2019 Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley

2019 Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

LARKMEAD

FIREBELLE
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Larkmead Firebelle Napa Valley
The historic Larkmead estate was founded in 1895, making it one of the oldest family-owned properties in Napa Valley. The winery’s secret sauce lies in its vineyard, which borders the Napa River and Selby Creek at the conjunction point of two colluvial fans, where an accumulation of ancient riverbed gravel, clay, and loam, gives the wines a hillside-grown structure.
 
Firebelle gets its name from Lillie “Firebelle Lil” Hitchcock because of its extraordinary balance of elegance, softness, power, and expression. The 2019 growing season was perfect for Merlot which comprises 43% of the Firebelle blend, adding plush tannins and gorgeous aromatics with a backbone of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon giving concentration and balance.
 
LARKMEAD
FIREBELLE
NAPA VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Combining 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot from the property, this is a showcase of savory earthiness and supple tannin. Inky dark, it offers a wealth of balanced red fruit, notes of tobacco, gun smoke and dried herb, with an understated elegance that shines.”
95 Points “Cellar Selection”
2019 Fontaine Du Clos Vacqueyras Rhone Valley France

2019 Fontaine Du Clos Vacqueyras Rhone Valley France

with No Comment $30 and underCotes du RhoneFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

FONTAINE DU CLOS

VACQUEYRAS 2019
RHONE VALLEY, FRANCE

2019 Fontaine Du Clos Vacqueyras Rhone Valley France
Domaine Fontaine du Clos’ foundation was built upon years of farming and nurturing a vine nursery that supplies vineyards throughout France. The estate accounts for over 40 grape varieties on 250 acres planted in Vaucluse, Vacqueyras, and Côtes du Rhône. The deep-rooted connection to the fruit through farming eventually became a passion for wine production that Céline and Jean-François Barnier nurture today.
 
The Vacqueyras AOC lies at the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail range and benefits from cool mountain breezes at night, which helps maintain bright acidity in Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre grapes. The 2019 vintage produced a structured, bold red with a vibrant freshness that was a stunning beauty among several Napa Valley Cabernets, thoroughly impressing our tasting panel.
 
FONTAINE DU CLOS
VACQUEYRAS 2019
RHONE VALLEY, FRANCE
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Penetrating and very complex, the Fontaine du Clos Vacqueyras begins with a vibrant nose including black currants, elderberry jam, multivitamins, fresh wild mushrooms, animal blood, crushed granite, dandelion greens, and peppermint hints. These elements combine on the palate with concentrated blueberries, Italian herbs, marionberry syrup, menthol, and slightly chalky tannins. This stunner is a medium-full-bodied wine with an intense concentration of fruit and nearly unheard-of complexity and length at this price. While the name is a mouth full, the wine is even more so… in a good way. Anyone who tries this beauty will most likely love it.”
94+ Points
2019 La Pitchoune La Revolte Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2019 La Pitchoune La Revolte Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

LA PITCHOUNE

LA RÉVOLTE CHARDONNAY
SONOMA COAST 2019

2019 La Pitchoune La Revolte Chardonnay Sonoma Coast
Inspired by a small family property in Southern France, La Pitchoune Winery’s name translates to “the little one.” The winery is proud of its small size and production, which the owners consider their most significant asset because they can spend more time, attention, and focus to every bottle they produce. 
 
Winemaker Andrew Berge’s Master’s degree in Agriculture gives him a deep understanding of geography, soil, and vines that are the foundation of his wines. The 2019 La Révolte Chardonnay was sourced from the Pratt and Falcon Crest Vineyards and hand-crafted using Old-World style techniques, including barrel fermentation without fining or filtering for opulent flavor and impeccable balance.
 
LA PITCHOUNE
LA RÉVOLTE CHARDONNAY
SONOMA COAST 2019
Retails at: $48
 
 
 
“La Pitchoune 2019 La Révolte Chardonnay begins with rich notes of apricot, honeydew melon, vanilla, and beeswax. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with opulent flavors of ripe peach, nectarine, honey, and toasted brioche. The flavor intensity lingers into a pleasant finish balanced by refreshing acidity.”
92 Points
2019 Tinazzi Corvina Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Italy

2019 Tinazzi Corvina Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Italy

with No Comment $30 and underCorvinaItalyKevin Vogt

TINAZZI

COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
CORVINA 2019
VERONA ITALY

2019 Tinazzi Corvina Collezione Di Famiglia Verona Italy
The Tinazzi family has produced wine for over 50 years and seeks modernity and sustainability within their traditional vineyard and winemaking practices. The winery’s sustainability focus began in the 2000s to protect and preserve the environment and the needs of future generations while producing prestigious local wines.
 
