Ladera 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$89.00USD

The grapes sourced for the Cabernet is like a who’s who of exceptional areas: Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Calistoga – all definitive Cabernet growing areas. This wine offers rich and deep blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry with back notes of plum, macerated black currant, red raspberry and cocoa powder. Though the oak influence is evident  (aged 22 months in 82% new French oak) it is not overwhelming. This drinks beautifully - the kind of pure enjoyment you want in a Napa Cabernet. 663 cases. ORIGIN: Napa Valley. ALCOHOL: 14.5%

Cattleya 2021 Cuvée Number One Pinot Noir

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$65.00USD

Like any good cuvée, this blend of Pinot Noir clones 115, 667, 777, Calera and Mt. Eden showcases how a blend can exceed its individual components. A mix of fruit and earthy notes, this cuvée showcases Sonoma’s premier Pinot region, the Russian River Valley. There is subtle black cherry, red raspberry, rhubarb, cola, green tea leaf, boysenberry,  and firm tannins and an almost subversive acidity. The oak program is judicious and still allows the fruit to shine through while the oak provides some structure for the wine on the mid-palate and concentrated finish. 486 cases.

2018 Paul Thevenin Volnay 1er Cru, France, Burgundy, Cotes du Beaune, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

This is from a small producer in the south of burgundy.  Light ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, char and slight green/herbal notes.  Medium bodied.  Wispy tannins.  This is better on the palate with elegant cherry fruit.  Slightly complex.  Good finish.  This is a delightful Pinot Noir that drinks well on its own and is also great with food.  A nice wine for Roasted Duck.  

2011 Agrapart Champagne Grand Cru Minéral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$127.00USD

A nice showing especially considering the vintage.  Light golden in color.  A steady stream of smaller bubble.  The nose is clean with good minerality and slight pear notes.  Full bodied but overall the wine is more on the delicate side.  Clean.  On the palate, slight pear and nice minerality as well.  Long finish.  This should drink well over the next eight to ten years.  Very food friendly.  Nice to open a bottle of this with some popcorn.  

2011 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

A difficult vintage in Champagne, but this one is drinking very well.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  A persistent bead of small bubbles form a nice mousse.  The nose is big with apples, pears, yeast and salinity.  Full bodied but good acidity.  On the palate, apples, salinity and slight yeast.  Long finish.  Delicious.  This is drinking well but should easily go another five to eight years.  Very food friendly, this would be very nice with spicy Thai food.  

2020 Raventós i Blanc Blanc de Blancs, Spain, Penedes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$17.00USD

This is a sparkling wine from Spain.  It is a blend of 45% Xarel.lo, 40% Macabeo, 12% Parellada and 3% Malvasía de Sitges.  Golden in color.  A fair amount of smaller bubbles.  The nose has char, and lemons.  Nice mouthfeel.  Good backbone of acidity.  The lemons carry thru to the palate.  Shorter finish.  Drink over the next five years.  Very food friendly, this makes a nice starter with appetizers for a holiday party or dinner.  

2008 Carlisle Syrah Pelkan Ranch, USA, California, Sonoma, Knights Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2008
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

A delicious cooler climate Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, slight bacon fat and black olives.  Medium to full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is going strong.  Lots of black raspberry fruit with some black pepper.  Good balance.  Long finish.  Drink over the next eight to ten years.  Nice on its own, but works well with food.  It went well with a vegetarian sausage casserole.  

2016 Carlisle Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Pallisades is one of the great Petite Sirah vineyards and Carlisle really nailed it with the 2016 vintage.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is great with boysenberries, gravel, blueberries and spice.  Full bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, this is delicious.  Boysenberries, black cherries, blueberries with underlying gravel.  Clean.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now but still young and may improve.  Drink over the next fifteen years.  Nice on its own, this would work well with grilled meats.

2017 Les Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastee, France, Rhone Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A

From the late Phillipe Cambie, this is 100% destemmed Grenache.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, black cherries, graphite, spices and roasted meat.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with great minerality.  Not as big a wine as one might expect from Cambie.  Deep.  Delicious.  Nice finish.  Drink over the next ten years.  Nice on its own, but better with food.  This would work well with fried chicken.  

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