2020 Awatere River Pinot Noir Marlborough

2020 Awatere River Pinot Noir Marlborough

with No Comment $30 and underNew ZealandPinot Noir

AWATERE RIVER

PINOT NOIR 2020
MARLBOROUGH

2020 Awatere River Pinot Noir Marlborough
The Awatere Valley within Marlborough, New Zealand, was created by ancient glaciers that left pockets of alluvial soils excellent for growing and producing wines with a distinct flinty minerality. This relatively cool climate is in one of the South Island’s sunniest locations, ideal for a long, slow ripening season, enhancing the fruit’s complexity and depth.
 
Awatere River Winery is a collection of 100% sustainably produced, premium wines from low-yielding vines that depict the originality of the valley’s rich, alluvial deposits from intensely aromatic fruit with nuanced flavor characteristics. 
 
The 2020 growing season in Marlborough saw idyllic weather from bud break to harvest, and the Pinot Noir from Awatere River highlights this flawless vintage with bright fruit, fresh acidity, and a long distinguished finish. 
 
PS: When we tasted this Pinot last week, everybody on our panel wanted to buy a case.
 
AWATERE RIVER
PINOT NOIR 2020
MARLBOROUGH
 
 
 
“The 2020 Awatere River Marlborough Pinot Noir begins with a bright and vibrant nose of wild raspberries, sweet baking spices, cola bean, elegant florals, and spearmint hints. The racy palate continues with focused tart red cherries, pomegranate, saline minerality, black tea, and sage. The finish is long and focused with bright acidity and integrated tannins that make it a delight to enjoy. It drinks so far beyond its price point that I was compelled to write about it even though there were professional reviews already published.”  Tasted July 2023
94 Points
2020 Dolum Estates Cabernet Sauvignoin Cask #11 Sonoma County

2020 Dolum Estates Cabernet Sauvignoin Cask #11 Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underAlexander ValleyCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtSonomaUSA

DOLUM ESTATES

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
CASK #11 2020
SONOMA COUNTY

2020 Dolum Estates Cabernet Sauvignoin Cask #11 Sonoma County
Dolum Estates’ founders strive to create wines with undeniable character and all-embracing elegance that 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 terroir-focused wines with 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. It’s balanced with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville that ties in the rich, supple mouthfeel. This impressive wine, aged in French oak, offers immediate enjoyment and the structure to age for five to seven years.
 
DOLUM ESTATES
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
CASK #11 2020
SONOMA COUNTY
Retails at: $82
 
 
 
“Massive notes of crushed stone, blackberry, earth, and licorice are gentled by the wine’s inherent elegance. It morphs from tightly wound to a tamed beast with lithe, lip-smacking tannins.”
94 Points, “Publisher’s Pick”
2020 Stemmler Pinot Noir BZ Vineyard Anderson Valley

2020 Stemmler Pinot Noir BZ Vineyard Anderson Valley

with No Comment $30 and underAnderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaUSA

STEMMLER

PINOT NOIR
BZ VINEYARD 2020
ANDERSON VALLEY

2020 Stemmler Pinot Noir BZ Vineyard Anderson Valley
Robert Stemmler began working at Charles Krug after moving to California from Germany in 1961, and later for Inglenook and Simi wineries before launching his winery focused on Pinot Noir in 1976. His Pinot Noirs rose to critical acclaim, being called the best in America in 1984. Although Robert sold in his winery 1989, he still steps in to ensure that the quality level he established over 40 years remains intact.
 
The BZ Vineyard sits near the Navarro River in the Anderson Valley, not far from the Pacific Ocean, and is one of the coolest sites the winery works and the last one harvested. Stemmler harvested wines from the 2020 vintage a little earlier than usual, allowing for a brighter character than past vintages, bringing zesty acidity and fresh red fruits from a co-fermentation of different Pinot Noir clones specially selected by the winemaking team. 
 
STEMMLER
PINOT NOIR
BZ VINEYARD 2020
ANDERSON VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The Stemmler 2020 Bz Pinot Noir opens with bright notes of red berry and stone fruits with light florals. The palate continues with cotton-candied bright red cherries, ripe strawberries, cola bean, chalk, and white flowers. It is a fresh, easy-drinking Monday through Thursday wine.”
90 Points
2020 Maison Jessiaume Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy France

2020 Maison Jessiaume Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy France

with No Comment $30 and underBurgandyChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

MAISON JESSIAUME

BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
BURGUNDY FRANCE 2020

2020 Maison Jessiaume Bourgogne Chardonnay Burgundy France
Founded in 1850 in the Santenay region of Burgundy, Maison Jessiaume’s proprietors are unwaveringly committed to continuing the winery’s legacy and showcasing unique terroirs. Jessiaume controls thirty-seven acres of organically farmed vines across fifteen sub-appellations, with their Chardonnay vines predominant in the southern areas. These vineyards provide crisp, clean acidity, minerality, and floral notes to the wines.
 
