2020 Pascal Bouchard Chablis 'Le Classique' Burgundy

2020 Pascal Bouchard Chablis ‘Le Classique” Burgundy

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyChablisFranceKevin Vogt

PASCAL BOUCHARD

CHABLIS ‘LE CLASSIQUE’
BURGUNDY 2020

2020 Pascal Bouchard Chablis 'Le Classique' Burgundy
Located in the heart of Chablis, Pascal Bouchard is passionately committed to delivering the finest expression of Chardonnay from this world-renowned region. The winery is equipped with state-of-the-art stainless steel fermentation tanks, allowing vibrant fruit characteristics to highlight their wines.
 
Florent Denieuil has been making Pascal Bouchard wines for over 20 years and has an intimate knowledge of their vineyards. He vinifies individual plots separately to ensure each site’s terroir transfers transparently into the final wine. “Le Classic” is his homage to the traditional Chablisienne wines, arguably the purest expression of Chardonnay worldwide. The 2020 vintage showcases the region’s hallmark minerality, perfectly balanced with fruit intensity in this delightful Chablis.
 
PASCAL BOUCHARD
CHABLIS ‘LE CLASSIQUE’
BURGUNDY 2020
 
Your Price: $38
 
 
“The Pascal Bouchard 2020 “Le Classic” Chablis opens with intense aromas of jasmine, chamomile, lemon, white peach, nectarine, cantaloupe, and a wet chalk minerality. The palate is complex with flavors of green apple, passion fruit, green guava, and apricot. This wine is bright and delightful, with a depth of flavors that envelops your taste buds with hedonistic pleasure.”
94 Points
2020 Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio Collio

2020 Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio Collio

with No Comment $30 and underItalyKevin VogtPinot Grigio

LIVIO FELLUGA

PINOT GRIGIO
COLLIO 2020

2020 Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio Collio
Livio Felluga has identified with Friuli’s most traditional and passionate winemaking traditions for six generations and continues today in that same pursuit in the vineyards that Livio renovated in Rosazzo. Their vineyards are a part of the “Geographic Map” of the region and symbolize Friuli’s prestige, proudly displayed on their wine labels since 1956. 
 
Livio passed down the respect for the environment, terroir, attention to detail, and quality control to his children, who nurture and maintain the estate. The 2020 Pinot Grigio exemplifies Friuli’s cultural adoration for the varietal and celebrates its fun and playful nature in a refreshing, easy-drinking wine.
 
These guys are a reference standard for high-quality Friuli Pinot Grigio, and they should be on everybody’s radar.
 
LIVIO FELLUGA
PINOT GRIGIO
COLLIO 2020
 
Your Price: $27.99
 
 
“A textbook pinot grigio with peach and sliced cooked apple, as well as lemon curd. Medium body. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
92 Points
2020 Castello Romitorio Super Tuscan

2020 Castello Romitorio Super Tuscan

with No Comment $30 and underChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

CASTELLO ROMITORIO

ROMITORO SUPER TUSCAN
TUSCANY 2020

2020 Castello Romitorio Super Tuscan
Castello Romitorio was purchased by Italian artist Sandro Chia in 1984, who initiated a complete restoration of the historic property that has served as a Roman temple, fortress, monastery, castle, and manor house. Sandro believes the best expressions of art and wine thrive with a minimalistic approach and that natural progression should never be altered but rather enhanced.
 
Toscana IGT allows for international varieties, most commonly French, proving Tuscany has incredible potential for world-class wines outside their indigenous varieties. The 2020 ‘Romitòro’ is a blend of Petit Verdot and Syrah that encompasses the winery’s vision of artistic exploration and dedication to excellence.
 
CASTELLO ROMITORIO
ROMITORO SUPER TUSCAN
TUSCANY 2020
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $27
 
 
“The 2020 RomiTòro is a blend of Petit Verdot and Syrah, and it does a terrific job of capturing the exuberance and jovial qualities of sunny Tuscany. The wine shows layers of candied cherries, crème de cassis, sweet almond paste and even a touch of crushed mineral or aspirin. This 70,000-bottle release is creamy and rich in texture, with lots of plump primary flavors and absolutely no rough edges.”
93 Points
 
“The 2020 Romitoro is packed full of balanced pleasure. It’s dark yet also rich and spicy, with blue-toned florals giving way to currants, worn leather and smoke. This is elegant and plush on the palate, with masses of tart wildberries energized by zesty acidity while giving way to inner rose perfumes.  The 2020 finishes with amazing length and potency, as it leaves a staining of liquid lavender and sweet violets. The Romitoro, a blend of Petit Verdot and Syrah, is showing beautifully today.” 
92 Points
2020 Stemmler Pinot Nour Nugent Vineyard

2020 Stemmler Pinot Nour Nugent Vineyard

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonoma

STEMMLER

PINOT NOIR
NUGENT VINEYARD 2020
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2020 Stemmler Pinot Nour Nugent Vineyard
Robert Stemmler migrated to California from Germany in 1961, taking a job at Charles Krug Winery; he later worked for Inglenook and Simi before opening his winery in 1976, focusing on Pinot Noir production. His first vintage release was in 1982, and by 1984 critics were calling his Pinot Noirs the best in America.
 
