2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT

2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT

with No Comment $40-$50ItalyKevin VogtNapaProprietary Red

CAVALLI

TENUTA DEGLI DEI
TOSCANA IGT 2018

2018 Cavalli Tenuta Degli Dei Toscana IGT
The Cavalli family has been crafting fine wines in Tuscany since the 1970s. Their Tenuta Degli Dei estate is located near Panzano in Chianti, a region known for its rich marl soils and sunny southern exposure. Tommaso Cavalli, the current winemaker, is committed to sustainable farming practices and works with his father, Roberto, to produce wines that are both delicious and environmentally friendly.
 
The 2018 Cavalli is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. It is a full-bodied wine with a dense, robust structure and an underlying elegance. Antonio Galloni describes it as “wonderfully inviting…with exceptional balance and tons of character.” The wine will age gracefully, but it is also enjoyable to drink now. 
 
CAVALLI
TENUTA DEGLI DEI
TOSCANA IGT 2018
Retails at: $65
 
 
 
“The 2018 Tenuta Degli Dei is dense, juicy and wonderfully inviting. Silky tannins wrap around a core of inky dark fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. In the glass, the 2018 is intensely aromatic and layered, with exceptional balance and tons of character. Here, too, the wine’s overall sense of harmony can only be described as exquisite.”
96 Points
2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

ECO TERRENO

CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018

2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
Eco Terreno combines Mark Lyon’s relentless drive for sustainability with his remarkable winemaking skills and vast experience gained after spending nearly four decades as lead winemaker at Sebastiani Vineyards. Mark knows that delicious wines begin with healthy vines, and his biodynamically farmed vineyards provide him with the ingredients to craft exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
We discovered this wine last Fall around the time we started asking if there were any more exceptional domestic Cabernets under $30. When it hit our glass, the wine decisively revealed beautifully concentrated, pure, and complex Alexander Valley fruit, perfectly polished and balanced. We selected it as one of the top-ten value wines under $40 last year, and the wine continues to put a smile on my face every time I try it. 
 
ECO TERRENO
CABERNET SAUVIGNON  
ALEXANDER VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $32
 
 
 
“The 2018 Eco Terreno Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley opens with wild strawberries, black plum, gingerbread, and coffee grounds. The baking spice notes in the wine beautifully combine with the fruit aspects to create an ideal balance with flavors of supple fruits, nutmeg, and dried herbs. The bright acidity gives the wine an exciting brevity that carries into a long pleasant finish and leaves a smile on your face.”
96 Points
2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile

with No Comment $30-$40ChileKevin VogtProprietary Red

VIK

MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE

2018 Vik Milla Cala Millahue Valley Chile
Alex and Carrie Vik established VIK Winery in the rolling foothills of the Andes Mountains after nearly two years of scientific research seeking out the ideal terroir. After their search, they finally found the prime planting location in the Millahue Valley, in a pocket named “Lugar de Oro” or “Golden Place” by the native Mapuche people. The vines are planted in twelve undulating valleys of several different microclimates, all cooled by Pacific coastal breezes and Andes Mountain winds.
 
Milla Cala is a tribute to Old World meets New World by embodying the connection between the growing environment and the human hand. The vineyards are hand-harvested, and fermented with natural yeasts, giving a distinct house style. The 2018 release blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot, reflecting the region’s purity and rich complexity.
 
VIK
MILLA CALA 2018
MILLAHUE VALLEY CHILE
Retails at: $49
 
 
 
“Sweet berries, dried flowers, fresh mushrooms and some currants on the nose, following through to a medium to full body with fine, creamy tannins that give the wine form and tension. Juicy and savory fruit. A blend of cabernet franc, syrah, carmenere and merlot. Better to give this time, but already a beautiful, juicy red to drink. Drink or hold.”
94 Points
 
“A modern Bordeaux blend made by Cristian Vallejo who combines Cabernet Sauvignon with 18% Carmenere, 14% Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot from Millahue, Cachapoal. Aged for 20 months in oak, it is opulent and tasty with a nose of cherries, plums, blackberries, currants, eucalyptus and aromatic herbs wisely combined with spicy aromas from the ageing. Full-bodied with a lush texture and accomplished freshness, the long finish offers fruity and balsamic aromas.”
94 Points
2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley

2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley Oak Knoll District

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak KnollUSA

KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2018

2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley
Harold Kelly was a founding member of the Land Trust of Napa County, and the Kelly family has been a massive part of Napa Valley’s agricultural land preservation for over 40 years. Harold’s son,Gene Kelly, is the proprietor of Kelly Family Vineyards, and he works closely with winemaker Bob Pepi to create a “wine worthy of being shared with close family and friends while you tell your family story.”
 
