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Top 5 Wines of 2019
Groth 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
$ 149.99
★ 96 Points
Wine Spectator #4 wine of 2019!
One of the top Napa Cabernets of the vintage, the Groth Reserve Cab is a classic. Delicious now but a great cellar candidate as well. Limited.
96 Points Wine Spectator: "Groth owns 121 acres smack in the middle of Napa’s coveted Oakville AVA. Founded by Dennis and Judy Groth in 1982, the Oakville estate has endured some ups and downs, including a large-scale replant that resulted in the absence of a Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from its lineup from 2000 to 2004. The vineyard is now in its prime, and the reserve blocks total 27.5 acres, generating a focused and refined Cabernet with an intense, fruit-driven core. Winemaker Cameron Parry ferments in stainless steel and presses before full dryness, lending a sweet fruit quality to the wine. He then ages it in 100 percent new oak for 22 months.
Westwood 2016 Legend Red Blend, Sonoma County
$ 54.99
96 points
A fantastic new discovery from Westwood Winery, one of our favorite new small-production wineries and winemaker Philippe Melka.
96 Point Wine Enthusiast *Editor's Choice*: "This red is brightly layered in fresh bluefruit, meat and garrigue, showing plenty of density and complexity. It has a wild character thats intriguing and energetic, with lasting threads of white and black pepper on the finish."
96 Points Decanter: "Winemaker Philippe Melka collaborated with Westwood Estate to create the inaugural release of this proprietary red. Melka blended in 55% Cabernet Sauvignon with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from Westwood’s biodynamically farmed Annadel Gap Vineyard. The prestigious, cool climate site is located between two mountains in Sonoma County, and is influenced by the Pacific, 20 miles to the west. Aromas of sweet, savory soil are primed with rich tones of blueberry preserves. Generous and a true extrovert, this red gives wide berth on the palate to creamy boysenberry and luscious, ripe plum. Red floral and graphite strike an accord with high-energy acidity. Finely grained tannins grip like a professional golfer, firm, but not tight – confident and seamless. Finishes with a snip of cayenne, sparking an alignment with cinnamon oak as the blue fruit turns darker."
BLEND: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre
Immortal Estate 2014 Slope Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
$ 89.99
97+ Points Parker
New release from the former Hidden Ridge winery re-baptised Immortal Estate! Winemaker Philippe Melka and proprietor Tim Martin, owner of Tusk Estates.
97+ Points Robert Parker: "As for the 2014s, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Slope from the Hidden Ridge vineyard does not suffer in comparison with the extraordinary efforts of 2013. Still a barrel sample, its riveting richness, concentration, texture and density represent another legend in the making. Crème de cassis, licorice, blackberry, earthiness and spice are all present in this magnificent example of Cabernet Sauvignon that should age beautifully for 25-30+ years...
...When I first started doing my centralized tastings of the many wineries that I could not possibly have time to visit, one of the remarkable standouts for Cabernet Sauvignon was Hidden Ridge. These are clearly world-class Cabernet Sauvignons and should be considered by any serious collector for their cellars."
Disciples 2017 Red, Napa Valley
$ 44.99
New release!
The fourth vintage of Dave Phinney's Disciples Red, the 2017 has arrived. The new Prisoner! Limited.
93 Points Robert Parker: "A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 13% Charbono, 6% Grenache and 5% Petite Sirah, the 2016 Disciples is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with gorgeous notions of hoisin, Black Forest cake, prunes and potpourri with hints of black pepper, unsmoked cigars and cloves. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and oh-so-spicy, it fills the palate with decadent fruit and a plush texture, finishing with a lively lift."
From the new winery The Crane Assembly, the Disciples Red has quite a back story. In August of 2012, four friends (Dave Phinney, Darryl Browman, Kevin A. Fox and Bryan D. Sandoli) stood in the middle of a block of hundred year old Zinfandel. The vineyard was planted by George Beldon Crane in the late nineteenth century and is one of the icons of the Napa Valley. Hours earlier they had signed the paperwork to buy the vineyard and it was just in the nick of time...they picked the grapes the next morning. Since that first year wines were made from our G.B. Crane Vineyard under the el Coco label and the GB Crane label.
