky tannins… 94 Points
 
PARUSSO
2013 BAROLO BUSSIA
PIEDMONT, ITALY 
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl

Click to Order

From James Suckling:This is one of the greatest wines I have ever had from here. So much ripe cherry, raspberry and floral character. Medium body, super-refined tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much going on here…”  97 Points


2013 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red

2013 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red

KEEVER 

2013 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED

2013 Keever Inspirado Proprietary Red
Occasionally, we offer a wine so great that it becomes an object of legend, and this one is at the top of that list.  You who were able to get some, loved it so much that many of you immediately ordered more once you tasted it.  We then try to secure enough to remind you how spectacular it is  and offer it one last time…  As I’ve tasted this wine over and over again since it’s release, I’ve fallen even more in love with it and based on the comments and re-orders that we’ve received so have you.  With a resonant finish and expansive flavors so deep and compelling, they leave you thinking about the wine for days after tasting it, so this is a wine that you simply shouldn’t miss…  It’s authored by Celia Welch, (Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens, Barbour, Dalla Valle…) 
Checking in at 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, inspired by additions of Merlot and Malbec, the 2013 Inspirado saturates your taste buds in otherworldly levels of opulence. And while there are a lot of great Napa Valley Cabernet based wines available at under $100/btl, few approach this level of quality.  This is simply the best red blend we’ve had at this price point in quite some time. 
 
KEEVER 
2013 INSPIRADO 
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $74.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes: “Aromas of dark purple berries, mulling spices, toasted hazelnuts and wild anise waft from the glass when one swirls this ripe, complex Bordeaux-style blend.  On the palate, the wine shows a texture of dark chocolate; thick and rich with just enough textural grip to add a sense of youth to the finish.  Multi-layered sensations of toast, vanilla, ripe fruit and mineral notes weave themselves through the palate impression, with a lingering sense of ripe, intense cassis.
Cabernet Sauvignon 87% | Merlot 11% | Malbec 2%
 
Customers who enjoy Keever’s Inspirado may also enjoy these two outstanding wines…
 
2014 Steps Winemakers Reserve Proprietary Red 2014 Amapola Creek Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
STEPS 
WINEMAKER’S RESERVE 
2014 PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $49.99/btl

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The 6 barrel production Winemaker’s  Reserve is heavily based in Atlas Peak, and made transparent by its striking crushed rock minerality and dusty tannins that make the area so desired.  The final blend has a solid core of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak, magnified by 14% Cabernet Franc from Kenefick Palisades Vineyard, 9% Malbec from Oakville and 5% Petit Verdot from Coombsville.
AMAPOLA CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2014 ESTATE, SONOMA VALLEY
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, “…offering glimpses at blackberry and black plum notes over pencil shavings, garrigue, lavender and Mediterranean herbs. Full-bodied and packed with black fruits and earthy flavors, it is built like a brick house with a solid frame of firm, ripe tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long.93-95 Points
2013 Willliams Selyem Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2013 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

WILLIAMS SELYEM

2013 Willliams Selyem Sonoma County Pinot Noir2013 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY

If you’ve ever wondered if California’s most Iconic Pinot Noir could get any better, you’ll find your answer in their 2013 Sonoma County…  Some of the greatest wines in the world reward patience, and this is one that already has. Tasting it now must feel similar to winning the lottery, twice…  Once when you were able to acquire this sought-after wine, and a second time when you discover that it’s developed into something far greater than you ever imagined.  I recommend sitting down before tasting it because the perfume alone will knock you off your feet, as wild raspberries, holiday spices, plum and black tea intertwine in perfect detail.   We bought every bottle we could after tasting this wine and we’re thrilled to feature it by the glass.
 
With their inaugural vintage in 1982, Williams-Selyem became a reference-standard for high-quality domestic Pinot Noir.  They made history in 2007 when Wine Enthusiast awarded their Litton Estate Pinot a perfect 100 Points…  This was the first Pinot Noir in North America to earn 100 points score from any major wine publication.  Forged from iconic sites including Rochioli, Bucher and Lone Oak Vineyards, the 2013 delights your senses with vivid red fruits and finely detailed flavors that overlay in layers across your palate. 
 
WILLIAMS SELYEM
2013 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 
 
Winery Notes:The nose leads with raspberry and fresh mountain strawberry notes followed by a wonderful stone fruit lift. The aromas transition into darker elements of bitter cherry, Carnauba wax, and mocha. Notes of smoky herbs, cinnamon, and black tea are framed with well integrated acid and tannin. The Sonoma County will offer early enjoyment with its soft and supple mouthfeel and texture.”
 
