2015 Larry Hyde Pinot Noir Hyde Estate Vineyard

2015 Larry Hyde Pinot Noir Hyde Estate Vineyard

with No Comment $60-$70CarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

LARRY HYDE

2015 PINOT NOIR
HYDE ESTATE VINEYARD

2015 Larry Hyde Pinot Noir Hyde Estate Vineyard
Napa Valley Grower-of-the-Year for 2020 Larry Hyde of Hyde Vineyard produces powerfully expressive, profound fruit, which is why he’s attracted many of California’s top producers, including Paul Hobbs, Aubert, Kistler, and DuMOL, to make wine from his vineyard. Larry planted the vineyard in the heart of Carneros in 1979, and in 2009 he decided to craft wine under his own label. Larry created this one from some of the best blocks in the vineyard, and this 2015 Estate Pinot is massive but delivers the regal elegance you’d expect from a top Pinot Noir producer. 
 
Larry and his team continually strive to produce the best wine possible from the Estate, and in doing so, they aren’t afraid to take risks. Much of his success resulted from Larry’s experimenting with new clones and planting methods. 
 
Hyde Vineyard benefits from cooling influences from the Pacific Ocean and the San Pablo Bay that funnel through the Coastal Mountain ranges and allow the grapes a long growing season. These geographical conditions keep Carneros cool enough to maintain acidity and structure in the grapes. If you want a mind-blowing Pinot Noir that drinks fantastic now and provides nearly endless delight, this is it.
 
LARRY HYDE
2015 PINOT NOIR
HYDE ESTATE VINEYARD
 
Your Price: $69.99
 
 
“Powerfully juicy and rich-tasting, with concentrated dried berry and dark cherry flavors that are backed by firm acidity and tannins. Cream and chocolate details show on the savory finish. Drink now through 2022…”
92 Points
 
“… intense and complex with deep aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, plum, spice and earthy notes. On the palate, it is rich and powerful capturing an elegant style while offering tiers of dark berry flavors and soft tannins.”
2015 Chateau De Vie Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga

2015 Chateau De Vie Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

CHATEAU DE VIE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 CALISTOGA 

2015 Chateau De Vie Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga
Chateau de Vie isn’t just a working B&B surrounded by world-class vineyards. They also produce a small amount of powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that’s clean and focused, with exceptional fruit and intertwined minerality. Dave Phinney, the winemaker responsible for creating The Prisoner, Orin Swift, and Location brands, helps make it. Dave also consults for a handful of small wineries, and Chateau de Vie might be a lesser known brand, but the quality of their wine is something special.
 
The estate is located on the northern end of Calistoga and sits almost directly behind Tamber Bey and not far from Chateau Montelena. Their soils are loaded with volcanic compounds, formed by ancient lava flows, and produce Cabernet Sauvignon with powerful fruit and intriguing minerality. 
 
Calistoga is warmer than most other appellations in Napa, and thus, produces some of the biggest, boldest, and most robust Cabernet Sauvignons in the Valley. Chateau De Vie perfectly details all of the qualities that I love about Calistoga Cabernet and delivers them with focus and balance. 
 
CHATEAU DE VIE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 CALISTOGA
Retails at: $68
 
 
“The Chateau de Vie 2015 is everything you would hope for from this spectacular vintage. It begins with an enticing nose with briary red currants, cool blue fruits, purple flowers, a hint of spearmint and vanilla spice. The seductively lively palate is balanced with red cherries, wild blackberries, dark plums, cassis and cocoa powder. The beautiful finish has just enough bright acidity to keep your mouth watering for more.”
93 Points, Kevin M. Vogt, Master Sommelier
 
“All Estate Grown fruit off of 3.5 acres on the Northwest side of Calistoga. Aged in 70% New French Oak Barrels for 22 months This is a deeply rich and satisfying Cabernet with aromas of blackberry, mocha, black fig, dark brown bread and rich vanilla. The wine is fleshy in texture and ripe on the palate, with almost a heady display of blueberry, black fig and toasted caramel. The finish is long and sweetly ripe and will pair nicely with rich cheeses and ripe fruits as well as dark roasts or sauced filet. It is essentially ready to drink and will grow softer and more aromatic over the next few years.”
80% Cabernet Sauvignon | 10% Petite Verdot |10% Cabernet Franc
2015 Maroon Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve Coombsville

