March 23rd, 2018 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

March 23rd, 2018 Newsletter

2017 Terra Nostra Rose Corsica

Winemaker Notes: Dress of a beautiful bright pink and tender. Slightly spicy nose (clove type) with hints of red berries (gooseberry). Mouth frank and lively, supple with grain and fruit. $14 Our Price $11.45

Wine Spectator 93

PATRICIA GREEN Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge Old Vine 2015

Expressive and beautifully built, with raspberry and rose petal aromas and plush, structured flavors of cherry, spiced cinnamon and dark tea that build power. Shows a slight bite of tannins toward the finish. Drink now through 2023. 1,055 cases made. –TF $42 Our Price $31.99 (Delicious!)

Wine Spectator 92
DOW Tawny Port 10 Year Old NV

Solid, with hazelnut, fig, plum cake and dried cherry notes in lockstep from start to finish. A streak of hazelnut husk tilts to the drier side of the tawny spectrum, resulting in mouthwatering cut on the finish. Drink now. 3,200 cases imported.—J.M. $38 Our Price $28.95

Wine Spectator 93
SCHLOSS GOBELSBURG (SCHLOSSKELLEREI GOBELSBURG) Riesling Qualitätswein
Trocken Kamptal 2016

Peach and grapefruit flavors hold court in this focused white, picking up accents of floral, apple and mineral. Intense and long, with a vibrant aftertaste echoing the complex flavors. Silky texture. Drink now through 2025. 650 cases imported. $20 Our Price $15.99

2016 Boen Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Ruby-red with sparkling garnet highlights. Aromas of wild blackberry, Santa Rosa plum, and strawberry with hints of oregano, sage and white pepper. Inviting flavors of ripe raspberry, boysenberry, black-fruit jam and warming spices; moderate acidity and bold tannins. $30 Our Price $24.99

Wine Spectator 92
SAUVION & FILS Sancerre 2016

A real zinger, with racy lemon and pink grapefruit zest, gooseberry gelée and honeysuckle notes that are brightly defined. The long, focused, steely finish is very pure. Drink now through 2021. 80,000 cases made. –JM $27

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93
2013 Keenan Napa Cabernet

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep and powerful from the get go, with beams of supporting tannin and acidity that give the wine its sense of proportion. There is plenty of nuance in the dark fruit, along with terrific aromatic complexity, but today the tannins are imposing, to say the least. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2013 for at least a few years, but even that may not be enough. This is another terrific example of the vintage. $56 Our Price $47.99

Wine Spectator 91
THE CALLING Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2015

Fragrant rose petal, blackberry, lavender and red and dark fruit flavors make for a compelling drink. Has the density and backbone for short cellar time. Drink now through 2024. 6,635 cases made. –JL $37 Our Price $28.45 (Delicious!)

2014 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: A rich, dense ruby color hints at the dark fruit nose of blackberry and currant that carries through to the palate, interwoven with complex aromas of black licorice, anise and creme de cassis. On the palate, the wine opens up to reveal an earthiness, with brown spice, cigar box and ripe dark fruits that linger throughout the extracted and long finish. The texture is opulent and rich, yet has a velvety quality with supple density. Rich, fine-grained tannins are balanced with ripe fruit, acidity and oak. $200 Our Price $169.95

2014 Foley Sta. Rita Hills Pinot

Winemaker Notes: Aromatics of juicy cherry cola, raspberry sorbet, and faint notes of black pepper awaken your senses. The aromas are accented by flavors of red cranberry, soft oak and vanilla bean with angular tannin and a bright acidity. Notes of toasted graham cracker, sweet cigar, and black tea come through on the finish. This 2014 embodies the classic, yet distinctive attributes for which Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir is known. $34 Our Price $26.95

Wine Spectator 96
LA SERENA Brunello di Montalcino 2012

Enticing from the first aromas of fresh cherry, violet and spice, this supple red is balanced and expressive. Matches an elegant frame with a firm backbone of tannins and lively acidity. Very persistent on the long, detailed aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2036. 2,280 cases made. –BS $50 Our Price $43.95 Limited (Arrives 3/28/18)

Back in stock!
2014 Sinor LaVallee SLO Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: This is our flagship Pinot Noir blend of eight clones that come together to create a complex reflection of our Bassi Vineyard terroir. Bassi Vineyard is located just 1.2 miles from the Pacific Ocean near Avila Beach, outside of any official AVA boundaries. While we are near to other Pinot Noir regions such as Edna Valley and Santa Maria Valley, we are blessed with a wholly distinct Pinot Noir expression that revolves around elegant red fruits, peppery complexity and a clean, lifted finish. $30 Our Price $25.99

Wine Spectator 93
MENDING WALL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2014

Smooth, rich and polished, with a delightful core of spicy currant, blackberry, cedar and mocha, offering an underlying mix of gravelly earth and crushed rock. Long and sustained on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 774 cases made. –JL $85 (Arrives 3/28/18)

New Vintage!
2014 William Harrison Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is roughly split between the two best blocks on Bill’s Rutherford estate, replanted in 1991 and 1997. Affectionately known as the “Old” and “Young” blocks, respectively, they are entirely grafted with Clone 7, but on different rootstocks. The aroma profile is fruit-driven, dominated by Bing cherry, blackberry and cocoa powder, which carry through to the palate. Complementary flavors of cola, baking spices and tobacco are attributed to our unique barrel program. The texture is vibrant and youthful, with balanced natural acidity and fine-grained tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon 76%, Petit Verdot 10%, Malbec 10% and Merlot 4%. $60

Wine Spectator 93
HENRIOT Brut Rosé Champagne NV

A beautiful range of aromatic spices accents the white raspberry, pastry and pink grapefruit notes in this harmonious rosé . There's tension to the knit of vibrant acidity and chalky texture, driving this to a lasting, minerally finish. Drink now through 2020. 1,000 cases imported. –AN $70 Our Price $59.95

Wine Spectator 95
PAHLMEYER Napa Valley 2014

A remarkable effort, engagingly rich and concentrated, with a deep, firm mix of licorice-shaded blackberry, currant, graphite, dried herb and cedary oak notes. The flavors hold and gain, leading to a persistent finish that keeps echoing the core elements. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 5,000 cases made. $175 Our Price $159.99

Vinous 98+ pts

Continuum 2015 Continuum

Bottled just a few months ago, the 2015 Continuum is shaping up to be a real gem. The flavors are dark, bold and incisive. In 2015, poor weather during flowering took with it 50% of the production in Continuum's prime Cabernet Sauvignon blocks. As a result, the 2015 has a high percentage (31%) of Cabernet Franc. Today, the Franc is keeping the wine a bit clenched, but that should be less of an issue as time passes. $255 (Arrives 4/1/18) Limited


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