2015 Shafer One Point Five Stags' Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaStags Leap

SHAFER

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 ONE POINT FIVE
STAGS LEAP DISTRICT 

2015 Shafer One Point Five Stags' Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon
When comparing Shafer to other Cult wines produced in Napa Valley, the obvious difference is that the majority of Cult wine producers make a single namesake wine under that label.  Shafer’s flagship wine is their Hillside Select Cabernet, but they also produce Chardonnay, Merlot, TD9 and their One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon and more under the Shafer moniker.  Of course when you catch Shafer in a line-up with other top wines, it’s regularly a favorite…  Their 2015 One Point Five Cabernet has terrific power, energy and focus and at under $100/btl it’s a terrific wine to add to your cellar.   Just don’t wait too long to get yours, because there’s never enough of the One Point Five Cabernet to satisfy demand.
 
The 2015 One Point Five arose from two Stags Leap District Vineyards, one of which borders their iconic Hillside Estate Vineyard… Housed for 20 months in Allier & Tronçais French Oak barrels, the 2015 is built around a core of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon then lifted higher with additions of Merlot and Malbec.  At under $100/btl, don’t let this one pass by.  
 
SHAFER
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 ONE POINT FIVE
STAGS LEAP DISTRICT
 
Your Price: $94.99/btl 
 
“The 2015… is a fabulous example of the year at its best. Super-ripe red cherry, pomegranate, mint, rose petal and spice infuse this voluptuous, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. Readers looking for a wine to drink with minimal cellaring will find much to admire in this sexy, racy Cabernet… ” 93 Points
“Strikingly complex and engaging, offering tiers of flavor, including dark berry, cedar, graphite and oak, presented in a style that lets the elements speak through the tannins. Drink now through 2030.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon The Leapmay also enjoy these two terrific Cabs…  
2014 Stags' Leap The Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 Husic Palm Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon
STAGS’ LEAP
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2014 THE LEAP 
Retails at:  $100.00/btl
 
Your Price: $79.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, “The 100% Cabernet Sauvignon flagship, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon The Leap  Estate Reserve has an inky, deep garnet-purple color and nose of graphite, Indian spices, sautéed herbs and dusty earth over a core of blackberries and blueberries, plus wafts of cedar and menthol. Medium-bodied, it fills the palate with youthful, pure black berry and exotic spice expressions, with a firm backbone of fine tannins and an invigorating lift, finishing long and earthy.”  94+ Points
HUSIC
2014 PALM TERRACE 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $67.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro

2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro, Portugal

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPortugalProprietary Red

QUINTA DO VALLADO

2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL 

2015 Quinta Do Vallado Reserva Douro
If I were to choose just one International wine that I’ve discovered in my career that perfectly represents everything great in a wine, Quinta Do Vallado is it.  And while the texture, flavors and depth are ridiculously irresistible, what I love most about this wine is that it’s incredibly unique and yet it appeals to nearly everyone who tries it. One taste offers a lasting impression of deep red and black fruits, wild complexity and a long and persistent, satiny finish. Portugal’s dry wines are simply making a lot of dedicated, die-hard enthusiasts, and this bottle will push them over th e top.  In fact, on the 2014 Wine Spectator Top 100 list, wines #1, #3 & #4 were all from the Douro region of Portugal, and to me, I’ve tried them all and this one is even better.
 
A fusion of more than 30 grape varietals, Vallado’s 2013 Reserva asserts a crescendo of tightly wound, brilliantly focused fruit, and is more vibrant than a Nadir Afonso painting.  Utilizing fruit from ancient vines more than 100 years old, Quinta do Vallado’s 2015 Reserva has already earned 93 Points from Robert Parker.  Very few cases of the Reserva were imported this year, and having already earned a high score, this one certainly won’t be available for very long. 
 