2015 Maroon Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

MAROON

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 BLACK LABEL

2015 Maroon Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve Coombsville
Maroon winemaker Chris Corley crafts beautifully balanced wines under the guiding principle of introducing as little manipulation as possible. His style pairs well with Maroon’s Vineyard in Coombsville, where the rocky, volcanic, gravely loam soils produce exquisitely balanced fruit. The combination results in powerful yet elegant wines that are less common in Napa Valley. At $70, their Black Label Cab is a solid offering, but at our price, it’s one of the best values in the shop.
 
The 2015 Black Label Cabernet is from both the winery’s Estate Vineyard and a neighboring site with similar fruit characteristics. The Estate Vineyard is in a unique bowl-shaped depression beneath Mt George, which is an extinct volcano. Joseph Phelps recognized the quality of their grapes, and fruit from Maroon Vineyard went into the high-scoring Insignia Blend for years. 
 
This stunning wine emerges from one of Napa Valley’s top vintages, which the Wine Spectator describes as producing “significantly lower yields…Quality is high.” The 2015 vintage is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and offers supple dark fruits, red currants with perfectly balanced acidity.
 
MAROON
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2015 BLACK LABEL
Retails at: $70
 
 
“This wine begins with a beautiful, deep, supple nose of dark berries, purple florals, and light spice. The lively palate has a great presence with a balance of both red and black fruits, including black cherries, red currants, and ripe plums, and sweet vanilla, along with slightly earthy minerals. The finish is focused, long, and very satisfying.”
94 Points
 
“100% Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a blend of our estate and our neighbors’ finest grapes. It is a wonderful, well balanced wine with an aromatic nose and beautiful dark and red fruit. Aged in French Oak, it has a rich midpalate and a lingering finish. Alcohol: 13.8%. 300 cases”
2015 Maxville Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2015 Maxville Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

MAXVILLE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY

2015 Maxville Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Chiles Valley Cabernet grapes are a recurrent source for many of Napa’s top producers. That’s because the area lies East of Rutherford at elevations ranging from 600-1200 feet, and it’s cooler than the Valley floor, providing ideal conditions for the grapes to retain their natural acidity. Wineries like Volker Eisele and Brown Estate have been making hits there for years, and Maxville, which burst on the scene in 2014, is positioning themselves to be at the top.
 
Maxville hired renowned winemaker Jean Hoefliger to give voice to their incredible Estate. Jean trained in Bordeaux and South Africa before working at powerhouse producers Hartford Court, Newton, and Alpha Omega. 
 
The Estate Vineyard was planted in 1974, and the almost half-century-old vines produce small yields of concentrated and intensely flavored fruit. Their highly distinctive terroir comes through with deep, expressive flavors, finely grained tannins and natural, fresh acidity. 
 
MAXVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $65
 
 
“The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is another sexy, sweetly fruited effort. Blackcurrants, blueberries, charred earth, and leafy herb notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, nicely balanced, concentrated 2015 that has present tannins and good purity of fruit. It’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
89 Points
 
“There is a considerable amount of Petite Sirah (11%) blended within this wine, which helps emphasize its big power and concentration. Earth, soy, currant, cedar and graphite accent a core of juicy blackberry and chocolate-covered cherry.”
89 Points
 
“Dark opulent ruby and garnet hues with tantalizing aromas of black currant jam, earthy and ripe dark fruits layered with hints of vanilla, cassis and black pepper. The palate has a supple entry that lingers to the back of the mouth with firm tannin structures.”
2015 Chateau Soussans Margaux