Customers that enjoy Williams Selyem’s Sonoma Coast Pinot,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…
2014 Joseph Jewell Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 Williams Selyem Central Coast Pinot Noir
JOSEPH JEWELL 
2014 PINOT NOIR
HALLBERG VINEYARD
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 
It’s rare for me to taste a wine and immediately get the feeling that I may have just come across my next wine-of-the-year.  Joseph Jewell’s 2014 Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir gave me that very feeling.  With stunning length, detail and balance, the 2014 washes over your palate with supernatural weight and complexity fit for a king.  In my mind this sets the bar for cool climate California Pinot Noir with a plush, satin core lined in detailed blackberry, cigar box, black tea and touches of spice.
WILLIAMS SELYEM
2013 PINOT NOIR
CENTRAL COAST
Your Price: $64.99/btl
 
From The Wine Enthusiast:Juicy strawberries and plum are cut with allspice and star anise on the sharply spiced nose of this wine from one of the Golden State’s legendary producers. The palate shows the juice of darker berries, from blackberries to black cherries, with an Earl Grey tea bitterness and dried sage complexity.”  92 Points
2013 The Vineyard House Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 The Vineyard House Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

THE VINEYARD HOUSE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2013 OAKVILLE ESTATE 

2013 The Vineyard House Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

If you’ve ever wondered if the ability to build a wine legacy could be passed down through generations, take one sip of Jeremy Nickel’s 2013 The Vineyard House Cabernet and you’ll have your answer.  With a family history that includes his father Gil Nickel founding Far Niente, Nickel & Nickel and Dolce, the wine industry merged with his DNA.  But this DNA also needs the perfect vineyard location to truly excel.  These elements precisely converge to create The Vineyard House, and being surrounded by neighbors including BOND, Harlan Estate, Far Niente and Futo means you have all of the components to create something extra special.  To say that we were floored by this wine would be an incredible understatement.  This is what a cult wine that commands $500/btl should taste like and for about $200 a bottle, I recommend getting in while you still can…
With everything perfectly composed, this stunning creation emanates from a vintage unanimously recognized for its unrivaled quality, which became the final piece of the puzzle in creating a wine that can compete with the very best.  After developing for 24 months in oak, this remarkable wine expresses everything that any Cabernet lover would be proud to own…  It’s so good right now, it’ll bring a tear to your eye when you taste it, but be sure to get enough to lay down and enjoy over the next 25 years…
 
THE VINEYARD HOUSE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2013 OAKVILLE ESTATE
Retails at:  $225.00/btl
 
Your Price: 
 
 
Tasting Notes:The Vineyard House Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 is one of the most complete and seamless Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve tasted over the last few years, which is really saying something if you look at the incredible wines that have graced my glass. It’s simply stunning. It has a linear focus reminiscent of a great first growth Bordeaux, combined with exceptional purity.  It is a majestic wine with wave after wave of wild black plum, crème de cassis, muddled blueberries and crushed blackberry fruit, followed by bittersweet chocolate, liquid minerals, graphite and firm tannins. This profound wine has a surreal presence with incredible purity and an extravagant cascade of red and black fruit which lingers on your palate in what feels like a suspended animation state, keeping you on the edge of your seat through the seemingly endless, elegant finish. Drink it over the next 25 years…”
98 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
Cabernet Sauvignon 91% | Cabernet Franc 6% | Petit Verdot 3%
2015 Saddleback Cellars Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

2013 Saddleback Cellars Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

SADDLEBACK2015 Saddleback Cellars Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 OAKVILLE

Nils Venge has always been known as a bit of a cowboy in the wine industry, making wine his own special way, and taking risks that have undoubtedly paid off.  You’re about as likely to find him on a tractor in the vineyard, than just about anywhere else.  Early on, he set the bar as the first American winemaker to earn a perfect 100 Point score from Robert Parker with the 1985 Groth Reserve Cab, and three decades later he’s still blazing the trails, producing bold and unapologetically expressive wines. The winery is located behind Opus One and a stones throw from Silver Oak’s Napa property.  At $75/btl this Oakville Cab will make even the most gristled cowboy grin.
 
Crafted in a deep, showy style, offering layer after layer of dense black fruits, exotic chocolates, white flowers and hints of graphite.  Our panel was shocked by how well the 2013 was showing and we bought all we could…  Kept for 24 months in oak barrels this beauty has had nearly 2 1/2 years of bottle development and it’s gorgeous right now.  I highly recommend adding some of this to your cellar.  
 
SADDLEBACK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2013 OAKVILLE
Retails at:  $75/btl
 
 
Winery Notes:On the nose, a healthy dose of ripe red berries. On the palate, it approaches as a denser, full wine; its bold structure is evident. Robust black currant, anise and coriander are balanced by notes of blood-orange zest and violets. Throughout, a graphite minerality adds to its layered complexity. The flavorful finish leaves lingering notes of vanilla balanced by delicate tannins… Drinking well through 2023.