2021 Martin Ray Chardonnay Concrete Fermented Dutton Ranch Vineyard

2021 Martin Ray Chardonnay Concrete Fermented Dutton Ranch Vineyard

with No Comment

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
2018 Saddleback Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

2018 Saddleback Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville

with No Comment

SADDLEBACK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE 2018

2018 Saddleback Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Nils Venge was the first American winemaker to earn a 100-point score in 1985 with the Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, establishing a pedestal of quality winemaking that few others have achieved. He established Saddleback Cellars in the late 1970s from vineyards situated on 14 acres behind Opus One, where the soils and climate combine to produce grapes of regal qualities.
 
The estate hasn’t changed much since Nils first began growing grapes, and that’s just the way nature intended it to be. Napa’s 2018 vintage delivered pristine conditions for producing superior wines that make a powerful statement and earning an overall vintage rating of 99 Points from The Wine Spectator, matched only by Napa Valley’s 1997 vintage.
 
SADDLEBACK
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
OAKVILLE 2018
Retails at: $78
 
 
 
“The 2018 Saddleback Cellars Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon opens with sultry notes of violets, cassis, black cherry, black plum, cardamom, and petrichor. On the palate, the wine’s rich, penetrating core expresses flavors of blackberry tart and chocolate gelato with a delightfully balancing acidity and long finish. This wine is incredible right now and has a solid structure for aging, rendering years of pleasure-filled drinking experiences.”
94 Points
2017 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

2017 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

with No Comment

IMMORTAL ESTATE

SLOPE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
SONOMA COUNTY 2017

2017 Immortal Estate Slope Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
The magnificently steep vineyards of Immortal Estate are among the steepest in California, planted on a dramatic 55-degree slope on the Mayacamas range. The winery was formerly known as Hidden Ridge, and in 2019, Tusk Proprietor Tim Martin partnered up with Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander and Supermodel Kate Upton as the winery’s owners.
 
Winemaker Tim Milos made wine at Opus One, Stag’s Leap, and Cliff Lede and has two 100-Point wines under his belt, so it’s no wonder Immortal wines receive high scores from enthusiasts and critics with each new vintage. Individual barrels from eight lots were selected for the final blend of the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon producing complexly flavored, concentrated, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
IMMORTAL ESTATE
SLOPE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 
SONOMA COUNTY 2017
 
Your Price: $79.99
 
 
“A big beast of a wine, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Slope has loads of blackcurrant and blackberry-styled fruits as well as toasted spice, graphite, licorice, and crushed stone-like aromas and flavors. Structured, full-bodied, and tannic, it has masses of baby fat that will take at least 7-8 years to melt away, yet it’s one satisfying mouthful of a Cabernet today.”
94 Points

2015 I FavatiI Aglianico Iripina Campi Taurasini

with No Comment

I FAVATI

IRPINIA CAMPI TAURASINI
CRETAROSSA AGLIANICO 2015

This wine is a mouthful of flavor and syllables, so let me unpack both a bit. I Favati estate is located in the Irpinia region in central Campania, nearby the classic, key winemaking towns of Avellino, Tufo, and Taurasi. Aglianico is one of Italy’s noble red grapes and Campania’s most celebrated red variety, given the nickname “Barolo of the South” because of its notably high tannins and acidity, leading to long-lived wines with complexity and deep flavors.
 
‘Cretarossa’ is the name of the single-vineyard parcel near the village of Taurasi, where I Favati sourced fruit for this remarkable wine, and also represents the namesake DOCG of one of the most famous regions for Aglianico. This stunning example of Aglianico falls under the newer Irpinia-Campi Taursini DOC because of its less stringent aging regulations to produce a more approachable and accessible wine but with all the earth, dark fruit, spice, and mineral-driven components classic to the varietal.
 
