2016 Prisoner Wine Co Blindfold Proprietary White

2016 Prisoner Wine Co ‘Blindfold’ Proprietary White

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary WhiteUSA

PRISONER WINE CO.

2016 BLINDFOLD
PROPRIETARY WHITE

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

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

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A wine of unrestrained jubilance and infectious charm, the new 2016 Prisoner unshackles a bounty of deliciously elaborate flavors, and with even more vibrancy and determination. Having jail-break level intensity, the 2016 escapes powerfully from the glass, permeating with beautifully focused ripe cherries, wild strawberry, chocolate, and crushed violets.
2106 Calculated Risk Santa Barbara Chardonnay

2016 Calculated Risk Santa Barbara Chardonnay

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtSanta BarbaraUSA

CALCULATED RISK

2106 Calculated Risk Santa Barbara Chardonnay

2016 CHARDONNAY
SANTA BARBARA 

 
What makes Santa Barbara Chardonnay unique? For starters, Chardonnay is Santa Barbara County’s most widely planted grape, surpassing Pinot Noir by more than 25%.  The varietal thrives in the cooler climate, caused by the transverse nature of the two Mountain ranges that sandwich this viticultural region.  Limestone soils also help maintain acidity, which helps create an exotic tropical fruit character, which is one of the signatures that I love about Santa Barbara Chardonnay.  I find many of my favorite Santa Barbara Chardonnays show bountiful yet delicate orchard fruits, exotic tropical fruits, vibrant acidity, and are laced in minerality.  Calculated Risk’s 2016 Chardonnay caught me by surprise. Not only did it showcase everything that I love about Santa Barbara Chardonnay, but I simply couldn’t believe how good it was at its $38 retail price.  At $23/btl, I jumped at the opportunity to share it with you.  
 
A non-disclosure agreement prevents us from telling you the vineyard source, but the 2016 leaps from the glass with green & yellow apple, passionfruit, toasted pear and lemon blossoms, then carrying through on the palate with an elegant depth and pristine style.   At $23/btl your only risk will be not buying enough.  
 
CALCULATED RISK
2016 CHARDONNAY
SANTA BARBARA
Retails at:  $37.99/btl
 
Your Price: $23.00/btl 
YOU SAVE 39%
 
Winery Notes: “A brilliant, golden yellow look with hints of pineapple, white peach, pear and pomelo on the nose. The palate offers lime leaf, honeysuckle, lemon and a hint of subtle lavender.”
 
Customers who enjoy Calculated Risk Chardonnay may also enjoy these two outstanding wines…
2014 Matias Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay
 2014 Calculated Risk Mount Veeder Proprietary Red
MATIAS
2014 CHARDONNAY
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at:  $35/btl
 
Your Price: $23/btl 
 
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “… Clean, straight and focused, with bright acidity, medium-bodied richness and notes of citrus blossom, crushed rock and white peach, this beauty is elegant, beautifully fresh and crisp on the palate. It’s a great value and one to drink over the coming 2-3 years.”  90 Points 
CALCULATED RISK
PROPRIETARY RED
2014 MOUNT VEEDER
Retails at:  $65.00/btl
 
 

I’ve always found a mystical element in Mount Veeder fruit that always draws me in.  It’s the largest AVA within Napa Valley but the rugged terrain limits production to just 1.3% of Napa Valley grapes.  Yielding small, powerful berries, the sandstone and shale soils set this Mountain apart from all others in Napa.  It’s also the coolest Mountain which allows the grapes to have a longer hang-time so they can develop into something majestic.  
2016 Fort Ross Sea Slopes Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2016 Fort Ross Sea Slopes Sonoma County Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Fort Ross SeaviewKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

FORT ROSS 2016 Fort Ross Sea Slopes Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2016 PINOT NOIR
SEA SLOPES 

Always intellectually pleasing, detailed and memorable, Fort Ross is one of our most requested Pinots… Formed from the winery’s Estate vineyard, located in the 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… Fort Ross excelled in 2016 and at under forty per bottle, this Pinot has everything that I look for in classic, extreme Sonoma Coast Pinot.  
 
The 2016 is vibrant and with a delicious, supple texture, it perfectly expresses the exceptional terroir found in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA.  It was expertly guided from grape to bottle by renowned winemaker Jeff Pisoni and is loaded with class and wonderfully articulate flavors.  If you’ve tasted any of the earlier vintages of Fort Ross, you likely need no further convincing, other than the fact that the 2016 is now available.  If you haven’t tried a Pinot from this beloved producer, here’s a chance to enjoy one at a truly fantastic price.
 
