2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

CALCULATED RISK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 OAKVILLE

2018 Calculated Risk Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Dedicated to crafting wines that express their true sense of the land, natural varietal character, and balance, Calculated Risk’s Oakville Cabernet is a foremost example of the winery’s driving force. Oakville’s notorious complexity is powerfully bestowed and incarnated with robust intensity, keen focus, and lasting balance. Priced in line with many Oakville neighbors at $120, at $46, it doesn’t take a calculus degree to sum up this deal. 
 
Winemaker Dwight Bonewell married two Oakville Vineyards, Money Road, near Oakville’s center, and a State Lane property bordering Yountville AVA. The wine presents a broad interpretation of Oakville terroir, delivered with balance and polished in an easy-drinking style.
 
Striking balance between bold and supple flavors, the final blend includes a small amount of Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, from the incredible 2018 vintage, which was virtually uninterrupted by significant heat spikes, enabling the grapes to mature and accumulate intense flavor and complexity.
 
CALCULATED RISK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
2018 OAKVILLE
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“Plenty of ripe berries and cherries here with some chocolate and hazelnut undertones. It’s full-to medium-bodied with round tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows richness with balance. Drinkable now, but better in 2022.”
93 Points
2018 Alexana Pinot Noir Terroir Series Willamette Valley

2018 Alexana Pinot Noir Terroir Series Willamette Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtOregonPinot NoirUSAWillamette Valley

ALEXANA

2018 PINOT NOIR
TERROIR SERIES
WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2018 Alexana Pinot Noir Terroir Series Willamette Valley
Alexana Terroir Series Pinot Noir is strategically complex and thoughtfully constructed to showcase Willamette Valley’s varied soils & micro-climates. The winery’s motto is that diverse soils create complex wines, and their Terroir Series Pinot Noir exemplifies this. It’s made from five of Willamette Valley’s top AVAs and showcases a broad range of soils, clones, exposures, and climates. The wine is perennially high-scoring, and at less than $40, it’s also a terrific value. 
 
Alexana winemaker Bryan Weil gained invaluable experience while working at one of Oregon’s highest quality producers, Domaine Serene. His Pinot Noirs are deeply expressive, sensual, and rich in complexity. 
 
The Estate farms their Vineyards Biodynamically, resulting in a pure and natural fruit expression, complemented with just ten months in barrel. The final blend encompasses eleven different clones of Pinot Noir, which shows in the vast complexity and delicately layered nuances.
 
ALEXANA
2018 PINOT NOIR
TERROIR SERIES
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“Elegantly structured, the 2018 Alexana Terroir Series Pinot Noir begins with a concentrated nose consisting of fresh cherries, wood spice, wild mushrooms, and rose petals. It has a penetrating palate with fresh red berries, cherry cola, fine-grained fruit tannins, dried tea leaves, and a hint of toasty oak. It is beautifully balanced and ready to drink now but has enough tannin structure to age a decade or so.”
93 Points
2018 Arietta Quartet Proprietary Red

2018 Arietta Quartet Proprietary Red

with No Comment $60-$70CarnerosCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUncategorizedUSA

ARIETTA 

2018 QUARTET 
PROPRIETARY RED
 
2018 Arietta Quartet Proprietary Red
Arietta’s specialty is harmoniously balanced Bordeaux-style blends created from top vineyards in Napa Valley. They gain inspiration for their wine from music and believe that great wines should sing with balance, vibrancy, and depth. They’re able to achieve this with the proper instruments (super-premium grapes) and the help of gifted composer/winemaker Andy Erickson. Andy made Screaming Eagle from 2005 through 2010, and he also makes Mayacamas, which in the last two consecutive vintages ranked #2 and #4 on Wine Spectator Top 100. At 95 points and under $100, don’t miss Arietta’s 2018 Quartet.   
 
Cabernet Sauvignon takes center stage in the 2018 Quartet, followed by Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petite Verdot. They finely tuned this wine for 20 months in oak, and it makes a grand entrance from one of Napa Valley’s most exceptional vintages. 
 