The winemaking team relies on a minimalistic approach, removing human intervention as much as possible and utilizing techniques such as ambient yeast fermentation, gravity flow, and natural clarification. The 2020 Bourgogne Chardonnay is a blend of different plots that were delicately refined over ten months in neutral French oak, keeping the characteristics of the fruit intact while providing a bit more structure, spice, and a softer mouthfeel that is delightfully approachable.
 
MAISON JESSIAUME
BOURGOGNE CHARDONNAY
BURGUNDY FRANCE 2020
 
 
 
“The Domaine Jessiaume 2020 Bourgogne Chardonnay comes from a nearly perfect vintage for white wines, evident in this wine with concentrated aromas of honeysuckle, chamomile, apricot, custard, allspice, and wet stones. On the palate, the flavors or just as intense with peach, and pear, with a hint of butterscotch pot de crème. The wine is drinking fabulously at the moment, with or without food, and is impressively delightful.”
95 Points
 
2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand

2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtNew ZealandProprietary Red

TRINITY HILL

THE GIMBLETT RED 
GIMBLETT GRAVELS 2020
HAWKES BAY NEW ZEALAND

2020 Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Hawkes Bay New Zealand
The soil composition of Gimblett Gravels, a Hawkes Bay, New Zealand subdistrict, is like a little slice of Bordeaux. As this region’s name suggests, the soil consists of gravel, which Cabernet Sauvignon vines love. Trinity Hill has been growing grapes in this area for over 25 years and is a certified Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand member. They’re committed to biodiversity and reducing their environmental impact.
 
Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson has been with Trinity Hill since 1997 and has won the New Zealand Winemaker of the Year title from Winestate Magazine. Since 2005, The Gimblett has been a Bordeaux-styled red wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. The 2020 release is no exception. It’s a beautiful wine that captures the nuances of the growing season and reflects the region’s terroir.
 
TRINITY HILL
THE GIMBLETT RED 
GIMBLETT GRAVELS 2020
HAWKES BAY NEW ZEALAND
 
 
 
“Very deep, bold and bright purple-colour and the aromas are wonderfully clear and pure, speaking loudly of cabernet sauvignon subtly backed with classy oak. The palate is supremely elegant and beautifully proportioned, with concentration but also elegance and style. A wine of real panache and great potential for cellaring. (50% cabernet franc, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot).”
97 Points
2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast

2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtPaso RoblesProprietary RedUSA

SANS LIEGE

THE OFFERING RED
CENTRAL COAST 2020

2020 Sans Liege The Offering Red Central Coast
Inspired by wines from the Southern Rhône and aligned with the freedoms of the New World, winemaker Curt Schalchlin seeks terroir with finesse and unrestrained character from the Central Coast that embody his vision. Curt relies on his intuition and carefully monitors each vineyard from Paso Robles to Solvang to ensure that only the highest quality fruit with distinct characteristics makes it to the winery.
 
The Offering is a quest for independence that embraces New World liberties in winemaking but pays tribute to one of France’s most renowned winegrowing regions. The 2020 blend marries Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with a small portion of stem inclusion that induces a spicy, herbal complexity and complements the alluring, elegant fruit flavors. It’s been a personal favorite of mine for over a decade.
 
SANS LIEGE
THE OFFERING RED
CENTRAL COAST 2020
Retails at: $33
 
 
 
“The Sans Liege The Offering 2020 begins with a bright nose that includes spicy red plums, fresh strawberries, wet stone, iodine, cocoa nibs, and fresh sage. The vibrant palate continues with lively black raspberries, preserved plums, sweet black cherries, spicy cedar, and fresh mint. Its finish is medium long, with a bright freshness, a liquid-saline complexity, and a lingering mouth-quenching quality that brings you back for more.”
94 Points
2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France

2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France

with No Comment $30 and underCahorsFranceKevin VogtMalbec

CHÂTEAU

LAMAGDELAINE NOIRE
MALBEC 2020
CAHORS, FRANCE

2020 Chateau Lamagdelain Noire Malbec Cahors France
Malbec has been produced in Cahors, France, since the late middle ages, finally receiving AOC status in 1971. The wines have continually gained popularity worldwide, competing with the grape’s new-found home in Mendoza, Argentina. Malbecs from Cahors have a firmer tannic structure and a rustic, earthy spice characteristic that beautifully contrasts with the variety’s innate fruity components. 
 
The AOC allows up to 30% of other varieties, such as Tannat or Merlot, to be blended with Malbec; however, a trending resurgence in 100% Malbec has occurred over the last two decades. Château Lamagdelaine Noire’s vines have an average age of around 40 years, providing layers of flavor and complexity, preserved by maturation in concrete eggs and concrete vats. This style of aging protects the fruit’s purity while retaining the wine’s ability to age in the bottle for another eight to ten years.
 