QUINTA DO VALLADO
2015 RESERVA 
DOURO, PORTUGAL
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl
YOU SAVE 15%
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Reserva is a field blend of very old vines (100+ years old), aged for 18 months in an equal blend of new and used barrels. It comes in at 14% alcohol. This was previously seen as a tank sample. Here’s the bottled version in the USA. Reasonably concentrated for the producer’s subregion and the vintage, this actually has fleshed out since I last saw it. Yet it retains that graceful, textured feel, the freshness and the fine fruit. I suspect the wine will show even more elegance as it continues to age… This is going to be a hard-to-resist wine when it hits the table at dinner.” 93 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Quinto Do Vallado’s Reserva may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2013 Enzo Bianchi Proprietary Red
 2012 Vik Milla Cala Proprietary Red
ENZO BIANCHI 
2013 PROPRIETARY RED
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Wine Enthusiast: “This Cabernet-Malbec-Petit Verdot blend smells smoky and rich, with lemony oak notes. But in the mouth, it’s tight as a drum, with an unbreakable structure. Dark spice and clove notes accent ripe berry fruit that’s not jammy and which has absorbed its oak well. Its firm, tannic finish will stand guard as it ages for a decade or more…”  93 Points, Editor’s Choice
VIK
2012 MILLA CALA
PROPRIETARY RED
MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Wine Spectator: “Rich and refined, delivering unctuous dark fruit and spice flavors that offer a creamy svelteness. Slate and mineral accents linger on the complex finish, with dark chocolate and olive notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Drink now through 2022…”  94 Points
2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red

2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red

with No Comment $40-$50$50-$60Chalk HillKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaUncategorizedUSA

CHALK HILL

2015 ESTATE RED
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Chalk Hill Estate Proprietary Red
Named for it’s unique volcanic soils composed of chalky white ash, the Chalk Hill AVA produces stunning wines, and in my mind, this one reigns supreme.  This wine makes absolutely no excuses at it’s $70 retail price…  A paragon of Northern Sonoma County, and especially when it comes to Bordeaux varietals, this towering, ostentatious effort from Chalk Hill Winery is brimming with super-concentrated dark berries, black chocolates, pipe tobacco, and creme de cassis. The 2015 has superb presence on the palate with great intensity, depth and balance.  Unsurprisingly, it’s already earned 94 Points from Robert Parker.
 
A fusion of nearly 60% Cabernet Sauvignon enhanced with Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot, the wine‘s deep, concentrated core is complex and extracted, carving out layers of vivid dark berries, black tea, sweet vanilla and cigar box.  After evolving for 20 months in oak and kept for over a year in the bottle, this compelling wine is drinking beautifully now and will cellar effortlessly for two decades…
 
CHALK HILL
2015 ESTATE RED
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $70.00/btl
 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “The 2015 Estate Red is deep garnet-purple colored and delivers a good amount of oak-inspired notions to begin over a core of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry pie, preserved plums and chocolate box with hints of vanilla pod and cigar box. Big, concentrated and full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with black fruit preserves, framed by ripe, firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on a woody note. Forget it for 5-6 years and drink it over the next 20.“ 94 Points 
 
Customers who enjoy Chalk Hill Estate Red may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
When Napa Valley’s preeminent farming family uses just 3% of their grapes to produce their own wine, they’re able to hand select the absolute best grapes, producing wines of unrivaled quality.  We’ve always loved Laird’s Jillian’s Blend, but our affection was further solidified when we tasted the new vintage side-by-side another Napa Cab Blend that we love, which retails at $70/btl. We unanimously agreed that the Laird eclipsed it by a healthy margin.
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

Click to Order

 
2015 Montes Purple Angel Carmenere

2015 Montes ‘Purple Angel’ Carménère, Apalta Vineyard, Chile

with No Comment $60-$70CarménèreChileKevin Vogt

MONTES

PURPLE ANGEL 
2015 CARMENERE
APALTA VINEYARD, CHILE 

2015 Montes Purple Angel Carmenere
What makes the Carménère grape special? We hear a lot about the five red Bordeaux Varietals, but some people don’t know there’s actually a sixth.  Carménère comes from the Medoc region of Bordeaux where it has been known for producing deep, powerful red wines.  It’s thought to be a member of the Cabernet Sauvignon family and now rarely found in France, Carménère found it’s place in Chile where it reigns king.  Interestingly, Chilean growers inadvertently preserved the grape during the last 150 years, mistaking it for Merlot.  Carménère at it’s best produces wines that are as vivid as they are deep, with penetrating, focused flavors that unwind methodically across your palate and exhibit tremendous power and structure.  A clear-cut example is the 99 Point Montes Purple Angel Carménère.
 
