2019 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaUSAYountville

MERUS

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Merus is Latin for “pure” or “undiluted.” The purity behind the winery humbly came to fruition in 1998, with Erika J. Gottl and Mark Herold having crafted the inaugural vintage in their garage behind their house in Napa. The wine won international renown, and in 2007 Bill Foley added Merus to his Foley Family Wines group and restored an old ghost winery into a winemaking facility worthy of the brand.
 
The winery’s small size and long-term relationships with many Napa Valley growers allow the team to control many factors in the vineyard, including yield size, pruning, irrigation, and harvest times. The 2019 vintage is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon coming from a unique site in the Coombsville AVA with 3% Petit Verdot, sourced from a selected plot in Yountville, aged 24 months in 100% new French oak giving the already concentrated fruit additional flavor complexity, depth, and a lasting finish. 
 
MERUS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $225
 
 
 
“A killer bottle of Napa Valley magic, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Merus is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. It’s a powerful, full-bodied, uber-ripe beauty that stays lively and balanced, with beautiful blue fruits, as well as smoked tobacco, chocolate, and scored earth-like aromas and flavors. A beast of a wine with a great mid-palate and velvety tannins, it should shed its considerable baby fat over the coming 4-6 years and have two decades of overall longevity.”
97 Points
2019 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2019 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment $60-$70Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakville

GROTH 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
OAKVILLE 2019

2019 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Dennis and Judy Groth purchased an old, rundown farm in what is now the Oakville AVA in 1981. Few people in the wine business understood the value and potential of the land in Napa Valley at the time, but Ren Harris, a realtor, fellow winegrower, and founder of Paradigm Winery, was one of them. He promised the couple that this property would aspire to greatness.
 
After one year of solely selling fruit, Dennis and Judy decided to produce wine. They asked Nils Venge to be their winemaker, and after his initial visit to the estate, he commented, “That’s the Sweet Spot…that can make us world-class wine.” He proved himself right in 1985, when Robert Parker awarded the Groth Estate Cabernet Sauvignon America’s first 100-Point score.
 
The Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon comes primarily from the estate vineyard and small portions from partner growers in Oakville. The 2019 vintage is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon with 11% Merlot, rounding out the mid-palate and continuing the legacy of Groth’s outstanding reputation.
 
GROTH 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
OAKVILLE 2019
Retails at: $70
 
 
 
“Sumptuous black and blue berries, candied violets and sweet cedar on the nose. Fresh and inviting in the mouth, showing elegant red, black and blue fruit with graphite, clove and tangy orange acidity framed by pointed tannins. A lovely ageworthy red with energy and poise by winemaker Ted Henry. Drink 2022-2036”
94 Points
2019 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate

2019 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate

with No Comment $90-$100Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

PARADIGM   

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE ESTATE 2019

2019 Paradigm Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Estate
In 1976, winegrowers Ren and Marilyn Harris decided to purchase a vineyard, and without hesitation, their first choice was in what is now the Oakville AVA of Napa Valley. The Harris’s hired a promising young winemaker named Heidi Barrett for their inaugural vintage under the Paradigm label in 1991, and she’s been with them ever since, sharing her passion, knowledge, and sage-like wisdom for creating phenomenal wines from vineyards responsibly farmed with love and dedication.
 
Located directly south of Beckstoffer’s To-Kalon Vineyard and with neighbors like Opus One and Martha’s Vineyard, Paradigm Estate sits on premium terroir in the heart of Oakville. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon displays classic Oakville aromatics from perfectly ripe, lush fruit aged 20 months in French oak and 20 months in bottle before release, with the potential to age much longer. However, it is already a brilliant wine in its youth!
 
PARADIGM   
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE ESTATE 2019
 
 
 
“Our 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is dark ruby in color with aromas of deep ripe fruit, black cherries, blackberry, currants, plums, savory spice, vanilla, and toasty French Oak. Aromas and flavors show nice concentration in 2019. The wine has a dense texture and mouthcoating mouthfeel. Classic Oakville Cabernet flavors similar to the aromas. Optimum ripeness leads to a lush, rich, and well-balanced wine that bodes well for age ability. Layered and interesting with a long persistent finish. A delicious offering from Paradigm. Enjoy!”
Heidi Barrett
2019 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Nash Mill Vineyard Anderson Valley

2019 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Nash Mill Vineyard Anderson Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Anderson ValleyKevin VogtMendocino RidgePinot NoirSonomaUSA

WAITS-MAST

PINOT NOIR
NASH MILL VINEYARD
ANDERSON VALLEY 2019

2019 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir Nash Mill Vineyard Anderson Valley
Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits founded Waits-Mast in 2005 and created a brand whose core passion centers around premium, vineyard-designated Pinot Noir. Shalini Sekar joined the team as the winemaker in 2013, previously developing her foundation in music by earning a Master’s Degree in Flute and Piccolo Performance, now using that same precision, balance, and determination in her winemaking.
 