CHÂTEAU
LAMAGDELAINE NOIRE
MALBEC 2020
CAHORS, FRANCE
 
 
 
“The Chateau Lamagdelaine Noire 2020 Cahors Malbec opens with a brooding nose of intense aromatics, including lavender, dried thyme, black plum, chocolate brownie mix, and smoke meat. On the palate, the wine has flavors of blackberry, pomegranate, black tea leaves, and savory spice. The tannins are firm and fine-grained, and the acidity is bright, making this wine an excellent companion with food. The finish is long and complex, and the wine is a stunning example of the region.”
95 Points
2020 William Fevre Grand Cru Chablis Les Preuses

2020 William Fevre Grand Cru Chablis Les Preuses

with No Comment $100 and overBurgandyChablisFranceKevin Vogt

WILLIAM FEVRE

GRAND CRU CHABLIS
LES PREUSES 2020

2020 William Fevre Grand Cru Chablis Les Preuses
William Fèvre comes from a family with over 250 years of history living in the Chablis region, so he felt a deep connection to the land. He established his domain on just over 17 acres of vineyards in the heart of Chablis. The Domaine has expanded to be one of the largest land owners of vineyards designated as either Premier Cru or Grand Cru in the region.
 
Chablis’ famous Kimmerigian soils consist of layers of minerals and oyster fossils from the Jurassic period, giving Chablisienne wines their unique minerality and sense of place unmatched by any other location worldwide. Les Preuses is a Grand Cru vineyard situated at the top of the Côtes des Grands Crus and produces wines with a strong backbone for aging. The 2020 release matured in barrels no less than six years of age to promote varietal purity and showcase the miraculous terroir of the Grand Cru vineyard.
 
WILLIAM FEVRE
GRAND CRU CHABLIS
LES PREUSES 2020
 
 
 
“The 2020 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses is, if anything, even more electric than the formidable Valmur, wafting from the glass with notions of citrus oil, freshly baked bread, oyster jus and wet stones. Full-bodied, satiny and chiseled, it’s racy and intense, with a bright spine of acidity and a long, intensely saline finish.”
95 Points
2020 Gro Chardonnay Haspel Vineyard Mt. Veeder

2020 Gro Chardonnay Haspel Vineyard Mt. Veeder

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtMt VeederNapaUSA

GRO

CHARDONNAY 2020
HASPEL VINEYARD, MT VEEDER

2020 Gro Chardonnay Haspel Vineyard Mt. Veeder
GRO Wines proprietor Lars Bjorkman attended UC Davis to pursue a medical degree but later discovered his heart was in viticulture and enology. After receiving his degree from the world-renowned winemaking program, Lars worked in Sonoma County, Australia, and Napa Valley. Today, he works alongside owner and winemaking master Nils Venge at Saddleback Cellars in Oakville. 
 
Lars, his wife, and co-proprietor Molly Hill, also a graduate of UC Davis in the viticulture and enology program, search for charismatic vineyard sites to craft small-lot, single-vineyard wines. Mt. Veeder is the lowest yielding AVA in Napa Valley due to its rugged, volcanic soils and proximity to the San Pablo Bay, providing the Haspel Vineyard an exceptional combination of elements to produce this elegant, cool-climate-influenced style of Chardonnay.
 
GRO
CHARDONNAY 2020
HASPEL VINEYARD, MT VEEDER
Retails at: $42
 
 
 
“Pineapple, lemon, pear and yuzu notes are crisp and clean on a sleek frame, with notes of minerality, clipped lemon verbena and fresh grated ginger, with a long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2027. 217 cases made.”
92 Points
2020 Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

2020 Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

MORGAN

TWELVE CLONES
PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

2020 Morgan Twelve Clones Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
Dan and Donna Lee opened Morgan Winery in 1982, winning Gold and Platinum Medals at the Los Angeles County Fair, from Wine & Spirits Magazine in 1996, and from the San Francisco Chronicle in 2003. These awards helped to establish Morgan Winery as one of the Central Coast’s most recognized labels.
 
The winery’s flagship wine is the Twelve Clones Pinot Noir. This wine pays homage to the numerous clones of Pinot Noir that give it its layers of complex flavors and aromas. The fruit for the 2020 vintage comes from some of Santa Lucia Highlands’ best vineyards, including Morgan’s organically farmed Double L Vineyard, and was whole berry fermented, matured for nine months in French oak, and is a splendid example of the region’s best traits.
 
MORGAN
TWELVE CLONES
PINOT NOIR 2020
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Retails at: $38
 
 
 
“Dark plum and purple-flower aromas show on the nose of this clonal combination. The bold palate is hearty and rich with flavors of black raspberry, blood-orange rind and crushed graphite, offering immense, impressive depth.”
94 Points