2016 Bodegas Manzanos Voche Rioja Reserva Rioja Spain

2016 Bodegas Manzanos Voche Rioja Reserva Rioja Spain

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRiojaSpainTempranillo

BODEGAS MANZANOS

VOCHE RIOJA RESERVA
RIOJA SPAIN 2016

2016 Bodegas Manzanos Voche Rioja Reserva Rioja Spain
Five generations of the Manzano family dedicated themselves to making wines at the highest level from their vineyards in the Spanish regions of Rioja and Navarra. 
Brothers Víctor and David Fernández de Manzano raised the Estate to the next level by modernizing it with precise state-of-the-art winemaking equipment, moving it closer to being among the region’s top producers.
 
The family’s Voché Reserva comes from three of their best vineyards: El Barranco, Los Molinos, and José Leon. El Barranco is the oldest Graciano vineyard in Rioja, planted in 1940, and contributes depth and complexity to the wine, while Los Molinos’s younger Graciano vines give freshness. José Leon Vineyard’s 25-year-old Tempranillo vines contribute power and structure, completing the wine, which elevated with two years in French oak and two more years in bottle, seamlessly integrating the classic Rioja flavors.
 
BODEGAS MANZANOS
VOCHE RIOJA RESERVA
RIOJA SPAIN 2016
 
Your Price: $23
 
 
“Violet-red to the eye, this wine has a bouquet of cassis, saddle leather and clove. It feels good in the mouth, offering flavors of blackberry, strawberry, chocolate-covered coffee bean and vanilla. Satin tannins dissolve into a soft rose-petal finish.”
93 Points
 
“Sweet oak, vanilla, cherry and bitter almond flavors converge in this muscular, balanced red. The oak still needs time to integrate, with ample fruit to offset it. The finish is long and compact. Tempranillo and Graciano. Best from 2024 through 2033. 700 cases made, 350 cases imported.”
93 Points
2016 Levy & Mcclellan Ampersand Red Blend Napa Valley

2016 Levy & Mcclellan Ampersand Red Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtProprietary RedUSA

LEVY & MCCLELLAN

AMPERSAND RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2016

2016 Levy & Mcclellan Ampersand Red Blend Napa Valley
Bob Levy began his winemaking career in the mid-1970s at Cuvaison, moving on in the early 1980s as winemaker and general manager at Rombauer before dedicating himself to several years at Merryvale, where he met his future business partner, Real Estate Developer Bill Harlan. Bob became Harlan Estate’s founding winemaker and Director of Winegrowing and embarked on an illustrious career as Director of Winegrowing for all of the Harlan Family Domain properties, including BOND ESTATES, Promontory, and The Napa Valley Reserve. He recently handed over those responsibilities to the next generation; however, he continues to oversee the Harlan family winegrowing teams and properties. Over time, Bob worked with over 100 unique hillside cabernet vineyard sites in Napa Valley during his career.
 
Levy & McClellan was founded in 1999 by Bob and his wife, Martha McClellan, capitalizing on Bob’s profound experiences in the vineyard to select a prime location to plant a vineyard with specific ideas not previously done. His philosophies included producing a wine that would share the structure of a hillside cabernet while preserving the terroir’s character and providing a pleasurable experience through the finish with soft tannins. Martha is also a talented winemaker, crafting the wines at Sloan Estate, Checkerboard Vineyards, and Vineyard 7 & 8. She and Bob created Ampersand to tell the vintage story; Their 2016 Proprietary Red is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon-based with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, giving a clear portrait of excellence. 
 