The Mariah Vineyard is sustainably farmed and found inside the Mendocino Ridge AVA at 2300 feet above sea level. The extreme elevation results in more intense sunlight hours because of its aspect above the fog layer. The various loam soils above fractured sandstone in the vineyard help provide mineral-based complexity, and the 2019 vintage gave wines with intense flavors that are enormously enjoyable on their own and a decadent enhancement to any meal.
 
WAITS-MAST
PINOT NOIR
NASH MILL VINEYARD
ANDERSON VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $52
 
 
 
“This is a beautiful Pinot Noir with a depth of flavor that will only increase in complexity over time. Find pronounced aromas and flavors of bright red cherry, strawberry and pomegranate, forest floor, toasted wood and violet. Fine-grained, silky tannins slide off the tongue; elevated acidity brings lightness and freshness from start to lingering finish.”
96 Points, “Editors’ Choice”
2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles

2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles

with No Comment $70-$80Central CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

BOOKER 

OUBLIE RED BLEND 
PASO ROBLES 2019

2019 Booker Oublie Red Blend Paso Robles
Eric and Lisa Jensen own 100 acres in Paso Robles, which they purchased more than two decades ago, intending to grow and sell premium fruit to nearby wineries. Eric worked alongside local legends Justin Smith and Stephan Asseo until he branched out independently and released his first vintage of Booker in 2005. 
 
Eric’s objective has always involved the highest farming standards using organic and biodynamic methods and maintaining a harmonious balance in the vineyard. Rhône varietals thrive on their estate, and Oublié is the winery’s Châteauneuf du Pape-inspired blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Mother nature provided a remarkable growing season in 2019, showcasing Mourvèdre and giving this wine a noticeably bolder mouthfeel than past vintages, resulting in an undeniably impressive wine.
 
BOOKER 
OUBLIE RED BLEND 
PASO ROBLES 2019
 
 
 
“The 2019 Oublié is a blend of 31% Syrah, 27% Mourvèdre, 4% Tannat and 4% Petite Sirah with a medium ruby-purple color. The nose offers gregarious mixed berry preserves and accents of potpourri, mint and fragrant earth. The palate offers juicy appeal and powerful fruit with loads of spice and floral perfume, bursts of freshness and firm, pleasantly rustic tannins, finishing very long.”
97 Points
2019 Daniel Pinot Noir Grand Vent Vineyard Petaluma Gap

2019 Daniel Pinot Noir Grand Vent Vineyard Petaluma Gap

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPetaluma GapPinot NoirSonomaUSA

DANIEL

PINOT NOIR
GRAND VENT VINEYARD
PETALUMA GAP 2019

2019 Daniel Pinot Noir Grand Vent Vineyard Petaluma Gap
Dan Fitzgerald of DANIEL Wines believes that the strong relationship between family, soil, and culture is at the heart of what makes a wine genuinely compelling. Unlike many wineries, Dan veers away from expansion and aims to stay small, focusing on a limited production of wines from premium growers with the same passionate demeanor. Case in point, Dan produced 45 cases of this gorgeous Pinot Noir.
 
Pinot Noir thrives in cool climates, and many of the world’s top Pinots come from areas with cooling coastal influences, like the Petaluma Gap in Sonoma County. The gap between the mountains funnels in cold oceanic breezes from the Pacific Ocean and creates a climate where Pinot Noir can not only fully ripen but maintain freshness. The Grand Vent Vineyard produces small crops of concentrated fruit with elegant balance, and the 2019 release is one of the best vintages of the last decade, and this is a shining example. 
 
DANIEL
PINOT NOIR
GRAND VENT VINEYARD
PETALUMA GAP 2019
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Daniel 2019 Grand Vent Petaluma Pinot Noir opens with notes of wild roses, mint, sour raspberry, red cherry, and cardamom. On the palate, the wine is concentrated with flavors of bright red fruits, bramble, black tea leaves, and a crushed rock minerality. The depth and complexity of flavors dance into a lengthy finish, delicately balanced by silky tannins and refreshing acidity.”
94 Points 
2019 Meyer Family Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fluffy Billows Oakville

2019 Meyer Family Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fluffy Billows Oakville

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

MEYER FAMILY CELLARS

FLUFFY BILLOWS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
OAKVILLE 2019

2019 Meyer Family Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fluffy Billows Oakville
Matt and Karen Meyer combine their impressive educational knowledge and practical hands-on experience to expertly craft each Meyer Family Cellars wine. Matt spent many hours shadowing his father, Justin Meyer, in the vineyards and cellar at Silver Oak, interning in Oregon, Australia, and New Zealand, eventually gaining a Master’s in Viticulture from UC Davis. Karen completed her Enology degree from Charles Sturt University in Australia and worked harvests worldwide, finally landing her in Willamette Valley, where she and Matt met.
 