FORT ROSS
2016 PINOT NOIR
SEA SLOPES
 
Your Price: $34.99/btl
 
 
“… the 2016 Pinot Noir Sea Slopes gives up notions of warm cranberries and Bing cherries with a raspberry leaves, dried sage and tilled soil undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, refreshing and vivacious with a nice bit of chew to the texture and a persistent earthy finish” 
90 Points
“The 2016 Pinot Noir Sea Slopes is another terrific value from this estate. Cherries, strawberries, spice, and an undeniable salty, marine-like minerality give way to a fresh, elegant medium-bodied effort that shows the cooler, complex style of the Sonoma Coast appelation. Bravo.” 
91 Points
 
Customers that enjoy Fort Ross Sea Slopes Pinot Noir may also enjoy these two terrific Pinots…

  

2015 Matias Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015 Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir
MATIAS 
2015 PINOT NOIR
SIERRA MAR VINEYARD
Retails at:  $55.00/btl
 

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Anybody who’s tasted the Matias wines knows what an incredible value they offer.  The level of class and sophistication is higher than any Pinot Noir close to this price point.  Their single vineyard 2015 SierraMar Pinot explodes from the glass with bright bing cherry, wild raspberries, spice box and hints of white pepper.   It emerges from Gary Franscioni’s Sierra Mar Vineyard, one of Santa Lucia Highlands highest elevation vineyards.  The Franscioni’s own and farm the iconic Garys’ and Rosella Vineyards and are partners in the revered Pisoni and Soberanes Vineyards… 
CROSSBARN
2015 PINOT NOIR
By PAUL HOBBS 
 
Your Price:   $36/btl 

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The short-list of the world’s top consulting winemakers is small, and many would argue that Paul Hobbs should be at the top.  To me, the most clear-cut reason for him being there is simply that people love his wines…  Forbes calls Paul the Steve Jobs of wine, referencing his ardent exactitude of winemaking and he’s clearly one of the most innovative and gifted winemakers.  The Forbes article also notes, that Hobbs was twice named Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker.  This wine, with three 90-92 point reviews, is an excellent introduction to the wines of Paul Hobbs. 
2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Reserve

2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Red

with No Comment $50-$60Howell MountainKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

DANCING HARES

2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter Proprietary Reserve2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED

 
In the wine world, if your last name is Beckstoffer you likely have an arsenal of the best vineyard resources available to make a world-class Napa Valley wine.  One taste of the new 2016 Dancing Hares Mad Hatter is all the proof you’ll need.  2016 is the first vintage of this renowned wine that was produced entirely by Tuck and his team after purchasing Dancing Hares in 2016. Tuck Beckstoffer is the son of renowned grape grower Andy Beckstoffer, whose company is one of the largest independent vineyard owners in Northern California. Tuck enlisted the talents of Shawn Johnson, who previously made wine at Merus, to help make the Mad Hatter one of Napa Valley’s foremost second wines, and at about 1/2 the price of the Dancing Hares, Mad Hatter offers an excellent value.  
 
Located at the foot of Howell Mountain, the winery produces two limited-production wines, which include their Dancing Hares Red (retails for around $150/btl,) and the Mad Hatter which retails at $75/btl. The 2016 Mad Hatter is powerful and seductive and is loaded with candied red berries, incense, wild raspberries, espresso roast, and dried violets.  Don’t let this vintage escape down the rabbit hole before you’re able to secure your case. 
 
DANCING HARES
2016 MAD HATTER
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $75.00/btl
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl 

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YOU SAVE 20%
 
Winery Notes: “...expresses aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate and toasted almonds. In the mouth, flavors of blackberry, licorice and plum come forth to enhance a full mouthfeel and silky finish.“
Cabernet Sauvignon 48% | Merlot 40% | Petite Sirah 12%
 
Customers who enjoy Dancing Hares Mad Hatter may also enjoy these two terrific Reds…  
2014 Laird Jillian's Blend Proprietary Red 2014 Steps Winemaker's Reserve Proprietary Blend
LAIRD
JILLIAN’S BLEND
2014 NAPA VALLEY 
Retails at:  $48.00/btl
 

