September 30th 2022 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

September 30th 2022 Newsletter

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2018 Fortunate Son Cabernet Sauvignon The Dreamer (Hundred Acre)

Coming from a vineyard close to Hundred Acre's Few and Far Between vineyard and planted to 85- to 90-year-old vines, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon The Dreamer is made from around 92% Cabernet Sauvignon with a small proportion of unknown red varieties interplanted. Deep garnet-purple in color, it bursts with flamboyant notes of redcurrant preserves, cassis, dark chocolate, violets and red roses, plus fragrant hints of Indian spices and camphor, with a suggestion of iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is fabulously velvety, delivering beautiful freshness and loads of spicy layers, finishing very long. $125 (Available GT and VRW 10/1/22)

The best Pinot Noir value of 2022 is coming to an end. We purchased the last 40 cases of this gem and it’s available at GT and VRW.

2015 Nielson Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The wine shows aromas of blackberries, rose petals, dried herbs, and earth. Flavors are driven by a dark fruit core, complemented by sandalwood, black pepper, and crushed stone. $20 Internet Price $13.99. GT and VRW Insider Price $8.95

2021 Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc, Half Bottles

Winemaker Heidi von der Mehden: The special care we take to bring out the very best in this variety shows in our results. We use a specific mix of clones – two-thirds Shenandoah (Clone 1) and one-third Sauvignon Musqué – that results in a wine brimming with floral and tropical fruit aromatics with a citrusy, juicy core. Barrel fermentation and twice-weekly lees stirring help us create the characteristic creamy texture and rich body that you’ve come to know and share with your friends and family. $21/375ml (Back in stock GT 9/30/22)

2020 Merry Edwards Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: On the nose, aromas of red cherries, ripe raspberries, brambleberries and blueberries mingle with violets. Toasted brioche and sweet tea tease you to take a sip. Offering immediate palate appeal, the wine displays a beautiful balance of bright acidity and well-integrated tannins supported by a touch of warm French oak. Velvety and ripe with a lingering finish, all indications point to a long life ahead. $54/750ml and $27/375ml (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Wine Enthusiast 89 Points
2020 Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses Rose

Initial aromas of strawberry, raspberry and a hint of peony form the bouquet of this bright and attractive wine. The palate is brisk and easygoing, with bright acidity to lift the red fruit tones and carry through to the close for a mouthwatering finish. $18 Liquidation Price $9.95 (Available GT) Limited to stock on hand.

The Grape Tray just received the following parcel of 2020 Esmonin Red Burgundy:
1 btl Ruchottes Chambertin at $177.99/btl
2 btls Mazy Chambertin at $177.99/btl
2 btls Gevrey Estournelles St Jacques at $69.99/btl
1 btl Gevrey Lavaux St Jacques at $69.99/btl
6 btls Gevrey VV Les Jouises at $48.99/btl
12 btls Nuits Hauts Pruliers at $44.99/btl

Wine Spectator 96 Points
VILMART Brut Champagne Grand Cellier d'Or 2016

Gorgeous aromas and flavors of nectarine, chopped almond, dried white cherry, ground cardamom and ginger, lime blossoms, graphite and espresso crema are immediately present on the mouthwatering palate of this elegant Champagne. Buoyed by bright, well-integrated acidity, the flavors glide along on the fine, creamy mousse, underscored by a racy streak of salinity that drives the clean-cut finish. Shows beautiful harmony and expression. Disgorged October 2020. Drink now through 2036. From France.—A.N. $110 Our Price $106.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 93 Points*2019 Dominus Napanook

Exuberantly fruity on the nose, the 2019 Napanook is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Despite seeing 40% new French oak, what shines on the nose are the ripe cherries, delicately brushed with wisps of tobacco, sage and bay leaf. It's medium to full-bodied, supple and silky in feel on the palate, while the finish lingers easily, adding notes of pencil shavings and mocha. To get this sort of pedigree for less than $100 is a rarity in Napa these days, making it a notable value. $94 Our Price $81.99 (Available GT)