2015 Chateau Soussans Margaux

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHÂTEAU SOUSSANS

2015 MARGAUX 

2015 Chateau Soussans Margaux
Our weekly tastings are done unbiased, with the retail price often unknown until after a wine makes our selection. We choose them based on quality, varietal and regional standards, and many other determining factors. Once a wine passes that test, the price comes into play, and we look for wines that outperform others in the same price category. I had pegged Château Soussans 2015 Margaux as a $50-$60 outstanding and classic representation of the region and vintage. When I found out that I could offer it to you for $36, I grabbed all I could…
 
Shaped from the highly sought after 2015 vintage, which the Wine Spectator describes as “truly special” in Margaux, Château Soussans is the second wine of Château Deyrem Valentin. Christelle Sorge tends the vines and manages both Estates, and she stands apart for her pure, traditional processes in the vineyards and winery, where her wines are 100% organic and natural. 
 
Christelle’s wine team forged Château Soussans from a small 5-acre parcel planted equally to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and located within the Deyrem-Valentin property. The 25 + year-old vines follow the same routine as Deyrem-Valentin, and the wine balances elegance with power and beautifully defined flavors that are classic to the region. 
 
CHÂTEAU SOUSSANS
2015 MARGAUX
 
Your Price: $36
 
“The Chateau Soussans 2015 is a beautiful, elegant achievement that begins with an intriguing nose with red plums, powdered stone, white flowers, forest ferns, and saddle leather. The palate has waves of mixed berries, red cherries, liquid minerals, and vanilla spice. It is a beautiful balance between power and elegance, which is everything you want from a Margaux.”
94 Points
 
“Made with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot the wine is soft and silky with perfumed strawberry jam on the nose. Ripe plum and cream come through on the palate which has supple tannins and an attractive, lively red fruit finish. This elegant Margaux will be lovely to drink, share and enjoy over the next decade.”
2015 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder Estate

2015 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder Estate

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUncategorizedUSA

ANTHEM

2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOUNT VEEDER ESTATE

2015 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder Estate
Every decision making Anthem impacts the quality of wine that they produce, and their production team is free to vinify without regard to cost or other extraneous factors. You can taste their relentless drive for creating the highest quality wine possible from their Estate in every glass. The wines are crafted by Jeff Ames, who mentored under Thomas Rivers Brown at Schrader, Maybach, Outpost, and TOR before becoming head winemaker at TOR in 2005. Jeff is also the owner/winemaker at Rudius, which was my #1 wine in 2019.
 
Mount Veeder arose from an ancient seabed, and it’s the coolest Mountain AVA in Napa, known for producing complex, savory and age-worthy Cabernets. Jeff accentuates those flavors in an elegantly balanced way and doesn’t lose the sense of place.
 
Anthem’s Cabernet is all about balance, length, and escalating intensity, and the 2015 vintage is stunningly rich with penetrating red fruits laced with savory characteristics. The vines yielded just 1.9 tons per acre of super-concentrated berries, and after 18 months in barrel and three years in the bottle, this wine rocks.
 
ANTHEM
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOUNT VEEDER ESTATE
Retails at: $135
 
 
“A juicy and fruity red with chocolate, red peppers and hints of herbs. Full body, round and succulent tannins and a flavorful finish. Lovely mountain wine. Drink or hold.” 93 Points
 
“A polished and lush version, with boysenberry and blueberry reduction notes forming the core of flavors, while licorice snap and fruitcake hints fill in. Features a roasted apple wood backdrop, though the fruit easily takes center stage through the rich finish. Best from 2020 through 2035…” 92 Points
 
“… Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with notes of prunes, raisin cake and spice box with hints of fresh figs, tobacco and new leather. Full-bodied with a plush frame and loads of evolving baked berries layers, it has tons of spices coming through on the finish.” 91 Points
 
“Our 2015 Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet is a blockbuster mountain Cabernet from Anthem’s own vineyards located at 400 feet in Napa Valley’s Western hillsides. The lower yields in 2015 produced fruit with intense, plush dark berry flavors that Winemaker Jeff Ames crafted into an exquisitely rich Mt. Veeder Cabernet.”
2015 Solaria Patrizia Cencioni Brunello Di Montalcino Estate

