July 12th 2022 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

July 12th 2022 Newsletter

Taste 2019 Mondavi Napa Cabernet and 2009 Peter Michael Les Pavot at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, July 12th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2009 Peter Michael Winery Les Pavots

The 2009 Les Pavots, a 3,440-case blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, comes from Knights Valley. It exhibits a distinctive truffle, chocolate, blackberry and cassis-scented bouquet, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and fabulous concentration, purity and density. This magnificent effort’s open-knit style was surprising as most Northern California 2009s made from Bordeaux varietals are somewhat austere and closed at present. This wine should drink well for another two decades or more. Market Price $200

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Taste 2019 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet and 2018 Dana Estates Onda Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, July 13th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

The Somm Journal 94 Points
2019 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet

Notes of mountain brush and crushed violet integrate with this wine’s firm structure. It’s heady and plush, with chewy tannins and broad shoulders, and there’s an elegance to the uplifted and ripe notes of deep, dark boysenberry. Melted dark chocolate is so satisfying on the long finish. $36

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2018 Dana Estates Onda Cabernet Sauvignon

Onda is a blend of all four of the estate vineyards and includes a vineyard planted in 1967, just below the Lotus vineyard. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Onda is composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Merlot. It was aged for 21 months in French oak barrels, 73% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it delivers vibrant scents of crushed black cherries, warm cassis and wild blueberries with hints of dark chocolate, candied violets and fragrant earth. Full-bodied, rich and plush in the mouth, the purely fruited palate is layered with loads of fragrant accents, finishing with a red berry lift. 1,052 cases were made. $220

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Taste 2020 and 2021 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $10 per person.
Thursday, July 14th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2020 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: On the nose, beautiful aromas of ripe yellow peach, meyer lemon, and chamomile mingle together with hints of clove and vanilla. The peach, lemon, and vanilla spices continue onto the palate which is rich and concentrated, the flavors blending seamlessly supported by a creamy round mouthfeel. The lush back palate is lifted by both sweet fruit flavors and balanced acidity, ending with a lingering finish that will leave you wanting another sip. $90/magnum. $39 Internet Price $36.99

New Vintage! 2021 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Ripe peach, citrus fruits, spice, and pie crust aromas all mingle and lift from the glass. The citrus, supported by notes of apricot, continues on the palate which is concentrated with a rich, creamy middle palate, and strong supporting acidity. The finish is long and marked with hints of vanilla. This wine will continue to build richness as it ages in the bottle. $40 Internet Price $36.99

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Wine Spectator 93 Points
Domaine Carneros Brut Carneros 2018

A vivacious sparkler that's elegant and polished, offering Asian pear and lemon flavors that take on hints of fresh ginger, blanched almond and brioche flavors that glide on the long, vibrant finish. Drink now. —T.F. $37 Our Price $32.69 (Available GT and VRW)

WA 92- 94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2019 Lail Blueprint Napa Cabernet

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Blueprint has a deep garnet-purple color and sings of wild blueberries, Morello cherries and red and black currant jellies with touches of dried mint, chocolate box and cedar chest. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with crunchy black fruits, supported by fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and lifted. A barrel sample, 2,000 cases will be made. $95 Our Price $84.99 (Back in stock GT 7/13/22)

2017 La Salita Barolo

Winemaker Notes: Produced from fruit farmed in the commune of Verduno. Hand harvested and fermented in 5000 liter botti grande with ambient yeasts and macerated on the skins for a total of 21 days cappello sommerso. Then moved to 8000 liter botti grande for malolactic fermentation and aging for 24 months. The wine show cases Verduno’s excellent ripeness, spice and mid-weight tannins. $36 (Arrives GT 7/13/22)

Josh Raynolds, Vinous 90 Points
2020 Chateau de l'Escarelle June 21st Rose

Bright onion skin. Fresh red berry and floral qualities on the nose and in the mouth. Juicy and seamless in texture, showing firm closing bite and a touch of white pepper that adds lingering spiciness. $18 Our Price $8.69 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points
2019 Luli Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

