On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
2020 Lewis Cellars Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

This deeply concentrated and firmly structured wine is like an iron fist in a velvet glove. It boasts ultra rich and luxurious black cherries, blueberries and dark chocolate backed by firm, fine grained tannins that give it aging potential. $120

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Taste 2022 Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 MacMurray Ranch Estate Russian River Pinot and 2019 The Mascot Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, September 21st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 90 Points
Ancient Peaks Sauvignon Blanc Paso Robles 2022

This impressive version offers fresh lemon-lime flavors that are bright and juicy, with a touch of crunchy sea salt. Notes of Honeycrisp apple show aromatic highlights of lemon verbena, lemongrass and fresh ginger on the finish. Drink now. 12,456 cases made. $18

2021 MacMurray Ranch Estate Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The MacMurray Estate Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir opens with aromas of lavender and boysenberry, giving way to flavors of dark cherry, pomegranate and vanilla. This luscious wine has a silky mouthfeel, framed by subtle hints of oak from barrel aging. $30

2019 The Mascot Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: The wine is beautifully supple with a broadly fanned aromatic spectrum and an effortless depth of fruit. From a center point on the palate, the 2019 vintage undulates outward in all directions. Gentle, velvety swells pause and fold in on themselves, their liquid whorls of refined tannin and gratifying acidity gliding across the surface of smooth curves before retreating gradually to reveal, on the finish, the burnished dimensions beneath. $180

The Mascot is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon made from distinct hillside vineyards; specifically the younger vines of BOND, Harlan Estate, and Promontory. It started out as a small project shared among the family, winemaking team, and close friends. Drawing fruit from blocks of recently replanted vineyards, The Mascot shares a glimpse into the evolution of its parent estates: a youthful snapshot of their future.

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Antonio Galloni, Vinous 97 Points
2019 Robert Craig Howell Mountain Cabernet

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain) is another stellar wine from Robert Craig. Bright and incisive, with tons of energy, the Howell Mountain Cabernet delivers the goods, big time. A rush of inky red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, menthol, spice and crushed rocks build into a crescendo of aromas and flavors that dazzles. This deep, vivid Cabernet hits all the right notes. Superb. $118 Our Price $103.99 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

2020 Unknown Brother Santa Barbara Syrah

The wine opens with a bouquet of lavender, wild blueberries, camphor oil, and bergamont. On the palate it is fresh and savory, with black cherry, Herbs de provence, melted licorice, and white pepper. Unique to this vintage are the spice notes of cardamon, cinnamon stick, graham cracker crust, and cloves that add depth and complexity. We held onto this vintage a little longer

in bottle to allow all the components to mesh together. The wine gets better with air, so decanting is highly recommended. $60 (Available GT)

Vinous 94 Points
2019 Frog’s Leap Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown is a firm, classically built wine that is going to need a few years to come into its own. There is admirable depth as well as character. Red cherry/plum fruit, spice, tobacco and mocha lend quite a bit of aromatic nuance to this mid-weight, super-expressive Cabernet from Frog's Leap. $80 Our Price $69.99 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
2017 Taub Family Rutherford Cabernet

Nicely compact, with a core of steeped red currant, plum and blackberry fruit that should unwind in the near future. Alder and licorice notes score the finish, with good latent energy. Best from 2022 through 2031. 1,500 cases made. — JM $75 Our Price $64.99 (Back in stock GT 9/22/23)

2019 Justin Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: The 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best Paso Robles Cabernets available. Crafted from the same quality fruit as our flagship ISOSCELES blend, and made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is a Cabernet lover’s dream. This wine is bold and complex with ripe black fruit, sweet spice, and that classic Cabernet mix of savory and herbal character. Its structural texture keeps this wine balanced and fresh from its beginning through its very long, complex finish. $78 (Arrives GT 9/29/23)

Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points
2019 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is an incredible wine, and it flirts with perfection. Full-bodied and concentrated, it has flawless balance and elegance as well as just textbook Howell Mountain notes of blue fruits, cassis, violets, graphite, and background oak. I love its tannins, it has remarkable purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. It has some appeal today yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and should have over two decades of longevity. $110 (Back in stock GT this afternoon)

2021 Fait Main Tierra Roja Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: This first Fait-Main release from the acclaimed Tierra Roja Vineyard radiates confidence from the first sip. A bold abundance of blue fruit, blackcurrant, plum and dark cherry notes beam from the palate, with hints of licorice and chocolate shimmering below. Fresh acidity and beautifully integrated tannins balance the immense volume and density of the fruit, gliding into a luxurious finish with deep, lingering notes of dark chocolate and vanilla. $255 (Arrives GT 9/27/23)

2021 Fait Main Beckstoffer Las Piedras Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: The 2021 vintage from the rocky Las Piedras Vineyard delivers exquisite freshness, balance and minerality enrobed in velvet textures. Dazzling raspberry and floral aromas meld with mineral notes of flint and graphite. The palate shines with freshness and energy, supported by seamless tannins and perfectly integrated oak. An elegant, enduring finish unfolds with aromatic red fruit and mocha throughout. $240 (Arrives GT 9/27/23)

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Taste 2020 Grieve Double Eagle Napa Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Turnbull Napa Cabernet and 2019 Le Pich Napa Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, September 22nd. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
2020 Grieve Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley Double Eagle

A distinctive white, oozing with lanolin, honeysuckle and buttery lemon pastry notes up front. The richness is matched by fresh acidity and a core of bright citrus and stone fruit flavors, and the texture is equally supple and juicy. Drink now. 555 cases made. $50

2021 Turnbull Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Notes of dusted blackberries, plum and cherry lead to a back-drift of toast and fleeting tobacco. Supple creamy tannins widen the dark fruit midpalate, lending to a lifted and layered finish. This wine widens and rises in amplitude and velocity with elegance and balance, showcasing the incredible beauty of the 2021 vintage. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec. (Source: 71% Amoenus Vineyard, Calistoga, 11 % Fortuna Vineyard, Oakville, 11% Turnbull Home Vineyard, Oakville and 7% Leopoldina Vineyard, Oakville) $50

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 92 Points
2019 Le Pich Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Pich is a terrific introductory-level wine from Julien Fayard. A rich, opulent wine, Le Pich offers up a compelling mélange of black cherry, plum, chocolate, cloves, new leather and licorice. This bold, sumptuous Cabernet delivers the goods, big time. The 2019 is one of the best editions of Le Pich I can remember tasting. Drinking Window: 2022-2034. $60

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Taste 2022 Peter Michael L’Apres Midi Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Oberon Paso Robles Cabernet and 2019 Groth Reserve Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, September 23th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

2022 Peter Michael L’Apres Midi Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: The light gold 2022 ‘L’Après-Midi’ rises from the glass with an array of lemon and orange blossoms, jasmine, pear, and yellow peach with flourishes of baking spices and lemon curd. A bright, expressive entry with juicy, well-integrated acidity gives way to a plush mouthfeel with apricot, passion fruit, and vanilla cream highlights. The exuberant 2022 ‘L’Après-Midi’ finishes with notes of mango, lemon zest, and lime blossom. $82

2021 Oberon Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Irresistible aromas of rose petals and blueberry cobbler lead to ripe, supple silky tannins. Flavors of vibrant black cherry, candied blackberry, and red plum are complimented by notes of black currant and licorice, with a hint of coffee, dark chocolate and spice – all culminating into a lingering and delicious finish. $25 Our Price $19.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 94+ Points
2019 Groth Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

The deeper purple-hued 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a terrific Oakville effort loaded with pure cassis fruit as well as notes of spicy oak, scorched earth, and tobacco. Classic Napa Cabernet in every way, it’s medium to full-bodied, has ripe, polished tannins, a terrific spine of acidity, and the balance and purity to evolve for 20-25 years if well stored. $170

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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