This week, we’ll sample a few of our best selling and most requested wines.  At long last, the Orin Swift wines are released to the market again, after the acquisition by Gallo.  These have been the most requested, and are now tightly allocated, so don’t miss your chance to pick up some.

Customer Favorites Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, October 28th, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $20

CUSTOMER FAVORITES WINE TASTING EVENT:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• TAPIZ ALTA COLLECTION MALBEC - $17.99     “A soft and silky red with violet, berry and dark fruits on the nose and palate. Full body, fine tannins and a flavorful finish. Extremely well crafted with elegance and style.” 95 Points JS
• CHAPPELLET MOUNTAIN CUVEC - $31.99    Blended from the traditional Bordeaux varieties, including Chappellet’s own coveted estate grapes, the Chappellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend builds on their decades of experience crafting great Napa County mountain-grown wines.  A Stunning value.
• FRANK FAMILY CABERNET - $45.99    This is a good value for a Napa Cabernet. The color is a healthy dark ruby purple, the wine offers up beautiful blueberry and black raspberry fruit and is suggestive of a high-class Pomerol. 91 Points RP
• PALERMO CABERNET - $42.99      Opulent and concentrated flavors of dark fruits. Black currant and kirsch provide background to lively raspberry and cherry notes that create a near endless finish.
• MACHETE RED - $47.99    “Rich notes of plum and black cherry are balanced by forest floor and earthy accents, lingering on the long finish. Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache.” 94 Points WS
• CH. MONTELENA ZINFANDEL - $39.99    “I like the ripe fruit and round, ripe tannins to this wine. Full-bodied, flavorful and attractive. Shows depth and subtlety.” 92 Points JS

George Yount planted the first wine grapes in the Napa Valley in 1839. By 1889 there were more than 140 wineries in operation, including Schramsberg (founded in 1862), Beringer (1876) and Inglenook (1879). By the turn of the 20th century the industry saw prices plummet amidst a sea of surplus grapes, and the arrival of phylloxera dealt vintners a stunning blow as more than 80% of the valley’s vineyard acreage fell victim to the destructive root louse. An even greater threat to the Napa Valley wine industry arrived in 1920 with the enactment of Prohibition. Vineyards and wineries were abandoned over the next 14 years with only a handful of wineries continuing to operate by producing sacramental wines.

With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Napa Valley’s wine industry began its slow recovery. During this time, John Daniel Jr. resurrected Inglenook, Georges de Latour re-established Beaulieu Vineyards (BV), Louis M. Martini built  his winery and the Mondavi family purchased Charles Krug Winery.

This week, we’ll salute a few of the pioneers who resurrected the Napa Valley wine industry.

Napa Pioneers Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, October 21st, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $20

NAPA PIONEERS WINE TASTING EVENT:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• EL MOLINO CHARDONNAY - $59.99    Perfumed floral aromas and flavors of honeydew melon and honeysuckle are pure and elegant, with a zesty vibrancy and lively aftertaste. 90 Points WS
• EL MOLINO PINOT NOIR - $67.99    Sleek and smoky, with a firm, trim band of zesty wild berry, dried herb, anise and mineral notes. Ends with snappy tannins and acidity.
• HEITZ MARTHA’S VINEYARDS CABERNET - $179.99   Pure and concentrated,  Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon shares the unique beauty of its Oakville terroir with its lush varietal aroma. 94 Pts CT
• VINE CLIFF CABERNET - $49.99    “*Cellar Selection* Brawny, with an explosive concentration of blackberry, this intense wine offers hints of tobacco, smoked meat and black licorice elevated on the palate.”  92 Pts WE
• LOUIS MARTINI LOT 1 CABERNET - $119.99   “A stunning dense ruby/purple color is followed by abundant aromas of crème de cassis, new saddle leather, licorice and spice box. This full-bodied beauty should age effortlessly for 20-25+ years.”

