2019 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2019 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

BLACK POWDER

2019 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2019 Black Powder Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Exploding onto the Cabernet scene like a stick of dynamite, we introduced Black Powder last year, in their maiden vintage, a phenomenon that developed an instant cult-like following for its explosive flavors, profound depth, and superior quality. Their secret lies in their vineyard sourcing, with this Cabernet coming from an undisclosed site on Oakville’s volcanic Eastside, where you’d expect and would pay over $150 per bottle for wines from the same vineyard. 
 
Setting his sights on creating wines that blow holes in industry norms, Bobby Moy passed his trial-by-fire in the wine industry mentoring under Thomas Rivers Brown before founding Black Powder. The newly released 2019 vintage is a richly concentrated offering, potent, lush, and of the caliber you’d look for from a great Oakville Vineyard, but priced far less than you’d expect.
 
BLACK POWDER
2019 OAKVILLE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Retails at: $95
 
 
 
“The 2019 Black Powder Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon has beautiful aromatics and opens with violets, cassis, plums, graphite, and cola. The palate is plush with blueberries, cloves, and chocolate for a long, enjoyable finish. The depth of flavor concentration, firm tannins, and fresh acidity give this wine the perfect structure for aging and further flavor development. Drink now through 2030.”
94 Points
2019 Vicarious Pinot Noir By Modus Operandi Sonoma Coast

2019 Vicarious Pinot Noir By Modus Operandi Sonoma Coast

VICARIOUS

BY MODUS OPERANDI
PINOT NOIR 2019
SONOMA COAST

2019 Vicarious Pinot Noir By Modus Operandi Sonoma Coast
Jason Moore of Modus Operandi Cellars is a self-taught winemaker who developed a passion for wine while working in fine dining restaurants. At 24, he moved to Napa, where immense self-discipline and valuable mentors helped shape his winemaking style of crafting deep, intensely captivating, balanced wines.
 
The Vicarious Collection is a readily drinkable, crowd-pleasing selection to simplify the sometimes overwhelming world of wine by offering a product made without snobbery and over-delivers on quality at an affordable price. The 2019 Pinot Noir is sourced from small vineyards along the Sonoma Coast, focusing on the Fort Ross-Seaview/Russian River/Occidental regions for a fresh essence of bright fruit ripened by the California sun.
 
VICARIOUS
BY MODUS OPERANDI
PINOT NOIR 2019
SONOMA COAST
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The Vicarious Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2019 immediately struck a chord when I tasted it. The nose begins with bright, zesty, classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir aromas, including red cherries, fresh berries, cola, spring flowers, and light baking spice. The balanced palate has a beautiful combination of brighter and darker fruits, beautifully blending the bright freshness with concentrated flavors and length. This bottling is a high-quality Pinot Noir at a modest price.”
93 Points
2019 Domaine De La Ville Rouge Crozes Hermitage Inspiration

2019 Domaine De La Ville Rouge Crozes Hermitage Inspiration

DOMAINE DE LA VILLE ROUGE

CROZES-HERMITAGE
INSPIRATION 2019

2019 Domaine De La Ville Rouge Crozes Hermitage Inspiration
Established in 1919, Domaine de la Ville Rouge sits on the banks of the Rhône River in the Crozes-Hermitage AOC, an area famous for producing wine with explosive, complex flavor profiles. They’ve organically farmed the vineyards since 2009 and converted to biodynamic in 2013, which helps translate the region’s authentic aromas and flavors into your glass.
 
Inspiration is 100% Syrah crafted from 20-year-old vines that were cold-soaked for 3-4 days before fermentation to extract deeper color without accumulating harsh tannins. The wine team fermented the wine with natural yeasts followed by 18 months in stainless steel for a serenely idyllic wine that’s impossible to forget as it proudly speaks of its origin with each sip.
 
DOMAINE DE LA VILLE ROUGE
CROZES-HERMITAGE
INSPIRATION 2019
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2019 Domaine de la Ville Rouge, Crozes-Hermitage “Inspiration” opens with fresh notes of garrigue, anise, blackberries, smoked meat, and caramelized sugar. The bright acidity on the palate balances the flavors of black raspberries, plums, and freshly baked brownies. This wine is ready to drink now and great with barbecued meats but will gain a more earthy complexity with a few years in the cellar.”
93 Points
2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

MATIAS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Matias Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
For years, Matias was a paragon producer of value Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, beloved for their sophistication and balance, far exceeding their price level. Now entering the Cabernet Sauvignon market, Matias sources fruit from Yountville AVA, with a small portion coming from north of Calistoga, combining depth, concentration, and balance, making anyone do a double-take when they try it at this price.
 
The wine was aged in 66% new French oak from Saury and Taransaud, striking an optimal balance between the fruit and oak. This 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has silky smooth tannins that make it easily drinkable at the moment but also has the depth and intensity of a wine that can easily lay down for a decade or so.
 