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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.  
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.
2016 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red Sonoma County Proprietary Red

2016 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red Sonoma County Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtProprietary RedSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

SEBASTIANI 

GRAVEL BED RED
2016 SONOMA COUNTY  

2016 Sebastiani Gravel Bed Red Sonoma County Proprietary Red
To many of you, Gravel Bed Red needs no introduction, primarily because it’s got such a following and reputation along with ridiculously high scores for its price, that it sells out regardless of vintage.  Sebastiani is certainly established, but at under thirty per bottle, it tops the list of wines that don’t need any introduction. “This stuff is ridiculous!”  “Are you kidding me?”  “This wine is amazing…”   These quotes represent just a few of the many comments I’ve received about Gravel Bed Red.  Sebastiani’s 2013 Gravel Bed Red was my number one pick on my top 10 list in 2015, and three months later went on to receive a near perfect 97 Point Score from Robert Parker.   The following for their wines has snowballed and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
 
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.   
 
SEBASTIANI 
GRAVEL BED RED
2016 SONOMA COUNTY 
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
 
Your Price: $26.99/btl 
YOU SAVE 32%
 
Winery Notes: “Our 2016 Gravel Bed Red is a harmonious expression of gravely vineyard sites from a moderately warm vintage. Its deep ruby red color leads into forward aromas of cherry liquor, tobacco leaf, wet stone minerality and a hint of oak. Dark fruit flavors attack the palate predominated by blackberry, black cherry, herbs de Provence and dried leaves. The impressive palate offers enough tannin and acidity to reign in the generous fruit. This wine is showing well in its youth, but will only gain in complexity over the next 2-4 years.”
Cabernet Sauvignon 44% | Merlot 33% | Malbec 10% | Petit Verdot 9% | Syrah 3% | Zinfandel 1% 

 

Customers who enjoy Sebastiani’s Gravel Bed Red may also enjoy these two outstanding blends…
2015 B Sharp Napa Valley Proprietary Red 2014 Blind Tasting Proprietary Red
B. SHARP
PROPRIETARY RED
2015 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 

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Tasting Notes: “With an attractive dark inky hue, the wine features sultry aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice, smoke, and spice. On the palate, the flavors expand with generous notes of briary blackberry, ripe boysenberry, cranberry, cassis, dark chocolate truffle, blood orange peel, and a kiss of oak. The plush texture is elevated with a burst of lively acidity leading to a long, dry finish that makes you want more! Outstanding.” 
92 Points, Christopher Sawyer, Sommelier to the Stars.
BLIND TASTING
PROPRIETARY RED
2014 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $36/btl 

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Tasting Notes: “Intoxicating aromas of crushed blue fruits, blackberry cobbler, violets, raspberry compote and a touch of vanilla, erupt from the glass. Ripe, round tannins and a core of perfectly woven flavors of dark cherry, blueberry pie, crushed blackberries and a hint pepper spice unwind in a continuous loop.  Soft, voluptuous tannins caress your taste buds with a long, luxurious finish that just wont quit.”
2016 Heir Apparent Napa Valley Proprietary Red

2016 Heir Apparent Napa Valley Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedRutherfordSt HelenaUSA

HEIR APPARENT

PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY

2016 Heir Apparent Napa Valley Proprietary Red
Ever wonder how we are able to offer these amazingly high-quality wines with such dramatic discounts? It comes down to patience, confidence and buying power. We have the patience for our tasting panel to taste through over 80 wines each week, looking for only the best wines available. Then, our panel’s consensus gives us the confidence that we’ve made the right choices on which wines to work with.  Finally, we have the buying power to commit to, and purchase large quantities in advance, so we can negotiate the best deals. It is somewhat risky on our part, but frankly, we are pretty darn good at it, and the quality and value shows through in each incredible bottle we offer.
 
Case in point, this Heir Apparent Proprietary Red seduces you with intense aromas of floral infused red fruits, minerals and chocolaty espresso, the 2016 wraps your palate in a velvety embrace and leaves your taste buds yearning for another sip.  Combining fruit from St Helena and Rutherford, the tension created between the two distinct areas lends greatly to the complexity. Calling on all five Bordeaux Varietals, the 2016 spent 16 month in oak and it’s already providing enormous levels of pleasure, and should drink well over the next 10-12 years. Another winner!
 
