2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache El Dorado

2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache El Dorado

with No Comment $30-$40GrenacheKevin VogtUSA

LA SIRENA

AVIATRIX GRENACHE
EL DORADO 2019

2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache El Dorado
Heidi Peterson Barrett is one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated and talented winemakers and has created some of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wines since the 1980s. Between her position as an independent winemaker at Dalla Valle in the late 1980s and developing a small project called Screaming Eagle soon afterward, Heidi’s career took flight as she earned five 100-point scores for her efforts within a few short years.
 
Heidi started La Sirena in 1994, and Aviatrix, a brand that’s an homage to her love of flight as a helicopter pilot, is a boutique line of small production wines she crafts with her distinguished expertise, unparalleled passion, and very adventurous spirit. The 2019 Grenache comes from El Dorado County, an area recognized for producing Rhône-style wines with incredible complexity and pure varietal character at a price point with sky-high appeal.
 
LA SIRENA
AVIATRIX GRENACHE
EL DORADO 2019
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The 2019 La Sirena Aviatrix Grenache has a complex and intriguing nose with aromas of rosemary, lavender, peppercorns, red cherry, berry bramble, and cigar box. On the palate, flavors of cranberry, red plum, white pepper, and dried herbs are in a delicate balance with soft, ripe tannins and juicy acidity. This wine drinks best with a slight chill that allows the complex range of flavors dances into an elegant, lengthy finish.”
95 Points
 
2019 Heir Apparent Proprietary Red Cellar Selection Spring Mountain

2019 Heir Apparent Proprietary Red Cellar Selection Spring Mountain

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedSpring Mountain

HEIR APPARENT

PROPRIETARY RED
CELLAR SELECTION
SPRING MOUNTAIN 2019

2019 Heir Apparent Proprietary Red Cellar Selection Spring Mountain
Heir Apparent winemaker Dwight Bonewell is a master of assemblage who strives to create compelling wines from some of Napa Valley’s most coveted vineyards. His 2019 Cellar Selection Red Wine hails from the Spring Mountain AVA, a tiny region with around 20 different soil types that create a patchwork of unique terroirs that give the wines their signature supple, balanced tannins, deeply pronounced flavors, and enchanting elegance.
 
The 2019 growing season saw a long, warm summer with very few extreme heat spikes and a relatively mild finish with ample hang-time that preserved deep color, finesse, and a soft tannic structure. This small production of 390 cases is a harmonious blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon with a plush, silky mouthfeel, lengthy finish, and keen balance of bright fruit and lively acidity.
 
HEIR APPARENT
PROPRIETARY RED
CELLAR SELECTION
SPRING MOUNTAIN 2019
Retails at: $120
 
 
 
“The Heir Apparent Cellar Selection Spring Mountain District Red Wine 2019 has a bright, fresh nose and palate, including spiced red plums, fresh raspberries, hints of cinnamon and nutmeg, and light, elegant florals. The palate has a focus and concentration that combine with the fruit and spice elements that resolve into a fascinating, easy-drinking red blend that finishes with mouth-quenching fruits and berries.
92 Points
2019 Skinner Grenache Rogue El Dorado

2019 Skinner Grenache Rogue El Dorado

with No Comment $30 and underGrenacheKevin VogtUSA

SKINNER

GRENACHE ROUGE
EL DORADO 2019

2019 Skinner Grenache Rogue El Dorado
Skinner Vineyards is one of the country’s first wineries, established in 1861 by a Scottish miner named James Skinner. The winery serendipitously ended up back in the hands of the same Skinner family in 2006 when Kevin and Kathy Skinner came across the name on an old map and purchased 25 acres a mile from the original property.
 
The Skinners planted their vineyard modeled after the initial planting during the Gold Rush, including an assortment of Rhône varietals for which the winery is known. Grenache is part of the Skinner legacy and thrives in the rocky soils and warm, dry climate of El Dorado County, producing a wine that strikes a balance between bright, juicy fruit and vibrant acidity.
 
SKINNER
GRENACHE ROUGE
EL DORADO 2019
Retails at: $36
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Vivid, sunbaked fruit flavors and a great structure of moderate acidity and tannins balance this wine out beautifully on a high level. Blackberry and raspberry notes mingle with hints of cedar, clove and black pepper for a tasty complexity.”
92 Points
2019 Macauley Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley

2019 Macauley Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtNapaOld Vine ZinfandelUSA

MACAULEY

OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Macauley Old Vine Zinfandel Napa Valley
Ann Macauley Watson founded the Macauley label during the early 1980s, and today her son Mac runs the estate, working closely with his childhood friend Kirk Venge, son of the renowned winemaker Nils Venge. Mac and Kirk share the same winemaking philosophy, aiming to create wines of extreme depth and a range of complexity directly related to each site’s specific terroir, which means sourcing the best fruit from the best vineyards in Napa.
 
