On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
2019 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville Napa

From the southern, cooler end of the valley, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville offers a vibrant, lively bouquet of blue fruits, sappy herbs, truffle, tobacco, and hints of gravelly earth. It brings plenty of richness on the palate and is medium to full-bodied, has nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a beautiful, cooler-climate, textured, balanced Cabernet that can be enjoyed today or cellared for upwards of two decades. MATURITY: 2022 – 2042. $120

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 98 Points
2019 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is outrageously beautiful. A wine of extraordinary purity, the 2019 dazzles right out of the gate. The tannins are nearly silky for a young Howell Mountain Cabernet. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, rose petal and pomegranate all build in this sumptuous, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2019 is one of the most elegant Cabernets I have tasted here, and that is saying something What a wine! $225

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Taste Chardonnay: 2021 My Favorite Neighbor, 2022 Neyers Sonoma 304 and 2021 Paul Hobbs Menini Estate at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, October 10th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Advocate 97 Points
2021 My Favorite Neighbor Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay is very ripe in style with scents of banana chip, apple pie, jasmine, allspice and brown sugar. The full-bodied palate is packed with ripe, spicy fruits and plenty of refreshing acidity, and it finishes long with a satiny, mouth-coating texture. It's an old-school style reminiscent of Napa that fans of ripe, oaked Chardonnays will enjoy. $60

Wine Spectator 92 Points
NEYERS Chardonnay Sonoma County 304 2022

Shows juicy yellow apple, Asian pear and lemon zest notes that are mouthwatering and fresh, gaining complexity from details of apple skin, fragrant white flowers and lingering fresh-grated ginger. Drink now. 7,225 cases made. From California.—MaryAnn Worobiec $35

James Suckling 95 Points
2021 Paul Hobbs George Menini Estate Chardonnay

This is a dense and very limey chardonnay, with lemon-curd and crushed-stone aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and foursquare, with a solid structure and intense flavors. A mouthful of fruit. Chunky. Honeysuckle and nettles at the end. Agile for a big wine. Drink now or hold. $90

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Taste Napa Cabernet Sauvignon: 2021 Faust Napa and 2019 Mayacamas Mt Veeder at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Wednesday, October 11th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2021 Faust Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Cabernet's classic aromas and flavors star in this Faust Napa Cabernet. Delicate violet notes lift the dark fruit on the nose - black currant and briary blackberry - layered with pungent forest botanicals, leafy tobacco, graphite, and toasted spice. The velvet of fine-textured tannins backs expressive red fruit flavors on a complex palate, both sweet and savory with mocha and minerality, juicy ripe fruit and freshness. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. $60

Wine Spectator 96 Points
2019 Mayacamas Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

Loaded with character and energy, this version reveals heavy notes of zesty sweet bay leaf and sassafras that infuse a core of steeped red currant and mulberry fruit, all carried by bright acidity and iron-laced tannins. The long finish pulls everything together, with the fruit, savory and mineral elements in harmony. Showing an old-school touch, this has a long life ahead. Best from 2025 through 2045.”—James Molesworth. $185

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Taste 2020 Paul Hobbs Goldrock Estate Pinot, 2021 Quilt Napa Cabernet and 2021 Schrader Double Diamond Proprietary Red at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Thursday, October 12th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
2020 Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Goldrock Estate

The 2020 Pinot Noir Goldrock Estate takes on a darker fruit profile, with ripe black cherry, fresh potting soil, and root beer spice. In line with the nose, the palate is more grounded in nature, with black raspberry and layers of incense and spice that unfold harmoniously through its long finish. This is worth holding a couple years and drinking over the following 10 or more years. $90

2021 Quilt Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Dark plum in color with exuberant aromas of dark cherry strudel, ripe blackberry, and cocoa nibs. Bold and opulent flavors of boysenberry jam, dark chocolate, and Malabar plum with a hint of clove. This Cabernet Sauvignon is elegant on the palate, with strong acidity and a long, smooth finish accompanied by velvety tannins. $55

2021 Schrader Double Diamond Proprietary Red

Winemaker Notes: The inaugural release of the 2021 Proprietary Red Wine upholds the level of excellence expected from winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown. It expresses a fragrant perfume of ripe red cherry, blueberry, and pomegranate, mingled with bell pepper, iron, and vanilla bean. On the palate, generous red and blue fruits are complemented by blackberry compote, dark chocolate, and espresso. The wine has silky tannins, food-friendly acidity, and a lingering finish. It is ready to drink upon release but will cellar well for years to come. $90

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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 Our Price $69.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuveé Carneros 2015

An opulent, decadent style, with raspberry, poached pear, roasted nut and yeast roll flavors that build richness on the spicy finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now. $60 Our Price $39.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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 Our Price $49.95 (Back in stock GT this afternoon)

2021 Schrader Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Notes from Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown: The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon stands to outshine the award-winning 2019 vintage with even deeper concentration and complexity. On the nose, the wine leaps from the glass with ripe blackberry, cassis, black cherry, and red plum, with a lovely herbaceous undertone. The palate expresses juicy red and black fruits with hints of black tea, damp earth, vanilla bean, lavender, and just a touch of flint. With fine-grained tannins and mouthwatering acidity that lingers through the long finish, this wine is ready to drink upon release but will cellar well for years to come. $90 (Available GT 10/11/23)

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Taste Paso Robles Cabernet: 2021 M by McPrice Myers, 2019 Justin Reserve and 2019 Justin Isosceles at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, October 13th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2021 M by McPrice Myers Cabernet Sauvignon

I love this easy-to-drink 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from McPrice Myers that well overdelivers for its price. Deep ruby-purple, it has alluring aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, dried herbs, leather and lavender, plus classy touches of oak spice. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and powerful without going over the top. It has abundant, grainy tannins, flinty streaks and plenty of refreshing acidity to carry the long finish. It's not your average chocolate bomb California Cabernet, despite its modest price tag. It should be easy to find, with 12,000 cases produced. $35

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

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

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Taste Champagne: 2015 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvee, Louis Roederer Brut Collection 243 and Charles Heidsieck Brut Rose Reserve at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, October 14th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuveé Carneros 2015

An opulent, decadent style, with raspberry, poached pear, roasted nut and yeast roll flavors that build richness on the spicy finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now. $60

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Louis Roederer Brut Collection 243

The NV Champagne Collection 243 Brut is the third release and is based on the 2018 vintage, with the addition of 30% of the perpetual reserve started in 2012 and 10% reserve wine that has been aged in oak. It is ripe and balanced, with yellow flowers, honeycomb, and plum, and it has elegant concentration and underlying tension, precise mousse, and rich salinity, with lingering notes of croissant and delicate smoke. $68

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Charles Heidsieck Brut Rosé Champagne Réserve NV (2023)

This fresh rosé Champagne is framed by pink grapefruit peel acidity, showing good concentration without excessive weight. Offers a finely knit range of cantaloupe, peach skin, brioche and fleur de sel flavors. Long, creamy finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged 2022. Drink now through 2026. 675 cases imported. $110

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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