Taste 2018 Castello Romitorio Brunello and 2017 Fontanafredda Serralunga d’Alba Barolo at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, May 9th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Fontanafredda Barolo Serralunga d'Alba 2017

This aromatic red delivers rose, cherry, strawberry and eucalyptus aromas and flavors allied to nervous tannins. Vibrant and focused, with a mineral-tinged finish, this is going to be impressive when the fruit and tannins fully integrate. Best from 2025 through 2042. 17,000 cases made, 5,100 cases imported. $54 Our Price $47.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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Taste 2019 and 2020 Krutz Family Napa Cabernet and 2018 Cardano Black Fruit Napa Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, May 10th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
2019 Krutz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is outstanding. All varietal aged in 50% new oak, it has some pure cassis fruit as well as textbook herbal and tobacco notes. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it’s elegant and has supple tannins, wonderful balance, and a great finish. It could be two to three times the price and still be a good value. $40

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent 96 Points * KRUTZ 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of cassis, baked plums, and boysenberries waft from the glass, followed by hints of dusty soil, Indian spices, and wild sage. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers bright, fresh, youthful fruit with a grainy texture and spicy lift on the finish. $52

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
2018 Cardano Estate Black Fruit Napa Cabernet

While a small step up in price, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Fruit is worth it and is one of the top values found in the vintage. A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, it has classy, complex notes of blueberries, blackberries, unsmoked tobacco, leather, and white truffle. It’s one of those wines you could smell all night, and it doesn’t disappoint on the palate either, offering full-bodied richness, a seamless texture, and ultra-fine tannins. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 15 years or more. Internet Price $75

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Taste 2021 Treana Paso Robles Cabernet, 2019 Justin Isosceles and 2019 Daou Soul of a Lion Cabernet at VRW for $20 per person.
Thursday, May 11th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2021 Treana Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Treana is your quintessential Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon. From the depth of color and intense nose, this wine is made with structure and purpose. On the palate, flavors of beautiful rich blackberry, warm vanilla, toasted coffee and black cherry are finished with firm but refined tannins. $30

2019 Justin Isosceles Proprietary Red

Winemaker Notes: Deep ruby/purple core with a black secondary color, and lighter toward the rim with moderate plus viscosity and slow-forming, moderately stained tears. Very aromatic and complex with ripe black cherry and cassis fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, and licorice spice with sweet tobacco, cedar, leather, and camphor notes. Full-bodied with ripe complex black cherry, boysenberry, cassis, and blackberry fruit on entry with baking spice. Dusty tannins appear on the midpalate with cedar, dried tobacco leaf, and saddle leather as it progresses. The finish is long, fresh, and balanced with notes of bay leaf, dried red rose petal, oak, and sustained tannins. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% abernet Franc, 10% Merlot. $90

Wine Advocate 97+ Points *2019 DAOU Vineyards Soul Of A Lion Cabernet

The 2019 Soul Of A Lion is a blend of free-run Cabernet Sauvignon (77%), Cabernet Franc (14%), and Petit Verdot (9%), aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. Opaque ruby in color, it offers aromatic contrast between dark, savory cherry fruit, chargrill and graphite, and top notes of green pepper and rose petals. The palate explodes with detailed flavors and its tannins are already resolved and chocolaty, with seamless acidity and exotic spicy layers emerging on the extended finish. Wow! $180. Internet Price $149.99

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Wine Spectator 93 Points
Fontanafredda Barolo Serralunga d'Alba 2017

This aromatic red delivers rose, cherry, strawberry and eucalyptus aromas and flavors allied to nervous tannins. Vibrant and focused, with a mineral-tinged finish, this is going to be impressive when the fruit and tannins fully integrate. Best from 2025 through 2042. 17,000 cases made, 5,100 cases imported. $54 Our Price $47.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
SCHRAMSBERG Brut Rosé North Coast 2019

Offers pretty peach and strawberry flavors and a luscious, lingering texture as this takes on spice and orange peel accents on the crisp yet plush finish. Drink now. 19,350 cases made. From California.—T.F. $48 Our Price $34.99 (Available GT and VRW)

2021 Eisele Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc emerges from the glass with scents of white musk, wild white peaches, guava and candied lemon. A swirl or two reveal fragrances of warm bread, vanilla, and cardamom, laced with mineral notes of wet pebbles and basil leaf. The mouthfeel is supple, round, and silky with a structure that extends the wine into a long creamy finish, lingering on verbena. Maturation in large oak vessels (French and Austrian foudres) has enhanced the journey of this wine, resulting in perhaps the most accomplished Sauvignon Blanc produced at Eisele Vineyard. $125 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Wine Advocate 92-94 Points
2020 Eisele Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia was tasted as a finished blend barrel sample. Deep purple-black in color, it has a fragrant nose of potpourri and Indian spices over a core of kirsch, warm cassis and plum preserves, plus a waft of camphor. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully juicy and perfumed, with alluring elegance and freshness, finishing long. $150 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