I FAVATI
IRPINIA CAMPI TAURASINI
CRETAROSSA AGLIANICO 2015
 
Your Price: $32
 
 
“The 2015 I Favati, Irpinia Campi Taurasini Aglianico ‘Cretarossa’ opens with fresh bergamot, rose petals, black cherry, cloves, dusty earth, cigar box, and leather. On the palate, the wine has flavors of plum, black olive, black peppercorn, and balsamic glaze. This rustic style of wine is supported with bright acidity, well-structured tannins, and intensity of flavor that allows the wine to age gracefully for those who have the patience. The 2015 vintage has a few years in the bottle and is seriously impressive at the moment.”
95 Points
2020 Sailors Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2020 Sailors Grave Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment

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
2019 Duckhorn Merlot Three Palms Napa Valley

2019 Duckhorn Merlot Three Palms Napa Valley

with No Comment

DUCKHORN 

THREE PALMS MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY 2019

2019 Duckhorn Merlot Three Palms Napa Valley
Duckhorn has been setting the New World standard for Merlot since their initial bottling of the Three Palms Vineyard in 1978. In 2017, Wine Spectator awarded the 2014 Three Palms Vineyard Merlot as the “Wine of the Year,” solidifying its reputation as a benchmark for the variety.
 
The vineyard’s location up-valley consists of poor, thin volcanic soils that force the vine’s roots deep into the earth in search of nutrients, reducing yields and boosting the concentration of flavors. 2019 was yet another fantastic vintage for Napa, which means this wine is already exceeding expectations and will continue to do so for years to come.
 
DUCKHORN 
THREE PALMS MERLOT
NAPA VALLEY 2019
Retails at: $115
 
Your Price: $110
 
 
“The exceptional 2019 growing season produced a fascinating and elegantly full-bodied expression of Merlot at the famed Three Palms Vineyard. Luxurious aromas of black plum, boysenberry and dark chocolate leap from the glass, followed by hints of sweet molasses and vanilla bean. On the palate, firm tannins and undercurrents of energetic acidity add brightness and poise to lush dark berry flavors, while promising a long life ahead.”
2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment

MaCo

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018

2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Expert viticulturist Roberto Corona and wine aficionado Jesus Maciel created a dynamic equilibrium when they founded MaCo Vineyards in 2009. They’ve since developed a standard of excellence for Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District. The vineyards are located on the western side of Silverado Trail near Soda Canyon Road, facing east, receiving copious amounts of California sunshine before being cooled nightly by the region’s breezes from the San Pablo Bay, helping maintain a bright acidity.
 
The second generation of MaCo Vineyards, Alvaro Camacho, pulled up to our tasting in his farm truck to present his family’s wines to our tasting panel, making it evident that he was serious about the MaCo Vineyards legacy. 2018 in Napa was a vintage for the record books, and MaCo’s Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon impressed us as soon as the bottle was opened, signaling a promising future for years to come.
 
MaCo
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
NAPA VALLEY 2018
Retails at: $100
 
 
 
“The 2018 MaCo Cabernet Sauvignon opens with notes of lavender, blueberry, blackberry jam, black currants, wet stones, cloves, and earth. On the palate, flavors of black raspberry, marionberry pie, and cocoa are concentrated and balanced by fresh acidity. This wine’s fine-grained tannic structure and intensity promise longevity and the ability to evolve in the cellar if you have the patience to do so.
94-95 Points
Purecru Brut Rose Cuvee XXI California

Purecru Brut Rose Cuvee XXI California

with No Comment

PURECRU

BRUT ROSÉ
CUVEE XXI CALIFORNIA

Purecru Brut Rose Cuvee XXI California
PureCru’s magnetic energy and engrossing charm have touched just about everybody coming into our shop since we introduced it in January, and we’ve urged everybody to try it. The Los Angeles International Wine Competition recently confirmed our enthusiasm for this wine. A panel of judges at the competition rated it 98 points and Best of Class, making it their highest-rated Sparkling wine. 
 
Mitch Cosentino is the mastermind behind PureCru; calling on his half-century of experience, he uses a single-stream fermentation to make it. Midway through fermentation, he transferred the partially fermented juice into a custom pressure-controlled tank, resulting in a wine with remarkable fruit intensity, balance, and freshness. Created from 100% Sangiovese grapes, PureCru Brut Rosé releases a sensational bouquet of aromas and flavors unique to the spicy, seductive Sangiovese variety brought forward by the single-stream fermentation method.
 
