2018 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley

2018 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

LIMERICK LANE

2018 ZINFANDEL
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2018 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Russian River Valley

 
When a winery employs the right combination of talent and drive, the sky is the limit… Limerick Lane is owned by fourth-generation winemaker Jake Bilbro who grew up at his father’s Marietta Cellars, where he spent 16 years running the winery with his dad. The wines are made by Chris Pittenger, who gained first-hand experience working at iconic wineries Biale, Torbreck, Marcassin, and Williams-Selyem. The delicious result is in each bottle of this impressive 95 Point Russian River Zinfandel.
 
Limerick Lane’s Russian River Zinfandel at the core is a field blend, which includes ancient Zinfandel vines interplanted with other rare varieties like Pelousin and Negrette. The fruit is co-fermented and offers unparalleled power, depth, and stunning definition.  
 
The 2018 was built around a base of Estate fruit and includes grapes from Sodini, which Bedrock and Carlisle fans might recognize. The vintage also perfectly balances fruit from Webber, Katz-Ponzo & Banfield Vineyards. The result is a brilliant wine that Zinfandel fans will be rejoicing over for years to come.
 
LIMERICK LANE
2018 ZINFANDEL
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $39.99
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“The 2018 Zinfandel Russian River Estate shows the quality of the vintage beautifully. Classic black and blue fruits, violets, peppery herbs, and spiced orange zest notes all emerge from the glass, and this puppy hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, no hard edges, a seamless texture, and just everything in the right places. Flawlessly balanced and already a joy to drink, it’s going to keep for 10-12 years in cold cellars.” 95 Points
2018 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

2018 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

RAEN

2018 PINOT NOIR 
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST

2018 Raen Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert Cuvee Sonoma Coast

After tasting Carlo & Dante Mondavi’s new Pinot, it became abundantly clear that their family’s intense passion for the wine industry and talent for identifying vineyards capable of producing world-class wine passed to them. After all, they grew up at their grandfather’s OPUS ONE Winery, and honed their skills further at their father’s cult brand Continuum, before going out on their own. The 96 Point 2018 Raen Pinot Noir is the result of the culmination of their upbringing, cultivated by their father and grandfather. 
 
Raen’s 2018 Royal St Robert Cuvee combines fruit from Freestone, Occidental, Bodega, and Fort Ross Seaview Sea Field Vineyards. It is a barrel selection that they handpicked from their finest barrels, to create a textbook cool-climate Pinot with brilliant definition, balance and fruit. 
 
At the winery, they utilized 100% whole cluster fermentation for added structure and depth, and on the palate, the wine is detailed, focused, and loaded with intense red fruits, minerals, and floral-infused herbs. At $60, you should try it.
 
RAEN
2018 PINOT NOIR 
ROYAL ST. ROBERT CUVEE
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $59.99
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“Intense aromas of dried strawberry with stone and mineral undertones. Medium to full body with tight, firm tannins and beautiful length and depth. This needs three or four years to come together”  96 Points
2018 Mica Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Mica Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleOakvilleSt HelenaSt. HelenaUSAYountville

MICA 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 NAPA VALLEY 

2018 Mica Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

 
When we can access it, Buccella is a pillar on our reserve list in the shop, and MICA is the second wine from Buccella. However, in 2018 the quality of fruit was so stupendous that referring to MICA as a second wine, doesn’t seem to fit… The 2018 vintage shows more like a first wine from a top Estate, with deep, penetrating fruit, sharply defined details, and stunning balance. At around 1/2 the price of Buccella, this wine mimics a much pricier wine.   
 
Buccella and Mica are made by Landon Donley, who gained experience interning for Australian powerhouse Mollydooker before joining Spottswoode Estate as the assistant winemaker. At Spottswoode, he learned to craft wines worthy of 100 Point scores, and everything he absorbed there is transparent in a glass of 2018 Mica. 
 