I don’t think there’s ever been a wine as maligned and misunderstood as Merlot. Blame it on Sideways, maybe, but most wine people are shopping other varietals and excluding Merlots.  And even though Chateau Petrus – a Merlot- is the world’s most coveted wine, when is the last time a restaurant Somm suggested a Merlot?

It’s time to apply a little “scientific method” to our tasting, and remove the veil from this noble varietal.

We look forward to seeing you Friday night!

Reassessing Merlot Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, October 14th, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $20

REASSESSING MERLOT TASTING EVENT:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• FROG’S LEAP MERLOT - $35.99   Classically structured in red fruit, soft oak and peppery spice. It has cedar within, while the overall texture and breadth of the wine is lengthy, food-ready and impressive. 90 Points WE
• CAKEBREAD MERLOT - $67.99   Rich and plump on the palate with lush cherry, plum and red currantflavors framed by firm, yet fine-grained tannins, it culminates in a long finish. 93 Points CT
• SHAFER MERLOT - $59.99   ”A rich, explosive wine, the 2013 Merlot races across the palate with dark red and blue fruit, graphite, smoke, tobacco and menthol.” 92 Points V
• PLUMPJACK MERLOT - $62.99     Bright, finely sculpted and nuanced, with tons of detail and precision throughout. Sweet red and blue fruits, flowers, mint and licorice are some of the signatures.   93 Points V
• DUCKHORN THREE PALMS VYD MERLOT - $94.99    “Duckhorn Merlots from this iconic Vineyard have never been sparing in richness or wide-open fruit, and, while this version is long on the variety’s plumpness and charm, it reaches a bit further in terms of creamy complexity as well. Its layered mix of ripe cherries and sweet oak affords plenty of immediate appeal.   96 Point CG

This week we welcome back Kyle Knox, winemaker, pro surfer, and wine slinger extraordinaire.  Kyle spends a lot of time in Napa when he’s not working the wine market for R&R Wines, and has spotted several up and coming star wineries.  He’ll be on hand Friday to share some of his favorites, and lots of inside information! ~ I wouldn’t want to miss this opportunity!

We look forward to seeing you Friday night!

Kyle Knox Portfolio Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, October 7th, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $20

KYLE KNOX PORTFOLIO WINE TASTING EVENT:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• STEPHANIE CABERNET - $54.99     A three dimensional study in richness, depth and length. Mouth-filling layers of cranberry, dried raspberry, lavender, violet and cola are lifted through the elegant finish by lingering sweet oak tannins.
• 12C “G3″ CABERNET - $89.99    From the original George Latour BV vineyard.  This majestic effort is oh so easy to enjoy, delivering delightfully fine tannins that support the rich blackberry fruit, dark chocolate, toasted walnuts and baking spices. 98 Pts Parker in 2015 (Not yet rated in 2016)
• CABAUD CABERNET “BENEDICTIONS” - $149.99    Full-bodied with stunning fruit intensity and purity as well as a long finish, this was all accessed from the Missouri Hopper vineyard owned by the Beckstoffer Family. 96 Pts Parker
• BRAVE AND MAIDEN UNION by PAUL HOBBS - $32.99     Densely opaque, deep garnet glinting in the glass. Aromas of raspberry and violet tangle with baking spice, anise and caramel. Cocoa, nutmeg and rounded, restrained tannins tease the palate in a long, toasty finish.
• SKINNER SMITHERINES - $21.99    Skinner Vineyards is located in the Sierra Foothills. They reflect the history of gold mining in their region, specifically their ancestor James Skinner who was a gold miner turned wine maker.

Rick Rogers, portfolio manager for Northwest Wines, Wine Connection, Bergquist Wines, and Press Cellars will be our guest host this week.  Rick brings his vast experience and deep knowledge of wine to bear on this week’s lineup of his favorite picks in today’s market.

We look forward to seeing you Friday night!