HEIR  APPARENT
PROPRIETARY RED
2016 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $69.99/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “With a beautiful dark red hue, the wine opens up with seductive aromas of fresh violets, dried rose petals, ripe tree fruits, wild berries, licorice and spice. On the palate, lively notes of fresh baked dark cherry pie, red plum and ripe raspberry are layered with zesty notes of pepper, cloves, ginger, roasted walnuts, and the gentle use of oak which allow the flavors to pop. As the wine opens up, these flavors are balanced with soft tannins, tangy acidity, and (a) long finish...” 92 Points “Sommelier to the Stars” Christopher Sawyer
2016 DuMOL Mixed 3 Pack

2016 DuMOL Russian River Valley Pinot, Chardonnay & Syrah

with No Comment $50-$60$60-$70ChardonnayKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSyrahUSA

DuMOL 

2016 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
WESTER REACH PINOT & CHARDONNAY
WILD MOUNTAINSIDE SYRAH

2016 DuMOL Mixed 3 Pack

When your brand sets the standard for the types of wine you produce, you have two options…  Keep doing exactly what you’ve been doing, or strive to get even better… In the quest to up their game even more, in 2016 DuMOL honed in on their top vineyard sources, and utilized the best-of-the-best fruit for their previously named Russian River Valley wines.  Coinciding with the move, they also re-named the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Wester Reach and the Syrah Wild Mountainside.  The 2016’s are simply stunning and each wine elegantly expresses the best qualities for each of their origins.
 
Quantities are incredibly limited and orders will be taken until we are sold out of each one. I welcome you to mix and match a case however you would like, or you may order each one individually and in any quantity below… 
 

Click to Order Mixed 15 Pack

2016 DuMOL Wester Reach Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 DuMOL Wild Mountainside Russian River Valley Syrah 2016 DuMOL Wester Reach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
DuMOL 
2016 CHARDONNAY
WESTER REACH
 
Your Price: $56.99/btl
 
The 2016 Wester Reach Chardonnay combines fruit from Ritchie, Lorenzo and DuMOL’s Estate Vineyard… 
 
Winery Notes:
“Orange zest, white flower, sweet sage and hay aromas yield to softer peach and apricot. The palate is full of energy and vigor with clear-cut fruit intensity and savory character. Ripe stone fruits dominate with an underscore of oatmeal and marzipan. Texture builds with a core of old vine extract balanced with vibrant lime and oyster shell freshness. The finish is long, cleansing, and refined. Drink between 2018 and 2022.” 
DuMOL
2016 SYRAH
WILD MOUNTAINSIDE
 
Your Price: $59.99/btl

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The 2016 Wild Mountainside Syrah combines fruit from Timbervine, Greywacke and Hoppe-Kelly Vineyards (source for the Eddie’s Patch Syrah between 2000-2013). 
 

Winery Notes:

“…inky and concentrated. Blackberry, boysenberry and blueberry fruit characters dominate both aromas and palate. There’s vibrant grapefruit zest, floral lilac, wild thyme and roasted meat characters. The fruit is plush and deep, but there’s always a sense of mountain precision and detail. A savory ferrous note adds intrigue to the full-bodied, chewy palate but the wine remains fine and polished throughout. It holds 15 years of aging potential in a cool cellar.”  
DuMOL
2016 PINOT NOIR
WESTER REACH 
 
Your Price: $69.99/btl

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The 2016 Wester Reach Pinot intertwines fruit from Ritchie, Occidental Road, Dutton-Upp Road and Widdoes Vineyards. 
 
 

Winery Notes:

“Complex, layered aromas – red cherry, black pepper, hibiscus and orange peel – are wonderfully bright and fresh while cranberry and pomegranate, wild thyme and underbrush lend fine detail. The broad fruit entry possesses great lift – juicy and vibrant, then immediately deep and layered. The mid-palate is succulent and round with cherry liqueur and rhubarb flavors which extend on fresh acidity through the long, black peppercorn-infused finish. Drink between 2018 and 2026.” 
2016 G of Chateau Guiraud Bordeaux White

2016 G of Château Guiraud Bordeaux White

with No Comment $30 and underBordeauxFranceSauvignon Blanc

G of CHÂTEAU GUIRAUD 

2016 BORDEAUX WHITE
BORDEAUX, FRANCE

2016 G of Chateau Guiraud Bordeaux White
Variety is the spice of life and while California, Sancerre and New Zealand offer Sauvignon Blancs with bright, sometimes searing acidity and super-crisp flavors, Bordeaux brings a more rich, opulent and lime-infused style that’s impossible to ignore.  Detailed, round and broad are all perfect descriptors for Chateau Guiraud’s Bordeaux White which opens up to limestone-scented baked yellow-apples, mandarin orange, tangerine, wet stone and crème brûlée.  A palate quenching kaleidoscope of finely detailed flavors keeps you coming back for more, and with a 90-93 Point score from the Wine Spectator, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure a case. 
 
