2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

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MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2021

2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon San Luis Obispo

In 2001, Eric and Lisa Jensen purchased 100 acres in Paso Robles, founding Booker Vineyards, followed by My Favorite Neighbor, initially focusing on farming high-quality grapes for nearby wineries. Eric started making wine on the side with his friend Justin Smith of Saxum and neighbor Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure before he and Lisa decided to create wines that would rival the best out of Napa Valley in their categories. 

Established with unwavering commitment and a refusal to compromise, My Favorite Neighbor strikes a balance with impeccable ripe fruit, intense flavors, and sumptuous textures, presenting a formidable challenge to some of the finest $100 New World Cabernets. 

Eric has consistently crafted wines from successive vintages that have garnered impressive mid-90-point scores, and his 2021 vintage stands as a remarkable successor, propelling his wine toward widespread recognition as a premier name in San Luis Obispo-area Cabernet Sauvignon.

MY FAVORITE NEIGHBOR
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2021
Retails at: $55

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“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is smoking good, with a full-bodied, rich, opulent wine that has classic cassis and darker blue fruits as well as leafy tobacco, baking spice, and bouquet garni notes. This textured, ripe, sexy wine stays nicely balanced, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s another awesome value.”

94 Points

2021 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2021 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

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KANZLER

PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

2021 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

In 1996, the Kanzler family was the first to plant vineyards in the chilly Sebastopol Hills in western Sonoma County, just eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. Steve Kanzler immersed himself in viticulture, taking classes at UC Davis, and sought advice from neighbors, winemakers, vineyard managers, and soil experts all around the county to perfect his knowledge and understanding of grape growing. 

Kanzler’s Vineyard has a legacy highlighted by Pinot Noir icons Lynmar, Rivers-Marie, and Kosta Browne, who’ve all produced a single-vineyard Pinot from Kanzler for around 20 consecutive vintages, ranking among their best wines produced. 

Striving to create intensely exquisite Pinot, winemaker Alex Kanzler crafted this Russian River Valley Pinot Noir around a core of Estate fruit, layering in Mes Filles, Marshall, Walker Station, and Wild Horse Vineyards for increased nuance. Their winemaking is gentle, precise, and skilled, and the results are simply stunning.

KANZLER
PINOT NOIR 2021
RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY

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“Ripe, with deliciously succulent waves of plum, boysenberry and mulberry fruit rolling through, laced with iris and hibiscus notes and ending with light anise and apple wood hints on the finish. Packs a nice finishing kick of fruit at the end, too, while keeping a racy edge. Best from 2024 through 2032.”

94 Points

2018 Marquesw De Murrieta Rioja Reserva Finca Ygay Rioja Spain

2018 Marques De Murrieta Rioja Reserva Finca Ygay Rioja Spain

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MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA

RIOJA RESERVA
FINCA YGAY
RIOJA SPAIN 2018

2018 Marquesw De Murrieta Rioja Reserva Finca Ygay Rioja Spain

Luciano Murrieta was one of the first winemakers to establish a winery in Rioja after his studies in Bordeaux in 1852. He achieved worldwide recognition for his signature style of producing powerful, complex, and elegant wines. The Marqués de Murrieta Reserva is a traditional Riojan wine that embodies Luciano’s passion and pays tribute to one of Rioja’s pioneers.

The vineyards are located in Rioja Alta at 320 to 485 meters above sea level and are rooted in a traditional, iconic history with modern innovation. 

The 2018 Reserva combines 82% Tempranillo, with Graciano, Mazuelo, and Garnacha aged 16 months in a mixture of new and used American oak with a year and a half in the bottle before release for a balanced integration and sophisticated drinkability.

MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA
RIOJA RESERVA
FINCA YGAY
RIOJA SPAIN 2018

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“The flagship red 2018 Rioja Reserva was produced with a blend of 86% Tempranillo, 8% Graciano, 4% Mazuelo (a.k.a. Cariñena) and 2% Garnacha selected from their 300 hectares of vineyards that exemplifies the character of the vintage and the place… Each variety and plot fermented separately in stainless steel. and the wines aged separately in American oak barrels for 21 months and then settled in concrete until bottling. It follows the path of the 2016, where I noticed a change that is taken further in this, controlling the power and increasing the freshness. It’s very aromatic, a year completely different from the 2017; it has less structure and more freshness and subtler balance and enough oomph, concentration and power neatly compensated by freshness… It’s perfumed, fresh, elegant and medium-bodied, with a velvety texture. Superb!”