They sourced their 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel from ancient vines averaging 115 years old from some of Napa Valley’s most historic vineyards, including Korte Ranch, Kenefick Ranch, and Luvisi. The wine shows a refined integration of fruit character that isn’t jammy or overripe but with bright, penetrating fruit flavors and smooth tannins with a long, exuberant finish.
 
MACAULEY
OLD VINE ZINFANDEL
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $55
 
 
 
“The 2019 Macauley Old Vine Zinfandel opens with luscious notes of lavender, cloves, bramble, black raspberry, and black tea. On the palate the wine has flavors of crushed blackberry, chocolate covered strawberry, white pepper, and a hint of toast. This wine has silky, fine tannins that coat the mouth and flow into a sultry finish and will allow the wine to age for another decade or so.”
93 Points
2019 Lichen Pinot Noir Moonglow Vineyard Anderson Valley

2019 Lichen Pinot Noir Moonglow Vineyard Anderson Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Anderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

LICHEN

PINOT NOIR
MOONGLOW VINEYARD
ANDERSON VALLEY 2019

2019 Lichen Pinot Noir Moonglow Vineyard Anderson Valley
In 2008, Lichen Estate planted 7 acres of vines in the Anderson Valley with meter-by-meter spacing, modeling the Grand Cru vineyards of Burgundy and Champagne, resulting in nearly four times the amount of vines per acre than neighboring vineyards. This style of planting increases the competition between each vine, forcing the roots to dig deeper into the earth in search of nutrients and moisture. This type of farming lowers yields and concentrates aromas and flavors. 
 
This estate was initially named Breggo, the Breggo brand sold in 2009, and the fruit then went to Cliff Lede’s Fel Pinot Noir for years before the lease ended in 2014. The vineyard has always been organically farmed, with six blocks of Pinot Noir from the Martini, Wadenswil, Pommard, and 667 clones. The 2019 Moonglow Pinot Noir displays notes of red cherries with a refined focus and savory spice typical of the cool-climate region, one of the top Pinot Noir regions in the New World.
 
LICHEN
PINOT NOIR
MOONGLOW VINEYARD
ANDERSON VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“Aromas of dried orange peel, strawberry and wet stone. Medium-bodied with silky tannins. Good depth and intensity on the steady, mineral finish. Pleasantly salty, too. Drink now.”
92 Points
2019 Pont Neuf Pnt Royal Chardonnay Russian River Valley

2019 Pont Neuf Pont Royal Chardonnay Russian River Valley

with No Comment $60-$70ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

PONT NEUF

PONT ROYAL CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019

2019 Pont Neuf Pnt Royal Chardonnay Russian River Valley
Douglas Danielak completed the Professional Winemaking Program at the Lycée Agricole et Viticole de Beaune in Burgundy while working with Wine Exporter Rebecca Wasserman, gaining an impressive knowledge of Burgundian wines and barrels. Upon returning to California, Douglas completed his degree in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis and, for over twenty years, has made wine for some of Napa Valley’s most respected wineries.
 
Douglas and his wife Mary named Pont Neuf wines after the oldest standing bridge in Paris, symbolizing the bridge between Burgundian and Californian winemaking. By carefully applying low-intervention techniques, native yeasts, and slow malolactic fermentation, this 2019 Russian River Valley Chardonnay possesses Burgundy’s sophistication and finesse matched with California’s opulent, stunning fruit. It’s one of the most popular Chardonnays we feature by pouring in the shop and is a must-try if you love top-quality Chardonnay.
 
PONT NEUF
PONT ROYAL CHARDONNAY
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $65
 
 
“The Pont Neuf 2019 ‘Pont Royal’ Chardonnay opens with aromas of golden apple, apricot, toast, roasted almond, and crème brûlée. On the palate, the wine has a rich body with flavors of peach, cantaloupe, and macadamia nut balanced by a crisp minerality and bright acidity. The finish is long and sultry, leaving a lasting impression.”
94 Points
2019 Domaine De L'Arnesque Chateauneuf du Pape

2019 Domaine De L’Arnesque Chateauneuf du Pape

with No Comment $40-$50Cotes du RhoneFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

DOMAINE DE L’ARNESQUE

CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
VINTAGE 2019

2019 Domaine De L'Arnesque Chateauneuf du Pape
L’Arnesque is one of several small vineyard areas within the famed Châteauneuf-du-Pape region, named after its site-specific terroir and unique soils. Domaine de L’Arnesque shares this name and is owned and cared for by the 5th generation of the Biscarrat family. The vineyard’s soils are made up of limestone and clay and covered with large stones known as “galets” that absorb the warmth from the sunlight and transmit that heat to the vines during cool, breezy nights.
 