LEVY & MCCLELLAN
AMPERSAND RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2016
 
Your Price: $350
 
 
“The Levy & McClellan 2016 Ampersand has alluring aromas of lavender, violet, black currant, black plum, black olive, cedar, and dark chocolate. The palate is rich and densely concentrated with flavors of black cherry, blackberry, baking spices, and dried herbs, balanced with bright, refreshing acidity and seductively smooth tannins. This wine immediately grabs your attention and doesn’t easily let go with its infinitely long finish.”
98 Points
2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino

2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

PATRIZIA CENCIONI SOLARIA 

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO 2016

2016 Patrizia Cencioni Solaria Brunello Di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino was one of the first regions in Italy to receive DOCG status in 1966 and is one of the most sought-after Italian wines. Fifty years later, the Wine Spectator ranks Brunello’s 2016 vintage as one of the highest-rated vintages in the region’s history, earning an overall vintage rating of 99 Points and noting a “Textbook growing season resulting in wines of finesse and elegance, balance and harmony.”
 
Winemaker Patrizia Cencioni knows Montalcino’s best wines are born in the vineyard and developed in the cellar. Solaria Vineyard, planted in 1989, sits 300 meters above sea level on a natural plateau composed of coarse tuff and clay soils, contributing to the wine’s incredible depth. Patrizia ages this wine for 30 months in a cask to fully integrate the flavors, and now, after extended time in the bottle, the wine is singing brilliantly.
 
PATRIZIA CENCIONI SOLARIA 
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
MONTALCINO 2016
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino holds your attention with a gorgeous bouquet of lavender giving way to cherry, blackberries, earthy minerals and white smoke. This is dark in character and silky in feel with a savory, almost-salty display of polished black fruits and minerals. Brisk acids provide grip and lend a cheek-puckering tension. Fine tannins add to the 2016’s already-youthful poise, yet they don’t get in the way. A mix of sweet violet florals and lingering ripe fruit satiate the palate. I love the balance here. The 2016 almost tricks you into thinking that it doesn’t need time in the cellar to show its best. But don’t be fooled; this will only get better with time.”
93+ Points
2016 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Napa Valley

2016 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapa

SEQUUM

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
KIDD RANCH
NAPA VALLEY 2016

2016 Sequum Cabernet Sauvignon Kidd Ranch Napa Valley
Paul Skinner has a Ph.D. in viticulture and soil science and consulted super-premium grape growing for decades before he began producing his wine in 2003, which is now blended and bottled at Pride Mountain Vineyards. He named the wine after a scientific term describing soil layers, and it turned out to be the perfect name for his wines as he combined his love for science with his passion for wine.
 
Paul matches different rootstocks to subtle changes in the soil composition and walks his Kidd Ranch Vineyard morning and evening to assess each vine, ensuring they are in optimum health. Paul’s hands-on approach and viticultural expertise results in his wines brilliantly depicting their unique terroir. His 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a grand example, delivered in a pure, focused, and unforgettable style guaranteed to make you wish you had ordered more. 
 
SEQUUM
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
KIDD RANCH
NAPA VALLEY 2016
Retails at: $75
 
 
 
“The Sequum Kidd Ranch Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 begins with a complex nose that includes black cherry cola, sassafras, uncooked peppered steak, sweet violets, milk chocolate, Italian glove leather, and vanilla spice. The complexity continues on the palate with juicy black plums, wild blackberries, and kalamata olives, along with a savory quality that balances these characteristics. It is a beautiful wine with charisma and character that shines even brighter with every sip.”
94+ Points
2016 Spence Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2016 Spence Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

SPENCE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
HOWELL MOUNTAIN 2016

2016 Spence Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
Spence’s proprietors lived on Howell Mountain for years before restoring a neglected vineyard on their property, patiently learning the dynamic characteristics of their particular location. The vineyard is positioned near a canyon that benefits from consistent breezes, thickening the grape skins and contributing deep color and flavor intensity as the roots dig deep into the red volcanic soil.
 
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerfully expressive, beautifully balanced wine that represents Howell Mountain’s exceptional growing environment with grace and elegance. The noteworthy 2016 vintage is already a splendor in the glass and leaves a lasting impression as the nuances and flavors unfold in a long, supple finish.
 