The Portfolio Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, September 30th, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $25

THE PORTFOLIO WINE TASTING EVENT:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• ARTERBERRY MARESH PINOT NOIR - $64.99    “A beautiful bouquet with wonderful precision. The vine age does show through here (44-years-old now) with crisp detailed red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very well-judged acidity, touches of truffle and undergrowth tincturing the red berry fruit that fans out wonderfully towards the long and satisfying finish. This is a great Pinot Noir.” 95 Pts Parker
• KIONA CABERNET - $21.99    Offers terrific notes of black currants, plums, wild herbs, tobacco leaf and smoke to go with a medium to full-bodied, ripe, forward, textured profile on the palate. 90 Pts Parker
• IF SIX WAS NINE CABERNET - $49.99    The opaque ruby/purple-hued 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon If Six Was Nine possesses exceptional crème de cassis and blueberry fruit, and a full-bodied mouthfeel. This stunning effort sells for a realistic price in the scheme of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon pricing. 94 Pts Parker
• SINISTER HAND - $26.99    This Rhone styled blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault, is a crowd favorite and we think you will be just as pleased.  The nose is a enticing combination of blueberries, iron, and rhubarb pie. Blackberries take over on the finish which has just the right touch of grip.
• GRAMERCY CELLARS SYRAH - $41.99   ”Named after a French/Cajun term meaning roughly “a little something extra”, the 2013 Syrah Lagniappe is a stunning wine that has classic Syrah notes of sappy herbs, spring flowers, pepper and ample darker fruits. Tight, focused, medium to full-bodied and elegantquality level.” 95 Pts Parker

Paso wines have been gaining ever more acclaim recently. Eric Jensen of Booker Vineyard calls the 2013 vintage his “Holy Grail” and Justin Smith of Saxum says it is probably the best vintage he has ever had.  Daniel Daou (Daou Vineyards) called 2014 the vintage of his career. This week we’ll shine the spotlight on some of the incredible wines being produced.

We look forward to seeing you Friday night!

Paso Robles Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, September 23rd, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $25

PASO ROBLES WINE TASTING EVENT:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• BOOKER RLF PINOT NOIR - $49.99   “This beauty is medium to full-bodied, sexy, seamless and layered on the palate, with a terrific finish. Hats off to winemaker Eric Jensen, who’s known as a Syrah and Grenache guy, for this smokin’ effort. It should drink nicely through 2024 (although there’s no need to hold off).” 95 Pts Parker
• DAUO CABERNET - $29.99    The straight 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon should be another outstanding vintage of this cuvee and it has full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration and lots of dark chocolate, plum and smoked herb aromas and flavors. 92 Pts Parker
• STEINBECK CABERNET - $34.99    The wine has full-bodied opulence, a sumptuous mouthfeel, and is just a terrific, savory, expansive Cabernet Sauvignon that should drink well for 15 or more years.
• L’AVENTURE ESTATE CUVEE - $109.99     “A massive, gorgeously rich and decadent version of this cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cuvee (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot) is reminiscent of a 2005 Pomerol with its huge bouquet of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, damp earth and leafy herb aromas and flavors. Thick, full-bodied, unctuous and palate-saturating, yet still with purity and grace, it’s an insanely good Bordeaux blend (or close) from Paso Robles that will have two decades of overall longevity.” 98 Pts Parker
• MCPRICE MYERS BEAUTIFUL EARTH - $41.99    “Rich, concentrated and structured, with both purity and balance, it’s superb already, but will keep for a decade. It’s also a terrific value at this quality level.” 94 Pts Parker

Paul Hobbs has a colorful winemaking background. He studied pre-med at Notre Dame University but after joining a wine tasting club, switched to a career in winemaking. After studying at University of California, Davis, he rose to notoriety at Robert Mondavi, Simi and Opus One in the mid 1980s.  Twice named Wine Personality of the Year by Robert Parker, Jr., he continues to be a leading consultant winemaker around the globe.

We look forward to seeing you Friday night!