James Suckling 94 Points
Roederer Anderson Valley Estate Brut, Magnum

Extremely fresh and floral with sliced apples, stones and some white peach. Bread dough, too. Fine bead. Medium to full body with crisp acidity and a steely finish. Hints of phenolics provide a fine texture. Vibrant acidity. About 15% reserve wine (mostly chardonnay) in this, from five vintages. 2.5 years on the lees. 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. Drink or hold. $70. Our Price $49.99/magnum. (Available GT and VRW)

WOW*58% Off! (Additional cases arrive at GT 5/12/23) Great Value Rhone!
2019 Les Vins des Vienne Cote du Rhone Amet

Their new range of organic wines “Amet,” a roman word referring to environmental conservation. A beautiful blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah from 30-year-old vines in Rochegude, just north of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The terraced vineyard is composed of pebbles overlaying red clay soils. The handpicked grapes are de-stemmed and fermented by the natural yeasts at harvest. Certified Organically Grown. $19 Our Price $7.95

Dr. Loosen Dr. L Dry Riesling 2020

Winemaker Notes: This well-rounded Riesling is the dry counterpart to the lightly sweet Dr. L Riesling. Together, these two wines provide a glimpse into the unique stylistic diversity of Riesling, capturing the elegant and racy characteristics of steep, slate-soil Mosel vineyards at a very reasonable price. They are produced with grapes from contracted growers throughout the Mosel River valley who work closely with brothers Ernst and Thomas Loosen to achieve excellent quality in every vintage. $13 Our Price $11.39 (Back in stock GT)

WOW-50% Off!
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points * 2018 Rusack Ballard Canyon Estate Syrah

Focused aromas of elderberry and blackberry are spiced by licorice, white pepper and graphite on the ripe nose of this bottling, which includes 10% Petite Sirah. There is a thick presence to the palate, where heavy flavors of stewed berry, plum and smoked wood show. $36 Our Price $17.95 (Back in stock GT 5/11/23)

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 (Back in stock GT and VRW 5/10/23)

California Wine Advisors 97 Points
2020 Dalla Valle Collina Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

This highly-anticipated boutique Cabernet blend impresses with a silky smooth texture, plush tannins, and seriously delicious, dark fruit that remind us of best-selling trophy wines. We have judged the last ten Collina vintages and this is a strong candidate for the best-ever upon release. Flavors of dark chocolate and espresso lead to seductive layers of tightly-wound fruit complimented by seamlessly integrated French oak. This impressive new offering truly defies its humble price tag and may be enjoyed tonight (decant 1⁄2 hour). Our team rates this a solid 96+ rating now and predict it will evolve into 97 points over the next decade in our judgement. $115 (Arrives GT 5/12/23)

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Taste 2021 Sandhi Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, 2021 Chappellet Napa Mt. Cuvee and 2018 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, May 12th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
SANDHI Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2021

Complex and seamless, there's plenty to admire in this white wine. Shows spiced, poached pear, dried apple, grilled lemon and fresh tangerine flavors that are juicy and generous, with details of sage, white pepper and toasted sesame seed on the finish. Drink now. 4,536 cases made.—MaryAnn Worobiec. $35

2021 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Napa

Winemaker Notes: This beautifully aromatic wine leaps out of the glass with concentrated notes of red currant, boysenberry, cassis, roasted coffee and dark chocolate, along with savory undertones and notions of sweet oak. On the palate it is rich and mouthcoating, with a seamless texture and supple tannins framing luxurious layers of dark berry fruit, barrel spice and fresh herbs. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 14% Merlot, 12% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc. $60

2018 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Ruby in color, the Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of cassis, caramel, juniper and pomegranate. Lifted and vibrant on the nose, this wine is fresh on the palate with a juicy, fruit-forward core. Its silky mouthfeel will provide drinking pleasure through 2044 given proper cellaring conditions. 94.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Internet Price $90

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Taste 2022 Cliff Lede Napa Sauvignon Blanc, 2018 Rusack Ballard Canyon Estate Syrah and 2019 Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, May 13th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

2022 Cliff Lede Napa Sauvignon Blanc

Notes from Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking: Vivid and inviting, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc brims with energy and an elegant vivaciousness. The refreshing aromatics soar on layers of casaba melon, pineapple, and honeysuckle flowers. Flavors of kiwi, white peach, mango, and cucumber glide seamlessly along the palate with accents of sea salt, warm brioche, and persimmon tinged on the long and brightly tuned finish. A splendid note of flinty minerality persists on the tongue as this wine of poise and contemplation bids the taster for another sip. $34

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points * 2018 Rusack Ballard Canyon Estate Syrah

Focused aromas of elderberry and blackberry are spiced by licorice, white pepper and graphite on the ripe nose of this bottling, which includes 10% Petite Sirah. There is a thick presence to the palate, where heavy flavors of stewed berry, plum and smoked wood show. $36

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 96 Points
2019 Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Mount Veeder wine loaded with strong savory and mineral accents. Black fruit, graphite menthol and licorice lend complexity to this huge, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are pretty fierce at this stage, so readers should plan on being patient. $150

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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