Corvina is a late-ripening Italian grape variety grown in the Veneto that’s low in tannin and high in acidity. It is integral in Valpolicella wines, including the region’s famous Amarone. This 100% Corvina is varietally classic with red berried fruits, black cherry, and spice that entices fans of juicy Rhône-style blends, Zinfandel, and of course, Valpolicella. The previous vintage made our top 5 wines list last year, and the 2019 vintage represents the same level of top-notch quality for an unbeatable value.
 
TINAZZI
COLLEZIONE DI FAMIGLIA
CORVINA 2019
VERONA ITALY
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“The Tinazzi 2019 Corvina begins with lavender and juicy fruit notes of red and black cherries and cranberry with complementary spice notes of white pepper and black tea leaves. On the palate, the wine bursts with cherry, raspberry, black plum, and sweet baking spices with soft, supple tannins and a smooth finish. This wine is just as easy to drink as it is to enjoy.”
93-94 Points
2019 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard

2019 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtKnight's ValleySonomaUSA

ANAKOTA 

HELENA DAKOTA VINEYARD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019

2019 Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard
Anakota’s vineyards lie at the base of Mount St. Helena in the remote Knights Valley AVA, which cuts through the Mayacamas Mountains and receives cool breezes directly from the Pacific Ocean. 100-point winemaker Pierre Seillan believes that Knights Valley is one of the best places in the world to grow Cabernet Sauvignon and aims to create a style similar to Pauillac or Saint-Estèphe.
 
The Helena Dakota Vineyard is a sloping 12-acre parcel that has produced powerful yet sophisticated wines over the decades. Structure, elegance, and ability to stand the test of time are all classic hallmarks of these wines. The outstanding 2019 vintage produced grapes with rich complexity, intense flavors, and supple opulence, resulting in a wine that shows beautifully now, and will continue to do so over its formidable lifespan.
 
ANAKOTA 
HELENA DAKOTA VINEYARD
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2019
Retails at: $180
 
 
Your Price: $175
 
 
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard explodes with violets, aniseed and cast iron, with a deep core of crushed blueberries and black cherries, evolving continually with each approach to the glass. The palate is stunning with its intensity and lift, pure fruits, pixelated tannins and focused acidity that drives the very long finish. Its exceptional balance and super pure flavors, plus that characteristic streak of iron that appears across the Anakota portfolio, really take the 2019 Helena Dakota to the next level. 793 cases were made.”
99 Points
2019 Emiliana Coyam Valle De Colchagua

2019 Emiliana Coyam Valle De Colchagua

with No Comment $30-$40ChileKevin VogtProprietary Red

EMILIANA 

COYAM 2019
VALLE DE COLCHAGUA

2019 Emiliana Coyam Valle De Colchagua
Visionaries Rafael and José Guilisasti noticed a change in the global wine market in the late 1990s, with consumers consciously choosing wines, not just for health reasons but also looking into environmental and social aspects. Rafael and José partnered with winemaker Álvaro Espinoza converting a traditional Chilean winery into a 100% organic and biodynamic production facility focused on respecting the environment and creating wines of the highest quality.Colchagua Valley
 
 
Coyam is the winery’s proprietary red blend sourced from the Los Robles Estate in the Colchagua Valley, known for producing complex Syrah, Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The grapes ripen slowly due to a mixture of ocean breezes and winds from the Andes Mountains. This wine represents the entire wine team’s commitment to excellence and responsibility, with a delicious balance of Chilean spice and fruit character, earning outstanding scores.
 
EMILIANA 
COYAM 2019
VALLE DE COLCHAGUA
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“The 2019 Coyam is a blend of 38% Syrah, 33% Carmenere and several other grape varieties from the Los Robles vineyard in Colchagua, aged for 18 months, 75% in barrels and the rest in foudres and eggs. Expressive, complex and ripe on the nose; the oak lends cedar aromas to accompany the blackberry, raspberry and hints of spice. In the mouth, it’s fleshy with juicy freshness, a smooth texture and delicate, concentrated, relaxed tannins before the lengthy finish.” 
94 Points
2019 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

2019 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

GAMBA

MCM ESTATE ZINFANDEL 
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019

2019 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley
Gus Gamba considers himself a steward of his land and utilizes organic vineyard management practices on his family’s property, planted in 1900. His Vineyard’s topography, soils, and microclimate are perfect for ripening Zinfandel to the peak of perfection, resulting in one of the Russian River Valley’s most prized Zin’s. 
 
Farming is foremost at Gamba Vineyards; however, the same level of care follows through into the cellar. Gus and his team double-hand-sort the berries, with only the best making their way into fermentors. Next, the 2019 release spent an impressive 18 months aging primarily in American oak barrels, contributing to the wine’s spice characteristics and remarkable structure. The finished wine is rich, vibrantly detailed, engrossingly fresh, and is drinking beautifully right now. 
 