Château Guiraud isn’t just one of Bordeaux’s preeminent producers of First Growth Sauternes, they also produce stunning dry whites wines.  A blend of both Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, the 2016 is remarkably expressive, rich and assertive.  If you haven’t experienced a dry white from this renowned wine region, here’s a terrific opportunity to try one of the best.
 
G of CHÂTEAU GUIRAUD 
2016 BORDEAUX WHITE
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 
 
From The Wine Spectator: “This is still a bit tight, with a racy lemon pith frame around the core of white peach, tangerine, chamomile and straw flavors. Shows weight and zip, and should fill out nicely.”   90-93 Points
 
Customers that enjoy G of Chateau Guiraud’s Bordeaux Blanc may also enjoy these two terrific white wines…
2017 Alma de Cattleya Sauvignon Blanc 2017 Domain La Croix Saint-Laurent Sancerre
ALMA de CATTLEYA
2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC
SONOMA COUNTY
 
Your Price: $19.99/btl 
 
Immeasurable talent… gifted… Midas touch… These would all be fitting descriptors of winemaker Bibiana Gonzalez Rave.  Her artistry has allowed her to climb the ranks and become winemaker at Pahlmeyer… She’s also made wines at Lynmar and has extensive experience making wine in France.  Bibiana applies her vast skill-set and remarkable abilities and crafts wines that exceed all expectations…
DOMAINE LA CROIX 
2017 SANCERRE
SAINT-LAURENT
 
Your Price: $29.99/btl 
 

Created from nearly half-century old vines, this wine bursts onto your palate with textural bliss, and a well balanced, keen thread of acidity that leaves your palate craving another sip.   

A pure expression of Sancerre, this immensely appealing 100% Sauvignon Blanc (as all white Sancerre’s are) is highly nuanced, intriguing and loaded with pristine fruit and rocky minerals.
2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel

2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtOld Vine ZinfandelRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

GAMBA 

2016 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH

 
2016 Gamba Starr Road Ranch Russian River Valley Old Vine ZinfandelWhat pairs best with Memorial Day & 4th of July holidays?  For me, the answer is Zinfandel. Although the grape allegedly originated in Croatia, Zinfandel thrives better in California than any place else, period.  For that reason, Zinfandel is purely American.  If I had to choose only one Zinfandel to serve, it would have to be Gamba.  A perennial crowd favorite and proving to be top contenders on California’s Zinfandel scene, Gus Gamba’s old vine Zinfandels are gaining world-wide acclaim.  After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers “...Gamba’s name is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma, such as Hartford Court, Carlisle, Bedrock and even the superstar Turley over in Napa.“
Fashioned from an organically farmed vineyard planted in 1920, the ancient vines have relied on winter rains as their sole source of irrigation for over 95 years.  Yielding just 1.5 tons per acre of strikingly intense, concentrated, pristinely focused fruit, the 2016 exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel. It’s simply stunning and absolutely rocking…
 
GAMBA 
2016 ZINFANDEL
STARR ROAD RANCH
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
 
 
Winery Notes: “This 2016 Old Vine Zinfandel from the Gamba Starr Road Ranch offers hints of dried raspberry, blueberry compote, herbs, and candied plum on the nose. Dark and alluring in color, and the palate is bold yet well-integrated, with a velvety texture and weighty, yet graceful structure. Fully ripe, this Zin showcases knockout layers of mouth filling blackberry cobbler, herb and leather on the palate. This sumptuous wine embraces concentration and velvety richness. Robust, it finishes dusted in allspice, and cinnamon toast.“
 
