On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

2019 Sea Smoke Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: An elegant Chardonnay with aromas of orange zest, ripe melon and honeysuckle. Complemented by mango and a slight nuttiness in the focused mid-palate and the refreshing cool climate acidity of our estate vineyard. CA Market Price $105-$140

Wine Advocate 93+
2017 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper features flamboyant notes of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and red currant jelly with nuances of sautéed herbs, tar and underbrush with a waft of pencil lead. Full-bodied, firmly textured and laden with muscular fruit, it has loads of earthy accents and a chewy finish. $190

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Staglin Family Vineyard Wine Tasting next week at Vintage Reserve Wine!
Thursday, September 22, 2022
We will taste the 2021 Salus Napa Chardonnay, 2019 Salus Napa Cabernet, 2018 Estate Cabernet and 2019 Estate Cabernet.
Hollis Nelson, Staglin Family Vineyard California Sales Manager will be at VRW to walk us through the new releases.

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James Suckling 94 Points
Jean-Paul Droin Chablis Montee de Tonnerre Premier Cru 2018

Fermented 30% in oak. This is more classic and minerally and offers a blend of lemons and yellow nectarines with a very flinty spark on the nose, too. The white peaches here are stunning, so deliciously ripe, sweet yet fresh in the mouth. Good weight and concentration in this vintage. Smooth resolve at the finish. Drink on release or hold. $70 Our Price $59.99 (Available GT)

Wine Advocate 99 Points
2019 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

Flirting with perfection, instantly impressive and marked with impeccable shine and polish, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon from Champoux vineyard (90%) and Mach One vineyard (10%). The Cabernet explodes out of a glass with exuberance and power, prancing with layers of juicy black fruit, plum compote, black raspberry jus and hints of cinnamon-spiced black cherries. Full-bodied and with a ripe attack, velvety tannins sway with a glossy mouthfeel that is seductive and hedonistic, and the wine displays a balanced structure with a generous frame. It somersaults to an ever-evolving finish that bursts with layers of complexity, finesse and richness. What a stunning bottle! Bravo! Two thumbs up! Only 4,125 cases were made for the world. Internet Price $225 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Additional Scores: Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points and Antonio Galloni 98 Points

In Stock! Wine Spectator 94 Points
2019 Kathryn Hall Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

 Rich and fleshy in feel, but with a nice juicy edge for balance, this lets creamed plum and blackberry fruit spill forth, laced liberally with mocha, singed alder, sweet tobacco and melted black licorice. For the hedonist crowd. Drink now through 2035. 6,300 cases made. $225 Our Price $199.99 (Available GT)

2021 Pisoni Family Lucia Estate Cuvée Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Layers of black cherry, Mission fig, spiced plum, and berry crumble provide a stepping stone for more subtle hints of fresh sage, clove, and vanilla bean. . .$55 (Available GT)

James Suckling 92 Points
2020 Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Estate Riesling Trocken

Open pear and reine-claude plum nose with delicate baking-spice aromas! Generous and well-structured palate with a long, refreshing finish that’s supported nicely by a touch of chalky tannin. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap. $23 Our Price $19.99 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
2019 Tether Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Another gem from winemaker Anna Monticelli, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is based on 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, and the rest Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. Aged 21 months in 60% new French oak, it’s a medium to full-bodied, round, seamless effort with real class in its darker currant fruits as well as tobacco, violets, and toasted spice aromas and flavors. It will keep for a decade. $47 (Back in stock GT this afternoon)

2019 Pont Neuf Pont Royal Russian River Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: The 2019 Pont Royal reveals a brilliant clarity both in appearance and focused flavors. Consistent vineyard characters show in the forward citrus, fresh peach, custard and honied beeswax, hallmark traits of this vineyard. The texture is crisp, with a satisfying texture and great persistence of flavors. Pont Royal is a chameleon; one moment floral and lilting, bold, rich and deep the next. French oak takes a back seat to the fruit, adding nuanced aromas of toasted brioche and fine structure to the wine. We employed 80% new oak from the Vosges forest, aged 4 years, contributing the delicate toast and vanilla aromas and playing perfectly with bright citrus fruit. Barrel-fermented, aged on the lees and bottled un-fined and unfiltered, this natural fermentation showcases the vineyard and the vintage. 90 cases produced. $65 (Back in stock GT)

Wine Advocate 93 Points
2018 Purlieu Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon comes galloping out of the glass with energetic scents of ripe black cherries, fresh black berries and blackcurrant cordial plus nuances of unsmoked cigars, cedar chest and pencil lead with a waft of wild sage. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, the palate is beautifully poised with bags of freshness countering the concentrated flavors and a fine-grained frame, finishing long with a minty kick. $115 Our Price $94.95 (Available GT)

Wine Advocate 93+
2017 Purlieu Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper features flamboyant notes of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and red currant jelly with nuances of sautéed herbs, tar and underbrush with a waft of pencil lead. Full-bodied, firmly textured and laden with muscular fruit, it has loads of earthy accents and a chewy finish. $190 Our Price $129.99 (Available GT)

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points
2019 Maybach Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus

First made in 2009 (the first vintage of Maybach was in 2004), the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus offers an incredible, full-bodied, pure, seamless style, and I suspect this is the finest vintage of this cuvée ever made. Gorgeous red and black fruits, toasted spice, brioche, violets, and flowers are just some of the nuances here, and it's one of those wines that brings massive richness and depth while staying pure, seamless, and as graceful as they come. Don't miss it! $190 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

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Taste 2021 Riverain Gamble Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Figgins Figlia Proprietary Red and 2019 Peter Franus Mount Veeder Brandlin Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, September 16th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2021 Riverain Gamble Ranch Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: The wine has a wonderful roundness while still maintaining the classic Sauvignon Blanc flavors of gooseberry, lemon, lime and a bit of a fennel note. $38

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
Figgins Figlia Proprietary Red 2019

The 2019 Figlia is a blend of Merlot and Petit Verdot that was raised in a mix of used barrels and oval botti. It has exotic red and blue fruits as well as pretty floral and sappy herb nuances on the nose. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, pure, seamless, gorgeous Merlot that has silky tannins, no hard edges, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. $70

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Peter Franus Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder Brandlin Vineyard 2019

Dense yet defined, with sappy kirsch, blackberry and boysenberry reduction laced with licorice snap, violet and apple wood notes. The long finish has heft but is very well-detailed, with an iron accent chiming in. One for the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2038. 270 cases made. $85

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Taste 2020 Aperture Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Turnbull Napa Cabernet and 2016 Eisele Altagracia Cabernet at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, September 17th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 93 Points
APERTURE Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County 2020

This white is full of intensity, with chive blossom, melon, tangerine, mango and lemon verbena flavors that show notes of green tea and preserved lemon on the long, complex finish. Drink now. 1,300 cases made. $40

James Suckling 92 Points * 2019 Turnbull Estate Napa Cabernet

A sold and structured cabernet with blackberries, blueberries, currants and some walnuts. Full-bodied with firm, fine tannins and a long finish. Very attractive now, but it will age nicely. $55

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2016 Eisele Vineyard Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon

The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed. $130

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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