SPENCE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
HOWELL MOUNTAIN 2016
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“The 2016 Spence Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a pronounced intensity of aromas such as violets, cassis, black tea, black cherry, cedar, and volcanic rock. On the palate, the wine exudes flavors of plum, blueberry compote, cocoa, and nutmeg in a perfect balance between fruit ripeness and refreshing acidity. The deep complexity of flavors contributes to a long, layered finish that is a sensory delight from start to finish. Don’t hesitate to open this bottle tonight, but patience will be rewarded for those who choose to cellar this precious wine.”
97 Points
2016 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville

2016 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville

with No Comment $30-$40CoombsvilleKevin VogtMerlotNapaUSA

FARELLA

ESTATE MERLOT
COOMBSVILLE 2016

2016 Farella Estate Merlot Coombsville
This beauty is one of those “trust me” wines, and if you do indeed trust me and try it, you’ll be thanking me too. Tom Farella developed an affinity for wine early on, and his ardor led him to pursue a degree in Enology from UC Davis. After graduating in 1983, he worked in Burgundy and Oregon before returning home to his father’s small Farella-Park Vineyards in the Napa Valley. Once back home, he began crafting distinct and memorable wines that helped put Coombsville on the map.
 
Farella’s hillside vineyard, planted in 1979 in what is now the Coombsville AVA, speaks through this 2016 Merlot, which has a Right Bank Bordeaux finesse with velvety tannins and a signature, rich Napa core. Notably, it’s been a couple of years since critics reviewed this wine, and it’s blossomed into something much more extraordinary in that time.
 
FARELLA
ESTATE MERLOT
COOMBSVILLE 2016
Retails at: $45
 
 
 
Tasted February 2020: “Fresh with lots of polished and chewy tannins that give the wine focus and texture. Berry, chocolate and spice character. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”
92 Points
 
Tasted October 2020: “Sporting a medium to deep garnet color, the 2016 Merlot charges out of the glass with notions of plum pudding, blueberry pie and fruitcake plus hints of tobacco leaf, bay leaves and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers evolving black fruit preserves flavors with loads of savory accents and a frame of rounded tannins, finishing earthy/savory.”
90 Points
2016 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

2016 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaSonoma MountainUSA

IMMORTAL ESTATE

SLOPE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
SONOMA COUNTY 2016

2016 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
Immortal Estate’s vineyards are among the steepest in California, terracing a 55-degree slope on Spring Mountain that receives ample sunshine with increased airflow and water drainage for the fruit’s greatest possible concentration of flavors. This 100pt capable estate was previously named Hidden Ridge, and, in 2019, Tusk Proprietor Tim Martin, Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, and Supermodel Kate Upton purchased it.
 
Two-time 100-point winemaker Tim Milos selects harvest dates by tasting grapes from each block and carefully sorts the fruit before fermentation, ensuring that only perfectly healthy grapes make it to fermentation. The 2016 vintage was glorious for Sonoma, and this mountain Cabernet Sauvignon was aged 28 months in 75% new French oak to help soften the tannins for smooth drinkability. It’s no surprise that Immortal Slope receives high scores from enthusiasts and critics with each release.
 
IMMORTAL ESTATE
SLOPE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
SONOMA COUNTY 2016
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“Starting with the 2016 Slope, this beauty is all Cabernet Sauvignon that saw 28 months in 75% new French oak. Dense purple-hued with a rocking bouquet of blackcurrants, sagebrush, sappy green herbs, lead pencil, and tobacco, it hits the palate with a mammoth-sized personality that carries lots of tannins, a plush, sexy texture, no hard edges, and a great finish.”
95 Points
2016 Shottesbrooke Estate Series Shiraz Mclaren Vale

2016 Shottesbrooke Estate Series Shiraz Mclaren Vale

with No Comment $30 and underAustraliaKevin VogtMcLaren ValeSyrahWestern Australia

SHOTTESBROOKE

ESTATE SERIES SHIRAZ
MCLAREN VALE 2016

2016 Shottesbrooke Estate Series Shiraz Mclaren Vale
Nick Holmes began his journey in the wine world in 1981 after he planted his first vineyard and established the Shottesbrooke winery. Today, Nick’s stepson Hamish Maguire is the vineyard manager and head winemaker whose business and science degrees, in addition to his international winemaking experience, have prepared him to continue his father’s legacy.
 