Robert sold the winery in 1989 but still assists whenever needed to help maintain that quality that he established 40 years ago. The Nugent vineyard, planted in 1997 with Calera, Dijon 667, and Pommard clones, brings delightful nuances to the blend, and the 2020 vintage delivers a bright and light yet concentrated wine that’s hard to resist at this price.
 
STEMMLER
PINOT NOIR
NUGENT VINEYARD 2020
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Retails at: $50
 
 
 
“The 2020 Stemmler Nugent Vineyard Pinot Noir opens with bright notes of red cherry, wild strawberry, baking spices, earth, crushed rock minerality, and crushed oregano. On the palate, the wine has flavors of cranberry, berry bramble, and cloves with refreshing acidity and soft tannins that result in a super smooth finish. This wine is an outstanding value and should not be missed by Pinot Noir lovers looking for a wine for any night of the week.”
92 Points
2020 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2020 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma Coast

FLOWERS

PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2020

2020 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Flowers Winery founders were among the first to see the potential in the rough and rugged Sonoma Coast, planting their first vineyard in the area over 30 years ago. Their organic and biodynamic approach to farming is part of their continued commitment to respect the environment and cultivate healthier vines for higher quality wines, which you can taste in all of the wines they produce.
 
The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir features a selection of small, family-owned vineyards, including the Sea View Ridge estate bringing forth an ultimate expression of cool-climate, coastal fruit. The 2020 vintage experienced lower than average rainfall that stressed the vines and reduced yields resulting in super-concentrated fruit that reflects the continued pursuit of quality that Flowers delivers with each new vintage.
 
FLOWERS
PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2020
Retails at: $55
 
Your Price: $45
 
 
“The 2020 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir begins with inviting aromas of rose petals, violets, red currants, freshly sliced strawberries, black tea, forest floor, and wet stones. The wine is lively on the palate with a natural acidity that balances and complements flavors of red cherry, cranberry, and Bella mushrooms. This wine is a part of a consistent line of excellent quality wines for an approachable price, portraying an exemplary creation.”
92 Points
2020 Grand Napa Pinot Noir Los Carneros

2020 Grand Napa Pinot Noir Los Carneros

with No Comment $30-$40CarnerosKevin VogtNapaPinot NoirUSA

GRAND NAPA

PINOT NOIR
LOS CARNEROS 2020

2020 Grand Napa Pinot Noir Los Carneros
Grand Napa Vineyards in Rutherford is known for sourcing grapes from sustainably farmed vineyards throughout the Napa Valley that produce wines with depth, character, and balance with plush tannins and intense concentration. Winemaker Dwight Bonewell is involved in the vineyards and the winery, ensuring that only the best fruit is harvested and sorted by hand before coaxing each vineyard’s unique character into its purest expression.
 
The Los Carneros AVA receives cooling breezes from the San Pablo Bay that benefit cooler-climate grapes such as Pinot Noir, helping retain the variety’s crisp, bright acidity. The 2020 Los Carneros Pinot Noir was aged for six months in 20% new French oak, emphasizing the fruit characteristics and site-specific terroir of the AVA, resulting in a superbly balanced and deeply satisfying Pinot Noir at a price too low to pass up.
 
GRAND NAPA
PINOT NOIR
LOS CARNEROS 2020
Retails at: $90
 
 
 
“The 2020 Grand Napa Los Carneros Pinot Noir has a bright nose of pie cherries, cola, dried mushrooms, white flowers, and brown sugar. The seamless palate has flavors of red cherries, mixed berries, vanilla hints, and liquid minerals. It’s a lush, easy-drinking wine, balanced by the fresh acidity. The wine team bottled it in May of 2022 and, although drinking nicely now, will certainly benefit from more time in the bottle. Drink now through 2028.”
92 Points
2020 Sailors Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2020 Sailors Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

SAILOR’S GRAVE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2020

2020 Sailors Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Sailor’s Grave pays homage to Michael Pozzan’s father, Byron, who spent years at sea marking each port with a new tattoo representing the long, arduous journeys many sailors embarked on, some never returning home. Michael is the founder of Michael Pozzan Winery and is known for his ability to hand-select exceptional fruit in each vintage, producing affordable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with intense character, richness, and depth.
 