Ever since Carménère was found throughout Medoc, it was often complimented with Petit Verdot.  Petit Verdot softens the edges and bridles the intense power and depth with a velvety, voluptuous embrace.  Montes recognized that and added 8% Petit Verdot to their 2015 Purple Angel and after silently developing for 18 months in barrel, the 2015 is stunningly brilliant.  With the 99 Point score this vintage, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours…
 
MONTES
PURPLE ANGEL 
2015 CARMENERE
APALTA VINEYARD, CHILE 
Retails at:  $90.00/btl
 
Your Price: $64.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 27%
 
From James Suckling: “This is perhaps the greatest Purple Angel ever. Full body, tight and compressed with an amazing texture and density. Fantastic fine tannins that are silky and polished. I love the energy and intensity. A blend of 92% carmenere and 8% petit verdot. One for the cellar but I can’t wait to drink it again.” 99 Points
 
Customers who enjoy Montes Purple Angel may also enjoy these two terrific wines…
2013 Enzo Bianchi Proprietary Red 2012 Vik Milla Calla Proprietary Red
ENZO BIANCHI 
2013 PROPRIETARY RED
MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
Your Price: $54.99/btl 
 
From The Wine Enthusiast: “This Cabernet-Malbec-Petit Verdot blend smells smoky and rich, with lemony oak notes. But in the mouth, it’s tight as a drum, with an unbreakable structure. Dark spice and clove notes accent ripe berry fruit that’s not jammy and which has absorbed its oak well. Its firm, tannic finish will stand guard as it ages for a decade or more…”  93 Points, Editor’s Choice
VIK
2012 MILLA CALA
PROPRIETARY RED
MILLAHUE VALLEY, CHILE
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
From The Wine Spectator: “Rich and refined, delivering unctuous dark fruit and spice flavors that offer a creamy svelteness. Slate and mineral accents linger on the complex finish, with dark chocolate and olive notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Drink now through 2022…”   94 Points
2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 

2015 Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ALEXANDER VALLEY

 
I’m often asked what’s the best Cab under $20.  I can honestly say that I haven’t found one that I like better than this Katherine Goldschmidt at this price point.  The wine also earned an incredible 94 Point score in the January issue of Tasting Panel Magazine and at $19.99/btl, there’s simply nothing like it.  Great wines never last long, especially when they’re drinking as well as this one is right now.  The winery has already released the 2016, but we couldn’t say goodbye to this one yet…  It comes from a single vineyard which for years went to Simi for their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($75)…  At just $19.99/btl, Katherine Goldschmidt’s Crazy Creek Cabernet Sauvignon perfectly expresses just how inspiring Cabernet Sauvignon can be from Alexander Valley.
 
Ramping everything up a notch or two in terms of sheer power and concentration, the 2015 Crazy Creek releases a dense core and remarkable palate presence, unlike anything I’ve tasted at this price.  It saturates your palate in an abundance of chocolate covered cherries, crushed blackberries, roasted coffee and black currants, and just like the previous two vintages, this beauty out-performs most Cabernets at double its price…   
 
KATHERINE GOLDSCHMIDT 
2015 CRAZY CREEK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
ALEXANDER VALLEY 
Retails at:  $24.00/btl
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 16%
 
From The Tasting Panel: “Named for Goldschmidt’s middle daughter, the wine’s grapes hail from Crazy Creek, a vineyard known to produce some iconic wines. Big, bright, blue fruit notes on the nose are meaty, with a chocolate espresso twist and dry tannins showing on the palate.  It’s a little masterpiece with a dark chocolate finish that way over delivers on price-to-quality.” 94 Points

 

Customers that would enjoy Katherine Goldschmidt’s Crazy Creek Cabernet may also enjoy these two stunning Cabs…

   

2016 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red Sonoma County Proprietary Red 2014 Arbor Bench Cabernet Sauvignon
SEBASTIANI 
GRAVEL BED RED
2016 SONOMA COUNTY 
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl 

Click to Order

 
Named for the gravelly soils that are key components in this exciting Cabernet Blend, the 2016 blankets your taste buds in a velvety embrace that comes threaded with mineraly red and black fruits, pipe tobacco, pencil lead and vanilla.  With fruit sourced from famed sites such as the iconic Cherryblock Vineyard, this wine delivers serious bang for your buck and with the growing following, I wouldn’t wait to secure yours.    
ARBOR BENCH
2014 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DRY CREEK VALLEY, ESTATE
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 
 