Domaine de L’Arnesque’s winemaking team utilizes a partial whole cluster fermentation, increasing this wine’s aromatics, structure, and complexity. The 2019 vintage is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, aged 12 months in 600-liter French oak barrels typical of the Rhône Valley, giving a wine with regional purity, pride and balance.
 
DOMAINE DE L’ARNESQUE
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
VINTAGE 2019
 
Your Price: $45

 

“Ripe and alluring, with a seductive display of warmed cassis and plum sauce flavors laced with melted red licorice and fruitcake notes. Fine grained through the finish, where light applewood, shiso and garriguenotes keep this honest. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2023 through 2036. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 500 cases imported.”
93 Points
2019 Armelle Et Bernard Rion Chambolle-Musigny Les Echezeaux

2019 Armelle Et Bernard Rion Chambolle-Musigny Les Echezeaux

with No Comment $90-$100BurgandyFranceKevin VogtPinot Noir

ARMELLE ET BERNARD RION

CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY
LES ECHEZEAUX 2019

2019 Armelle Et Bernard Rion Chambolle-Musigny Les Echezeaux
Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion was founded in 1896 by Pierre Rion after he acquired vines from Chateau de la Berchere during his years as a dedicated sharecropper. More than a century later, the fifth generation of the Rion family runs the winery. They have vineyard holdings strategically positioned in some of the most recognized Burgundian wine-producing villages, including Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Vougeot.
 
‘Les Echezeaux’ is planted with vines of an average age of 50 years in the southern part of the village of Chambolle-Musigny, receiving ample sunlight and achieving perfect ripeness. The 2019 vintage saw frost, hail, and drought, which lowered yields but produced small but brilliant crops with deep concentration and may be one of the best vintages in the last decade.
 
ARMELLE ET BERNARD RION
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY
LES ECHEZEAUX 2019
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“The Armelle et Bernard Rion Chambolle-Musigny Les Echezeaux 2019 opens with a bright nose of tart red cherry, cardamom, pomegranate, fresh green herbs, saddle leather, cinnamon spice, shoe polish, and freshly harvested French lavender. On the palate, the wine has flavors of Ranier cherries, white raspberries, and clove hints, along with a liquid metal/saline quality that bolsters the fresh acids and medium-grained tannins, leading to a long, elegant finish. It’s enjoyable now due to its pristinely balanced fruit/tannin structure, but it will evolve beautifully over the next decade.”
95 Points
2019 Edict Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2019 Edict Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

EDICT

PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Edict Proprietary Red Napa Valley
Edict’s team mindfully crafts boutique wines that remain true to their geographic character, offering a sense of place in each wine produced. Their approach begins with their vineyard manager’s 30 years of expertise and a collaboration with some of Napa Valley’s top growers to ensure a selection of the healthiest fruit with the most significant varietal expressions, giving their winemaker the ingredients to craft memorable wines.
 
The 2019 Proprietary Red wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend that exhibits a dynamic balance of Napa Valley terroir from several different soil types. This wine’s complex structure allows for a few years in the cellar but is already welcoming and drinking beautifully, making it the perfect wine to open anytime.
 
EDICT
PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $80
 
 
 
“Aromas of red and black fruit, espresso and crushed herbs. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity and silky tannins. Juicy and succulent on the palate. Charming. Drink or hold.”
92 Points
2019 Dolum Estates Cask #11 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

2019 Dolum Estates Cask #11 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Alexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

DOLUM ESTATES

CASK #11 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SONOMA COUNTY 2019

2019 Dolum Estates Cask #11 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
Dolum Estates’ founders strive to create wines with undeniable character and all-embracing elegance that will vividly portray their origin. Winemaker Chad Alexander’s background in soil science and experience making wine at Hess Collection and Robert Craig wineries brought their goal to fruition, producing wines with a profound depth of flavor that remain elegant and finely balanced.
 
Their 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Cask #11 embodies the classic Alexander Valley depth and complexity of the region’s ancient soils. Balanced with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville, tying in the rich and supple mouthfeel, this remarkable wine, aged in French oak, offers immediate enjoyment and the structure to age for a decade or more.
 
DOLUM ESTATES
CASK #11 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SONOMA COUNTY 2019
Retails at: $82
 
 
 
“Juicy, sumptuous, and silky, with blackberry preserves and round, supple tannins. So approachable, with a gliding, deep dive into tilled soil, espresso, and black beans beneath its soulful core.”
96 Points