2021 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

2021 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

with No Comment $30 and underCentral CoastKevin VogtMontereyPinot NoirSanta Lucia HighlandsUSA

LULI

PINOT NOIR 2021
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS

2021 Luli Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
Luli represents a strategic partnership between three wine industry leaders, and their successful union illustrates the talents and strengths of their combined knowledge, skills, and experience. Master Sommelier Sara Floyd teamed up with vineyard manager Mark Pisoni and winemaker Jeff Pisoni in 2007 to create a new line of handcrafted wines from high-quality fruit at affordable prices.
 
The Pisoni brothers grew up farming in the Santa Lucia Highlands with their father, Gary, one of California’s most respected growers. They source fruit for Luli from vineyards in or near the same land they call home. The 2021 Luli Pinot Noir arose from sustainably farmed vineyards in the region that saw clear skies and moderate temperatures during the growing season, producing exceptional quality grapes and paying tribute to Pinot’s success in the area.
 
LULI
PINOT NOIR 2021
SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The Luli Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2021 begins with an intense nose of dark berries, cherry cola, dried mushrooms, and white flowers. These notes continue into a powerful, supple palate with a beautiful brightness to the rich, concentrated fruit. Always one of the best values in Pinot Noir each year, this vintage is classic for the region and another gorgeous bottling of this offering. As beautiful as it is now, it will certainly reward you with a couple of additional years of age if you can resist drinking them until then.”
92 Points
2021 Jean-Marie Reverdy Caillottes Sancerre Loire Valley

2021 Jean-Marie Reverdy Caillottes Sancerre Loire Valley

with No Comment $30-$40FranceKevin VogtLoire ValleySancerre

JEAN-MARIE REVERDY

CAILLOTTES SANCERRE
LOIRE VALLEY 2021

2021 Jean-Marie Reverdy Caillottes Sancerre Loire Valley
Domaine La Villaudière is a multi-generational winery run by Jean-Marie Reverdy and his wife Catherine, with the help of their elder son and estate winemaker Guillaume. They handcraft brilliant Sancerre, centered around sustainability, family, and preserving classic Sancerre terroir. The Sancerre AOC brings a level of sophistication to Sauvignon Blanc, unmatched by any other region in the world, with traditional farming practices and winemaking techniques passed down for generations.
 
The winery sources this stunning Sauvignon Blanc from vines grown on the renowned Caillottes soil, known for producing fruit with elaborate aromatics. The 2021 ‘Caillottes’ Sancerre offers a specific sense of place, capturing the chalky minerality and zesty citrus fruit that’s part of the region’s identity and why it’s celebrated worldwide as the epitome of Sauvignon Blanc.
 
JEAN-MARIE REVERDY
CAILLOTTES SANCERRE
LOIRE VALLEY 2021
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“Domaine La Villaudière 2021 ‘Caillottes’ Sancerre opens with aromas of bay leaf, rosemary, lime, white peach, and crushed sea shells. On the palate, the wine displays vibrant acidity and flavors of grapefruit, lemon yogurt, and gooseberry. This wine is mineral and citrus fruit-driven, balanced by a soft mouthfeel with remarkable concentration.”
94 Points
2021 Sea Slopes Pinot Noir By Fort Ross Winery Sonoma Coast

2021 Sea Slopes Pinot Noir By Fort Ross Winery Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

SEA SLOPES

BY FORT ROSS WINERY
PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST

2021 Sea Slopes Pinot Noir By Fort Ross Winery Sonoma Coast
Lester and Linda Schwartz purchased a section of forest straddling the edge of the Sonoma Coast in 1988, where wind-swept, foggy ridges overlook the Pacific. Experts advised against planting vines in this cool-climate area, claiming it was too risky for viticulture. Still, after six years of experimentation with different clones, rootstocks, and trellising systems, Lester and Linda produced their first vintage, proving the site’s ability to grow exceptional Burgundian varieties.
 
Jeff Pisoni, son of the legendary winemaker Gary Pisoni, joined the team in 2009, bringing his experience gained from growing up immersed in wine culture and his degree in Enology from the California State University Fresno. The 2021 growing season was drier than average, forcing the vines’ roots to dig deep into the earth for nutrients and water, resulting in very concentrated Pinot Noir fruit, with flavors carefully integrated by aging the wine in 80% neutral and 20% new French oak for nine months.
 
SEA SLOPES
BY FORT ROSS WINERY
PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $33
 
 
“The Sea Slopes Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 is a virtual basket of red fruits on the nose and palate, with bright and fresh red raspberries, red cherries, and ripe plum, along with violets, cola, and fresh sage. It has an excellent concentration of fruit on the finish, surrounded by slightly chalky tannins in its youth, which will soften over the next few months.”
92 Points
2021 Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Zinfandel Blend

2021 Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Zinfandel Blend

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtUSAZinfandel

ORIN SWIFT

8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
ZINFANDEL BLEND 2021

2021 Orin Swift 8 Years In The Desert Zinfandel Blend
In 2000 Dave Phinney released the inaugural vintage of a Zinfandel-based red blend called The Prisoner, which he continued to create for the next eight years until he sold the brand to Huneeus Vintners. The sale came with an eight-year non-compete agreement, preventing Dave from producing Zinfandel blends under his brand, Orin Swift.
 