Mario Bazán was charmed by Napa’s energizing beauty in the early 1970s and is the Vineyard Manager of Kelly Family, placing emphasis on sustainable agriculture resulting in wines with greater depth and personality. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon speaks volumes from this small production, typical of the winery, whose quality is maintained by the undivided attention of a small, intimate team.
 
KELLY FAMILY VINEYARDS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
OAK KNOLL DISTRICT 2018
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“The 2018 Kelly Family Vineyards Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 begins with focused aromas and flavors of blackberry pie, sweet black cherry, savory black olive, boysenberry jam, dusty minerals, sweet vanilla spice, and dried herbs. This offering from the fabulous 2018 vintage is an intensely concentrated wine on the palate with a beautiful balance of deep fruit and a bright, fresh, elegant style combined with a long, lingering finish.”
94 Points
2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOak Knoll

MaCo

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Expert viticulturist Roberto Corona and wine aficionado Jesus Maciel created a dynamic equilibrium when they founded MaCo Vineyards in 2009. They’ve since developed a standard of excellence for Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District. The vineyards are located on the western side of Silverado Trail near Soda Canyon Road, facing east, receiving copious amounts of California sunshine before being cooled nightly by the region’s breezes from the San Pablo Bay, helping retain a bright acidity.
 
The second generation of MaCo Vineyards, Alvaro Camacho, pulled up to our tasting in his farm truck to present his family’s wines to our tasting panel, making it evident that he was serious about the MaCo Vineyards legacy. We knew the moment we tasted his Cabernet that his wines were the real deal, and based on the numerous requests for reorders, our customers agreed. We recently re-tasted his 2018 vintage Cabernet, and it’s developed beautifully in the bottle, so we jumped at the opportunity to share it with you again before the 2019 vintage is released.
 
MaCo
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $100
 
 
 
“The 2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon opens with notes of lavender, blueberry, blackberry jam, black currants, wet stones, cloves, and earth. On the palate, flavors of black raspberry, marionberry pie, and cocoa are concentrated and balanced by fresh acidity. This wine’s fine-grained tannic structure and intensity promise longevity and the ability to evolve in the cellar if you have the patience to do so.
94-95 Points
2018 Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSA

MASTERY

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Mastery’s 2018 release offers a deep, powerful reflection of Napa Valley’s highest-rated vintage in more than twenty years; a vintage revered for producing “wines that are rich and dark, but detailed, restrained in style and very terroir-driven,” as written by the Wine Spectator. Winemaker Rudy Zuidema’s cumulative knowledge over the past 30 years is commanding in this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon which beautifully articulates the terroir of Rapp Ranch and Shadybrook Estate Vineyards in Coombsville. 
 
Forged from vines grown in Coombsville’s volcanic soils, this powerful, focused, penetrating Cabernet celebrates its origin in memorable detail. Three barrels made up the entire production in the 2018 vintage, each chosen for varietal focus, concentrated flavors, and a masterful combination of strength and elegance. You’ll find these qualities in many of the world’s most outstanding wines. At $95, Cabernet Sauvignon doesn’t get any better!
 
MASTERY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018
 
 
 
“Mastery 2018 is a sumptuous wine with aromas of violet, blueberry, cassis, balsamic glaze, English toffee, cigar box, and petrichor. On the palate, the wine is rich and powerful, with flavors of blackberry pie, dark chocolate, and gingerbread. The 2018 vintage is elegantly layered with an intense structure that will slowly unravel to reveal its intricacies for those who lay this beauty down in the cellar.” 
96-97 Points
2018 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

PURLIEU

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Purlieu Wine Company, whom you may know from their second label Le Pich, specializes in single-vineyard wines from some of Napa Valley’s most prized locations, including Beckstoffer To-Kalon, Georges III, Missouri Hopper, and Sugarloaf. Their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a cuvée of several majestic sites and a tribute to the valley with its multiple soil types and microclimates contributing to its remarkable complexity.
 
Originally from France, Julien Fayard’s two decades of winemaking expertise are well respected. He began honing his skills at Chateau Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux, then gained more valuable experience as Director of Winemaking for Philippe Melka at elite producers such as Lail, Gemstone, Hundred Acre, Vineyard 29, and Mastery. The 2018 release is living up to its expectations from a fabulous vintage known for elegance, intricate flavors, and sophistication with substantial longevity.
 
