July 1st 2022 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

July 1st 2022 Newsletter

Fourth of July Holiday
We will be closed at both locations (GT and VRW) on Monday, 7/4/22

Wine Advocate 95+
2020 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #10

Willi Schaefer's 2020 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese #10 is deep, fine and complex on the still reductive yet clear, dense and elegant nose. Lush and piquant on the palate, this is a very fine and finely concentrated, intense and persistent Domprobst with sustainable juicy fruit and stimulating grip. This is a mouthful of great Mosel Spätlese from one of the region's finest producers. 7.5% alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in September 2021. $52 Our Price $44.99 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Wine Advocate 92 Points
2016 Ernest Vineyards Pinot Noir Romanini Vineyard The Engineer

The 2016 Pinot Noir Romanini Vineyard The Engineer has a very pretty nose of violet and lilac with autumn leaves, dusty earth, fresh tobacco and savory red fruits. Medium-bodied with nuanced red and blue fruits and earthy notions in the mouth, it's softly textured with grainy tannins and finishes minerally. 142 cases produced. $54 Liquidation Price $15.95 (Limited to stock on hand) Available GT

2021 The Pale Rose Provence by Sacha Lichine

Winemaker Notes: Named after its transparent, pink color, The Pale by Sacha Lichine embodies all the characteristics of an authentic Rosé from Provence. It is expressive both inside and out and bears great aromatic freshness on the nose followed by more subtle, fruity notes on the palate. Its elegant palate pairs nicely with its colorful and playful label. Let The Pale by Sacha Lichine transport you to the roaring twenties. $18 Our Price $14.99 (Arrives VRW this afternoon)

James Suckling 96 Points
Krug Grande Cuvee Brut 170th eme

Striking citrus focus here, with intense yellow citrus aromas, such as lemon and grapefruit, as well as flinty notes, wet stones and dried flowers, such as chamomile. Just the beginnings of more savory character, in the form of toast, cocoa powder and grilled nuts. The palate has a very taut, youthful and unevolved feel, showing elevated acidity and verticality as a central feature, around which the body and depth has been assembled. 55% 2014 harvest. 51% pinot noir 38% chardonnay and just 11% meunier in this edition. Try from 2024. $230 Our Price $194.95 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
2019 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The base 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is certainly impressive, and since there are roughly 90,000 cases, it’s an incredible achievement. Classic darker currants, tobacco leaf, truffly earth, and spicy oak all define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannins, terrific balance, and outstanding length. Based off 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec, buy a case and enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years. $50 Internet Price $39.99 (Available GT and VRW 7/2/22)

Gregory Graham Red Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Winemaker Notes: The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Crimson Hill Vineyard in the Red Hills district of Lake County. The vineyard is at 2,000 feet elevation and overlooks the southern end of Clear Lake. This 13-acre block was planted in 1995 with clone 7 Cabernet on 110R rootstock. The crimson red, volcanic soil provides the perfect site for growing great red wines. The climate is ideal for late season reds due to the vineyard basking in daily full sun with warm temperatures which are tempered by daily afternoon mistrals. The majority of the vineyard is contracted to Napa Valley wineries. $30 Our Price $23.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
DOMAINE DROUHIN Chardonnay Dundee Hills Arthur 2020

Tasting Note: Expressive and delicately complex, with apple blossom, orange peel and zesty spice flavors that finish with a fresh lift of acidity. Drink now. —T.F. $40 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
MACROSTIE Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2020

Peach, apricot and mango notes are pure, intense and extremely juicy on a fleshy, succulent frame, with hints of spice, orange blossom and dried ginger. Drink now. 19,231 cases made. — MW $26 Our Price $20.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2018 Cobb Rice-Spivak Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

The 2018 Pinot Noir Rice Spivak Vineyard is pure and expressive this vintage, with layered scents of red cherries, orange peel, saline and earth. The palate is soft, fresh and super spicy, its charming, juicy red berry fruits calling you in again and again for another sip. $82 Our Price $74.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 94 Points * RÉSONANCE Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2019

Vibrant and impeccably structured, with floral raspberry, crushed stone and savory tea accents that build tension toward refined tannns. Drink now through 2031. —T.F. $35 Our Price $29.95 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 93 Points
2020 Dönnhoff Riesling Tonschiefer

