Wine Spectator 94
BUCKLIN Ancient Field Blend Old Hill Ranch Sonoma Valley 2015

Deeply structured and powerfully built, yet agile, with expressive blueberry and blackberry flavors accented by tar, cracked pepper and dark Asian spice notes that build richness toward polished tannins. Zinfandel, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2025.—T.F. 430 cases made $34 Our Price $29.99

Wine Advocate 91
2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Russian River Valley reveals lovely crushed black cherries, mulberries and black raspberries notions with hints of candied violets, black soil and iron ore plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with black fruit and earthy accents supported by a firm frame of finely grained tannins and finishes with a refreshing lift. 7,500 cases produced. $40 Our Price $29.99

Wine Advocate 94+
2016 O'Shaughnessy
Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is blended of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 5% Merlot, 3% St. Macaire, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it reveals notions of scorched earth, tar, tilled black soil and fungi over a core of blackcurrant cordial, aniseed, dark chocolate and espresso plus a waft of tobacco. Full-bodied, concentrated and very earthy in the mouth, the rich, black fruits are superbly framed by firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. $80 Our Price $74.99

Wine Advocate 93
2015 Hall Winery Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon offers an earthy/savory nose with notes of fertile loam, tree bark and smoked meat over a cassis and black cherry core with touches of roses and menthol. The full-bodied palate delivers great expression and plenty of character, supported by chewy tannins and finishing on a savory note. $60. Our Price $49.99

2015 Calera Jensen Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: From vines planted in 1975, this gorgeous Pinot Noir effortlessly straddles the line between power and elegance, displaying silky, harmonious tannins and remarkable concentration and complexity. Layers of cherry, cola, violets, vanilla and fresh-cracked pepper linger long on the palate, supported by subtle oak and an elegant framework of acidity, which adds poise and definition to a long, complex finish. 100% Pinot Noir. $90

Wine Spectator 94
PAUL HOBBS Chardonnay Russian River Valley Ross Station Estate 2016

Shows a mastery of rich fruit and jazzy new oak flavors, with smoky, toasty notes and pure fig, melon, anise and nectarine elements, sailing along on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 541 cases made. –JL $85 (Back in stock this afternoon)

2016 Bookwalter Protagonist
Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: The 2016 is perhaps our finest vintage at Bookwalter because we used new analytic tools measuring our wines natural extraction to ideal reserve proportions. 2016 yielded a bigger than average crop which ripened into the hot vintage very well. Early in the season and again at verasion, we lowered our yields with much hand labor. By harvest, the vintage was measuring record color and tannin. Our vintage portfolio carries a volume and weight that match our house style of rich and smooth age worthy reds.

We aged on lees reductively developing savory tones complimentary to the powerful fruit. After 20 months, we selected each puncheon for this reserve bottling. We then blended and filtered for purity and aging stability. With the addition of choice Syrah and Cabernet Franc for aromatic lift, the blend describes Cabernet at its most gorgeous vintage expression. This rich wine will age for a decade or two. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah and 2% Cabernet Franc $60 Internet Price $39.99. Grape Tray email subscriber price $30.45 (Arrives 3/12/19) Delicious!

Wine Advocate 94+
2016 Leviathan Proprietary Red

From winemaker Andy Erickson, the 2016 Leviathan is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged in 25% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with exuberant black cherries, black raspberries and blackcurrants with hints of pencil shavings, black pepper, tobacco and forest floor plus a waft of tapenade. Full, firm and grainy, with gorgeous mid-palate generosity and packed with layers of black fruit and savory sparks, it has a rock-solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long. Approachable now yet structured to cellar, this seriously affordable, serious California blend should age 15-20 years or more. $40 Our Price $34.95

Wine Spectator 93
BEDROCK Zinfandel California Old Vine 2017

Old-school meets new in this Zinfandel, with just enough polish and plumpness to match the briary rusticity. Offers expressive black cherry, smoky anise and white pepper flavors. Drink now through 2024.—T.F $25

Wine Spectator 92
MCPRICE MYERS High On The Hog
Central Coast 2016

Lively and generous, with zesty black raspberry, savory dried sage and peppercorn flavors that build richness toward refined tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Graciano. Drink now through 2026. 1,902 cases made.—Tim Fish. $20 Our Price $17.99

J Vineyards Cuvee 20 Brut

Winemaker Notes: This J non-vintage Brut gracefully opens up with crisp lemon peel, honeysuckle and delicate yeast aromas. Upon entry, these notes follow through to a mix of Fuji apple and grapefruit interlaced with toast, caramel and almond flavors on the mid-palate. The acidity adds just enough liveliness and the citrus zest leads to a lingering, warm pear and lush finish. Demonstrating an illustrious combination of yesterday and today, its fresh exuberance showcases layers of depth and complexity. $35 Our Price $27.99

Wine Advocate 100
2016 Scarecrow Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Scarecrow is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from two acres of old vines planted in 1945 by John Daniel and dry farmed. Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon comes sashaying out of the glass with tantalizing notions of violets, lavender, Black Forest cake, mulberries, tobacco leaf and fragrant earth with a core of warm cassis, kirsch, Chinese five spice, rose hip tea and cedar chest. The palate is full-bodied and super concentrated yet possesses great energy with vibrant red and black fruits and loads of mineral accents, framed by very ripe, super fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long with the most incredible perfume. Hedonistically, undeniably and deliciously perfect. 2,000 cases are to be made, to be released in the spring of 2019. Market Price $700 (6 bottles available 4/1/19) Please email stan@grapetray.com