2017 Altagracia Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Altagracia Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaUSA

ALTAGRACIA

2017 EISELE VINEYARD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2017 Altagracia Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
The Eisele Vineyard dates back to the 1880s and is one of the New World’s great terroirs. The site was made famous by the Araujos in the 1990s through 2013 when Chateau Latour purchased it. Today, they farm the vineyard organically and biodynamically, and the new owners aim to make singular wines of the highest caliber. The wines invariably express remarkable depth, elegance, longevity, and balance. At around a quarter of their top Eisele Vineyard Cabernet’s price, Altagracia offers a beautiful introduction to this magical Estate.
 
At Eisele Vineyard, winemaking takes a back seat to terroir, allowing the vineyard to express its most clear voice. There is no signature style to their winemaking, yet their team is precise, uncompromising, natural, and honest in their approach, and all of this is highly transparent in their wines. 
 
The vineyard sits at the Eastern edge of Calistoga, at the Palisade Mountain Range base, where an ancient creekbed that bisects the Estate spread an alluvial fan of cobbly volcanic soils that make this site unique. The vines there produce small berries of thick-skinned, intensely flavored grapes. 
 
ALTAGRACIA
2017 EISELE VINEYARD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
 
Your Price: $135
 
 
“Blackberry and tile aromas with tobacco and spice. Some chocolate, too. Medium to full body and firm, velvety tannins that show a juicy finish. Fine yet dusty tannins. Rich for the vintage. Delicious now or hold.”
94 Points
 
“… Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia leaps from the glass, offering bold, expressive notes of blackberry pie, Black Forest cake and warm cassis with hints of garrigue, mossy tree bark, dusty soil and black pepper plus a fragrant waft of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a great core of rich, spicy black fruit preserves, framed with firm, chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing earthy.”
93 Points
 
“The 2017 Altagracia is closer to its brother the Eisele Vineyard Cabernet than ever. The nose is floral and delicate at first, opening with a whiff of laurel, musk and patchouli. The mouthfeel is generous and ample with spicy notes of cumin and turmeric. The tannins are fine and chiseled, revealed by a gentle hand on extraction in the cellar. Notes of mocha, espresso and graphite linger on the palate while the fruit breaks out in the finish with fresh fig and black currant, reminding us of the tiny berries that were the signature of the 2017 vintage.”
2017 Vin Perdu Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2017 Vin Perdu Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VIN PERDU

PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY 

2017 Vin Perdu Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Vin Perdu is blended to emphasize each premium vineyard component’s unique characteristics, maximize the potential of the vintage, and then articulate it with elegance. In 2017 the wine arose from La Sirena, Amuse Bouche, and Fantesca vineyards and was crafted by Heidi Barrett. Heidi is a world-class winemaker whose past and present clients include Amuse Bouche, Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, Grace Family, and many others. At under $100, this is, as Vinous writes, “an absolutely joyous wine.”
 
For the 2017 Blend, Heidi selected 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc from some of Napa Valley’s most premier sites. The wine highlights the vintage’s elegance, with stunning balance, enthralling complexity, and plush textures. 
 
Vin Perdu is the delicious result of a powerful partnership between Heidi Barrett and John Schwartz. In 2002 they created Amuse Bouche, a Pomerol-inspired Merlot that’s arguably the best in the Valley. With super-premium fruit from Amuse Bouche and several of Heidi’s other projects, Vin Perdu was born. 
 
VIN PERDU
PROPRIETARY RED
2017 NAPA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $95
 
 
“The 2017 Vin Perdu is racy and voluptuous, not to mention incredibly delicious. Succulent red cherry, rose petal, mocha, plum and spice are all given an extra kick of textural richness in the 2017, a wine that benefits from the addition of fruit that would have gone into some of the higher end wines in a more typical vintage. Plush, opulent and creamy, the 2017 is an absolutely joyous wine to enjoy over the next decade or so.” 
93 Points
 
“A pure and fruity red with lovely raspberries and dark chocolate. Medium to full body, round and fine tannins and flavorful finish. 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% cabernet franc. Drink now or hold.” 
93 Points
 
“The fruit for this was harvested on October 2nd and 3rd, just before the 2017 fires… Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of plum preserves, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with underlying hints of candied violets, forest floor, cigar box and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with black fruits and savory layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bright freshness, finishing long.”
92 Points
2017 Halcon Alturas Syrah Yorkville Highlands

2017 Halcon Alturas Syrah Yorkville Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNapaSyrahUSA

HALCON

2017 ALTURAS SYRAH
YORKVILLE HIGHLANDS 

2017 Halcon Alturas Syrah Yorkville Highlands
Halcon’s guiding principle is, “the best fruit makes the best wine,” and they planted their vineyard without the slightest compromise. At 2,500 feet, it’s one of the highest vineyards in California, and the densely planted vines grown in heavily metamorphosed sandstone, fractured shale, and quartz-rich rock produce brilliant quality fruit. The location, ocean influence, and altitude form a climate remarkably similar to Côte-Rôtie, and the wines are spectacular.
 
