IntoWine Founder Brad Prescott's weekly wine recommendations.

Wine To Go Buy This Week – New Year’s Edition -Domaine Carneros 2008 Le Reve Blanc de Blancs – 90 Points

France’s Champagne Taittinger started its U.S label with the opening of Domaine Carneros in 1987 and has gone on to create world-class sparkling wines in America, of which their flagship Le Reve has always been a consistent standout. This Blanc de Blanc is comprised of five Chardonnay clones from the Domaine’s Carneros estate fruit.

Wines To Go Buy This Week – Christmas Edition - Peter Michael 2013 Au Paradis Estate Cabernet Sauvignon – 95 Points

Au Paradis, paradise, is the expression of the Peter Michael Winery’s only Napa wine (the winery is based in Sonoma). Pulled from fruit from the Oak Knoll AVA, on the nose there is rich opulent fruit and the seamless integration of wood is apparent. Comprised from a minimum of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance of the fruit being Cabernet Franc, there are notes of sweet charred oak, red raspberry, black cherry, huckleberry, tobacco and mocha that draw you in.

Wines To Go Buy This Week - Gallica 2015 Albariño – 92 Points

Rosemary Cakebread has a long-standing relationship with wine, spending 15 years as winemaker and consultant for Spottswoode Winery in Napa. She launched her Gallica project in 2007. From her small portfolio she makes only one white wine and by her own admission she makes wine in such a way that, “you have to think about what’s in your glass,” she tells IntoWine.

Wines To Go Buy This Week - 2013 Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley – 89 POINTS

The Kunde family has been making wine since 1904 in the Sonoma Valley and today commands over 700 planted acres of grapes (they received “Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing” status in 2010), of which Cabernet has long been their star. Cabernet can be pricy, but this Kunde 2013 Cabernet stops you in your tracks given its price to quality ratio. Comprised of five different Cabernet clones (337, 4, 15, 169, 8) this is an exceptional value Cabernet, well structured and very enjoyable to drink.

2020 Calera Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir, Reed Vineyard

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$95.00USD

Calera has farmed their separate but distinctive vineyards since 1973. Limestone rich soil, high elevation, native yeast and whole cluster pressed are just some of the attributes of Calera’s program. These work together year after year to produce stellar wines. The Reed Vineyard fruit has more of an earthy quality to it. There are darker notes of black cherry, blackberry, huckleberry, raspberry and faint herbs The acidity is mild as are the tannins, yet it drinks very well, and cries out for food to help show off the fruit.

Duckhorn 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$80.00USD

More mature than past vintages, this has nice tight tannins and acidity to make the fruit work well for aging long-term. The dusty fruit of blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and huckleberry gives way to light vanilla from the oak influence and slight cocoa notes. The oak certainly plays a major influence here, but it does not detract from the beautiful fruit that has been harvested for this wine. Though this wine has a lot of production, the quality is still amazing for the number of cases it produces That takes control, and focus by the winemaking team at Duckhorn.

2022 Quivira Rosé, Wine Creek Ranch, Dry Creek Valley

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

For 20 years Quivira Vineyards has produced a Provencal-style Rosé with Grenache as the lead variety. Additionally there is also 20% Primitivo, and smaller amounts of Counoise, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre. There is soft fruit and soft acidity here, a wine that doesn’t overshadow any companion foods. Strawberry, stone, fruits, light citrus, black cherry, rhubarb, and subtle lemon lime fill out the palate. This is not a wine that announces itself and takes control, this is a subtle wine that is meant to be part of the meal.

Almare Spritz, Pompelo Rosa

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$15.00USD

The origins of the Italian Spritz date back to the late 1800s when German soldiers found the local Italian wines too strong. The soldiers added a “spritz” of water to the wine to create a lighter beverage. Using 100% Glera grapes then infused with botanicals, bitter herbs, and flowers, the addition of pink grapefruit and a little carbonation creates a delightful sparkling beverage low in alcohol just in time for the summer months. Slightly sweet with light grapefruit, there is just a hint of bitterness on the finish.

Lucy 2022 Pico Blanco

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

This second vintage of Lucy’s Pico Blanco from Monterey County continues its impressive winemaking style. Comprised of 85% Pinot Gris and 15% Pinot Blanc, this is both elegant and exciting; an enticing white wine for people who don’t like white wines. It offers crisp acidity, fresh flavors of lemon zest, lime kefir, quince, white peach and Asian pear, lithe honeysuckle, fresh baked bread, light resin and a stony minerality. The Lucy label is from the Pisoni brothers and the Pisoni family has been producing wine from Monterey since the early 1970s.

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