On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Spectator 95
ARGIANO Brunello di Montalcino 2018

Rose, strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors are the main themes in this red, along with wild herb, mineral and cut hay accents. Racy and full of energy, with a long, saturated finish. Best from 2025 through 2042. —B.S. 3,504 cases imported $90

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2021 Sandhi Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

The 2021 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills has a medium ruby color and pretty scents of cinnamon stick, aniseed, iron, underbrush and charcuterie with a core of red cherries and cranberries. Medium-bodied yet very concentrated, it has a powdery frame, sparks of refreshing acidity and a very long, graphite-driven finish. Precise and detailed, it deserves to spend another 2-3 years in bottle. $40

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2020 Ledge Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard

The 2020 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard is pure gold and one hell of an impressive Syrah that readers should snatch up. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as incredible aromatics of blue fruits, cassis, ground pepper, violets, and smoked game, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, opulent mouthfeel, silky tannins, and a great finish. Coming from 100% destemmed Syrah that spent 19 months in 80% new French oak, it's going to blow you away any time over the coming decade, if not longer. $85

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Taste 2020 Liberty School Reserve Cabernet, 2021 Sinegal Estate Details Cabernet and 2018 Keever Napa Cabernet at VRW for $15 per person.
Thursday, March 30th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2020 Liberty School Reserve Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: This storied wine has been a staple on dinner tables for more than 40 years. The warm rich ruby color fills your glass along with aromas of vanilla bean, fresh cedar, and dense black currants. On the palate, earthy notes mingle with crushed peppercorn, sweet oak, and dark fruit. This medium bodied wine is balanced with dusty tannins and a soft lingering finish. $25

Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 Points
2021 Sinegal Estate Details Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Details is a terrific entry level wine from this team and has everything you'd want from a value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon. Black cherries, mulberries, gravelly earth, and leafy tobacco define the bouquet, and it's medium-bodied, round, supple, and nicely textured, with a forward, charming style that's going to drink nicely right out of the gate. $50

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
2018 Keever Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

I also loved the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, which brings another level of purity and class, offering gorgeous crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, white flowers, tobacco leaf, vanilla bean, and damp earth-like aromas and flavors. Pure, clean, full-bodied, and just a classy, flawlessly balanced beauty, it has fine tannins, the freshness of the vintage, and a great finish. Enjoy bottles over the coming 15-20 years. $135

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Wine Spectator 93 Points
Fanti Brunello di Montalcino 2018

Sleek and focused, with a supple feel to the cherry, raspberry, hibiscus and chalky mineral flavors. Well-balanced, finishing with a crisp feel now that should stretch out nicely in time. Best from 2025 through 2042. —B.S. $49 Our Price $45.99 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Camilla 2018

Juicy and firm, setting the stage for macerated cherry and raspberry fruit complemented by hay, iron and earth. Compact and dense, despite a linear profile, with fine length. Best from 2025 through 2042. 2,500 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. $55 Our Price $38.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Frédéric Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin 2018

A deep, velvety red, this bursts with cherry, black currant, violet and graphite aromas and flavors, shrouded in smoky oak. It's intense and linear in profile, with excellent balance and a long, detailed finish. Best from 2024 through 2045. 100 cases imported. $185 (Available GT and VRW this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
San Giorgio Brunello di Montalcino Ugolforte 2017

Tightly wound, this red evokes cherry, raspberry, plum, iron and tobacco flavors, with a solid tannic spine giving this support and a firm grip on the lingering finish. Tips a wee bit to the tannins in overall harmony, yet this is complex and long. Best from 2025 through 2042. 2,500 cases made, 1,250 cases imported. $60 Our Price $49.99 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2021 Sandhi Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

The 2021 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills has a medium ruby color and pretty scents of cinnamon stick, aniseed, iron, underbrush and charcuterie with a core of red cherries and cranberries. Medium-bodied yet very concentrated, it has a powdery frame, sparks of refreshing acidity and a very long, graphite-driven finish. Precise and detailed, it deserves to spend another 2-3 years in bottle. $40 Our Price $34.99 (Available GT and VRW this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
CASTELLO ROMITORIO Brunello di Montalcino 2018