Martinelli 2017 "Bella Vigna" Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
$ 44.99
Rare new release from Martinelli! The Bella Vigna Pinot Noir is sure to become your go-to wine. This approachable wine is bright and fresh, with wonderful aromas of plum, red apple and hibiscus tea. Flavors include juicy cherry pie, currants and hints of cinnamon and vanilla.
The Bella Vigna vineyard was planted to former winemaker Helen Turley's specifications and yields only 2-3 pounds of fruit, compared to the average vine that yields 20-30 pounds of fruit, creating more intense flavor, color, and uniformity. They are harvested only after current winemaker Brian Kvame tastes the fruit and is satisfied. The juice is fermented using indigenous yeasts and aged for 10 months in French oak barrels.The result is a dark burgundy/garnet-colored wine with aromas of almonds, cherries, spice and forest floor. This is not "old school" Pinot, as the rich flavors of black cherries and blueberries follow suit and lead to a long finish with supple tannins, gorgeous purity and a seamless texture.
Robert Parker: "...One of the great families of Northern California, and of course, one of the highest quality producers, the Martinellis – and rather remarkably so – only estate-bottle 15% of their production from over 300 acres of beautifully situated vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. No doubt Helen Turley, who worked at Martinelli and mentored its winemaking team, left a profound influence on the quality of the Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, Syrahs and Zinfandels, a fact that can’t be overstated. The Chardonnays all go through full malolactic fermentation and tend to see about 50% new oak. The Pinot Noirs are always 100% destemmed and largely spend no longer than ten months in about 60% new French oak...As good as 2013 is for Pinot Noir in Sonoma, 2014 actually eclipses it."
Top 5 Wines of 2019 6-Pack
$ 399.00
Each 6-pack contains each of our Top 5 Wines of 2016 + our #6 pick that just missed the cut:
1. Groth 2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - $149.99
2. Westwood 2016 Legend Red, Sonoma County - $54.99
3. Immortal Estate 2014 "Slope" Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County - $89.99
4. Disciples 2017 Red, Napa Valley - $44.99
5. Martinelli 2017 "Bella Vigna" Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast - $44.99
6. Mark Herold 2015 "Collide" Red Blend, California - $24.99
Immortal Estate 2014 "Impassable Mountain" Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
$ 329.00
99 Points - limited
New release from the former Hidden Ridge winery re-baptised Immortal Estate! Winemaker Philippe Melka and proprietor Tim Martin, owner of Tusk Estates.
99 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "All from estate fruit, the 2014 Impassible Mountain is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 27 months in 75% new French oak. It reveals a deeper ruby/purple color as well as a beautiful perfume of blackcurrants, mulled spice, graphite, crushed rock, and earth. Incredibly deep, full-bodied, and opulent, yet always with a sense of purity, minerality, and length, it's a monumental wine that builds on the palate, has ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and an awesome finish."
98 Points Robert Parker: "Something truly noble and profound can be found, once again, in the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Impassable Mountain. This just has richness beyond belief, and a level of complexity and je ne sais quoi character that is hard to articulate. This is extraordinary winemaking, obviously a great, great terroir, and a historic effort from the folks at Hidden Ridge Vineyard (which as been rebranded as Immortal Estate). I don’t think the 2014 will ever achieve the perfection of the 2013, but it will sure be fun to compare them over the next 40-50 years, if any of us live that long...
...When I first started doing my centralized tastings of the many wineries that I could not possibly have time to visit, one of the remarkable standouts for Cabernet Sauvignon was Hidden Ridge (renamed Immortal Estate). These are clearly world-class Cabernet Sauvignons and should be considered by any serious collector for their cellars."
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