March 20th, 2020 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

March 20th, 2020 Newsletter

Our retail door will be closed, but orders can still be placed as follows:


Email stan@grapetray.com or call 559-226-6828
~Local orders: Email or call and we will deliver to Fresno and Clovis via GSO or

UPS at the following rates: 

1-6 bottles: $10
7-12 bottles $15
(Orders placed and paid for in advance can also be picked up at our receiving area)


~We will continue to ship to the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona.

We are an authorized shipper for Vivino
Choose your wine with confidence. Get ratings, read reviews, and check prices instantly just by snapping a photo of any bottle or menu. Make a purchase right from your phone. Shipping to your home or business is only $15 and if you spend $150, shipping is free. The Vivino App: https://www.vivino.com/app

Place your order using our website: grapetray.com

2016 Wm. Harrison Rutherford
Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Intense aromas of blackberry compote, with subtler notes of cocoa nib, blueberry and anise seed. The palate is full-bodied, with dense boysenberry flavors, a hint of roast coffee and smooth, well-integrated tannins. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with 8% each Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. From the largest section of the Harrison’s estate vineyard, the “old” (1991) and “young” (1997) blocks produce the best grapes. Aged for 20 months in 50% new French and Hungarian oak, this Cabernet is a classic example of the Rutherford appellation. $60 (Delicious)

2015 Skinner Smithereens GSM

Winemaker Notes: The 2015 Red Blend has red fruit aromatics like dark cherry, strawberry preserves, and dried cranberry, while subtle notes wild sage, fennel seed, and dirt road add nuance. The palate is medium bodied with a crunchy dose of minerality, subtle tannins and lingering acidity on the finish. Blend: 51% Grenache, 31% Mourvedre, 12% Syrah, 5% Cunoise. $24 Internet Price $11.99 Grape Tray email subscriber price $9.95 (Back in stock 3/25/20)

Wine Spectator 92
LUJON Cabernet Sauvignon
Walla Walla Valley 2016

Broad-shouldered yet agile, with expressive blackberry and cherry flavors accented by bay leaf and espresso notes, building richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2027. 602 cases made. — TF $25 Our Price $18.99

Wine Advocate 88 Points
2018 Tiefenbrunner Pinot Grigio

This is a textbook expression of Pinot Grigio with the exuberance and freshness of a balanced vintage. Citrus and dried grass define this 2018 Pinot Grigio, which sings loud and clear. Unscrew the cap, splash a little in the pan with lots of butter and shallots, and fry up your favorite fish to pair with the rest of the contents of this cheerful bottle. $16 Our Price $13.25

2016 Joseph Carr Rutherford
Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: This Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Napa’s acclaimed Rutherford AVA, features notes of black currant, tobacco, coffee, black cherry, and toffee. Full bodied, plush tannins and integrated acidity lead to a persistent finish. $40 Our Price $30.95

Wine Advocate 93
2018 Domaine Huet Vouvray
Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux

The 2018 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux is clear and seductively ripe on the elegant, still yeasty nose with a mineral backbone and its chalky background. Sweet and lush but fine and filigreed on the palate, this is a salty, frisky, elegant, densely woven and well-structured Haut-Lieu with fine tannins and a long, complex finish that is rich and finessed at the same time, with lingering piquancy and stimulating salinity. This 2018 is a very charming but also serious Chenin Blanc with fine tannins, good tension and aging potential. Tasted in May 2019. $48 Our Price $43.99

2016 Levendi Stagecoach Napa Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: A big, robust classic Cabernet Sauvignon, with cassis and mocha. This wine shows the characteristic briary Atlas Peak attitude. Brambly flavors with intense notes of new leather and sweet black cherry jam. Soft, ripe mountain tannin on the finish as proof of provenance, with an expandingly rich palate. $84 Our Price $71.99

Wine Spectator 93
RIDGE Geyserville Alexander Valley 2018

Robust yet brooding, with multilayered black plum, licorice and Asian five-spice powder flavors that build richness toward big, briary tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Best from 2022 through 2030. —T.F. $45 Arrives 3/27/20

Wine Advocate 94
2016 Anthem Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard is deep garnet-purple in color and reveals expressive black cherries, blackberries and warm blackcurrants with hints of violets, black olives, Indian spices and cigar box. Full-bodied, rich and powerful, the palate is filled with well-poised black fruit layers and firm, grainy tannins, matched by bold freshness and finishing long. $125



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