A graceful red hallmarked by cherry, strawberry, rose, mineral and Mediterranean herbs. Lacy and succulent yet firm, ending on the minerally side. Vibrant and long. Best from 2025 through 2042. 680 cases imported —B.S. $77 (Arrives GT 4/5/23)

2017 Quilt Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Deep garnet in color. Baking spice aromas of cinnamon and clove are intertwined with dark stone fruits, blackberry pie, vanilla, white pepper and notes of oak and rose. A full bodied palate presents layers of dark black cherry, coffee, blackberry, dark currant and notes of milky chocolate. Beautifully rounded with an unctuous velvety mouth-feel. This refined wine is a sensational expression of what a Napa Valley Cabernet represents with a long, smooth finish and fine grained tannins. $110 Internet Price $99.99 (Back in stock GT)

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Taste 2021 Aperture Sauvignon Blanc, 2014 Arrowood Reserve Speciale Cabernet and 2020 Aperture Sonoma Cabernet at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, March 31st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2021 Aperture Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is blended with three percent Sémillon and matured for six months in one-third new, once-used and older barrels. Sourced mainly from the Dry Stack Vineyard in Bennett Valley, this latest release includes fruit from the Aperture estate vineyards in Healdsburg. In 2022, even more vines will be dedicated to the Sauvignon Blanc, from newly planted vines in the recently purchased Farrow Ranch in Alexander Valley. In the glass, flinty tones give way to perfumed white peach, tarragon, citrus blossoms, toast and beeswax. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and expansive with concentrated, flint-laced flavors countered by tangy acidity. Its flavors are anchored by a touch of textural grip that also drives the honeyed finish, and this has the potential to develop savory complexity in bottle over the next 3-5 years or more. 1,808 cases produced. $45

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2014 Arrowood Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Speciale has a black forest cake and crème de cassis-scented nose with touches of charcoal, black soil, mocha and salami plus a hint of cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with black fruit and savory layers with beautifully ripe, fine-grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great persistence. 1,103 cases produced. $100

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2020 Aperture Cellars Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon was blended with 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec, 1% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and matured for 18 months in 55% new French oak. Deep ruby-purple, it has alluring scents of Morello cherries and blueberries accented by wafts of laurel leaves, allspice and cocoa. Medium-bodied and firm yet velvety, it's ripe yet more restrained than previous vintages, offering classy oak spice and surprising drinkability. 2,033 cases produced. $80

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Taste 2020 Chalk Hill Russian River Chardonnay, 2021 The Prisoner Sonoma Coast Pinot and 2019 Merus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, April 1st. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

2020 Chalk Hill Russian River Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: This 2020 Russian River Valley Chardonnay leads with a fresh bouquet of yellow peach, baked apple, and lemon that draw you in with underlying notes of vanilla and spice. Round, rich and versatile, this chardonnay has notes of creamy lemon custard, poached pear, almond, and baked spices with a round mouth-feel and lingering finish. $30

2021 The Prisoner Sonoma Coast Pinot

Winemaker Notes: A mix of Russian River and Carneros AVAs produces this classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir with notes of ripe cranberry, pomegranate, and cherry with clove spice. The palate is driven by rhubarb and cherry with an underlying minerality and spice, which culminates with soft tannins and an elegant, balanced acidity. $50

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
2019 Merus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

A killer bottle of Napa Valley magic, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Merus is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. It’s a powerful, full-bodied, uber-ripe beauty that stays lively and balanced, with beautiful blue fruits, as well as smoked tobacco, chocolate, and scored earth-like aromas and flavors. A beast of a wine with a great mid-palate and velvety tannins, it should shed its considerable baby fat over the coming 4-6 years and have two decades of overall longevity. $180

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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
Tuesday-Friday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM-4:00 PM