May 11th 2018 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

May 11th 2018 Newsletter

2016 McPrice Myers Right Hand Man Syrah

Winemaker Notes: Nose of lavender, blue fruit, blackberry and crème de cassis. Rich, round and layered. Berry cobbler, maple bacon and brown spice. Finishes with toasted oak and spice. Enjoy with your favorite food truck Korean BBQ tacos! $20 Our Price $ (Arrives 5/16/18)

Austerity Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2016

Winemaker Notes: This creamy, layered Chardonnay features aromas of crème brulee, golden apples and toasted marshmallows. The palate reveals tropical fruit and pineapple flavors complemented by a velvety texture and rich, buttery finish. $17 Our Price $13.99

2015 Sobon Rezerve Primitivo

Winemaker Notes: Originally planted in the early 90’s on well-drained bench land, this dry farmed, sustainably grown block  is now producing some of the most flavorful high quality fruit on the entire estate. Primitivo is the Italian clone of Zinfandel, and delivers a wine leaning more in the direction of rich plum-like flavors rather than blackberry. A full bodied wine of great richness and depth with a ripe mouth-filling viscous structure, and a smooth almost feminine silkiness that belies its bold character. Heady aromatics give way to a lush warm finish that makes this wine the ideal complement to the most savory and heartiest fare. FOOD PAIRING: Serve with leg of lamb, braised short ribs, duck confit and beef tournedos, or pasta with spicy sauces.$25 Our Price $15.95 (Delicious!) 

James Suckling 90 Points
Castiglion del Bosco
 Rosso di Montalcino 2015

Fresh wild strawberries, roses, elderberries and some light dust. Medium body, medium chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now. $24 Our Price $18.45

Wine Advocate 93+
2015 Dominus Napanook Proprietary Red

Bottled in July 2017, Dominus’ more approachable, less tannic sister wine, Napanook, is a blend this year of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Napanook Proprietary Red Wine is redolent of crème de cassis, potpourri, plum preserves and violets with hints of dark chocolate, menthol, licorice and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is densely packed with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, supported by firm, ripe, fine-grained tannins and finishing with great length. $85 Our Price $79.99


2015 Pont Neuf Pont Royal Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: This year’s PONT ROYAL chardonnay demonstrates all the classic characteristics of the Zio Tony Vineyard, honeyed, beeswax infused wine with lemon drop and citrus peel. It is accented with toasty brioche and pastry aromas as well as rich custard and passion fruit. The chardonnay has lingering flavors and rich body but is not too heavy on the palate. The fruit keeps moving and evolving in this young wine, holding our interest as it unfolds. 70 cases produced. $55 (Back in stock 5/16/18)

2015 Sobon Old Vine Zinfandel

Winemaker Notes: Rich and bold, this Zinfandel is hand harvested from select, sustainably grown Old Vine blocks from 35 to 104 years old. Gently pressed, this wine goes through an extended fermentation to further enhance the zesty black fruit flavors that have made this irresistible wine our most popular and sought after offering. Spicy and fresh flavors are complemented by accents of licorice and sandalwood. Medium to full bodied with enticing aromatics and a smooth clean finish, this versatile wine goes with everything from pepper seared ahi to a thick medium rare bacon blue cheese burger and will always make any gathering of friends and family a more festive affair. An excellent match for spicy, hearty grilled meats & pasta dishes. $14 Our Price $8.95 (Great Value Zin!)

Wine Advocate 94
2015 Casarena Cabernet Sauvignon
Owen's Vineyard

Tasted side by side with the 2014, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Owen's Vineyard feels a lot fresher. This is an old, balanced, traditional vineyard that yields wines with very good depth and natural balance. There is perfect ripeness here and a notable absence of those green pepper aromas that often mask the personality of many Cabernets. These old vines yield very concentrated juice and it shows in the tannins and acidity, which show in perfect harmony. 30,000 bottles produced. $30 Liquidation Price $19.95 (Limited to stock on hand)

Wine Spectator 88
MOHUA Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Mouthwatering grapefruit, lemon and green apple flavors are vivid and intense, with a hint of dried mango on the finish. Drink now. 46,000 cases imported. –MW $14 Our Price $9.75 (Back in stock this afternoon)

2015 Sobon Rezerve Petite Sirah

Winemaker Notes: Dark bluish purple, almost opaque in appearance, this deep rich full bodied offering holds nothing back! Definitely not for the meek or faint of heart! The nose has a spicy licorice, cassis-like quality with toasty oak overtones. Mid palate flavors are dominated by ripe black fruit, currants and fresh blueberries with intriguing hints of minerality and smooth vanilla-like textures. Bold and powerful yet balanced and well integrated, the finish is long warm and surprisingly elegant. This lush hedonistic nectar is a near perfect complement to classic Peking Duck or virtually any other roasted duck preparation, as well as most charcuterie and wild game. 100% Petite Sirah. FOOD PAIRING: Serve with grilled meats, or beef with a rich sauce dish like braised short ribs. $24 Our Price $16.95

Wine Advocate 95
2015 Martinelli Zinfandel Lolita Ranch

At the higher end of the alcohol spectrum, these Martinelli Zinfandels are powerful wines for sure, but I hasten to add that they are beautifully balanced and in terms of flavor, tannin and complexity, they represent the pinnacles of ripeness in every sense. Medium garnet colored, the 2015 Zinfandel Lolita Ranch sports notes of baked black cherries, dark chocolate, Indian spices and potpourri with savory hints of grilled meat and yeast extract. Big, buxom and gloriously full-bodied (and then some), the tannins are marvelously velvety and the richness is nicely offset by lively acidity, finishing with epic length. $60

Wine Advocate 94
2014 Pahlmeyer Napa Merlot

The 2014 Merlot is a blend of 94.5% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec. It has a dense purple color, although not as saturated as the 2015 or 2013, with a beautiful fruited nose of blackberry, plum, chocolate, mocha and espresso. The aromatics are killer and then the wine hits the palate with a medium to full-bodied lushness and an expression that says, "Kiss me!" This is a delicious, front-end loaded, full-bodied Merlot to drink over the next 15 or so years. $85 Our Price $74.99

Wine Advocate 95+
2014 Mt Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

The top score, though, has to go to the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is 90.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest small quantities of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. This wine has an opaque purple color, a big, sweet kiss of blueberry and blackberry liqueur, some graphite, a juicy, full-bodied, savory mouthfeel, and excellent purity and underlying balance. This seamlessly rich mountain Cabernet Sauvignon should age effortlessly for two decades or more. $80 Our Price $71.99

Wine Advocate 94
2015 Domaine de Bila Haut Côtes de Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem

One of the more polished, sexy examples of the cuvee, the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem checks in as a blend of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and the balance Carignan and Mourvèdre, aged all in concrete tanks. It boasts killer notes of black raspberries, cassis, pepper and licorice, with just a hint of chocolate appearing with time in the glass. This medium to full-bodied, layered and beautifully textured red is an incredible value and will be impossible to resist over the coming 4-5 years, and I’m sure it will keep even longer. $30 Our Price $24.95 (Arrives this afternoon) Limited



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