GAMBA
MCM ESTATE ZINFANDEL 
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $54
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The exciting 2019 MCM Gamba Estate Old Vine Zinfandel is a brilliant wine, with bright garnet hues shining in the glass. The aroma offers lush raspberry, rhubarb pie and savory dried herbs. Medium to full in body, the wine explodes with fresh berries, stone fruit and red cherry that are accented with delicious brown spices and an essence of toasty oak. The texture is slightly leathery, yet polished and refined. The wine is focused, compelling, and exquisitely layered, with mouth-watering tannins; a serious and seamless flavor experience from beginning to end. Lifting acidity and mild toasted oak round out the coda of its pleasant, lingering finish. A great wine to enjoy in its youth, or candidate to lay down in the cellar if you have the will power!”
2019 Dolum Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Dolum Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleStags LeapUSA

DOLUM

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Dolum Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Dolum Estate produces limited quantities of premium Cabernet Sauvignon and has done so for over three decades. The team makes meticulous decisions for fruit selection in each vintage and sources high-quality grapes from small sub-districts, including Oakville and Stags Leap, crafting wines that balance power and elegance.
 
Winemaker Chad Alexander’s background in soil science and making wine at Hess Collection and Robert Craig wineries has influenced his winemaking style as he captures the essence of each unique plot showcased in his wines. Dolum Estate’s 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic example of the region’s best attributes: a profound depth of flavor, soft, refined tannins, and a sultry finish that elegantly lingers.
 
DOLUM
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $100
 
 
 
“Aromas of crushed blackberry, plum, blackcurrant and menthol. Full-bodied with powdery tannins. Succulent and fruity on the palate with a core of black fruit and berries. Ground spice, too. Focused. Best after 2026.”
94 Points
2019 Chateau Haut-Breton Larigaudiere Margaux

2019 Chateau Haut-Breton Larigaudiere Margaux

with No Comment $40-$50BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

CHATEAU HAUT-BRETON

LARIGAUDIÈRE
MARGAUX 2019

2019 Chateau Haut-Breton Larigaudiere Margaux
Château Haut-Breton Larigaudière’s vineyards are located near Arsac and Soussans within the Margaux AOC and encompass the region’s full spectrum of terroir, from gravelly soils with sand, transitioning to gravelly soils with clay. The sandy soils produce ethereal wines while the clay produces wines with more tannic structure, so every plot is planted accordingly, with a primary focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and Petite Verdot rounding out the balance.
 
Depending on the age of the vines, soil type, and variety, the grapes are fermented separately in stainless-steel vats at relatively low temperatures to promote dynamic aromatic development. The 2019 vintage matured in oak from 18 to 24 months until each barrel was ready to be bottled, giving an affordable Bordeaux red that shows a high level of quality, textbook Margaux classicism, and early approachability that makes this a standout.
 
CHATEAU HAUT-BRETON
LARIGAUDIÈRE
MARGAUX 2019
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“The 2019 Haut-Breton Larigaudiere is plush, deep and wonderfully expressive. Black cherry, licorice, spice, chocolate, leather and espresso all flesh out in a generous, creamy Margaux that will drink well right out of the gate. The exuberant, racy style is hugely appealing.”
91 Points
2019 Castello Romitorio Colli Sensi Chianti Tuscany

2019 Castello Romitorio Colli Sensi Chianti Tuscany

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

CASTELLO ROMITORIO

COLLI SENESI CHIANTI
TUSCANY 2019

2019 Castello Romitorio Colli Sensi Chianti Tuscany
Italian artist Sandro Chia believes the best expressions of art and wine thrive with a minimalistic approach. This philosophy is a guiding principle for his wines, and his estate is becoming known for producing wines of superb quality, character, and value. Sandro purchased Castello Romitorio in 1984 and initiated a complete restoration of the historic property that previously served as a Roman temple, fortress, monastery, castle, and manor house.
 
Colli Senesi is the Southernmost subregion of Chianti DOCG with warmer conditions and slightly more stringent production rules requiring a minimum of 75% Sangiovese in the blend resulting in more substantial, fuller-bodied wines. The 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi is 100% Sangiovese and encompasses the winery’s vision of artistic exploration and commitment to excellence and sustainability. 
 
CASTELLO ROMITORIO
COLLI SENESI CHIANTI
TUSCANY 2019
 
Your Price: $24
 
“Castello Romitorio 2019 Chianti Colli Senesi opens with delicate notes of rose petals, violets, ripe red cherry, ground nutmeg, dried sage, and black tea leaves. The wine has flavors of cranberry, red plum, wild strawberry, and white pepper with vibrant acidity and silky tannins. This beautifully balanced, classic wine is easy-drinking and effortlessly over-delivers for the price.”
94 Points