2018 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont Italy

221118 2018 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BaroloBaroloItalyKevin VogtPiedmont

BRUNA GRIMALDI

CAMILLA BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY 2018

2018 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla Barolo Piedmont Italy
Bruna Grimaldi and her husband Franco Fioriono grew up in the hills that join Grinzane Cavour to Serralunga d’Alba, where grape growing and high-quality wine production are a big part of family traditions. The Camilla Barolo is made in a classic style with extended maceration to gently extract color, tannins, and the aromatics essential for high-quality Nebbiolo wines with long aging potential.
 
The fruit comes from specially selected vineyards, including the famed Badarina in Serralunga that belonged to Bruna’s mother, the Bricco Ambrogio site Bruna and Franco purchased in Roddi, and the Grimaldi family’s original property in Grinzane Cavour. The regional blending incorporates harmony and balance in the wine, aged in large Slavonian oak barrels and French oak tonneaux for a minimum of 30 months before being further matured in the bottle before release. These techniques create a compelling wine with an impressive range of diverse flavors and complexity.
 
BRUNA GRIMALDI
CAMILLA BAROLO
PIEDMONT, ITALY 2018
Retails at: $50
 
Your Price: $42
 
 
“This is an ambitious, all-encompassing blend that is especially accessible in 2018. It offers a harmonious bouquet with wild berry and rose. The tannins are soft and yielding, and you can start enjoying this Barolo without waiting too much longer.”
91 Points
2018 Laird Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 Laird Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

LAIRD

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Laird Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Ken Laird is the third generation of his family in the farming business, swapping tobacco growing for cultivating wine grapes after moving to Napa Valley and purchasing his first parcel in 1970. Following Robert Mondavi’s advice, he and his wife Gail transformed an old prune orchard into a vineyard with Bob’s guarantee that the Laird’s Cabernet Sauvignon would be “the highest harvest price paid in the Valley.”
 
The Lairds have continually expanded their land holdings over the last 50 years, becoming the largest family-owned vineyard owners in Napa Valley with a deep understanding of the minute factors influencing each microclimate. Their 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon arose from three of their favorite vineyards, Flat Rock, Mast Ranch, and Linda Vista Ranch, aged in 40% new French oak for 21 months giving a robust style of wine with firm, elegant tannins and a delightful balance.
 
LAIRD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $65
 
Your Price: $55
 
 
“Fruity nose of baked blueberries, ripe blackberries, cherry pie, sweet spices, licorice, tobacco leaves and chocolate. Full-bodied with firm, polished tannins. Beautifully rich, succulent core of blue and black fruit. Better from 2023.”
93 Points
2018 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard

2018 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

PATZ & HALL

CHARDONNAY 2018
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD

2018 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Vineyard
Donald Patz and James Hall were colleagues at Flora Springs Winery before a shared passion for wines with a sense of place brought them together to create Patz & Hall, one of California’s crown jewel Chardonnay and Pinot Noir producers. In 1988 Patz & Hall was founded by Donald and Heather Patz, James Hall, and Anne Moses. The winery, to this day, maintains a reputation of excellence by consistently producing brilliant wines from some of Sonoma’s most renowned growers.
 
The Dutton Ranch vineyard is home to some of the oldest Chardonnay vines in western Sonoma County, with partial dry farming producing intensely concentrated berries. The 2018 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay is a blend of five clones- Hyde-Wente, Robert Young, Rued, UC Davis Clone 4, and Spring Mountain, aged in 35% new Burgundian French oak, giving the wine some spice while allowing the fruit to shine radiantly.
 
PATZ & HALL
CHARDONNAY 2018
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
Retails at: $44
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“James Hall selects the fruit for this wine from 11 blocks farmed by the Dutton family. Most of the vines are older plantings of heritage clones and selections, a mix that seems to respond to a slow, spontaneous fermentation and development in French oak barrels (35 percent new). The 2018 builds to a savory and ornate chardonnay, a wine with traction that digs into scents of violets and game, jasmine and butterscotch, giving a sweet impression without any actual sweetness. There’s yellow and orange citrus fruit, but the main impression is earthy, with notes of lobster mushroom and lobster broth in a mineral finish. It’s floral, clean, intense wine, with stature and resistance to oxygen. Decant it for crab Louis, or cellar it for years.”
94 Points
 
2018 Les Hauts De Granget Saint Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux

2018 Les Hauts De Granget Saint Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin VogtSaint Emilion

LES HAUTS DE GRANGET

SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU
BORDEAUX 2018

2018 Les Hauts De Granget Saint Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux
Les Hauts de Granget is produced by the Union de Producteurs de Saint Emilion, a cooperative established during the economic crisis of the 1930s to unite several vineyards and estates in production. For over 80 years, the emphasis has been on quality and responsibility, as evidenced by their multiple certifications and state-of-the-art facility.
 