Orin Swift’s 8 Years in the Desert debut in 2016 and represents those next eight years. The wine was an instant success, driven by its smooth, approachable style with seductive fruits sourced from a collection of premier vineyards in California. The 2021 vintage is the sixth iteration in the brand’s return to Zinfandel blends, with Petite Sirah and Syrah rounding out the mouthfeel and providing extra complexity; the wine is impressive in its fruit-forward style and remains beautifully balanced.  
 
ORIN SWIFT
8 YEARS IN THE DESERT
ZINFANDEL BLEND 2021
Retails at: $53
 
Your Price: $49.99
 
 
“A deep marron core with a ruby rim, the 2021 Eight Years in the Desert opens with aromas of wild blackberry, pepper, oatmeal raisin cookie, Sequoia forest floor, bay leaf and spices. The entry is broad and opulent with a mid-palate of brambly raspberry, black cherry, ripe blueberry and a hint of cacao. The wine has superb length through the finish with ripe tannins and a close of sweet oak.”
2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville

2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

POP 300

CHARDONNAY
OAKVILLE 2021

2021 Pop 300 Chardonnay Oakville
The Oakville AVA produces some of the world’s most enchanting and complex Cabernet Sauvignon, but very few people know that Chardonnay also exists in the region. Proprietor Luke Russ was raised in Oakville and maintained close relationships with his neighbors, allowing him to obtain Chardonnay grapes from a hidden parcel near a creek, offering the much-needed cooling influence for the Chardonnay grapes.
 
Luke is the Commercial Director at O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery on Howell Mountain, and with this wine, he showcases his deep roots and impressive connections. Crafted in a rich, opulent, California-style, POP 300’s 2021 vintage was aged on the lees for ten months in new French oak barrels, adding body and creaminess to this delightful Oakville Chardonnay.
 
POP 300
CHARDONNAY
OAKVILLE 2021
 
Your Price: $35
 
 
“The 2021 Pop 300 Oakville Chardonnay begins with rich aromas of honeysuckle, peach, melon, toast, and meringue. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with flavors of apricot, nectarine, passion fruit, and roasted marshmallow. The finish is long and strong with deep flavor intensity and a round mouthfeel.”
91-92 Points
2021 Aspara Cellars Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Apsara Cellars Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRoséSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

APSARA CELLARS

ROSÉ of PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021

2021 Aspara Cellars Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Founders of Apsara Cellars, Robin and Aneeta Akhurst, met 20 years ago while studying biology and environmental science in Indonesia. Their travels broadened their interest in preserving nature with organic, biodynamic, and sustainable practices. Robin obtained his degree in Enology and spent the next four years working with Anne Claude Leflaive at Domaine Leflaive in Burgundy, Matt Wenk of Two Hands Wines in the Barossa Valley, Thomas Rivers Brown of Schrader and Outpost Cellars, and Mike Smith of Myriad and Carter Cellars in the Napa Valley.
 
Nothing could have prepared Robin better than his time spent with some of the world’s top winemakers, and today he sources fruit for Apsara wines with growers who share the same ecological ideals. Robin harvested the grapes for this 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir early to maintain a vibrant acidity, low alcohol, and delicate fruity and floral notes that make a perfectly indulgent summer wine. 
 
APSARA CELLARS
ROSÉ of PINOT NOIR
SONOMA COAST 2021
 
Your Price: $29.99
 
 
“The 2021 Apsara Rosé begins with aerial notes of rose petals, pink grapefruit, mandarin orange, ginger, and fresh sage. The wine has a light body with mouthwatering acidity and refreshing flavors of peach, strawberry, and white cherry. This elegant wine is uplifting to the senses from the first sip through the delightful, zesty finish.”
94 Points
2021 Farella La Luce Sauvignon Blanc Coombsville Estate

2021 Farella La Luce Sauvignon Blanc Coombsville Estate

with No Comment $30 and underCoombsvilleKevin VogtNapaSauvignon BlancUSA

FARELLA

LA LUCE SAUVIGNON BLANC
COOMBSVILLE ESTATE 2021

2021 Farella La Luce Sauvignon Blanc Coombsville Estate
Tom Farella knew early on that he had an affinity for wine and graduated from UC Davis in 1983 with a degree in Viticulture and Enology. He left California to work in Burgundy for six years, followed by a harvest and vineyard work in Oregon before returning home to his father’s small Farella-Park Vineyards, where he was the lead winemaker from 1991 to 2018.
 
Fellow UC Davis graduate Ryan Pass is the current winemaker, and utilizing Tom’s expertise, Ryan ensures the winery’s goals are accomplished, crafting exceptionally balanced, sustainably produced wines. Farella’s hillside vineyard was planted in 1979 on volcanic ash and gravelly loam in the cool Coombsville AVA, giving the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc a distinct vibrancy, purity, and generous length.
 