2019 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: An expressive, concentrated wine, with handsome dark black fruit aromas and an enticing hint of spice. Focused and full-bodied, with flavorful layers of black cherry, wild blackberry, fresh plum, and refined tannins that create a textured, stylish impression across a long, rich finish. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot and 3% Malbec $26 Our Price $23.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 92 Points
2019 Walter Hansel Cahill Lane Russian River Pinot

The 2019 Pinot Noir Cahill Lane Vineyard is elegant, understated and classy. Silky tannins and mid-weight structure give the 2019 so much appeal. As with all of these wines, the flavors are bright and punchy, with plenty of red berry, white pepper, mint and citrus character. $46 (Available GT)

2020 Thread Feathers Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Etched in aromas of sage, cedar and pencil shaving, this wine is robust and ripe, brawny and burly in style and approach, reflecting its Mt. Veeder source. The fruit is dark and broodingly rich. Thick layers of blackberry, black cherry, toffee and earthy tobacco framed within a foundation of firm, integrated tannin, and balanced power. Structured, age-worthy, and complex, the wine finishes on sustained savory notes of cardamon, clove, and freshly tilled earth. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec. $40 Our Price $33.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2012 Dom Perignon Brut

The 2012 Dom Pérignon has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of Anjou pear, smoke, toasted nuts, freshly baked bread and crisp stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's still tightly wound, its incipiently fleshy core of fruit framed by racy acids and chalky grip, complemented by a classy pinpoint mousse. A touch drier and a touch less reductive than the 2008 out of the gates, these two vintages are clearly destined to be compared for some time to come; but at this early stage, my instinct is that the 2012 will have the edge in the long term. $240 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 95 Points
CHARLES HEIDSIECK Brut Rosé Champagne 2008

A rich Champagne, with a chiseled frame of acidity meeting fine, lacy texture to produce a harmonious effect on the palate. Shows a lovely range of roasted almond, dried cherry and raspberry, mandarin orange peel and accents of verbena, fleur de sel, brioche and espresso that play on the racy finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged 2020. Drink now through 2038. 59 cases imported —A.N. $170 (Arrives GT 10/5/22)

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Taste 2016 Burgess Contadina Napa Cabernet, 2019 Luca Old Vine Malbec and 2019 Groth Oakcross Proprietary Oakville Red at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, September 30th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2016 Burgess Cellars CONTADINA Napa CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Winemaker Notes: A dense and concentrated cabernet with aromas and flavors of confectionary blackberry and stewed cassis. The lush fruit is brought into balance by high tone herbal aromatics of mint, sage, and sweet tobacco. The distinctively thick-skinned Cabernet grapes provide a long velvety finish. $52 Our Price $44.99

Wine Spectator 93 Points
LUCA Malbec Uco Valley Old Vine 2019

Unctuous and fine-grained flavors of dark currant and ripe cherry are supported by medium-grained tannins in this red, which is creamy midpalate, with concentrated chocolate mousse notes on the finish. Drink now through 2026. 13,000 cases made, 7,000 cases imported. — KM $35 Our Price $31.99

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Groth Oakcross Proprietary Red Oakville 2019

A dynamic blend, combining deep structure with finesse and polish, this features black cherry and cassis flavors laced with toasty spice, red licorice and a hint of dusty herbs as it builds tension toward refined tannins. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 1,150 cases made. $99 Our Price $85.99

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Taste 2021 Sean Minor Signature Sonoma Coast Pinot, 2019 Daou Reserve Cabernet and 2019 Kathryn Hall Napa Cabernet at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, October 1st. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 91 Points
SEAN MINOR Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Signature Series 2021

Bright, high-pitched style, withy blood orange and damson plum notes racing through, flecked liberally with savory and thyme hints. Nice sleek feel on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 7,500 cases made.—J.M. $28 Our Price $19.49

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2019 DAOU Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Magnum

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve contains 20% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot. It was made from free-run juice and matured 16 months in 50% new French oak. The nose is deep and savory, offering up layers of grilled meats, blackberries, dark spices, dried flowers and iron. The palate is silky and detailed with savory character and surprisingly fresh acidity, finishing long and spicy. $120/magnum. Our Price $97.95/Magnum

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

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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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