From the Wine Enthusiast: “Full bodied and fleshy, this 100% varietal wine offers polished tannin and toasty oak, the flavors lean and classically defined in pencil, cedar and soy. Notes of black pepper and tobacco etch themselves onto a lengthy finish.“  90 Points
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. 
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.  
2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

WESTWOOD

2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED

2015 Westwood Legend Proprietary Red
In a conversation about the most recognizable blends in the world, it’s rare for the composition of varietals to come up. These wines are branded solely on taste and the location of the grapes. The components that make up the wine are eclipsed by the overall flavors and style.  Before we tell you what’s in Westwood’s Legend, we should tell you who’s behind it. The legend was made by Ben Cane who spent 6 years on the winemaking team at Twomey, and David Ramey, one of California’s most legendary winemakers, who helped put many iconic wineries get on the map including Dominus, Rudd Estate and Jericho Canyon…  The feeling that I had when tasting this wine was one of euphoria and sheer contentment.  When I found out I could offer this wine to you I jumped at the chance.
 
This legend arose from the bio-dynamically farmed Annadel Gap Estate Vineyard located between Mt Hood and Sonoma Mountain.  The area is heavily influenced by morning fog and high-winds, and the variety of soil types lend to the wines vast complexity.  The flavors are intriguing and balanced and introduce themselves in a silky and enchanting style that make this wine as unique as it is delicious.  It’s already earned 95 points from Tasting Panel Magazine, don’t hesitate to secure your case.   
 
WESTWOOD
2015 LEGEND
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $44.00/btl
 
 
From Tasting Panel: “This proprietary red blend (25% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 15% Zinfandel and 10% Tannat) is sourced [mostly from] the estate vineyard, situated between Mt. Hood and the Sonoma Mountains. The perfume is primarily floral: gardenia, red rose petals – with accents on red plum and an echo of black pepper. The palate is a silk road with gritty chocolate tannins. But the ruby slippers that carry you down the path bursts with red plum, dark chocolate cherries, exotic jasmine and grilled meat with soy sauce. The finish is pleasurable with a creamy cedar note.” 95 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Westwood’s Legend may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
2014 Horse & Plow Blockhouse Vineyard Napa Valley Grenache 2015 Sans Liege The Offering Proprietary Red
HORSE & PLOW
2014 GRENACHE 
BLOCKHOUSE VINEYARD
Retails at:  $34.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
Horse & Plow’s single vineyard Grenache is from Yountville, just a stone’s throw from our shop, and it completely rocked my world when I tasted it.  This beautifully proportioned and profoundly pleasing red should be the wikipedia reference for California Grenache.  With a round, velvet lined core, the 2014 envelopes your palate in a bumper crop of plump, juicy flavors with red plum, wild berries, mineral, cocoa and subtle spice.  
SANS LIEGE
2015 THE OFFERING
PROPRIETARY BLEND
 
Your Price: $29/btl 

Click to Order

 

Made in a magnetic style that draws you in with lavish aromas that become increasingly compelling with aeration, Sans Liege’s Southern Rhone inspired blend The Offering is wine that I simply love.  A remarkable fusion of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, the 2015 saturates your taste buds with a velvety texture, intermixed with vibrant red fruits, crème de cassis, juicy blackberries, and savory spices that you coming back for more.
2015 Cru9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

2015 Cru9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

CRU9

2015 Cru9 Stop Talking Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2015 NAPA VALLEY 

 
When we first introduced CRU9’s 2014 Cabernet, everybody that tried it couldn’t stop talking about how great it was for the price.  All I can say about the 2015 is that you may want to keep your lips sealed on our little secret here… It’s even better than the 2014 and with a complete production of just 4 barrels or 100 cases, be sure to secure yours before the word gets out… The 2015 bears a powerful yet inviting voice and cascades across the palate with stunning clarity.   At the winery retail of $60/btl I’m all in… At $39.99/btl, we bought every bottle that we could… If you choose to place your order on our website, you will need code cru920 to unlock this low price. 
 