The winery sources fruit from Meteor and Two Belles Farms in Coombsville, and in Carneros, they call on Lee Hudson’s renowned vineyard. If you’re looking for a stunningly complex and deeply hedonistic blend to add to your cellar, this one is singing.
 
ARIETTA 
2018 QUARTET 
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $75
 
Your Price: $69.99
 
 
“This blends 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot into a cohesive whole of complex structure and grace. Cedar, pencil shavings, iron and crushed rock provide a savory foundation complemented by lush richness in the form of dense blueberry, dark chocolate and nutmeg…”
95 Points
2018 Jon Nathaniel Bodacious Proprietary Red

2018 Jon Nathaniel Bodacious Proprietary Red

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

JON NATHANIEL

2018 BODACIOUS
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Jon Nathaniel Bodacious Proprietary Red
Veteran winemakers John and Nat Komes established Jon Nathaniel winery to recapture their creative freedom. They hand-craft each wine with the highest standards of excellence and meticulously select fruit from small parcels that they’ve farmed for decades. John founded Flora Springs winery in the late 70s and helped pioneer barrel fermentation, lees stirring, the use of French and American oak barrels, and proprietary blends in Napa Valley. Nat previously oversaw operations at Flora Springs for nearly 20 years, and together they craft this incredible, high-scoring blend. 
 
This wine gets its name from the iconic rodeo bull, Bodacious, known as The World’s Most Dangerous Bull. The wine Bodacious presents in a larger-than-life, expressive style that captures the winemaker’s creativity and vision for crafting a wine that tells a powerful tale of the vintage and the care that went into it. 
 
They cellared the 2018 release for around 20 months in barrel, and now, right out of the bottle, it’s supple, rich, and inviting. Winemakers Nat and Jon created the 2018 Bodacious by artfully blending Malbec and Petite Verdot, and the sheer quality of this wine is no bull.
 
JON NATHANIEL
2018 BODACIOUS
PROPRIETARY RED
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“the 2018 Red Blend Bodacious checks in as equal parts Malbec and Petit Verdot, all from the Napa Valley. A big, inky, ruby/purple color is followed by rich notes of ripe blackcurrants, blueberries, dark chocolate, scorched earth, and graphite. With sweet tannins, a dense, concentrated, medium to full-bodied style, and nicely integrated oak, this ripe, sexy 2018 can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years.”
93 Points
2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina Verona, Italy

2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina Verona, Italy

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin Vogt

TINAZZI

COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
2018 VERONA CORVINA
VERONA, ITALY

2018 Tinazzi Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Corvina Verona, Italy
Corvina is an Italian grape variety with an integral role, mandated by law in all Valpolicella wines, including Amarone, which must include a minimum of 45% in their blends. This late-ripening variety is low in tannin and high in acidy. Tinazzi’s version is varietally characteristic, manifested with bright cherry, transitioning to juicy dark cherry, spice, and classic hints of almond, a signature of the variety. Fans of juicy Rhone blends, Zinfandel, and of course Valpolicella wines would love this, and especially at $25 and with a 96 point score. 
 
Located near Verona in Northern Italy, Tinazzi sits in the heart of where the Corvina grape reigns supreme. Proprietor Gian Andrea Tinazzi is passionate about accurately expressing territorial character in his wines, and his Corvina from Verona is a classic example. 
 
Gian Andrea sourced this Corvina from hillside vineyards in Valpolicella with excellent sun exposure, resulting in deep, fully-developed flavors. Once harvested, the fruit is destemmed and gently crushed before aging in barrels for 12 months, preserving its natural acidity.
 