Paul Hobbs Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, September 16th, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $25

UNDER THE RADAR WINE TASTING:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• PAUL HOBBS CHARDONNAY - $59.99    Possesses great acid and obvious intensity~ just a brilliant wine that has plenty of citrus oil, white flowers, quince and peach flavors. 92 Pts Parker
• PAUL HOBBS PINOT NOIR - $62.99   Terrific! Bright, nuanced and savory, the straight Russian River Pinot has all the attributes of this strong vintage. Sweet floral notes round out a Pinot that is understated and silky.
• CROSSBARN CABERNET - $54.99     The wine has full-bodied opulence, a sumptuous mouthfeel, and is just a terrific, savory, expansive Cabernet Sauvignon that should drink well for 15 or more years. 93 Pts Parker
• PAUL HOBBS CABERNET - $129.99     This is just beautiful, an earthy, graphite-laden, crème de cassis-scented wine with plenty of depth, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a long, opulent finish. 93 Pts Parker / 92 Pts JS
• LAIRD JILLIAN’S BLEND - $29.99    I really like the juiciness of this wine, which has a dark ruby/purple color, lots of black cherry, mulberry, mocha, fruit and a nice tactile, fleshy impression with good purity, uplift and density in the long velvety finish. 91 Pts Parker

One of the challenges of wine collecting, and one of the most enjoyable aspects, is sleuthing out the best wines.  Someone came up with the “QPR” rating (Quality to Price Ratio) to describe one of the sweet spots of collecting.

This week, submitted for your approval, are some lesser known brands that earn a high QPR rating.

We look forward to seeing you Friday night!

Under the Radar Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, September 9th, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $25

UNDER THE RADAR WINE TASTING:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• TAPIZ MALBEC ~ Alta Collection - $17.99   Full body, fine tannins and a flavorful finish. Extremely well craft with elegance and style. 95 Pts JS
• JUAN GILL 18 MESES - $34.99     60% Monastrell, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah.  Full-bodied with boysenberry and blackberry on the entry. It is succulent but very well balanced.
• VOLKER EISELE CABERNET - $52.99    Maybe it’s enough that the only other Cab I know of from Eisele vineyard is Araujo, at $529 btl.  That alone gives this wine, at 1/10 the price, a sky high QPR. But this exotic, soulful Cabernet will charm you. 93 Pts WE
• HAYFORK CABERNET - $74.99    Just a brilliant showing, with enough gas in the tank to take this wine to 2030 and beyond. The price is quite fair considering the vintage in this swank neighborhood. This is one of the finest 2013s we’ve tasted this year, and will inevitably garner a high score. 96 Pts WA
• LEVENDI SWEETWATER CAB - $42.99    The grapes are grown on rocky red-soiled slopes and the wine’s texture – strikingly rich – has a backdrop of slate and dried lavender.  The creamy French oak drives texture further, enveloping the palate in what seems like forever. This is one to watch. 95 Pts TP

Heralded as one of the best vintages in a decade, 2013 delivered us quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa/Sonoma Valley. Quicksilver Rose with Epic Wines will be here to host this tasting of Blockbuster 13′s.

You had better not miss this one!

Bonanza Vintage Wine Tasting Event

Tasting Dates:

Friday, August 26th, 2016 – 5pm to 7pm

Tasting Cost: $25

BONANZA VINTAGE WINE TASTING:

Here are the wines we have selected to share with you.

• Lucien Albrecht Brut Rose - $21.99   A little palate tune-up before the heavyweights. 91 Points WS
• Roth Heritage Blend - $29.99   Flavors are intense with black fruit that meld together beautifully with the sweet oak and vanilla bean on the palate. 92 Points Robert Parker
• Regusci Caberent - $59.99   Being a classic StagsLeap District Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is very plush with great density and layers of richness across the finish. NR – 94 Points WE 2015
• Chalk Hill Red - $79.99   A spectacular dense-purple color and sweet toasty oak intermixed with licorice, blackberry, cassis and graphite are all present in this profound first-growth quality blend that should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years. This is a stunner and a revelation. 96 Points Robert Parker
• The Heavy - $64.99   Heavy, layer upon layer, very big texture, coats every inch of the palate.  Voluptous, with great integration. 94 Points QR