Les Hauts de Granget produces elegant wines with sophistication, reflecting the subliminal terroir of St Émilion. With the help of four oenologists and a viticultural expert, their 2018 vintage won the Medaille d’Or in France, a blind tasting celebrating the most impressive wines in the country. It also charmed the Decanter World Wine Awards, receiving an incredible 96-point score. 
 
LES HAUTS DE GRANGET
SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU
BORDEAUX 2018
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“Ripe black cherry, blueberry, cedar and cinnamon on the nose. Full bodied with fine grained ripe tannins. Cabernet Franc helps to give some refreshing acidity that balances the depth of fruit concentration.”
96 Points
2018 Leto Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder

2018 Leto Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

LETO CELLARS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MT VEEDER 2018

2018 Leto Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mt Veeder
Brad and Lisa Warner share more than 80 years of wine industry experience and have taken everything they’ve learned along the way and poured it into their boutique brand, Leto Cellars. Leto is Greek for “the hidden one” and expresses Brad and Lisa’s goals as they source fruit from small, family-owned vineyards from premier locations throughout the Valley.
 
Brad chose this Mount Veeder site because of its volcanic soil composition and cooling effects from San Pablo Bay, allowing the fruit a longer hang time to develop extraordinary complexity. Barrel-aged for 18 months, this 100% mountain Cabernet Sauvignon walks a tightrope of rich power and focused restraint, highlighting the vineyard and vintage with perfect balance.
 
LETO CELLARS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MT VEEDER 2018
Retails at: $85
 
 
 
“The 2018 Leto Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon begins with aromas of violet, lavender, malt powder, blackberry tart, and nutmeg. On the palate, the wine has a rich concentration with flavors of cocoa nibs, vanilla, blueberry, and wet stones. This wine has an immaculate structure that will unfold in layers of complexity with age yet also shines with vitality today.”
94 Points
2018 Agnes et Didier Dauvissat Chablis Burgundy France

2018 Agnes et Didier Dauvissat Chablis Burgundy France

with No Comment $30 and underBurgandyChablisChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

AGNÈS et DIDIER DAUVISSAT

CHABLIS 2018
BURGUNDY, FRANCE

2018 Agnes et Didier Dauvissat Chablis Burgundy France
Agnès and Didier Dauvissat were vineyard workers who dreamed of vinifying wine from vineyards they owned, so they bought and planted their first small plot of vines in 1987. Today they hold just over 30 acres of vineyards spread across Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru Beauroy, Bourgogne Rouge, and Crémant de Bourgogne, producing terroir-distinct wines from each appellation.
 
Dauvissat is a prominent name in the area, and Didier’s cousin, Vincent, of a respected Chablisienne estate nearby, mentored Didier. The stylistic similarities in their wines go beyond the last name. The 2018 Chablis has clean, pure fruit aromatics and a crisp minerality from fermentation in stainless steel, a hallmark of the region that’s created a demand for unoaked Chardonnay worldwide.
 
AGNÈS et DIDIER DAUVISSAT
CHABLIS 2018
BURGUNDY, FRANCE
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Agnès et Didier Dauvissat 2018 Chablis opens with aromas of honeysuckle, applesauce, cinnamon, quince, and white chalk. On the palate, the wine has concentrated flavors of apple and pear with complementary, secondary characteristics of mascarpone and pastry dough. This wine has an impressive depth of aromas and flavors with mouthwatering acidity with incredible purity.”
95 Points
2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50CoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

COHO

HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 Coho Headwaters Red Blend Napa Valley
Gary Lipp worked in the California wine industry for over 35 years, founding Coho in 2002 with the principles he learned from his experiences working in multiple aspects of wine production. He started strong and continued down a path of excellence by hiring renowned winemaker Phillip Titus to help achieve his goal of crafting flavorful yet balanced wines. Philip has been with Chappellet for nearly 30 years and has produced some of California’s most sought-after wines. 
 
Gary introduced Headwaters Proprietary Red in 2005 after a fire destroyed the winery’s inventory of Cabernet Sauvignon for their 100% varietal wine. Thanks to the wine community’s generosity, Coho produced a red blend from Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. This Bordeaux-style blend still focuses on fruit from Coombsville, and the cooler 2018 vintage is already exquisite with layers of delicate complexity, creating aromas and flavors reminiscent of the Old World.
 