The Oakville AVA is home to some of Napa Valley’s most exclusive and premium vineyards, and the Meyer family has farmed and produced Cabernet from Oakville since the mid-1970s. The 2019 growing season saw extended hang times aiding depth and layers of flavors harnessed by Matt and Karen’s meticulous winemaking methods. The Fluffy Billows Cabernet Sauvignon brings impressive power, depth, and richness uncommon in this price range.
 
MEYER FAMILY CELLARS
FLUFFY BILLOWS
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
OAKVILLE 2019
Retails at: $60
 
 
 
“The Meyer Family Cellars Fluffy Billows Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 begins with a nose of bright cherry, green herbs, wet clay, and vanilla spice. The palate continues with a complex liquid-mineral quality, beautifully balancing focused red and black fruits and mouth-quenching acidity that carries the concentrated flavors to a long, satisfying, lingering finish. This wine is a real standout Cabernet Sauvignon at this price point.” 
94 Points
2019 Chateau De La Greniere Lussac Saint-Emilion Bordeaux France

2019 Chateau De La Greniere Lussac Saint-Emilion Bordeaux France

with No Comment $30 and underBordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin VogtSaint Emilion

CHÂTEAU DE LA GRENIÈRE

LUSSAC SAINT-ÉMILION
BORDEAUX, FRANCE 2019

2019 Chateau De La Greniere Lussac Saint-Emilion Bordeaux France
Château de la Grenière was founded in the 17th century and acknowledged in the 1868 edition of “Bordeaux & Its Wines,” where it ranked amongst the finest producers in Lussac Saint-Émilion. The soils comprise limestone and clay with a top layer of gravel that encourages sufficient drainage and forces the vines’ roots to dig deep into the earth, ultimately providing compelling complexity to the grapes.
 
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc are the predominant varieties in Lussac, and Château de la Grenière’s 35-year-old vines yield a classic example of the region. The 2019 release is 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, providing an intrinsic spice that links the wine to a distinct sense of place unmatched anywhere in the world.
 
CHÂTEAU DE LA GRENIÈRE
LUSSAC SAINT-ÉMILION
BORDEAUX, FRANCE 2019
 
 
 
“Aromas of ripe dark and blue fruit with hints of chocolate, sweet tobacco and leaves. Plush and juicy with medium body, creamy tannins and a velvety mouth-feel. Soft and lingering. Drinkable now, but better after 2024.”
92 Points
2019 Buoncristiani Proprietary Red O.P.C. Napa Valley

2019 Buoncristiani Proprietary Red O.P.C. Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

BUONCRISTIANI

O.P.C. PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Buoncristiani Proprietary Red O.P.C. Napa Valley
Recreated with a fresh approach in each vintage, the Buoncristiani Brothers’ O.P.C. embodies a unique harmony discovered by blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Syrah. The wines’ signature reveals itself after rounding out the complexity and texture with Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. After 20 months in French oak and now nearly another two years in the bottle, this wine is drinking beautifully.  
 
Grapes for the O.P.C. are sourced from some of Napa’s most prized vineyards, including Hyde, Stagecoach, Hossfeld, and Bennett, creating a wine that further enhances the enjoyment of life. The brothers run all aspects of their business, from growing and production to sales and marketing, ensuring the highest quality standard. If you’re looking for a wine that will make you smile each time you taste it, this is it.
 
BUONCRISTIANI
O.P.C. PROPRIETARY RED
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $75
 
 
 
“…Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with youthful notes of crushed black and red currants, fresh blackberries, and spearmint, followed by suggestions of tilled soil, star anise, and cardamom. The full-bodied palate has impressive poise, featuring expressive black and red fruit layers and a fine-grained texture, finishing long and vibrant.”
94 Points
2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaRutherfordSaint HelenaUSA

HEIR APPARENT

RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY

2019 Heir Apparent Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Grand Napa Winery in Rutherford produces Heir Apparent wines, and winemaker Dwight Bonewell’s expert blending skills and access to exceptional vineyards paired beautifully with another outstanding vintage. Dwight crafts his Reserve Cabernet from a rigorous selection of high-quality sites in Rutherford, St Helena, and Calistoga, resulting in a multi-faceted wine embodying Napa Valley’s distinctive personality.
 
The 2019 growing season saw few challenges and a mild autumn, giving the grapes a long hang-time resulting in exceptional flavor development while retaining acidity. This particular vintage is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc added to accent the mid-palate and maintain balance, just like many of the great wines of Bordeaux.
 
HEIR APPARENT
RESERVE 2019
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY
Retails at: $125
 
 
 
“Aromas of raspberries, sour cherries, kirsch, lemon zest and sweet spices. It’s full-bodied with sleek tannins framing a juicy, sweetly fruited core. Drink or hold.”
91 Points