The 2018 Mica stitches together fruit from Oakville, Yountville, St Helena, and Coombsville in a way that embellishes the best qualities from each iconic AVA, without losing sight of balance. The wine checks in at 90% Cabernet, balanced with Merlot and Malbec, and with just over 500 cases produced, I wouldn’t hesitate to secure yours…
 
MICA 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
2018 NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $120
 
Your Price: $115
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“The 2018 Mica Cabernet Sauvignon from Buccella is a masterpiece. It begins with a deep nose of blueberry cobbler, English rose petals, sweet vanilla and iron. The palate explodes with a mixed basket of fresh red, black and blue berries, beautifully balanced by toasty oak. The finish is long, concentrated, penetrating and makes your mouth water, leaving it begging for the next sip. Drink now to 2032.” 95 Points
2018 Barrique Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2018 Barrique Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BARRIQUE 

2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

2018 Barrique Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Producing quality Pinot Noir begins in the vineyard with the right clonal selection, terroir, and perfectly ripened fruit. Then, it moves to the winery, where gentle and skilled winemaking techniques complete the job. It doesn’t always take much money to get the result you want. If you have relationships with the right growers and have the right skills, you can make a stunning wine that doesn’t cost a fortune. Barrique’s 2018 Sonoma Coast Pinot is the perfect example, and at our price, I bet you’ll wish you had ordered more when you try it…  
 
Barrique’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir encompasses cool-climate vineyards in the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, and Carneros AVAs. The blend also includes fruit from the Roses Estate Vineyard on Olivet Road, which is near icons like Martinelli. 
 
Once harvested, the fruit was gently transferred by gravity to open-top fermenters, where it was fermented with 33% whole clusters for added depth and structure. The resulting wine is balances brightly focused and intriguing fruit, with velvety, yet firm tannins and lovely acidity.  
 
BARRIQUE 
2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $23
 
Your Price: $19
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“The 2018 Barrique Pinot Noir is deep red in the glass, the nose is full of ripe huckleberry, cedar and vanilla spice. The texture is plush with a broad mouthfeel. Flavors of blackberry compote, fig jam and caramelized sugar round out a long finish.”
2018 Aimsfield Sauvignon Blanc Central Otago New Zealand

2018 Amisfield Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNew ZealandSauvignon Blanc

AMISFIELD 

2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC
CENTRAL OTAGO | NEW ZEALAND 

2018 Aimsfield Sauvignon Blanc Central Otago New Zealand

Many countries have a signature grape varietal that separates them from the rest, and in New Zealand, that varietal is Sauvignon Blanc. It’s the Country’s most widely planted grape and accounts for around 70% of its total production. Wine lovers revere it for its bracing acidity, vibrant grapefruit, and herbaceous/floral aromas. The very name means “Wild White,” which perfectly coincides with the immense power of this noble variety. 
 
Amisfield is a brilliant example of classic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, with racy acidity, pink grapefruit, fresh lime, and herbaceous characteristics. Winery founder John Darby chose to plant his vineyard in Central Otago, after an exhaustive search for the best cool-climate terroir in New Zealand. 
 
The wine team harvested the fruit at the pinnacle of perfection to capture fully developed flavors and aromas. Each parcel was fermented separately, at cool temperatures, and in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness. If you’re looking for a vibrant and compelling white to have on your table this summer, this is it.
 
AMISFIELD 
2018 SAUVIGNON BLANC
CENTRAL OTAGO | NEW ZEALAND
Retails at: $25
 
Your Price:  $22
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“Dry, bright, fresh and appealing sauvignon blanc with grapefruit, pineapple, chalky mineral and lime blossom flavours. An accessible wine with attractive purity and an ethereal texture… Drink 2019 – 2022”  93 Points
 
 
 
“This has ample lemon and grassy elements that deliver a very fleshy impression on the palate with bold, lime and lemon notes, as well as apples. Drink now. Screw cap.”  90 Points
2018 Loring Wine Company Spanish Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir

2018 Loring Wine Company Spanish Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir

with No Comment $30-$40Central CoastKevin VogtPinot NoirUSA

LORING

2018 PINOT NOIR
SPANISH SPRINGS VINEYARD
ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY

2018 Loring Wine Company Spanish Springs Vineyard Pinot NoirWhen a passionate winemaker immerses into a single varietal like Pinot Noir, then crafts around a dozen individual wines, it can be challenging to choose just one. Brian Loring’s Pinots are always captivating, expressive, and will make you fall in love with the wine and its origin. We tasted through a half-dozen of his 2018 single vineyard releases, and they were all great, but the Spanish Springs Vineyard was everything that I look for in Pinot, and it was a real highlight during our tasting.

The Spanish Springs Vineyard drew Brian in for its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, and not only is it the closest in all of San Luis Obispo County, but it’s also the closest in the entire Golden State. 
 
The vines are grown in a complex mix of sandstone, shale, and limestone at the base, and the grapes themselves perfectly reflect the earth beneath, as well as the powerful maritime influences that make this site so unique. 
 
LORING
2018 PINOT NOIR
SPANISH SPRINGS VINEYARD
ARROYO GRANDE VALLEY
Retails at: $54
 
 
“Sour red-plum and dewy sagebrush aromas show on the nose of this single-vineyard expression. The palate is more ripe with wild berry and cranberry flavors, cut by orange-rind and bay leaf touches.”  90 Points
2018 Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay

2018 Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay

with No Comment $30-$40CarnerosChardonnayKevin VogtNapaUSA

GRAND NAPA

2018 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS

2018 Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay

Grand Napa Winery in Rutherford has an eye for locating vineyards that are capable of producing expressive, profound and varietally sound wines. Those of you that have tasted their Reds under their Grand Napa, Heir Apparent or Calculated Risk brands already know what a stunning value they offer. What you may not know is that they also produce a small amount of Chardonnay, and with 129 cases of their Los Carneros bottling, it’s no surprise. We’ve kept a close eye on their Chards over the years, and the moment we tasted this one, we felt like we had struck gold, due to its overwhelming quality and value.
 
Grand Napa’s 2018 Los Carneros Chardonnay is made in a pure and textured style that offers rich and inviting white fruits, impeccable weight and stunning natural acidity, that’s both refreshing and perfectly balances the wine’s subtle yet intriguing opulence.  
 
Carneros Chardonnays offer big fruit, and plenty of structure. It’s the 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, with temperatures cool enough to maintain acidity and structure.
 
GRAND NAPA
2018 CHARDONNAY
LOS CARNEROS
Retails at: $59.99
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
 
“The Grand Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay 2018 is beautifully balanced with perfect combination of sweet fruits and rich texture.  It begins on the palate with succulent honey dipped peaches, ripe apricots, lemon curd and highlighted with spring floral characteristics.  It has a beautiful richness on the palate with just enough acidity to give it a shimmering mouthfeel. This is the best Grand Napa Chardonnay that I’ve tasted.  Very well done.” 93 Points
2018 Arrived Proprietary White Paso Robles

2018 Arrived Paso Robles Proprietary White

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary WhiteReviewUSAWillow Creek

ARRIVED

PROPRIETARY WHITE
2018 PASO ROBLES 

2018 Arrived Proprietary White Paso Robles

One of the rarest wine types in France is White Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the two primary grapes used in it are Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche. There are only around 175 acres of Clairette Blanche planted in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and in California, it’s almost non-existent. Arrived is a blend of both grapes, and arose from the Paper Street Vineyard, which is owned and farmed by the iconic Dusi Family. This wine is guaranteed to give you one of those where have you been all my life epiphanies the moment you try it.

Arrived Proprietary White is a near 50/50 blend of Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche that was fermented in stainless steel tank and spent just nine months in neutral barrels. On the palate, the wine offers a kaleidoscope of poached pear, tropical banana, lime peel, honeysuckle, and stony minerals. 