MATIAS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Rich boysenberry, opulent black plum, dark chocolate, and crushed granite combine with purple flowers and hints of vanilla spice. The satiny tannins and supple mouthfeel help make this an extraordinary value. It is rare to find a wine of this quality at this price.”
92 Points
2019 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir San Pablo Bay Block

2019 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir San Pablo Bay Block

CHERRY PIE

SAN PABLO BAY BLOCK
PINOT NOIR 2019

2019 Cherry Pie Pinot Noir San Pablo Bay Block
Jayson Woodbridge’s name is synonymous with quality, so when he approached the historic Stanly Ranch in Carneros with his sights set on producing premium Pinot Noir, he received access to some of the property’s finest blocks. Jayson is the proud founder of Hundred Acre Winery and has been awarded a remarkable twenty-two perfect 100-Point scores from Wine Advocate over the last two decades.
 
Jayson desired to add Pinot Noir to his repertoire, inspired by the juicy cherry pies his grandmother baked while he was growing up. He combined that with the simple, everyday American life artist T.R. Colletta whose art graces the label to complete his vision. Cherry Pie Pinot Noir is packed with decadent, perfectly ripe, concentrated fruit, balanced by fresh acidity, and is an absolute delight to swirl and taste.
 
CHERRY PIE
SAN PABLO BAY BLOCK
PINOT NOIR 2019
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“Robust in body and pleasurable to sip, this French oak-aged Pinot Noir is distinctive, with smoky cedar, sage, black cherry, and black pepper. Round and earthy, with unexpected muscle.”
93 Points
2019 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz South Austrailia

2019 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz South Australia

MOLLYDOOKER

THE BOXER SHIRAZ
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2019

2019 Mollydooker The Boxer Shiraz South Austrailia
“Mollydooker” is Australian slang for a left-hander, as referenced by the double left-handed boxer on the label. It also represents the punch of intensity the wine consistently delivers. Sarah and Sparky Marquis studied winemaking and began working for Sarah’s parents at Fox Creek in 1994, developing the Marquis Vineyard Watering Program that led to many award-winning wines.
 
The two began their label in 2006, with their first vintage of Mollydooker named the “Best Value Red Wine in the World” by Robert Parker. The grapes for this unabashedly bold Shiraz were grown in McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek, fermented and aged in 100% American oak for seamless integration of flavors and a sultry texture on the palate at a fantastic value.
 
MOLLYDOOKER
THE BOXER SHIRAZ
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2019
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“Thick, with sink-your-teeth-into-them tannins and powerful, ripe blackberry, huckleberry and blueberry flavors that show aromatic accents of allspice, Earl Grey tea, vanilla bean, milk chocolate and dried violet on the finish. Drink now through 2036.”
92 Points
 
“Mollydooker’s 2019 The Boxer Shiraz is—no surprise here—a big, plush wine that’s labeled at 16% alcohol. Despite that, it’s only a bit warm on the palate, with sufficient masses of blackberry fruit and vanillin oak to stand up to the alcohol. Full-bodied and supple, it’s barrel fermented in nearly 50% new oak, all of it American, but somehow comes across as pretty and harmonious, an oversized version of Fantasia’s Hyacinth Hippo dancing to its own beat.”
90 Points
2019 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

2019 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2019

2019 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo
Turning heads with yet another massive score, Eric Jensen of My Favorite Neighbor created an ideal combination of perfectly ripe fruit, flavor intensity, and lavish textures, giving some of the best $50 Cabernets anywhere a real challenge. As a homage, he created this Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from exceptional vineyards around Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Edna Valley, crafted to deliver unreal quality and shake up domestic the Cabernet Sauvignon market in this price range.
 
Eric is dedicated to growing fruit for some of the best wineries in Paso Robles, gaining experience from neighboring farmers and vintners, particularly from his original favorite neighbor, Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery. Farming is life for him, and the farmers he works with all share the common goal of growing the best fruit possible using organic or biodynamic practices, coaxing the vines to perform at their ultimate best. The results are simply stunning, and with the new 96 point score, don’t hesitate to secure yours.
 
MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2019
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“Blended with a bit of Syrah and Petit Verdot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep ruby-purple color and an alluring fragrance of cassis, violet, aniseed, bitter chocolate and coffee beans. It’s notable this vintage for Goldilocks ripeness and seamless lift, offering a chocolate-like texture and very long finish.”
96 Points
 
“…more elegant and focused, with medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, redcurrants, green tobacco, and cedary spice. I love its texture, it has ripe, polished tannins, plenty of sweet fruit, and a great, great finish, all while staying in a relatively compact, and again, elegant package. As I’ve written in the past, it would cost three to four times the price from Napa. It’s worth noting the change in appellation from Paso Robles to San Luis Obispo County, which probably allows for a wider range of fruit.”
95 Points
 