Halcon’s densely-planted, organically-farmed vineyard contains heritage selections from Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. Their Syrah’s style is reminiscent of Côte-Rôtie and was co-fermented with Viognier, which adds lift and a beautiful focus to the dense core of fruit. 
 
For added depth and structure, Scott Sharpley, whom you might recognize as the winemaker at ROAR, utilized 50% whole-cluster fermentation in the winemaking process and kept the wine in mostly neutral oak barrels. If you’ve been waiting for the next rising wave in California Syrah, it’s here, and you too will be a believer the moment you try it.
 
HALCON
2017 ALTURAS SYRAH
YORKVILLE HIGHLANDS
Retails at: $32
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
“The 2017 Alturas is another stellar wine in this range. Rich and deep in feel, the 2017 has a bit more body than is typical for the Halcón wines, and yet it retains all of the signatures of the house style. Firm tannins wrap around a core of red fruit, licorice, wild flowers, herbs and rose petal. The 2017 is pretty alluring today, but it will be even better in another few years’ time, once all the elements have come together a bit more fully.” 
94 Points
2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands

2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

BLACK KITE

2017 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
Black Kite Cellars produces highly-textured, expressive Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from exceptional coastal vineyards. For them, wine is a journey that combines high aspirations with a long term commitment, patience, and fortitude. Their journey began in 2003 with the inaugural vintage and led them to Jeff Gaffner, who became their winemaker in 2005. In 2010, it steered them to the Soberanes Vineyard, now producing this extraordinary Pinot Noir. 
 
The wine team forged this remarkable wine from three rows of vines out of the Soberanes Vineyard, planted to the Pisoni Clone. The vineyard is synonymous with excellence and is the latest site developed by the Pisoni’s & Franscioni’s, whose families have been farming the area for over 100 years. 
 
Winemaker Jeff Gaffner gained fame helping make the renowned 1996 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cépages, which became the Wine Spectator’s #1 wine of the year. Jeff fermented this Pinot with Burgundian yeast and performed punch-downs three times daily, contributing to the remarkable textures and flavor extraction of this very special Pinot.
 
BLACK KITE
2017 PINOT NOIR
SOBERANES VINEYARD
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
 
Your Price: $45
 
“Dark aromas of roasted plum, loamy earth, crushed rocks and a hint of shiitake mushroom show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is loaded with earthy flavors of rock and mushroom, set against a backdrop of boysenberry and wild herbs.”
92 Points
 
“Shimmering magenta. Deep-pitched red and blue fruit aromas pick up hints of vanilla and exotic spices with air. Fleshy and subtly chewy on the palate, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become livelier through the midpalate. Closes long and spicy, with a repeating vanilla note and steadily building tannins…”
92 Points
 
“Our 2017 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir is a deeply expressive wine that opens with beguiling bottle brush and sweet tea aromas that give way to a complex core of black fruit, cassis and clove. The rich, round mouthfeel is met with just enough tannic traction to sustain the compelling fruit intensity throughout the long finish. Enjoy upon release or cellar for up to 4-6 years.”
199 Cases Produced
2017 Ty Caton Estate Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

2017 Ty Caton Estate Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMoon MountainMt VeederSonomaUSA

TY CATON

2017 ESTATE KNOLL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

2017 Ty Caton Estate Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District
Ty Caton created his Cabernet Collection to highlight the very best blocks within his Estate Vineyard on Moon Mountain. Ty’s Estate Knoll Cabernet is from a tiny half-acre block, which took over 80 jackhammer bits to plant the 559 vines. The resulting wine has penetrating dark fruits, remarkable depth, and character, and at 40% below retail, I recommend you grab some while you can.
 
Ty’s Vineyard is on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder, where the well-drained red volcanic soils are also home to icons like the Monte Rosso, which was made famous by Louis Martini, and Frederick’s Vineyard used by Turley. 
 
Moon Mountain AVA Cabernets can combine the robust, hedonistic qualities found on Mount Veeder with the elegance and savory characteristics common on Spring Mountain. Ty’s 70 case production Estate Knoll Cabernet is a stunning example of just how great they can be, and at just $36/btl, you’ll savor every drop.
 
