September 11th 2018 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

September 11th 2018 Newsletter

2015 VML Russian River Pinot

Winemaker Notes: This wine is bursting with aromas of lavender, sandalwood, dried cranberry and cocoa. The palate starts with ripe blackberry, plum and black cherry. Vanilla and dark chocolate flavors lead into high notes of raspberry. The wine has focused acidity, balanced tannins and a smooth finish that will continue to soften over time. $32 Our Price $27.99 (Back in stock this afternoon) Delicious!

2016 Roar Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

Winemaker notes: Drawing on aspects of all of our vineyards … a wonderful expression of what the region has to offer. Dark fruit, leather, and toasted oak with light overtones of honey evolve into blackberry, cola and cherry, opening to include chocolate shavings and floral accents. A woody, almost evergreen, perfume enriches the lower-tone fruit through a long, dense, meaty finish full of tobacco, leather, cherry and blackberry. $42

2016 Lewis Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Juicy, ripe and fruitful our 2016 Napa Valley Cabernet captures the kitchen aromas of home jam-making. Creamy vanilla and wood spice together with black plum, truffle and earth give the nose delectable character. Flush with fruit, dusky, dense and polished the wine finishes with cushy, dark-chocolate tannins. $100 Our Price $89.99 (Arrives 9/14/18)

2016 Bouchard Aine & Fils Bourgogne Rouge

Winemaker Notes: This wine features an intense carmine red color tinged with deep purple highlights. The nose is gorgeous, redolent of flowers and red fruits. In the mouth it has a beautiful finesse, smooth, silky tannins and excellent length. $20 Our Price $16.99

Wine Spectator 91
ROTH Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley 2015

Complex aromas of creamy oak, mocha, gravel and dark berry combine for a dense, rich and concentrated effort that's firmly tannic, with a seam of elegance. Drink now through 2030. 18,635 cases made.—James Laube $28 Our Price $22.25 (Back in stock this afternoon)

2016 Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec

Winemaker Notes: Bright, floral aromas from the predominance of Grenache in the blend are followed by more bright fruits and spices in the mouth with nice mouthfeel and fine tannins carrying the flavors on the long finish. Blend: 46% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 8% Mourvedre, 7% Counoise. $20 Our Price $15.95 (Back in stock this afternoon)

2016 Roar Sierra Mar Pinot Noir

Winemaker notes: Highlighted by spice, leather and dark fruit notes with a bright edge, the 2016 Sierra Mar Pinot Noir combines richness with lifted accents. Dry sagebrush and hints of cedar mingle with rose petals over dense blackberry jam and ripe black fruit with a decadent palate and an expansive, mouth-filling finish. $54

2017 Alpes De Haute Lavendette
 Provence Rose

Winemaker Notes: Pale pink color with an elegant nose reminiscent of fresh berries. This wine is supple and fresh on the palate, with good level of acidity. This rose is produced from traditional regional grapes, including Syrah, a red grape variety, which gives the wine its structure, its color and its aromas of red berries, with a scent of violets. The vineyards of this winery are planted mainly on very dry slopes of Jean Giono in Provence. Viticulture is very respectful of the environment and the wines benefit from modern winemaking technology. Wine production in the Alpes de Haute Provence takes place between Durance to Verdon where grows lavanders. Blend 15% Cinsault, 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah. $10 Our Price $8.45 (Back in stock 9/12/18)

Wine Spectator 93
FROSTWATCH Chardonnay
Bennett Valley 2015

Delightfully rich and lively, medium-weight yet packed with flavors highlighting tangerine, nectarine and spicy oak, with a long, layered aftertaste that keeps you coming back for more. Drink now.—J.L. 665 cases made. $30 (Back in stock 9/13/18)

2017 Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres Gris de Gris Rosé Corbieres, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

This rose shows a crystalline salmon color with amethyst tints. It gives off aromas of raspberry, cherry, and freshly picked strawberries, followed by exotic aromas of pineapple and mango. On the palate, there is a direct and considerable freshness -- the density and richness of the fruit mingle with superb acidity. Stunningly balanced. 50% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan, 5% Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre $16 Our Price $12.39

Wine Advocate 93
2015 Walter Hansel Winery
Pinot Noir Cahill Lane

The nose of the medium ruby-purple colored 2015 Pinot Noir Cahill Lane sings of crushed black cherries, black raspberries and red plums with touches of underbrush, dried herbs and violets plus a hint of dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, it has a vibrantly fruited palate of red berry layers, framed by soft tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing very long. 728 cases produced. $42 (Arrives 9/14/18)

Wine Advocate 91-94
2015 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay The Meadows Vineyard

The 2015 season resulted in tiny clusters and small berries with production levels off by a minimum of 25%. The following 2015s will be bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Chardonnay the Meadows Vineyard is in the northern part of the Hansel estate and at their lowest elevation as it is a meadow next to Santa Rosa Creek. Again, this is dry-farmed and planted with 100% Hanzell clones. Yields are always low and this Chardonnay offers up a light-gold color, concentrated notes of honeysuckle, baked apple pie, cinnamon and plenty of spice in a medium to full-bodied, refreshing, zesty style. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. $27 (Arrives 9/14/18)

Wine Spectator 95
BEAUX FRÈRES Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge The Beaux Frères Vineyard 2016

Remarkably and seamlessly complex, with a polished and refined core wrapped in silky raspberry and blueberry flavors, accented by savory spice and orange zest hints. The long finish builds toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2025. 2,686 cases made. –TF $95 (Arrives 9/14/18)



Back to Our Blog

Are you 21 years old, or older?

No