“2019 My Favorite Neighbor is deeply aromatic with incense, ripe black plums, blackcurrants, and chocolate-covered cherries. The wine has a rich, decadent mouthfeel with voluminous flavors of blueberry crumble, mocha, and butterscotch. The wine has an edgy minerality, like wet stones after a rainstorm, enhanced by the soft, chalky tannins, finishing with a succulent, velvety texture. Drink now until 2031.”
94 points
2019 Baxter Chardonnay Oppenlander Vineyard

2019 Baxter Chardonnay Oppenlander Vineyard

BAXTER

OPPENLANDER VINEYARD
CHARDONNAY 2019

2019 Baxter Chardonnay Oppenlander Vineyard
Philip Baxter gained inspiration for winemaking as a young boy working alongside his father, an influential figure and a supporter of his endeavors. After attending UC Davis, Phil took an internship in Burgundy. In France, he contributed to wine production from more than 30 vineyards ranging from village level to Grand Cru, developing French-winemaking techniques he would later bring to California.
 
Baxter wines are exclusively handmade, benefiting from Philip’s 17 years of experience and gentle, traditional French techniques that celebrate the varietal and the terroir. The grapes came from a small block on the Oppenlander vineyard. They were harvested by hand, fermented in neutral French oak, and aged on the lees for 12 months, adding body to the fresh, pure fruit flavors for a domestic Chablisienne-style Chardonnay that’ll rock your world when you try it.
 
BAXTER
OPPENLANDER VINEYARD
CHARDONNAY 2019
 
Your Price: $39.99
 
 
“The 2019 Baxter Oppenlander Chardonnay has an alluring nose opening with chamomile, orange zest, green apple, Meyer lemon, brioche, vanilla ice cream, and crushed rocks. The aromas transfer to the palate with the added complexity of white peach, apricot, and nectarine with a hint of freshly baked brioche. The bright acidity complements the zesty minerality and crisp fruit flavors that portray elegance in a glass and varietal purity.”
94 Points
2019 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

LEWIS CELLARS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Randy Lewis was a professional racecar driver for over two decades and raced in the Formula Three in Europe, where he serendipitously fell in love with wine. Driven to create wines that would compete with the best in the world, Randy’s competitive drive led him to open a Napa Valley winery. He built a talented winery team and grower relationships that would lead him to clinch the #1 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list in 2016.
 
Lewis Cellars is a very hands-on operation from the vineyard to distribution, ensuring the highest quality standards in their goal of producing truly exceptional wines. Winemaker James McCeney monitors the vineyard’s progress year-round, with each developmental stage meticulously observed so that the grapes are picked at full maturity, guaranteeing the hedonistic flavor profile that’s become their house-style.
 
LEWIS CELLARS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2019
 
Your Price: $99.99
 
 
“Layered with ripe berry, red currant and ambrosial “on the vine” character, our 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet is deliciously complex. Inflected with dusty ripe fruit and chocolaty floral aromas, the wine is concentrated yet classic with remarkable silky texture spanning the palate and augmenting the finish.
 
“Ripe black fruit, dried coconut, walnut and bark on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins. Ripe and dense with a spirited finish. Slightly old school but attractive and intense. Try after 2023.”
92 Points
2019 Domaine Armelle Et Bernard Rion La Croix Blanche Red Burgundy

2019 Domaine Armelle Et Bernard Rion La Croix Blanche Red Burgundy

DOMAINE ARMELLE ET BERNARD RION

LA CROIX BLANCHE
RED BURGUNDY 2019

2019 Domaine Armelle Et Bernard Rion La Croix Blanche Red Burgundy

Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion’s parcels in Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, Nuits-Saint-Georges, and Vougeot, are strategically located in some of Burgundy’s most desired wine-producing villages. The estate was founded in 1896 by Pierre Rion, who acquired the vines from Chateau de la Berchere from his years as a dedicated sharecropper and is still owned and operated by the same family.

The fruit for La Croix Blanche comes from vineyards planted with vines averaging 50 years old, just south of the village of Vosne-Romanée on the border with the Nuits-Saint-Georges appellation. The grapes were hand-harvested and fermented in cement before aging in oak barrels for 12 to 15 months, forming fine tannins and red fruit aromas, evolving into classic Burgundian notes of savory mushrooms and earth, ridiculously great at this low price.

 

DOMAINE ARMELL ET BERNARD RION
LA CROIX BLANCHE
RED BURGUNDY 2019

Your Price: $39.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The 2019 Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion Bourgogne La Croix Blanche Vieilles Vignes 2019 begins with a gorgeous nose of bright red cherries, fresh red currants, dried wild mushrooms, white pepper, and light florals. The palate has concentrated, penetrating red fruits combined with a slightly savory earthy complexity, made in a focused, linear style that is perfectly balanced. My first thought when I tasted it was what an incredible find this is, and I can’t remember tasting a red burgundy this great at this low price.”

94 Points