PURECRU
BRUT ROSÉ
CUVEE XXI CALIFORNIA
 
Your Price: $36
 
 
“The PureCru Brut Rosé XXI opens with an abundance of bright aromas beginning with jasmine, lime zest, wild strawberries, raspberries, lychee, passion fruit, pomegranate, and lemongrass. The aromas carry over onto the palate bursting with intensity and zesty fruit flavors accented by fresh acidity and a creamy effervescence. The finish is long and delightful as it slowly fades away, causing you to crave sip after sip.”
96 Points
2006 Pella Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard Rutherford Napa Valley

2006 Pella Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard Rutherford Napa Valley

with No Comment

PELLA 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STAR VINEYARD RUTHERFORD
NAPA VALLEY 2006

2006 Pella Cabernet Sauvignon Star Vineyard Rutherford Napa Valley
Kristof Nils Anderson is the founding winemaker of Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville and Scribe in Sonoma and is famous for the way he makes tannins “dance” on the palate in his terroir distinctive wines. His wines are known to have extended aging potential and the ability to evolve into magic in the glass, and Pella, a personal label named after his daughter, is the epitome of this signature style.
 
The fruit for this bold 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the exemplary Star Vineyard in Rutherford, farmed by none other than renowned viticulturist David Abreu. The wine was aged for two years in fine-grained Tonnellerie Demptos Barrique Reserve French oak barrels before its long journey in the bottle leading to this magic.
 
On a side note, we are lucky to have Joel Aiken, an expert in Rutherford terroir, on our tasting panel. Joel spent 27 years as BV’s winemaker, and he agrees this wine is precisely what a supremely well-made Rutherford Cabernet should be.
 
PELLA 
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
STAR VINEYARD RUTHERFORD
NAPA VALLEY 2006
Retails at: $100
 
 
 
“I don’t get overly excited about many wines, particularly if they have any extended age. Age, for the sake of age, is not my thing. Extended cellaring that transforms a bottle of wine into something otherworldly, now you have my attention. The 2006 Pella Star Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, yes 2006, no typo here, is drinking otherworldly now. Still inky in the glass, it begins with a powerful nose of briary black currants, freshly ground espresso beans, milk chocolate, and sweet vanilla spice. The palate is rich and decadent with deep black fruits, concentrated Creme de Cassis, delicate florals, and an unbelievably supple mouthfeel. The finish is very long, linear, expansive, and as compelling as you might hope to experience. Perfection is difficult to achieve and even harder for me to acknowledge, but this wine is about as close as I have seen. Simply brilliant!” I tasted two bottles over several days, and my notes are consistent. Wow!
98 Points
2021 Sanna Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valle

2021 Sanna Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

with No Comment

SANNA

SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA VALLEY 2021

2021 Sanna Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valle
Kristof Nils Anderson has been making wine in the Napa Valley since the early 1990s and is the founding winemaker of Gargiulo Vineyards in Oakville and Scribe in Sonoma. He gained invaluable experience on the scientific side of winemaking while working at ETS Wine Labs in St. Helena and is now known for his terroir-distinctive style that presents with precision balance, finesse, and length. 
 
Sourced from a single vineyard in Coombsville, this 100% Musque Clone Sauvignon Blanc was fermented in stainless steel, preserving its purity, fresh fruit character, and zesty vibes. Kristof created this wine as a homage to his daughter, and with just 75 cases produced in 2021, don’t hesitate to secure yours to enjoy and enliven your summer.
 
SANNA
SAUVIGNON BLANC
NAPA VALLEY 2021
Retails at: $42
 
 
 
“The Sanna 2021 Sauvignon Blanc opens with fresh aromas of elderflower, pink grapefruit, lime zest, fresh-cut grass, and passion fruit. On the palate, the wine’s lively acidity perfectly complements the bright fruit flavors like honeydew melon and lychee. This wine is an excellent pairing for warm summer days but still has the sophistication to accompany a fine dining experience.”
94 Points