94 Points

2020 Remoissenet Pere Et Fils Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy

2020 Remoissenet Pere Et Fils Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy

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REMOISSENET PÈRE et FILS

BOURGOGNE BLANC
COTE-D’OR BURGUNDY 2020

2020 Remoissenet Pere Et Fils Bourgogne Blanc Burgundy

Remoissenet Père et Fils was founded in 1877 by Joseph Remoissenet in the town of Beaune, in Burgundy, France, and today, the Remoissenet name symbolizes elegant and timeless Burgundian wines. The winery excels as a high-quality, boutique négociant, nurturing close partnerships with vineyard owners and a respected vine-growing estate with an ever-expanding portfolio of celebrated vineyards, all sustainably farmed with biodynamic principles.

The fruit for the Bourgogne Blanc comes from Estate vineyards in Northern Burgundy, including declassified Chablis and plots from Puligny-Montrachet, creating a dynamic complexity.

The 2020 release was hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of French oak and stainless steel, giving the wine enticing aromatics and maintaining purity.

REMOISSENET PÈRE et FILS
BOURGOGNE BLANC
COTE-D’OR BURGUNDY 2020

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“The Remoissenet Père et Fils 2020 Bourgogne Blanc opens with succulent notes of honeysuckle, white blossoms, fresh cream, golden apple, and chalky minerality. On the palate, the wine has vibrant acidity and lively flavors of pear, peaches and cream, quince, cinnamon roll, and honeycomb. This wine’s concentrated flavors gracefully linger on the palate, leading to a delightful and enduring finish.”

95 Points 

2019 Diego Conterno Barolo Monforte D'Alba

2019 Diego Conterno Barolo Monforte D’Alba

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DIEGO CONTERNO

BAROLO 2019
MONFORTE D’ALBA

2019 Diego Conterno Barolo Monforte D'Alba

Under the mentorship of Piedmontese luminary winemaker Beppe Colla, Diego Conterno honed his winemaking skills at the Prunotto Winery. In 1982, he and his cousins started their winery, where Diego worked for nearly two decades, further developing his winemaking signature. 

In 2000, Diego began a winemaking journey all on his own with a five-acre plot in Ginestra, one of Barolo’s named cru growing sites. Today, Diego and his son Stefano run the winery, holding an esteemed reputation for producing Nebbiolo wines. 

The 2019 Barolo comes from a selection of fruit from estate vineyards in Bricco San Pietro, San Giovanni, and Ginestra, each vinified separately and aged to perfection in a combination of traditional botti and cement tank for 30 months. 

DIEGO CONTERNO
BAROLO 2019
MONFORTE D’ALBA

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“Lifted with blood orange citrus, the 2019 Barolo Del Comune Di Monforte D’Alba is spiced with clove, menthol, and cherry. It is medium to full bodied, with fine tannins, a fresh spine of acidity, and raspberry, dusty earth, and fresh peach. I love the balance of its structure and its refined texture. This is an outstanding effort to drink 2024-2044.”

95 Points

2021 Sparkman Holler Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

2021 Sparkman Holler Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

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SPARKMAN

HOLLER 2021
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COLUMBIA VALLEY

2021 Sparkman Holler Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

Sparkman Cellars is renowned for crafting concentrated yet gracefully balanced wines from Washington State. Their wines are continually turning heads, and in 2016, their 2013 Holler Cabernet ranked #21 on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list. The winery was also named one of Wine Spectator’s Rising Stars, Wine Enthusiast’s Cult Wineries, and Wine & Spirits’ Top 100 Wineries in the World, solidifying them as a top winery in the region. 

Winemaker Linn Scott carefully selected grapes from eight distinct vineyards within Columbia Valley for the Holler Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, resulting in a wine that delivers a well-rounded representation of Columbia Valley’s terroir.

Bordeaux-inspired, the 2021 Holler checks in at 77% Cabernet Sauvignon heightened with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Aged in a combination of French, Eastern European, and American oak for 18 months, the 2021 Holler thoroughly impresses at its modest $35 Retail price.

SPARKMAN
HOLLER 2021
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COLUMBIA VALLEY

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“The Sparkman Holler Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 begins with a rich nose of red, blue, and black fruits, roasted coffee, milk chocolate, pencil shavings, and lavender. The powerful, opulent palate continues with sweet black currants, tart red currants, ripe blackberries, toasted hazelnuts, chocolate-covered espresso beans, allspice, and dried bay leaves. This is a complex wine with a deep richness on the palate, combined with satiny tannins that lead to a long, supple finish, optimally framing a wine that drinks well above its price level.

94+ Points

2021 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2021 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

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SOJOURN

PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST

2021 Sojourn Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Specializing in intensely flavored, terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Sojourn Cellars emerged as a top-tier artisanal winery in 2001, motivated to craft exclusive wines from California’s most vibrant and unique vineyards. Decades later, the winery continues turning heads by skillfully showcasing the brilliance of each carefully chosen site.

Sourcing high-quality Pinot Noir grapes from the windswept regions along Sonoma Coast and foggy Russian River Valley, the 2021 release intertwines fruit from Gap’s Crown, Sangiacomo, Walala, and Dorothy Cameron Vineyards. 