Customers that enjoy Gamba’s Starr Road Ranch Zinfandel, may also enjoy these two terrific Zins…
2013 Valdez St Peter's Church Vineyard Zinfandel 2016 Gamba Estate Old Vine Zinfandel
VALDEZ
2013 ZINFANDEL
ST. PETER’S CHURCH
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
Valdez winery is owned by Ulises Valdez, one of California’s most sought after wine growers.  When he’s not farming vineyards for Aubert, Kistler, Paul Hobbs and others, he’s cultivating his dream of building a successful brand.  This Zinfandel arose from a 5 acre vineyard in Alexander Valley that’s planted to nearly century old vines, this wine exhibits all the qualities that I look for in Old Vine Zinfandel.  Rosenblum fans might also recognize this vineyard from single vineyard Zinfandels that they produced in the 1990’s.
GAMBA
2016 ZINFANDEL 
ESTATE, OLD VINE
Retails at:  $52.00/btl
 
Everybody loves being the guest that brings the best wine to the party…  All you need is a couple 15-packs of Gamba and you can be that person, every time.  Always a crowd favorite and proving to be top contenders on California’s Zinfandel scene, Gus Gamba’s old vine Zinfandels are quickly gaining world-wide acclaim.  After Robert Parker’s latest visit to the winery, he alerted readers, “… Gamba’s name is going to have to be included with some of the stars of Sonoma, such as Hartford Court, Carlisle, Bedrock and even the superstar Turley over in Napa.”
2016 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red

2016 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaPritchard HillProprietary RedUSA

CHAPPELLET 2016 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietary Red

2016 MOUNTAIN CUVEE
PROPRIETARY RED  

 
Chappellet’s Iconic Pritchard Hill Vineyards have been hailed by some as “Napa’s Grand Cru,” and particularly with Bordeaux Varietals.  Following the advice of renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff, by planting on the rocky high-elevation slopes, Chappellet became one of the first wineries in Napa Valley to plant vineyards on the lofty hillsides.  A half century later, their 2016 Mountain Cuvée still includes fruit from the winery’s coveted Estate Vineyard, and was expertly composed by renowned winemaker Phillip Titus, who’s been with Chappellet for nearly 30 years.  At $31.99/btl there’s simply never enough of this value wine from Chappellet to meet demand. 
 
An absolute crowd-pleaser, and those of you who’ve enjoyed this blend each vintage might notice the 2016 exploits a greater percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than their previous 6 vintages.  With Cabernet as the dominant grape, the 2016 is nicely concentrated, and on the palate, the wine’s hallmark velvety embrace comes dressed with provocative black cherries, blueberries, dried violets and cocoa. I highly recommend securing a case while supplies last…
 
CHAPPELLET
2016 MOUNTAIN CUVEE
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at:  $35.00/btl 
 
Your Price:  $31.99/btl
 
 
Winery Notes: “Lush, layered and complex, this Bordeaux blend begins with concentrated aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, and dark chocolate. As the wine evolves in the glass, notes of anise, clove and bay leaf emerge, creating an inviting combination of fruit and spice. On the palate, a creamy texture underscores the wine’s richness, while accentuating flavors of ripe plum, vanilla, and roasted coffee that glide to a long, lingering finish.“
 
Cabernet Sauvignon 51% | Merlot 24% | Malbec 13% | Petit Verdot 9% | Cabernet Franc 3% 
Customers that enjoy Chappellet’s Mountain Cuvee may also enjoy these two terrific Reds… 
2013 Chester's Anvil Hattori Hanzo Cabernet Blend 2013 Titus Napa Valley Malbec
CHESTER’S ANVIL
2013 HATTORI HANZO
CABERNET BLEND
Retails at:  $40.00/btl
Your Price: $34.99/btl 

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With the price of Napa Cabernet reaching new heights, it feels great to uncover a killer Cabernet Blend at $35 that’s made by a winemaker who’s known for crafting multi-hundred dollar, high-scoring Cabs. Chester’s  Anvil combines the talents Steve Lagier and Carole Meredith, who both worked at Robert Mondavi, and Aaron Pott, who after making Quintessa, embarked on his own label Pott Wines, earning numerous scores in the high 90’s.. 
TITUS 
2013 MALBEC
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at:  $45.00/btl
 
 
There are a handful of California winemakers whom many would refer to as legendary or iconic, and whose triumphs and experience are so profound that their very name rings with excellence.  Philip Titus is etched permanently onto that list…  Revered for his work authoring Chappellet’s Pritchard Hill wines for nearly three decades, leaving countless World Class wines in his wake.