TINAZZI
COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
2018 VERONA CORVINA
VERONA, ITALY
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“Deep bright red; Ample and harmonious, ranging from red fruits to spices; Velvety, persistent and full, with great harmony.”
96 Points, Luca Maroni
2018 Ty Caton Upper Bench Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

2018 Ty Caton Upper Bench Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMoon MountainSonomaUSA

TY CATON

2018 UPPER BENCH
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT

2018 Ty Caton Upper Bench Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District
Dedicated to crafting wines with an authentic sense of place, Ty Caton formed his Cabernet Collection to highlight the very best blocks within his Estate Vineyard on Moon Mountain. His 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Upper Bench offers a vivid portrayal of the distinct terroir of the highest point in his vineyard. The wine powerfully expresses its origin with profound depth, balanced red and black fruits, dusty tannins, and slightly mouth quenching acidity that ties everything in. The winery lists it for $60, which is a real value, but at our price, I’d order what you can of this 112 case production Cab, and you’ll thank me later.  
 
Caton Vineyard is on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder. The well-drained red volcanic soils there are also home to icons like the Monte Rosso, made famous by Louis Martini, and Frederick’s Vineyard used by Turley. 
 
The Upper Bench block consists of less than 11 acres of vines, allowing Ty to farm each vine on a micro-level. Ty’s commitment to the stewardship of his land, and unwavering determination to make balanced wines with distinct varietal character and terroir intensity, is obvious in this wine.
 
TY CATON
2018 UPPER BENCH
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOON MOUNTAIN DISTRICT
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Caton Cabernet Collection “Upper Bench” Moon Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 entices you from the beginning with an elegant, yet powerful nose including briary black raspberries, red pie cherries, menthol, sassafras tea, green peppercorns and Spring flowers. The beautifully balanced yet concentrated palate walks a thin line between power and finesse with bright red currants, deep Burgundy plums, earthy wild mushrooms, and sweet vanilla bean. The finish is balanced, with a distinctive pristine mouth quenching quality that combines the concentrated fruit and velvety fruit tannins. It drinks beautifully now and will improve for another decade.”
94 Points
2018 Sinegal Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

2018 Sinegal Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSaint HelenaUSA

SINEGAL

CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
2018 ESTATE 

2018 Sinegal Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
Sinegal’s team micro-farms their tiny 9-acre vineyard, planted by renowned viticulturist Jim Barbour, with a resolute commitment to quality. Their winemaking team is on a personal level with each vine on the property, and it shows dramatically in their wines. Initially planted in the late 1800s, the vineyard is strategically positioned South of Lewelling Vineyard, along the Southwestern rim of St. Helena AVA. The area produces Bordeaux varietals of stunning quality, and here’s a terrific opportunity to try their 97 Point Cabernet. 
 
The winery’s pursuit of perfection begins in the vineyard, but it doesn’t stop there. Sinegal winemaker Ryan Knoth gained valuable experience working under the tutelage of icons David Abreu, Michel Rolland, and Fredrik Johansson at Staglin Vineyards. He also worked with Jim Barbour and Philippe Melka at Gandona Estate. 
 
The 2018 vintage was faultless and virtually uninterrupted by significant heat spikes, providing a prolonged hang-time, allowing the fruit to accumulate intense flavor and complexity. This wine highlights the vintage’s power by embellishing its best qualities with additions of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, all aged for 20 months in French oak.
 
SINEGAL
CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
2018 ESTATE
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon turned out beautifully. Rich, sumptuous and incredibly alluring, the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate. Dark red fruit, mocha, spice and licorice are some of the notes that build in the glass. I would give it a few years in bottle, or alternatively open it in advance. Aeration and the passage of time did wonders for the 2018. It spent 20 months in barrel, 85% new…”
97 Points
2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPetaluma GapPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaSonoma CoastUSA

BLACK PINE

2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST

2018 Black Pine Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Roger Roessler crafts Black Pine Pinot Noir earnestly in a fresh and inviting style that he enjoys regularly. As it turns out, many of our customers feel the same way. After a culmination of outstanding efforts, it’s built a reputation of excellence and value, with its relentless quality and hard-to-resist style. If you’ve enjoyed any of their earlier vintages, you already know what to expect, but if you haven’t, I guarantee you’ll love it once you do. 
 
Combining fruit from Petaluma Gap, Russian River, and Sonoma Coast AVAs, Roger Roessler hand-selected each site for its unique contribution, resulting in a concentrated Pinot that hits a sweet spot with complexity, nuance, and lushness. 
 