Predominantly from the Leistenberg plus first selections of the local crus, the 2020 Riesling Tonschiefer opens enormously pure and stony as well as citric on the earthy nose that is a terrific representative for the clayish slate terroir. Complex and juicy on the palate, this is a tensioned, finely reductive yet very intense and structured dry Riesling with fine phenolic grip and an expressive finish with salty-piquant and phenolic acidity. An impressive wine. 12% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in July 2021. $32 Our Price $28.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 98 Points
2020 Domaine de la Côte ‘La Côte’, Pinot Noir

The 2020 Pinot Noir La Côte is a wine of tremendous density and power. Red cherry/plum fruit, crushed rocks, herbs and rose petal fill out the layers, but La Côte mostly stands out for its huge core of fruit. Here, too, readers will have to be extremely patient. La Côte is a Pinot of real substance. In some vintages, it has been a bot excessive on the savory side, but Sashi Moorman and rajat Parr nailed the balance in 2020. $140 (Arrives GT this afternoon) Limited

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Taste 2019 Ferren Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, 2016 Beringer Distinctions Napa Cabernet and 2018 Dana Estates Vaso Napa Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, 7/1. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
FERREN Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2019

The salted butter, lemon bar, orange blossom and ripe melon flavors at the core of this white show generous purity and focus, with fresh acidity and with a hint of Himalayan salt on the long, expressive finish. The texture is smooth and lush, practically melting in your mouth. Drink now through 2031. 190 cases made. — MW $60

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2016 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Distinctions

First released in 2014 and made with the idea to highlight richness and opulence, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Distinctions includes slightly more valley floor fruit compared to the Knights Valley Reserve and offers a forward, sexy, incredibly satisfying style as well as lots of blackcurrant fruit, ripe tannins, and impeccable balance. Despite the richer, more forward style, it’s going to evolve just fine on its balance and concentration. $49

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2018 Dana Estates Vaso Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso is cut from the same cloth, offering beautiful purity and richness. It’s slightly more pure and darker than the spicier 2017 and has notes of cassis, redcurrants, dark chocolate, tobacco, and violets. Full-bodied on the palate, it has silky tannins, terrific overall balance, and just loads of character and charm. It’s in the running for the greatest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon under $100

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Taste 2017 Copain Dupratt Chardonnay, 2019 L’Aventure Cote a Cote and 2019 Turnbull Oakville Reserve Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, 7/2. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
2017 Copain Chardonnay Dupratt

From a small 20-acre family-farmed vineyard, the 2017 Chardonnay Dupratt has a richer, deeper bouquet of orange blossom, honeysuckle, and candied lemons. Despite the richer nose, it has racy acidity, medium to full body, and a rounded, beautifully textured mouthfeel. Brought up in 10% new French oak, it’s another beautiful wine from winemaker Ryan Zepaltas. $60 (Email subscriber price $18.45)

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points
2019 L'Aventure Cote A Cote

Another magical wine from this estate is the 2019 Côte à Côte, a blend of 34% each of Grenache and Mourvèdre, with the balance Syrah. Brought up in 29% new French oak, it boasts a dense purple color as well as incredible aromatics of blue fruits, smoked game, violets, black pepper, and spring flowers. One of those incredibly complex, nuanced wines that still brings depth and richness on the palate, it’s perfectly balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s the finest vintage of Côte à Côte ever produced. Drink it over the coming 15+ years. $105

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2019 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve

A killer value that’s up with the best at the price point, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve offers medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of currants, plums, chocolate, iron, and a touch of tobacco. Nicely concentrated, beautifully balanced, and elegant, it’s a terrific wine well worth seeking out. Drink bottles over the coming 10-12 years or so. $95

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Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW)
1552 E. Champlain Drive, Ste 109 Fresno, CA 93720
Via Montana Center (NE Corner Shepherd and Champlain-Two doors south of Big 5) www.vintagereserve.biz 559-878-3953
Tuesday-Friday 12:00 Noon-6:00 PM
Saturday 12 Noon-4:00 PM


The Grape Tray (GT)
6023 N. Palm Avenue Fresno, CA 93704
Opus One Center (NW Corner Bullard and Palm)
www.grapetray.com 559-226-6828
Monday-Friday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM-4:00 PM


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