FARELLA
LA LUCE SAUVIGNON BLANC
COOMBSVILLE ESTATE 2021
 
Your Price: $28
 
 
“The 2021 Farella Sauvignon Blanc opens with uplifting notes of elderflower, chamomile, grapefruit, lime zest, lemongrass, and wet stones. The wine is vivid and alive on the palate with fresh acidity and flavors of Granny Smith apple, mango, green guava, and fresh oregano. This wine is perfect for summer with a pleasant levity and verve to brighten the moment.”
94 Points
2021 La Villaudiere Sancerre Blanc Loire Valley

2021 La Villaudiere Sancerre Blanc Loire Valley

with No Comment $30 and underFranceKevin VogtLoire ValleySancerreSauvignon Blanc

LA VILLAUDIERE

SANCERRE BLANC
LOIRE VALLEY 2021

2021 La Villaudiere Sancerre Blanc Loire Valley
Sancerre brings a level of sophistication to Sauvignon Blanc unmatched by any other region in the world, with traditional farming practices and winemaking techniques passed down for generations. Domaine de la Villaudière is a multi-generational winery that today, Jean-Marie Reverdy and his wife Catherine operate with the help of their elder son and estate winemaker Guillaume, crafting beautiful Sancerre Blanc, classic to the region.
 
With an average age of over 30 years, the vines have an exposure facing south to southeast, giving ample sunshine aiding in complete ripeness and aromatic development. The 2021 Sancerre stands out for its clean, penetrating delivery and ideal balance between fruit, minerality, and acidity, displaying precisely why this classic style is sought by Sauvignon Blanc lovers worldwide.
 
LA VILLAUDIERE
SANCERRE BLANC
LOIRE VALLEY 2021
 
Your Price: $29.99

 

“The 2021 Domaine de la Villaudiere Sancerre opens with fresh notes of peony, elderflower, lime zest, green apple, rosemary, chalk, and salinity. On the palate, the wine bursts with bright white peach, citrus pith, and passion fruit that finishes with lemon cheesecake, adding a little bit of body. This wine is exquisite and refined but makes a big splash with its intense flavor profile and lengthy finish.”
93 Points
2021 Domaines Ott By Ott Rose Provence

2021 Domaines Ott By Ott Rose Provence

with No Comment $30 and underFranceKevin VogtProvenceProvenceRosé

DOMAINES OTT

BY. OTT ROSÉ
PROVENCE 2021

2021 Domaines Ott By Ott Rose Provence
Provençal rosé is the world’s benchmark style for crisp, dry, fruity, focused rosé, and Provence is the only wine region in the world with rosé production as its primary focus. Domaines Ott consists of three separate family-owned estates in the south of France, each producing wines of definition and allegiance to each vineyard’s unique terroir.
 
Château de Selle bottles By.Ott in a new part of the winery built exclusively for its production, ensuring top quality due to a fully controlled process from blending to bottle storage. The 2021 rosé has fresh fruity notes with a touch of salinity and a crisp minerality, making it a fabulous choice for a warm summer day. It offers a sensational level of quality from one of the world’s best producers of dry Rosé.
 
DOMAINES OTT
BY. OTT ROSÉ
PROVENCE 2021
 
Your Price: $27.99
 
 
“The 2021 BY.OTT Rosé opens with aromas of white blossoms, peach, orange zest, sea breezes, and wet chalk. On the palate, bright flavors of strawberry, white raspberry, and passion fruit are in a delightful balance with refreshing acidity. This wine is ready to drink and enjoyable with or without food at any time of the day.”
92 Points
2021 Martin Ray Chardonnay Concrete Fermented Dutton Ranch Vineyard

2021 Martin Ray Chardonnay Concrete Fermented Dutton Ranch Vineyard

with No Comment $30 and underChardonnayKevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

MARTIN RAY

CHARDONNAY 2021
CONCRETE FERMENTED
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD

2021 Martin Ray Chardonnay Concrete Fermented Dutton Ranch Vineyard
There’s good reason for the resurgence in concrete egg fermentation, primarily because of its convex shape, which creates a vortex that naturally stirs the wine and causes the lees to disperse throughout the vessel—this natural circulation results in a wine with a fuller body and softer texture. Martin Ray’s consistently high-scoring Dutton Ranch Chardonnay is a pristine example, with a sharp focus complemented by the richness from lees providing a noticeable balance.
 
Dutton Ranch Vineyard sits in the Green Valley subregion of the greater Russian River Valley AVA, an area known for its Goldridge sandy loam soils and proximity to the ocean, producing some of Sonoma County’s most distinguished grapes. This 2021 Chardonnay is perfect for summer with its uplifting aromas and levity that pair effortlessly with the season, offering an abundance of value and enjoyment.
 
MARTIN RAY
CHARDONNAY 2021
CONCRETE FERMENTED
DUTTON RANCH VINEYARD
Retails at: $35
 
Your Price: $26
 
 
“Sliced apples, apricot stones, jasmine, lemons and white tea on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with a very clean, focused and mineral palate. Elegant. Made in concrete eggs. Drink now. Screw cap.”
93 Points