TY CATON
2017 ESTATE KNOLL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $60
 
 
“The Caton Estate “Knoll” Moon Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 seduces you with a nose including red currants, cherry cola, spearmint, light florals, and Christmas spices. The concentrated palate is captivating with beautiful red and black cherries, sweet & tart black plums, dried mushrooms, and vanilla hints. The finish is balanced, with integrated flavors and slightly dusty tannins. It drinks beautifully now and will improve for another decade or so.”
94 Points
2017 Frederic Magnien Red Burgundy Bourgogne Graviers

2017 Frederic Magnien Red Burgundy Bourgogne Graviers

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyFranceKevin VogtPinot Noir

FREDERIC MAGNIEN

2017 RED BURGUNDY 
BOURGOGNE GRAVIERS

2017 Frederic Magnien Red Burgundy Bourgogne Graviers
In Burgundy, expressing a vineyard’s terroir and the concept that the land the grapes are grown in bestows qualities unique to that site, hold true. Winemaker Frédéric Magnien’s mantra is to bring out the purest translation of Burgundy terroirs. He differentiates himself from other négociants by working closely with partner growers throughout the year and selecting only organically farmed, older-vine parcels cared for to his exacting standards. His Red Burgundy from Graviers offers remarkable insight into this excellent site, and at $33 it’s as Wine & Spirits writes, a “Crazy-good Bourgogne rouge”.
 
Graviers Vineyard is located in the sub-region of Chambolle-Musigny and is planted over soils rich in clay and gravel. The vines average 40 years in age, and the deep root systems help provide a vivid interpretation of the earth beneath and overall individualistic terroir.
 
Frédéric Magnien is a fifth-generation winemaker from Morey-Saint-Denis, who learned his craft from his father Michel Magnien of Domaine Michel Magnien. He furthered his knowledge by coming to California and working with Josh Jensen at Calera Vineyards before traveling to Australia and making his way back to Burgundy to follow his dream of producing wine under his name. 
 
FREDERIC MAGNIEN
2017 RED BURGUNDY 
BOURGOGNE GRAVIERS
 
Your Price: $33
 
“This fruit comes from a single parcel east of the RN74 in Chambolle-Musigny, where Magnien works with a grower farming 40-year-old vines in clay soils over gravel. He destems the grapes, allows a spontaneous fermentation while controlling the temperature, then ages the wine in older barrels, presenting the kind of depth and richness that could stand in for a Villages wine. The flavors are bold and ripe, almost chunky in their cherry intensity, with tart raspberry and apple-like acidity to brighten the finish. Crazy-good Bourgogne rouge.”
91 Points
2017 Court Rollan Pater Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Totihue

2017 Court Rollan Pater Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Totihue

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonChileKevin Vogt

COURT ROLLAN

PATER CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 ALTO TOTIHUE

2017 Court Rollan Pater Cabernet Sauvignon Alto Totihue
Court Rollan’s roots are deep in Chile’s Cachapoal Valley, but Bordeaux heavily influences their wines. The winery is a partnership between the Court family and historic Bordeaux producer Chateau Larose Trintaudon. Together they produce the brand Court Rollan, and their wine Pater, which is Latin for father, is a pillar of their portfolio and is crafted to showcase the region’s incredible power and strength. Their 2017 vintage is a stunning example of a winery harnessing Chilean fruit’s power and delivering it with balance and elegance. 
 
Pater comes from the high elevation region of Alto Totihue in the Cachapoal Valley, where the alluvial soils and Mediterranean climate create a micro-terroir that produces wine with intense color, bright acidity, and restrained tannins. 
 
The 2017 Pater is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and spent 18 months in barrels. The wine offers a remarkable balance between power and elegance, and at $33, it delivers immense value and enjoyment.
 
COURT ROLLAN
PATER CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2017 ALTO TOTIHUE
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $33
 
“This small-production Cabernet is muscular on the nose, with dusty, spicy berry aromas. A full yet fresh palate is balanced and healthy, while this tastes of spicy currant and plum. A smooth finish with silky tannins isn’t overly demanding, indicating that this is more or less ready to drink; enjoy through 2025.”
93 Points
 
“Blackberry, sandalwood and light tile aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Tangy acidity to the juicy fruit. Drink or hold.”
91 Points
2017 Peter Franus Chardonnay Napa Valley

2017 Peter Franus Chardonnay Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

PETER FRANUS

2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY

2017 Peter Franus Chardonnay Napa Valley
Wine is a sensual experience for Peter Franus, and he crafts his with this guiding principle. Richness, complexity, harmony, and balance are all key elements that shape his wines, along with a strong sense of place. Robert Parker wrote, “A long-time veteran of the Napa Valley wine scene, Peter Franus continues to make a bevy of intelligent, elegant wines.” His Chardonnay is classy, clean, and well-balanced, and it also happens to be a remarkable value.
 
Peter sources his Chardonnay from the Stewart Vineyard in Carneros, where the clonal selection, soils, and microclimate combine to make it a unique property, perfect for producing high-quality Chardonnay with a distinctive identity. 
 