The optimal 2021 growing season offered exceptional quality grapes that were 100% destemmed, fermented in open-top fermenters, finished in French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered for ultimate purity.

SOJOURN
PINOT NOIR 2021
SONOMA COAST
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“Juicy and engaging, with heavy mulled raspberry and blood orange flavors coursing through, carried by a bright mineral edge and a flurry of red tea and savory notes. The long, lingering finish has nice latent tension. Drink now through 2030.”

93 Points

2019 Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon C.L.R.T. Napa Valley

2019 Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon C.L.R.T. Napa Valley

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BLACKSMITH

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
C.L.R.T. NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Blacksmith Cabernet Sauvignon C.L.R.T. Napa Valley

Founded in 2003 by winemaker Matt Smith, Blacksmith Cellars carved its niche in the world of high-quality wines produced at a remarkable value. Driven by their balance, freshness, and sophisticated complexity, Blacksmith wines highlight the skill, expertise, and heritage integral to exceptional, autonomous winemaking. 

Emerging from Napa Valley, where Cabernet prices regularly top $100 and up per bottle, Blacksmith’s C.L.R.T. stands out, representing unparalleled value in this premium, high-priced area.

C.L.R.T. comes from the term “claret,” a centuries-old British term used for Bordeaux wines, centering on the primary red varieties of the famous, historic region. 

The 2019 vintage results from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak, and defines value in an area known for premium Cabernet Sauvignon.

BLACKSMITH
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
C.L.R.T. NAPA VALLEY 2019

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“The Blacksmith C.L.R.T. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 begins with a nose with briary ripe blackberries, mocha, nutmeg, pie spices, and light florals. The palate continues with black currants, dried prunes, cherry Luden’s cough drops, baker’s chocolate, and cloves. It is ripe on the palate with penetrating fruit, rich flavors, complex aromas, and a medium-long finish. It’s always great to find a ridiculous value in Napa Cabernet Sauvignon.”

93 Points

2021 Lingua Franca Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

2021 Lingua Franca Estate Pinot Noir Eola-Amity-Hills Willamette Valley

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LINGUA FRANCA

ESTATE PINOT NOIR
EOLA-AMITY-HILLS 2021
WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2021 Lingua Franca Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

A rising star in Oregon’s prized Eola-Amity Hills region, Lingua Franca winery is the brainchild of Master Sommelier Larry Stone. Collaborating with legendary Burgundy icon Dominique Lafon, Lingua Franca’s organic and biodynamically farmed vineyard neighbors iconic sites, Argyle’s Lone Star, Domaine Serene’s Jerusalem Hill, and Evening Land’s Seven Springs vineyards.

The winemaking team produces world-class wines that balance New World intensity with Burgundian finesse, and for the 2021 Estate Pinot Noir, winemaker Thomas Savre consulted with Lafon and fermented 20% whole clusters for added complexity. 

Aged in primarily neutral French oak barriques to preserve the fruit’s natural essence and reflect the region’s terroir, this stunning example of Pinot Noir beautifully showcases a harmonious blend of concentration, balance, and a strong sense of place reminiscent of Burgundy but grown in Oregon.

LINGUA FRANCA
ESTATE PINOT NOIR
EOLA-AMITY-HILLS 2021
WILLAMETTE VALLEY
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“A compelling, multilayered red, with lilting raspberry and cherry flavors that expand to reveal fresh violet and earthy mineral accents, which build tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.”

95 Points

2019 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

2019 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

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MAROON

SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
COOMBSVILLE 2019

2019 Maroon Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville

Paul Maroon acquired 37 acres in Coombsville over two decades ago, supplying grapes to Napa Valley’s leading wineries until 2009, when he ventured into crafting the inaugural vintage of Maroon. Coombsville gained AVA status in 2011, swiftly earning acclaim for its cooler climate, which imparts sophistication and elegant structure to its wines in the southern reaches of Napa Valley.

Maroon Estate’s 17 acres of vines reside in a bowl-shaped depression at the base of Mount George, an extinct volcano. This site provides a patchwork of rocky volcanic soil and fertile gravelly loams, ensuring efficient drainage and optimal water supply for the vines, culminating in impeccably balanced wines. 

The 2019 Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon arose from 30-year-old vines and some younger vines, providing a wide range of complex flavors and aromas, highlighting the exceptional vintage from Napa’s most celebrated new subregion.

MAROON
SPECIAL RESERVE
CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
COOMBSVILLE 2019
Retails at: $174

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“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of blackberry pie, black cherry preserves, and warm cassis leap from the glass, leading to wafts of violets, mint tea, and tar with a hint of licorice. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully soft-spoken and savory, with nice, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness to support, finishing long and mineral-laced.”

95 Points