On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

2021 Bevan Ontogeny Proprietary Red

Winemaker Notes: The 2021 vintage is showing so massive on release that it’s giving us 2018 vibes. As usual, it is a blend of all of our best vineyards, although primarily Tench Vineyard. Prominently Cabernet Sauvignon, it shows massive power and is one of our darkest Ontogeny bottlings ever, yet it still retains its complexity with the Merlot and Cabernet Franc additions. Vibrant blueberry, boysenberry and créme de cassis with super concentrated fruit, and with the weight and tannin in the back palate that will allow this wine to age gracefully. Deep, dark and powerful. $100

Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 Points
2021 Phelps Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Looking at the Cabernet releases, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is deep purple-hued and has a classic nose of ripe currants, tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate. This rich, fleshy, full-bodied 2021 has solid mid-palate depth, the structure and density that's the hallmark of the vintage, and a great finish. It's a beauty. $105

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Taste 2021 Turley Zinfandel: Old Vine, Estate and Ueberroth at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, October 19th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Advocate 93 Points
2021 Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel Old Vines

The 2021 Zinfandel Old Vines has a medium ruby color and plush red and black cherries on the nose with accents of mushrooms, forest floor, savory spices and mint. The full-bodied palate is grainy and refreshing with generous berry fruit and a long, spicy finish. It's similar to the Juvenile with a bit more oomph, and it's just as easy to drink. $32

Wine Advocate 92 Points
2021 Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel Turley Estate

 Deep ruby, the 2021 Zinfandel Turley Estate opens with rubbery notes that give way to cassis, dried plums and toasted coconut. The full-bodied palate is much more generous than the nose. Super concentrated and ripe, it has a supple mouthfeel and some overt coconut flavors. It seems to unwind as it airs, so give it some time in a decanter, and serve it with grilled meats or ribeye. $49

Wine Advocate 94-96 Points
2021 Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard

Still in barrel, the 2021 Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard has youthfully kaleidoscopic aromas of Morello cherries, peach and orange peel and nuances of wild mint, aniseed and potpourri. The full-bodied palate is bursting with generous, nuanced fruit. It has notable freshness and pleasantly chewy tannins, and it offers a layered finish. It's very expressive so far. $60

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Wine Spectator 94 Points
Louis Roederer Brut Champagne 2015

A bright, chalky Champagne, finely balanced and appealing, with a range of nectarine and strawberry fruit flavors, plus notes of almond biscotti, pink grapefruit pith and elderflower. Packs a vivacious mousse that dances a foxtrot on the palate, carrying the flavors on the racy, lingering finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2030. 741 cases. $110 Our Price $89.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Lewis Chardonnay Russian River Valley Barcaglia Lane 2021

Exudes smoky, toasty overtones to the grilled peach, Meyer lemon, ripe melon and dried pineapple flavors, while spicy accents of clove, nutmeg and orange bitters linger on the rich, expansive finish. Drink now. 300 cases made. $80 Our Price $74.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
ASTROLABE Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2022

Checking all the boxes, this stunning version is fresh and vibrant yet also complex and full of flavor, from toasted green tea and lemon thyme to mouthwatering passion fruit, yuzu and mango. Ends with hints of white pepper, lemon blossoms and sea salt on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. —M.W. $23 Our Price $16.99 (Available GT and VRW)

James Suckling 95 Points
2019 Beaulieu Vineyard Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

A very attractive red now, with complexity and yummy drinkability. It’s medium-bodied with medium, round tannins that are fresh and more-ish. It’s dusty and lightly earthy with dark currants as well as tobacco. So much going on, in a subtle and refreshing way. 85% cabernet sauvignon, 10% petit verdot, and 5% malbec. Drink or hold. $80 Our Price $69.95 (Available GT and VRW)

2022 Alban Central Coast Viognier

Winemaker Notes: Something I hope you’ll enjoy sharing with your customers is our 2022 Central Coast Viognier: Medium straw color, deep rich nose of apricot, peach, and mango with ginger and exotic spices. Round and dense entry with classic Viognier oiliness, mouth coating while maintaining freshness with lush fruit, spice, creaminess, long with a surprising, gentle and bright upturn of acidity at the very end. The ’22 CCV cries out for some crab or shellfish but it will pair nicely with a wide array of cheeses or chicken dishes. Hand harvested at night all from our estate vineyard: fermented 80% in stainless, 10% in used 300L barrels, and 10% in Clay Amphora. The finished wine was bottled in May of 2023. 500 cases produced. $30 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2019 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The base 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is terrific, and while I don’t know the price, I suspect it’s a great value. Deep purple-hued, with terrific mulled currant and blackberry fruits, it has lots of ripe herbal, chocolaty spice notes, full-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a great finish. This is pure Napa Valley goodness to drink over the coming 10-15 years. $85 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
DROUHIN OREGON ROSEROCK Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2021

Graceful and precise, with dynamic cherry and red plum flavors highlighted by fresh violet and brown spices, which glide on the long, sleek finish toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 10,500 cases made. —Tim Fish $42 Our Price $36.95 (Back in stock GT)

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)

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Taste 2022 Groth Napa Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Pahlmeyer Napa Merlot and 2019 Etude Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, October 20th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
2022 Groth Napa Sauvignon Blanc

Distinctive, with lanolin, honeysuckle and litsea oil accents to the ripe peach, citrus and apricot flavors at the core. Reveals mouthwatering acidity and sea salt minerality on the finish. Drink now. $30

The Wine Independent 93-95 points
2021 Pahlmeyer Napa Merlot

The single-varietal 2021 Merlot comes 62% from Waters Ranch and 38% from Stagecoach Vineyard and is due to be bottled very soon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with bold expressions of juicy blueberries, Morello cherries, and wild blueberries, leading to wafts of rose oil, cardamom, and cumin seed with a waft of fragrant soil. The full-bodied palate delivers a very fine-grained yet firm backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and beautiful tension to support the black fruit and floral layers, finishing long with a spicy lift. $130

James Suckling 96 Points
2019 Etude Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Lots of blackcurrant and crushed stone on the nose, as well as some dustiness. Full-bodied, very velvety and restrained. Beautiful energy at the end. This comes mostly from Coombsville, Rutherford and Oakville vineyards. Two or three years will bring this into the right space, but already so enjoyable to taste. $100

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Taste 2021 Pinot Noir: J Vineyards Three County, Lucia Estate Cuvee and Lucia Soberanes at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, October 21st. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

2021 J Vineyards Monterey-Sonoma-Santa Barbara Counties Pinot Noir

A firm and savory pinot with dried strawberry and dark cherry aromas and flavors with hints of chocolate and nutmeg. Medium-bodied. Pretty fruit. Nice tension here. $24

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
2021 Lucia Pinot Noir Estate Cuvee

Looking at the three Pinot Noirs, the 2021 Pinot Noir Estate Cuvee is a larger production release (2256 cases) that brings terrific darker berry fruits, some spice, underbrush, black tea, and crushed stone nuances, medium body, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. A serious wine, it benefits from air and will easily evolve for 5-7 years or more. It's a smoking value in impeccably made, high-quality Pinot Noir that will beat the pants off many a Premier Cru Burgundy. $55

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2021 Lucia Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard

The 2021 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard saw a touch more stems and was fermented with 35% whole clusters, with the aging spanning 11 months in 45% new French oak. It needs air to show at its best and gives up beautiful red and black fruits as well as black tea, spicy herbs, and foresty, earthy nuances. With more moderate acidity, a round, supple, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it's going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following decade. It's another brilliant wine. $70

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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