The wine arose from chalky, limestone-rich white soils that produce vibrant wines with remarkable clarity, detail, depth, and balance. The vineyard is in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles and is a site carefully chosen by one of the areas most distinguished farming families. With a total production of 100 cases, don’t hesitate to secure yours.

 

ARRIVED
PROPRIETARY WHITE
2018 PASO ROBLES
Retails at: $36

Your Price: $25
 
 

“Gravenstein apple, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemon zest, asian pear, and a core of minerality that continues to develop in the glass. Lifted, concentrated, showing a bright purity of fruit. Succulent. Balanced. Refreshing. 100 Cases Produced” 
52% Grenache Blanc | 48% Clairette Blanche

2018 Venge Scout's Honor Proprietary Red

2018 Venge Scout’s Honor Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

VENGE

2018 SCOUT’S HONOR
PROPRIETARY RED2018 Venge Scout's Honor Proprietary Red

Venge’s Scout’s Honor is anything but your average Zinfandel blend. Kirk Venge mastered the art of enhancing the blend with Charbono and Petite Sirah to create a concentrated, extracted red that balances the jammy characteristics from the Zinfandel. It’s that delicious combination that inspired more poetic comments than any other blend that I’ve offered, and here’s a chance to try their 2018, which is classic to their hallmark style. 

Created using a state-of-the-art, 100% gravity-flow method, the 2018 Scout’s Honor is concocted from at 63% Zinfandel, 16% Charbono, 12% Petite Sirah and 9% Sirah. The wine was created from old-vines and was made in a deep, rich, extracted style and offers oodles of blueberry cobbler, crushed herbs, and spices. 

This iconic blend was authored by Kirk Venge, who was named “One of the Top 20 New Winemakers in the World” by Food & Wine Magazine. Kirk also makes the high-scoring Janzen and Bacio Divino wines, as well as several other cult brands.

VENGE
2018 SCOUT’S HONOR
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $39

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Wine Country Connection Reveiw

“The 2018 Scout’s Honor has a deep nose of blueberry cobbler, roasted coffee beans, dried violets and hints of vanilla. On the pallet the wine has a dense core of black cherry fruit, intense blueberry, blue herbs, black pepper, strawberry and hints of cherry pipe tobacco. The wine is absolutely delicious, so-much-so that my glass was emptied before I could finish my tasting notes, so I had to go back for a second.” 

2018 Darms Lane Oak Knoll District Chardonnay

2018 Darms Lane Oak Knoll District Chardonnay

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

DARMS LANE

2018 CHARDONNAY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT
2018 Darms Lane Oak Knoll District Chardonnay

 

Most Chardonnay fans have a preferred style of either rich, buttery and opulent, or clean, crisp and minerally. For my palate, the most important characteristic, regardless of style is balance, and Darms Lane’s 2018 Chardonnay has it from first sip to the last drop. When you read about the winemaker and the vineyard, the quality won’t come as a surprise, but one thing that will surprise you is the unbelievable value at this price.

Darms Lane’s winemaker Brian Mox is well-versed in crafting premium Napa Valley Chardonnay. He spent several vintages as winemaker at Lewis Cellars, and he’s the current winemaker at Laird Family Estate, and both wineries are recognized for exceptional Chardonnay. 

The 2018 combines fruit from the winery’s Bon Passe Estate Vineyard, as well as neighboring Trefethen. The area is know for its complex soils and micro-climate that’s one of the coolest in Napa Valley, enabling the fruit to develop concentrated flavors at ripe sugar levels with refreshing, balanced acidity. 

DARMS LANE
2018 CHARDONNAY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT

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“Refreshing and vibrant, our 2018 Chardonnay offers aromas of pear, brioche, vanilla, honeysuckle, toasted oak, and hints of lemon curd. The beautifully balanced pallet exhibits flavors of pear, apple, vanilla, and fresh hints of Meyer lemon and tart orange as well as a touch of white peach. The wine has medium body with a subtle richness leading to crisper, clean citrus and stone fruits through the mid pallet and a lively fresh finish. Enjoy!”