Shottesbrooke is a small boutique winery that is proud to produce wines with vineyard site-specific character from the unique terroir that is McLaren Vale. The Estate Series Shiraz comes from the best fruit from their estate vineyards, reflective of their Australian origin, and among the best the Mclaren Vale region can offer for less than $20.
 
SHOTTESBROOKE
ESTATE SERIES SHIRAZ
MCLAREN VALE 2016
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
“Black ruby color. Elegant aromas of nougat, ripe berry melange, pecan, milk chocolate, and damp earth with a velvety, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium-full body and a colossal, long praline, candied ginger, tamarind, dill, black pepper, and pimento finish with moderate oak flavor. A distinctive, elegant wine that offers a conversation piece and excellent meal companion.”
92 Points, Gold Medal “Exceptional” “Best Buy”
2016 Ceres Central Otago Pinot Noir Inlet Vineyard

2016 Ceres Central Otago Pinot Noir Inlet Vineyard

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNew ZealandPinot Noir

CERES

CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR
INLET VINEYARD 2016

2016 Ceres Central Otago Pinot Noir Inlet Vineyard
Ceres is the Roman Goddess of agriculture and rumored for saving humans from famine by teaching them to plant wheat, making her a principal figure in life, birth, and growth. Brothers James and Matt Dicey created this wine with Ceres in mind, combining eco-friendly farming and minimalistic techniques in the winery, resulting in remarkably balanced Pinot Noir that vividly depicts its origin.
 
Central Otago is the world’s most southerly region covering a wide range of complex soils, including schist, clay, loam, and sand, producing some of the New World’s most exciting Pinot Noirs. Pinots from this region are inspiring because they entertain the needs of Burgundy lovers while also tickling the interests of Russian River Valley enthusiasts with soft tannins, intense fruit density, and earthy complexity. Here’s a brilliant example of just how great they can be.
 
CERES
CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR
INLET VINEYARD 2016
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“Fragrant notions of redcurrant and thyme on the nose continue with a streamlined, channeled energy along the palate. Freshness and drive are the hallmarks. The pure nature of the fruit shines through with brightness and verve, unburdened by any new oak. Drinking Window 2020 – 2035.”
93 Points
2016 Chateau Labadie Medoc Bordeaux France

2016 Chateau Labadie Medoc Bordeaux France

with No Comment $30 and underBordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHÂTEAU LABADIE

2016 MEDOC
BORDEAUX, FRANCE

2016 Chateau Labadie Medoc Bordeaux France
Bordeaux’s original classification by Napoleon III in 1855 has remained nearly unchanged, representing just 61 chateaux and leaving many quality producers without deserved prestige and recognition. The Cru Bourgeois classification that Chateau Labadie attained was introduced to the Chamber of Commerce of Bordeaux and the regional Chamber of Agriculture in 1932, giving proper accolades to the quality coming from Chateaux left out of the original classification but fully deserving growers and vintners in their own right.
 
Bordeaux’s 2016 vintage was excellent, reminding critics of some of the region’s most famous vintages from the 1980s but with greater clarity and precision due to advances in the vineyards and wineries. Not only is this one of Bordeaux’s most note-worthy vintages in the last 40 years, but this wine comes from a producer whose primary concern isn’t about image but consistency of quality, which you’ll taste in this remarkable expression from the Medoc.
 
CHÂTEAU LABADIE
2016 MEDOC
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“This rich wine has powerful tannins as well as attractive black-currant fruits. It is both generous and well structured, coming from 20-year-old vines. Drink this dense wine that’s full of potential from 2023.”
91 Points, Editors’ Choice
 
“This has a bright, ripe and juicy edge of ripe red berries that deliver attractive, sweet fruit on the palate. Good depth and detail here. A blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Drink in the next six to eight years.”
90 Points