The 2019 Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands is also terrific. Coming from a great, cooler region south of Monterey, it has a vibrant nose of melon and ripe orchard fruits as well as some spice and toasty notes. Balanced, medium-bodied, and nicely textured, with a juicy spine of acidity, it's well worth seeking out and would be one heck of a house white to drink over the coming couple of years. $25 Our Price $19.99 (Back in stock GT 7/13/22)

Wine Advocate 94 Points
2013 Eisele Vineyard Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon

Both 2013s are clearly the finest Eisele wines made under the administration of François Pinault and his top lieutenant, Frédéric Engerer, who also runs the show at Château Latour. The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia is a beauty. Dense, opaque purple, a big sweet kiss of blueberry and black raspberry fruit intermixed with forest floor and violets is followed by a lush, medium to full-bodied wine with terrific concentration, light tannin and an approachable style even for a 2013. It should drink well for 15 or more years. $130 (Back in stock GT 7/19/22)

James Suckling 93 Points
2017 Mauro Molino Barolo

Lots of white truffle, ripe strawberry and some watermelon on the nose, following through to a full body with round, chewy tannins and a beautiful, creamy-textured finish from the ripe tannins. Drink in 2023 and onwards. $45 Our Price $37.99 (Back in stock GT 7/13/22)

Wine Advocate 100 Points
2019 Eisele Vineyard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep purple-black in color, the nose of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon slowly unfurls to reveal a gorgeous perfume of violets and roses over a core of kirsch, boysenberries and cassis, plus hints of redcurrant jelly and menthol, emerging into wafts of pencil lead and truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, featuring very firm, wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness to support the vivacious, tightly wound black and red fruit layers, finishing long and mineral laced. It's a stunning, evocative, singular wine that so beautifully captures the long, slow-maturing grace of the 2019 vintage. $650 (Arrives GT 7/19/22) Limited

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Taste 2021 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 The Hilt Radian Vineyard Pinot and 2019 Hourglass Blueline Napa Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Friday, July 15th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
GREYWACKE Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2021

This stunning white is aromatic, fresh and intense, with notes of lemon curd, yuzu, peach, ripe melon and honeysuckle that are effortless and mouthwatering, backed by lemongrass and candied ginger notes on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. —M.W. $23 Our Price $19.99

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
2019 The Hilt Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard

In the same realm, the 2019 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard offers more red and blue fruits (black raspberries, cherries, blueberries) as well as ample minerality and graphite. It too is medium-bodied, utterly seamless, flawlessly balanced, and concentrated. As with all of these 2019s from Dees, it has slightly more texture and suppleness than past vintages and is going to drink nicely for a decade. $105. Internet Price $94.99

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
2019 Hourglass Blueline Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Blueline Cabernet Sauvignon is another stunning wine in the lineup. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as beautiful cassis and blue-tinged fruits, it has lots of violet and lead pencil notes, medium to full body, perfect balance, and incredible tannins. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it's going to deliver the goods for upwards of two decades. $150

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Taste 2018 Byron Nielson Chardonnay, 2018 L’Aventure Cote a Cote and 2018 Mondavi Oakville Cabernet The Estates at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, July 16th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Decanter 92 Points
2018 Byron Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay

Slightly restrained nose with nice stone fruit and floral character underneath. Light lemon sherbet notes with toasted pineapple on the palate, pleasingly dry and youthful finish. $30

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2018 L'Aventure Cote a Cote

Straight-up sexy, the 2018 Cote A Cote is a Grenache-dominated blend that includes 26% Mourvèdre and 23% Syrah, all aged in 35% new French oak. Stunning notes of black raspberries, ground pepper, Asian spices, and candied violets all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated wine that reminds me of a great vintage of Domaine de la Janasse's Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes cuvée. It shows more chalky minerality with time in the glass and is pure, seamless, and beautifully put together. Drink it over the coming 10-12 years. $105

Wine Spectator 93 Points
ROBERT MONDAVI Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville The Estates 2018

Rich and seductive in feel, with a lovely swath of loamy-edged steeped plum and blackberry compote flavors, backed with flashes of anise and sweet bay leaf. A loamy edge extends nicely in lockstep with the fruit on the finish. Textbook Oakville Cabernet. Best from 2022 through 2034. 9,791 cases made. — JM $90

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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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