At the winery, grapes are whole-cluster pressed and barrel fermented and inoculated with a yeast strain chosen for its ability to ferment slowly and not generate much heat, which he believes is critical in preserving aromatics and adding complexity. The results speak for themselves, and at our price, the value is abundant… 
 
PETER FRANUS
2017 CHARDONNAY
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $38
 
 
“Some dried apples and lime zest here with a touch of vanilla and herbs. Flint, too. Full-bodied with fresh acidity and lively fruit character, as well as a phenolic finish. Hint of stone. Drink now.”
91 Points
 
“Floral and youthful in lively acidity, this is a nicely made, balanced and moderately weighty white. Stone, mineral and a thread of apple skin provide a measured level of fruity fleshy flavor that holds onto some nuance and complexity.”
90 Points
 
“A tantalizing hint of gold announces this is Chardonnay. Consistent with its predecessors, our 2017 offers intriguing and complex aromas of caramelized apple, vanilla, hazelnut, and orange blossom. The background of toasty sweet oak lifts the nose offering additional structure to the wine. Appropriate acidity awakens the palate and keeps the wine refreshing. The hallmark of excellent wine? It keeps drawing you back for more.”
2017 Chateau Moulin De La Grangere Bordeaux Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

2017 Chateau Moulin De La Grangere Bordeaux Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin VogtSaint Emilion

CHÂTEAU MOULIN DE LA GRANGERE

2017 BORDEAUX  
SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU 

2017 Chateau Moulin De La Grangere Bordeaux Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
On paper, Château Moulin de la Grangère has everything you would want from a great Bordeaux. Their location is next to Château Pavie, one of Saint-Émilion’s most revered wineries that earns regular 100 point scores. Next, their consulting winemaker is Michel Rolland, whom many would argue is the world’s top winemaker. Their 2017 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru follows through with penetrating fruit, beautifully integrated tannins, and perfectly balanced acidity on the palate. At $33, the only thing this wine doesn’t have is a high price to match its tangible pedigree.
 
Château Moulin de la Grangère sits at the foot of the finest slopes of Saint-Émilion, where they planted their certified organic vines in clay-limestone soils. The winery excelled in 2017, and it was a vintage the Wine Spectator described as follows… “Cloudy July kept wines on the fresh, pure side, with good acidity and modest tannins. St.-Emilion atop the limestone plateau is excellent.” 
 
This wine is often 100% Merlot, but in 2017, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon increased structure in the final blend. Before fermentation, the wine team used vibrating tables to meticulously sort the most pristine berries, which shows in this stunning Grand Cru. 
 
CHÂTEAU MOULIN DE LA GRANGERE
2017 BORDEAUX  
SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU
 
Your Price: $33
 
“The Château Moulin de la Grangère 2017 is a beautifully elegant Bordeaux, beginning with a nose of red currants, pomegranates, crushed granite, freshly turned earth, and light florals. There is an intriguing tension between red currants, mountain blackberries, crushed minerals, and cool blue fruits on the palate. It is elegant and focused with a seamless, supple mouthfeel and a long finish. Drink now through 2028.”
93 Points
2017 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Sea Slopes

2017 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Sea Slopes

with No Comment $30 and underFort Ross SeaviewKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

FORT ROSS

2017 PINOT NOIR
SEA SLOPES 

2017 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Sea Slopes
Fort Ross was one of the first to plant Pinot Noir on the extreme Sonoma Coast’s rugged ridges, overlooking the Pacific. After purchasing the land in 1988, the Schwartz family spent years experimenting with various clones, rootstocks, and trellising systems, before selecting a set of heritage clones that they believed would best reveal the terroir of their majestic vineyard. Their 2017 Sea Slopes is the delicious result of the culmination of their continual drive to make the best wines from their Estate, and at $30, the value is real.
 
Sea Slopes comes exclusively from the winery’s Estate Vineyard located in the Fort Ross Seaview AVA, a source for Peter Michael, Marcassin, Martinelli, Flowers, and Pahlmeyer, to list a few.
 
In 2009 renowned winemaker Jeff Pisoni came aboard to articulate the best attributes of the Estate further. Jeff barrel ages this wine for ten months in mostly neutral barrels to integrate the natural acidity, rich flavors, and soft tannins into a beautiful, perfumed Pinot Noir.
 
 
FORT ROSS
2017 PINOT NOIR
SEA SLOPES
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
“This red offers outstanding value for the quality: a balanced, textured and varietally satisfying expression of coastal coolness and acidity. Earthy flavors of tea, cola, black licorice and dried herb provide an exoticism amidst elegant layers of orange peel and cranberry.”
92 Points, Editors’ Choice
 
“Aromas of wild red flowers and red cherries, as well as raspberries here. The palate has a gently creamy texture with fine, supple and even-paced tannins, carrying vibrant, fresh-fruit flavors. Drink now. Screw cap.”
91 Points