Carved from a secret vineyard sources in Oakville, St. Helena and Rutherford, the 2015 exhibits all the best traits of the vintage.  On the palate, waves of concentrated black cherry, velvety cassis, espresso roast and chocolate raspberry mousse circulate and add new dimensions as the wine opens up.  Notably, CRU9 also gives back and helps support two nonprofit women shelters, Ruby’s Place in CA and House of Hope in IA (read more).  Every time you buy a bottle of CRU9, you also help level the playing field for survivors of human trafficking, domestic abuse, and homelessness.
 
CRU9
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STOP TALKING…
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $60.00/btl
 
 
Tasting Notes: “Cru 9 Stop Talking Cabernet 2015 has a deep purple color offering a penetrating nose of crushed blackberries, bing cherry, deep black currants scorched minerally earth and hints of cinnamon spice box.  A stunning example that is penetrating and focused with a taught, broad shouldered structure and linear style, balanced with concentrated red and black fruits and dusty tannins that cut a swath across your palate and lingers on and on.  Drink now through 2028.” 
95 Points Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

 

Customers that enjoy Cru9’s Cabernet Sauvignon, may also enjoy these two terrific wines from Cru9…
2015 Cru9 See You In Your Dreams Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2016 Cru9 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
CRU 9
2015 PINOT NOIR
SEE YOU IN YOUR DREAMS
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
Tasting Notes: “A sweetly perfumed Pinot Noir with a compellingly sultry nose of dried violets, ripe raspberries, tart red cherries, spiced cola beans and dried green tea.  On the palate, it is supple and lush with crushed blueberries, tart cranberry, candied lime peel and an exceptionally long finish that lasts for over a minute.  An exceptional effort that drinks great now, but will age gracefully for years… Drink now through 2024.”  94+ Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
CRU9 
2016 CHARDONNAY
As Ever…
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $38.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
Tasting Notes: “This lovely, graciously styled Chardonnay has a beautiful nose of orange marmalade, lemon blossom,  citrus oil, wild flowers and chamomile tea. The palate follows through with a mouth watering array of ripe pear, toasted hazelnut, butter cream, subtle toasted oak notes, combined with lively acidity. Nuanced, sumptuous and nicely layered, it has a beautifully soft-textured finish. Drink this classically styled Russian River Chardonnay now and over the next few years…” 93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier

2015 Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40CarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

ETUDE

2015 PINOT NOIR
GRACE BENOIST RANCH 

With around two hundred 90+ point scores under their belt, Etude is the reigning King of the Carneros AVA.  Founded in 1982 by wine country icon Tony Soter, I can’t think of any other Carneros winery that defines the AVA as well as Etude, and now nearly four decades later they remain a paragon.  With all of the hallmarks that make the Carneros AVA so wondrous, you can almost smell the fog from the San Pablo Bay in their 2015 Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot.  Classic Carneros down to the core and at $39.99/btl it will put a smile on your face… 
 
Tucked along the Northwest corner of Carneros, Etude’s Grace Benoist Ranch benefits from a strong maritime influence and rocky, volcanic soils, making it ideally suited for Pinot Noir.  A correlation of the best grapes from individual vineyard blocks on Grace Benoist Ranch, this wine always tells the story of a particular vintage from a very unique place.  The 2015 is such a good story that you won’t be able to put it down until the last page has turned.   
 
ETUDE
2015 PINOT NOIR
GRACE BENOIST RANCH
Retails at:  $47.00/btl
 
Your Price: $39.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 14%
 
 
“… the 2015 Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch has a savory, sautéed herbs-laced nose over a core of red currants, cranberries and Bing cherries plus hints of dusty earth and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with savory/earthy flavors, framed by chewy tannins and finishing with a lot of interesting layers.”  92 Points
 “... a deeply colored effort that has medium-bodied notes of red currants, cherries, campfire and forest floor. It has plenty of texture and a charming, rounded, delicious style ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years.”  91 points

 

 
Customers that enjoy Etude Grace Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir,  may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots… 
2015 Two Sisters Lindsay's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 Solamente Terra Blanca Vineyard Carneros
TWO SISTERS
2015 PINOT NOIR
LINDSAY’S VINEYARD
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 

Click to Order

 
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…“