2015 Solaria Patrizia Cencioni Brunello Di Montalcino Estate

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin Vogt

SOLARIA PATRIZIA CENCIONI

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2015 ESTATE

2015 Solaria Patrizia Cencioni Brunello Di Montalcino Estate
Winemaker Patrizia Cencioni knows the great wines of Montalcino are born in the vineyard and developed in the cellar. Her vines are strategically located on a high plateau, and in 2015, mother nature delivered a textbook growing season, which James Suckling alerted readers, “nobody should miss.” The vintage brought remarkable power, dynamic complexity, and a purity of fruit that’s spectacular, and Patrizia’s 2015 showcases all of it. 
 
Patrizia Cencioni inherited the estate at age 20 when her father passed away, and she’s made vast improvements to the quality of wines produced there. She is meticulous with her grape selection, and it’s evident in the purity of her fruit. 
 
Solaria’s Vineyards were planted in 1989 at 300 meters above sea level on a natural plateau composed of coarse tuff and clay soils, contributing to the wine’s incredible depth. Patrizia aged this wine for 30 months in cask, and after a couple of years in the bottle, the flavors are beautifully integrated, long and distinctive.
 
SOLARIA PATRIZIA CENCIONI
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
2015 ESTATE
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
“Dark bright red. Red cherry, medicinal herbs, chamomile greet the nose. Then rich round and suave, but with mounting youthfully peppery tannins and spicy, savory and red fruit flavors on the long chewy finish.” 91 Points
 
“…The 2015 vintage is fragrant and approachable, with attractive mint, fennel and black cherry nuances. Seductively textured with generous fruit and ripe, integrated tannins, this offers more vibrancy than Solaria’s ’30 Anni’ Brunello. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028” 91 Points
 
“Intense ruby red with garnet reflections, limpid; Nose: Enveloping with intense fruit, well blended with the oak in which it was aged; Elegant and distinctive, structured and firm with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy, delicious and very persistent finish. A full-bodied, opulent wine that shows complexity and finesse.”
2015 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red

2015 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

LA SIRENA

PIRATE TREASURED
2015 PROPRIETARY RED

2015 La Sirena Pirate Treasured Proprietary Red
It pays to follow the wine brands owned by top winemakers, and La Sirena is Heidi Barrett’s Winery. Heidi is a world-class winemaker whose past and present clients include Amuse Bouche, Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Grace Family, Revana, Barbour, and many others. She crafts this brilliant seven varietal blend in a style that’s enchanting, deep, multilayered, fresh, and full of life. I know that once anybody tastes the 2015 and sees how great it’s showing, all remaining bottles will go into the drink.  
 
Wine doesn’t need an elegant label to be great. Pirate TreasuRed is a serious wine, made even better with Heidi’s connections for high-quality grapes, and her meticulous blending skills that make this wine very special. 
 
With seven varietals to work with, each plays an essential roll in the wine’s aromatics, structure, presence on the palate, and fruit components. The Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure, while Grenache contributes seductive fruits, and the Cabernet Franc adds power and definition, and the list goes on. 
 
LA SIRENA
PIRATE TREASURED
2015 PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The powerful 2015 vintage delivers a deep garnet colored wine with incredibly concentrated ripe aromatics of black fruits, leather and spice. Layers of fruit and oak are enticing on the palate and lead into a big, mouth-coating & dense wine that still maintains excellent balance among all elements. A blockbuster of a blend with well-rounded and complex flavors, richness and a long lingering finish. Flavors persist as does the texture of the wine. Extracted but not heavy, with moderate silky structural tannins. Really delicious – an impressive installment in our Pirate saga!”  Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, & Petite Sirah.
2015 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard Rutherford

2015 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard Rutherford

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

ELYSE

2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MORISOLI VINEYARD
RUTHERFORD