COHO
HEADWATERS RED BLEND
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $60
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Dark plums, mulberries, cloves and earthy undertones. It’s full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Full and fruity with structure and freshness on the palate. Long finish. Very polished. Drink in 2023.”
93 Points
2018 Tolosa Heritage Pinot Noir Edna Valley

2018 Tolosa Heritage Pinot Noir Edna Valley

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

TOLOSA

HERITAGE PINOT NOIR
EDNA VALLEY 2018

2018 Tolosa Heritage Pinot Noir Edna Valley
Tolosa Winery is part of the Alpha Omega Collective and specializes in Burgundian varieties grown in Edna Valley, California’s coolest AVA. The region’s transverse valley extends inland from the Pacific Ocean and funnels cold air and fog, creating an ideal environment for cool-climate varietals such as Pinot Noir. The Franciscan Mission of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa planted the first vines in the area and is the inspiration behind the winery’s name, paying homage to the hardworking farmers who pioneered the land.
 
Tolosa’s winemaker works to convey the distinct character of the wine, beginning in the vineyard with specially selected clones for each unique soil type, followed by gentle fermentation in stainless steel and oak barrels for a fine-tuned, integrated Pinot Noir. The 2018 vintage features earthy, herbal tones and bright red fruit aromatics, trademark characteristics of the Edna Valley AVA Pinots that elevate and delight the senses at a very fair price point.
 
TOLOSA
HERITAGE PINOT NOIR
EDNA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $32
 
 
“Hearty aromas of black raspberry and muddled plum are lifted by sage and pepper on the ripe but clean nose of this bottling. There’s a pleasantly herbal kick to the palate, where the sagebrush aspects wrap around the dark-mulberry and wild-plum flavors. Rocky tannins give both structure and minerality.”
93 Points
2018 Sixto Chardonnay Uncovered Washington State

2018 Sixto Chardonnay Uncovered Washington State

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtUSAWashington State

SIXTO

CHARDONNAY UNCOVERED
WASHINGTON STATE 2018

2018 Sixto Chardonnay Uncovered Washington State
Charles Smith is the visionary Washington State winemaker behind several successful brands that have received over 200 scores of 95 Points and above. Musician Sixto Rodriguez and the documentary Searching for Sugar Man inspired the SIXTO label. It’s a project from Charles Smith and his VP of Winemaking and Viticulture Brennon Leighton that focuses on old-vine Chardonnay grown at higher elevations from cooler climate vineyards throughout Washington.
 
The ‘Uncovered’ Chardonnay is a cuvée of three single vineyards, including the Moxee Vineyard planted in 1973, the Rosa Hills Vineyard planted in 1977, and the Frenchman Hills Vineyard planted in 1998. The 2018 growing season began with mild temperatures followed by a long, dry fall enabling the fruit a long hang time and complete flavor development marking an outstanding vintage.
 
SIXTO
CHARDONNAY UNCOVERED
WASHINGTON STATE 2018
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“This is always a pretty chardonnay with transparent cooked-apple, lemon-rind and ripe-pineapple character. It’s full-bodied, layered and beautiful. Drink now.”
93 Points
2018 Site Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley

2018 Site Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Central CoastKevin VogtSanta Maria ValleySyrahUSA

SITE

SYRAH 2018
BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD
SANTA MARIA VALLEY

2018 Site Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley
Jeremy Weintraub is the owner and winemaker for Site Wines and gained experience growing grapes in Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Central Otago, Martinborough, Tuscany, and Long Island. After his vineyard work, Jeremy began making wine at Seavey Vineyard in Napa and later vinifying wines for Adelaida Cellars in Paso Robles, whom he still works with today.
 
Site sources grapes from some of the most distinctive vineyards in California, and Bien Nacido is known for some of the state’s most sought-after cool-climate grapes. Esteemed Syrah producer Sine Qua Non is now entirely estate-grown, no longer sourcing fruit from Bien Nacido, and Site was next in line for their contract with Block B, the oldest, steepest, and most revered plot in the vineyard. The 2018 Syrah has a graceful elegance with earthy and spicy notes reminiscent of the wines of the Northern Rhône, providing an attestation to the exceptional terroir of the Bien Nacido Vineyard.
 
SITE
SYRAH 2018
BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD
SANTA MARIA VALLEY
 
Your Price: $55
 
 
“The 2018 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyards was mostly destemmed (90%) and spent 18 months in 50% new French oak. It’s another inky hued effort that brings both richness and elegance. Lots of darker, briny fruits, smoked game, and black pepper notes give way to a medium to full-bodied wine that has silky yet present tannins, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s going to evolve for 15 years or more.”
96 Points