PURLIEU
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $115
 
 
 
“The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is fabulous. Silky tannins and plush fruit wrap around the palate in a super-expressive Cabernet Sauvignon that has so much to give. Bright acids perk up the blackberry jam, mocha, licorice, spice and gravel flavors. The 2018 is fresh, vibrant and loaded with personality. I loved it.”
94 Points
2018 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley

2018 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley

with No Comment $60-$70Columbia ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedUSAWashington State

PIROUETTE

PROPRIETARY RED
COLUMBIA VALLEY 2018

2018 Pirouette Proprietary Red Columbia Valley
Nine of the world’s top winemakers make up the Long Shadows brand that Allen Shoup created after decades of building the Chateau Ste Michelle brand and its affiliate wineries to international recognition. Allen retired from Chateau Ste Michelle in 2002 to focus on his newest endeavor to promote Washington wines by bringing in celebrated international winemakers.
 
Allen hired Gilles Nicault as the Director of Winemaking because of his expertise, flexibility, and eagerness to merge his winemaking skills with each vintner who joined the team as a co-owner of their wine. Philippe Melka and Agustin Huneeus, Sr worked as a team to create the 2018 Pirouette by combining Old-World winemaking and New World technology elements to make this Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, aged 22 months in French oak. The resulting wine is, as Decanter proclaims, “Hauntingly good.”
 
PIROUETTE
PROPRIETARY RED
COLUMBIA VALLEY 2018
 
 
 
“Hauntingly good, this a stunning new bottling by Philippe Melka. Dense and chewy, once in the month, this takes on a glorious range of flavours from sagebrush and pipe tobacco to blackcurrant jelly and chocolate cake. The vibrant sense of tension and silky tannins both add to the enjoyment, as this has a long way to go in the cellar.”
96 Points
2018 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder

2018 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder

with No Comment $70-$80Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

ANTHEM 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOUNT VEEDER 2018

2018 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder
Julie and Justin Arbuckle founded Anthem to produce hedonistically rich, powerful wines from intensely concentrated mountain fruit. After interviewing over 100 applicants, they chose Jeff Ames as their winemaker because of his experience working for Thomas Rivers Brown as his assistant winemaker at Outpost and Schrader, as well as winemaker TOR and Rudius. One taste and you will know that Jeff was a brilliant choice, and at under $100, this is a candidate for the best Cab in Napa Valley.
 
Anthem’s estate on Mount Veeder remains relatively cool, even on the warmest summer afternoons, due to its elevation and sea breezes from the nearby San Pablo Bay. In the 2018 vintage, the weather was more temperate than usual and produced grapes with intense flavor, elegant structure, and finely integrated tannins. Jeff made the resulting harvest into this outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that’s unbelievably delicious now, with a capacity to age in the cellar for more than 20 years.
 
ANTHEM 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
MOUNT VEEDER 2018
Retails at: $130
 
 
 
“Structured, with grip and length, this wine is ripe and rich in style with tremendous tannins. Chalky in texture, it provides layers of cassis, vanilla and clove, with the mountain appellation’s signature earthiness and herbal underrates. This will do well to cellar; enjoy best from 2028–2038.”
95 Points ‘Cellar Selection’
2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

SILVER OAK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Silver Oak began in a dairy barn in 1972 with a patriotic vision between two friends who wanted to vinify California Cabernet Sauvignon aged in American oak that could stand the test of time. The winery’s popularity grew immensely over the next few decades, becoming one of the most consistent, high-quality domestic producers, delivering its distinctive style with vanilla, dill, sweet black fruits, and savory spice.
 
The Napa Valley bottling is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend incorporating other Bordeaux varietals that changes slightly with each season’s conditions and is blended before Silver Oak’s signature aging regimen of 24 months in American oak to ensure a more unified maturation. The winery ages the wines an additional 24 months in the bottle before release, and the 2018 vintage produced wines with focused intensity, exquisite balance, and elegant flavors that have just begun to show off the phenomenal vintage and will continue to develop with age.
 
SILVER OAK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018
 
Your Price: $175
 
 
“The 2018 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is ruby in color with notes of strawberry, fresh carnation, black pepper and vanilla. is wine builds in strength and body across the mid-palate with a blackberry character on the finish and bright cherry return.With integrated tannins, it’s expressive yet luxurious with an even, balanced finish. Given proper cellaring conditions, this wine will continue to improve through 2043.”