2015 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard Rutherford
Grand Cru means ‘great growth,’ and in France’s Burgundy region, it’s the top of the pyramid for the highest-quality grapes. They only bestow that designation after prolonged observation of a site with a history of producing exceptional fruit. If Napa Valley were to use the same system, the historic Morisoli Vineyard planted in the 1880s, which sits on the center of the iconic Rutherford Bench, would undoubtedly be on it. The vineyard’s neighbors include icons Staglin, Inglenook, and Scarecrow, and if you’re looking for a wine with a powerful sense of place, remarkable balance, and incredible value, this Cabernet should top your list…
 
Morisoli Vineyard sits on gravelly bale, clay loam soils with excellent drainage. The site has a proven track record of producing fruit with bold flavors, depth, intriguing spice, and unmistakable Rutherford dust. Over the years, its fruit has graced the wines of BV’s flagship Georges de Latour Cabernet, Trujillo, V. Sattui, Sequoia Grove, Orin Swift Mercury Head, and the list goes on… 
 
Elyse recognized the quality of Morisoli early on, and they’ve produced their flagship single-vineyard Morisoli Cabernet for more than 25 consecutive vintages. At $85, this wine is a brilliant example of Morisoli Cabernet, but at our price, it’s simply one of the best Cabernets in the shop.
 
ELYSE
2015 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MORISOLI VINEYARD
RUTHERFORD
Retails at: $85
 
 
 
“Deep, dark red in color with layers of black fruit and spice aromas – cassis, black pepper, black cherries, nutmeg, plumbs, and cedar. The full-bodied palate gushes with ripe blackberries, currants, cherries, and espresso crema followed by warm, sweet oak, bright acidity, and those signature dusty tannins of the Rutherford appellation. True to form, this wine displays year after year the power and elegance that is so characteristic of this renowned vineyard.”
2015 Chateau Chantelune Margaux Bordeaux France

2015 Chateau Chantelune Margaux Bordeaux France

with No Comment $40-$50BordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHÂTEAU CHANTELUNE

2015 MARGAUX
BORDEAUX, FRANCE

2015 Chateau Chantelune Margaux Bordeaux France
The region of Margaux produces some of the most powerful yet beautifully elegant wines in all of Bordeaux. Most are blends led by Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing to the power and depth, and Merlot, which weaves in a captivating elegance and supple fruit. Chateau Chantelune is a brilliant example of Margaux, and with the string of high-scores combined with the low price, this could go very quickly…
 
Shaped from the highly sought after 2015 vintage which the Wine Spectator describes as “truly special” in Margaux, the Chateau Chantelune 2015 is deeply concentrated with a satiny texture and striking complexity. Chantelune is an extraordinary 7 acre parcel of 40-year-old vines situated on the highest point in the appellation.
 
The wine is carefully guided from grape to bottle by José Sanfins, who’s also the director at Château Cantenac Brown. Our panel was floored by the quality, and this wine perfectly represents everything I love about Margaux.
 
CHÂTEAU CHANTELUNE
2015 MARGAUX
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“….a total beauty in this wonderful vintage. Margaux may have been the sweet spot in all of Bordeaux in 2015, and the combination of the ideal conditions and incredibly talented winemaker José Sanfins make this wine simply sensational…. It begins with gorgeous aromas of blackberries and ripe currants along with graphite, spring florals and spices all taking shape. Medium to full-bodied, with wonderful concentration and depth, yet lovely elegance. It remains beautifully textured and polished with a gorgeous mouthfeel through the opulent finish.” 94 Points
 
“Owned and produced by José Sanfins, who is the manager at neighboring classed growth Château Cantenac Brown, this wine balances the elegance of Margaux with the richness of the vintage, giving swathes of black-currant fruit that has been lifted by the new-wood aging. Drink this wine from 2023.” 93 Points
 
 
“Very intense and ripe dark fruits with strikingly fresh dark berries on the nose. This leads to a concentrated palate with intense dark-plum and blackberry flavors. Try from 2021.” 92 Points
 
“This sports a sanguine note out front, followed by fresh and enticing damson plum, cherry preserve and raspberry coulis flavors. Richly layered, but with silky tannins that let the fruit hold sway throughout, while light violet and black tea details add background nuance. A mineral edge underscores the finish. Best from 2022 through 2032. 708 cases made.” 92 Points