The 2020 vintage comprises 97% Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Zinfandel, offering a well-rounded interpretation of the valley with two classic varietals. Sailor’s Grave’s 2020 vintage inks a remarkable story with richly concentrated flavors and impressive fruit purity balanced by bright acidity, creating a delightful wine to drink any day of the week.
 
SAILOR’S GRAVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2020
Retails at: $45
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The Sailor’s Grave Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is opulent from the start, with aromas of black currants, black plums, tobacco, fresh violets, and dried vanilla bean. The palate continues with rich blackberries and black raspberries with hints of sage and clove. The refined structure and rich, lengthy finish might make you forget that this is a value Napa Cabernet. Indeed, it is a very good Napa Cabernet regardless of price.”
92 Points
2020 Capo Zafferano Rosso Appassimento Puglia IGT

2020 Capo Zafferano Rosso Appassimento Puglia IGT

with No Comment ItalyKevin VogtRosso

CAPO ZAFFERANO

ROSSO APPASSIMENTO
PUGLIA IGT 2020

2020 Capo Zafferano Rosso Appassimento Puglia IGT
Capo Zafferano is proud to represent the rich traditions of Apulia in the Salento region in the heel of Italy’s boot. The area’s ancient soils and long, warm growing seasons are the ideal environment for varietals such as Negroamaro and Primitivo, known for their deep, dark colors, intense flavors, and high tannin levels equally balanced with fresh, natural acidity.
 
Appassimento is the process of naturally, partially drying the grapes on the vine to give a greater concentration of colors, aromas, and flavors. The grapes for the 2020 Rosso Appassimento dried on the vine for 15 days, and the wine is a blend of Negroamaro, Primitivo, and Merlot to help soften the structure for a more approachable wine. 
 
CAPO ZAFFERANO
ROSSO APPASSIMENTO
PUGLIA IGT 2020
 
Your Price: $25
 
 
“The Capo Zafferano 2020 Rosso Appassimento opens with intense aromas of blackberry, black cherries, prune, gingerbread, dried thyme, and freshly ground coffee beans. On the palate, the wine has pronounced flavors of black plum, prune, cinnamon, mocha, and dark chocolate. The fine-grained tannins and ripe fruit flavors are beautifully balanced by high acidity and lead to a long, lush finish.”
95-96 Points Anne Sewell, WSET Diploma Candidate
2020 Macauley Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley

2020 Macauley Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50ChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

MACAULEY

CHARDONNAY 2020
BACIGALUPI VINEYARD
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2020 Macauley Chardonnay Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley
Macauley Vineyard was founded in 1980 by Ann Macauley Watson and today is owned and operated by her son Mac. Mac began his love affair in the wine industry after crushing his first vintage in 2001 while working for Rudd Estate. He works closely with his childhood friend Kirk Venge, son of the renowned winemaker Nils Venge, to craft wines representing the next generation of exceptional winemaking.
 
Mac and Kirk share the same goal of producing wines with depth, brilliance, and a range of complexity directly related to each site’s specific terroir. Their Chardonnay beautifully depicts the historic Bacigalupi vineyard, coming from the same block that went into the famed 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, winner at the iconic Judgement of Paris tasting. The wine indulges the senses with its Burgundian finesse, balance, and bright acidity from equal treatments of concrete, oak, and stainless steel, producing a mere 315 cases.
 
MACAULEY
CHARDONNAY 2020
BACIGALUPI VINEYARD
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
 
Your Price: $48
 
 
“The Macauley 2020 Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay opens with rich aromas of apricot, nectarine, honeydew melon, cinnamon apple strudel, toast, and wet rocks. On the palate, the wine has opulent flavors of peach, lemon yogurt, and a hint of vanilla extract with a long, pleasant finish. This wine is ready to drink now and has a structure suitable for aging.”
93 Points
2020 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2020 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

ANGELINE

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
PINOT NOIR 2020

2020 Angeline Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Centered in the heart of the Russian River Valley, Angeline winery specializes in fermenting small lots of fruit from some of the best regions in California. Their winemaking philosophy involves minimal intervention and sustainability, recycling stems, seeds, and skins from the pomace back into the vineyard, and solar energy supplying 80% of the winery’s power, resulting in wines you can feel even better about drinking. 
 
Angeline’s 2020 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir grapes come from various specially selected sites blended to accentuate Pinot Noirs’ most desired characteristics. Yields were lower for Pinot Noir in 2020, resulting in more concentrated flavors, proving that sometimes less is more, resulting in this beautifully-built, lush, easy-drinking, and delightful value.
 
ANGELINE
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
PINOT NOIR 2020
Retails at: $25
 
Your Price: $19.99
 
 
“Aromas of cherries, ripe raspberries, toasted bread and baking spices with mushroom undertones. Medium body with fine tannins and bright acidity. Lively and sharp on the palate with a fresh, dry finish. Drink now. Screw cap.”
92 Points