October 19th 2018 Newsletter
Dom Gift Set with 2 bottles and 6 glasses
Wine Spectator 96
MOËT & CHANDON Brut Champagne Dom Pérignon 2009 -There's a subtle power to this graceful Champagne, which boasts a firm, crystalline frame of acidity married to the fine, satinlike mousse and notes of white raspberry, brioche and Earl Grey tea. Seamless through to the long finish of smoke and spice accents, this opens beautifully in the glass. Drink now through 2029. –AN Our Price $334.95
2016 Rombauer Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Half Bottle
Winemaker Notes: This wine is vibrant dark purple with a fuchsia rim. The nose is expressive, with aromas of red fruit, cassis and toast. The wine is full-bodied, packed with flavors of boysenberry, raspberry and black cherry, along with notes of sweet tobacco, cedar and vanilla. Supple tannins carry through to a lingering finish. $34/375ml
James Suckling 95 Points
Tenuta di Biserno Toscana Il Pino di Biserno 2015
A very subtle but promising nose with dried lavender, conifer, dried herbs, nutmeg and even citrus. Full-bodied with ripe but tightly wound tannins that coat the mouth with dark and dried-fruit flavors. The acidity lifts this long through the finish, which is grainy and stony. A blend of cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot. Drink in 2022. $55 Our Price $46.99 (Delicious)
Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points
2015 Stack House Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from winemaker Anna Monticelli, which includes 11% Malbec, 6% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, comes from multiple appellations in Napa Valley and spent 23 months in 40% new barrels. Just bottled two weeks ago, it’s a killer value in Napa Valley Cabernet offering loads of ripe cassis and blackberry fruit, hints of oak and white chocolate, medium-bodied richness, and a sexy, layered, elegant style. Again, it’s a great value. $34 Our Price $28.99
Wine Advocate 90
2015 Honig Vineyard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Half Bottle
A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is spicy on the nose with cassis, plums and cedar scents. Medium-bodied and well balanced, it shows nice purity in the mouth with grainy tannins and good length. $25/375ml.
2017 Patricia Green Willamette Valley Reserve Pinot
Winemaker Notes: This bottling comes from terrific sources. This is extremely high quality wine across the board. Four Dundee Hills sites ranging in vine age from 18-44 years make up about 30% of the bottling. Another third (slightly more) comes from the winery's Estate Vineyard and almost all of the rest from the Freedom Hill vineyard. What other Oregon winery blends such high quality barrels and charges less than $30/bottle? There are seriously great bones here and this wine will stand up to many much higher priced bottlings. $30 Our Price $22.99
2016 Joliesse Pinot Noir
Winemaker Notes: Dark crimson in the glass, the 2016 Joliesse Pinot Noir is enticing from beginning to end. You are greeted with notes of red cherry, red plum and a hint of baking spice on the nose. On the palate, delicate notes of cherry pie, sun ripened strawberry and a hint of cinnamon linger. Delicate and well balanced, this Pinot Noir moves gracefully across your palate. $15 Our Price $10.99 (Back in stock this afternoon)
2017 Joyce Submarine Canyon Pinot, Half Bottle
Winemaker Notes: The 2017 Joyce Submarine Canyon Pinot Noir shows aromas of raspberry, dried rose petal and red currants. The palate has a medium weight & texture that delivers a mixture of red berry notes, accompanied by a slight herbal note which adds to the lift & vibrancy of the wine. The finish is long and smooth with gentle yet persistent fine tannins. $12/375ml. Our Price $9.95/375ml
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)
Wine Spectator 94
COLENE CLEMENS Pinot Noir
Chehalem Mountains Victoria 2015
Silk in a glass, with a sleekly complex core and refined raspberry, orange tea and spice flavors that glide along the finish. 577 cases. Drink now through 2023.—T.F $65 (Arrives this afternoon)
Wine Spectator 93
DEHLINGER Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Goldridge 2015
Though notable for the alluring early charm, this is a wine of substance, depth, complexity and finesse, with a mix of red and dark berry flavors, loamy earth notes and herb-shaded tannins. Drink now through 2026. 900 cases made.
–JL $52 (Arrives 10/24/18)
Wine Advocate 99
2015 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon
Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard
Deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard leaps from the glass with opulent crème de cassis, raspberry tart and black forest cake notions plus underlying cigar box, mocha, licorice and forest floor suggestions. Full-bodied, rich, spicy and decadently generous in the mouth, it has a firm, velvety foundation and wonderful precision, featuring an invigorating lift on the very long, multilayered and provocatively earthy finish. 815 cases were made. $320 (We have one bottle left. Please email stan@grapetray.com)
Wine Advocate 95
2015 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is redolent of warm blackberries and black cherries with hints of Indian spices, fertile soil, cedar and hoisin. Big, full-bodied and voluptuous in the mouth, the concentrated, multilayered fruit is well framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. $100
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