Roger kept the 2018 release in barrels for ten months, and it delivers excellent intensity, richness, and palate presence. Our panel recently re-tasted a bottle of this wine, and not only did it live up to our grand expectations, but it also crushed them.
 
BLACK PINE
2018 PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $30
 
Your Price: $24
 
 
“The vibrant garnet color gives way to bright floral strawberry- raspberry aromatics, while in the mouth the velvety texture delivers ripe cherry, red plum and a touch of earthiness that defines this outstanding bottling. The moderate tannins give length to the finish of this balanced wine”
2018 Bevan Ontogeny Proprietary Red

2018 Bevan Ontogeny Proprietary Red

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

BEVAN

2018 ONTOGENY
PROPRIETARY RED

2018 Bevan Ontogeny Proprietary Red
Number one on Jeb Dunnuck’s list of the Top Napa Cabernets Under $100, Russell Bevan’s 2018 Ontogeny is a barrel selection created from Tench, Sugarloaf, Harbison, Wildfoote, Saunders, and Sage Ridge vineyards. Russell produces single-vineyard Cabernets that retail for around $200 from each of those coveted sites; however, Ontogeny isn’t just the introduction to Bevans wines’ cardinal quality, but as the least expensive of his big reds, it doesn’t compromise at all in quality. 
 
2018 was a faultless growing season, virtually uninterrupted by significant heat spikes, providing a prolonged hang-time, allowing the fruit to accumulate intense flavor and complexity. The resulting wine is breathtakingly complex and irresistibly engaging. 
 
Ontogeny combines six highly expressive vineyards raised in a variety of top-level oak barrels and with a near-perfect 99 Point score and priced under $100; you can’t have too much of this in your cellar.
 
BEVAN
2018 ONTOGENY
PROPRIETARY RED
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“While this cuvée is one of the least expensive in the lineup, it’s often one of my favorites. The 2018 Ontogeny is no exception and should be snatched up by readers. A classic 2018 nose of ripe, pure blue fruits, cassis, violets, and smoked earth gives way to a full-bodied, dense, concentrated Cabernet with beautiful tannins and length. It’s going to evolve for 20 years or more.”
99 Points, #1 Top Napa Cabernets Under $100
2018 Leviathan Proprietary Red California

2018 Leviathan Proprietary Red California

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtProprietary RedUSA

LEVIATHAN

PROPRIETARY RED
2018 CALIFORNIA 

2018 Leviathan Proprietary Red California
Leviathan is Californian through and through. Created unbound by tradition to showcase the vintage’s most potent characteristics, Leviathan captures the essence of a New World winemaker’s freedom to create a wine outside the bounds of single appellations or classic varietal blends. Recently ranked #18 on Jeb Dunnuck’s list of Napa’s Top Cabernets under $100, and notably, the 2018 Leviathan at $39.99 was also the best value on the list and the only wine priced below $60. 
 
Masterfully blended by Andy Erickson, winemaker at Screaming Eagle from 2005-2010, the 2018 Leviathan was created around a core of Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, all from carefully chosen sites throughout California.
 
Leviathan’s 2018 release exemplifies the vintage’s best characteristics with impressive structure, fully developed flavors, and balanced acidity. At $40, it’s easy to see why it continually gets monster scores.
 
LEVIATHAN
PROPRIETARY RED
2018 CALIFORNIA
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“Always a great value… The wine reveals a ruby/purple hue as well as complex notes of red and black fruits, green tobacco, cedary spice, and spring flowers. These all flow to a medium to full-bodied, elegant wine that offers good overall concentration, seamless tannins, and a great finish. Very much in the style of the 2018 vintage with its more streamlined, elegant style, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age (although it’s far from unapproachable today) and keep for a solid 10-12 years or more. This is one of the more age-worthy examples of this cuvée that I recall.”
94 Points
 
“A Blackberry and asphalt aromas with some violets and rose petals. Medium to full body. Some carbon to the dark fruit. Tasty and delicious. Chewy now, but we like it already. Drinkable now, but will improve with age.”
93 points