Pop Up Wine Tasting at VRW Wednesday, 11/8/23

JP Havens, Harlan Family will join us at VRW tomorrow from 3:00-4:30 PM.
We will taste the 2019 Harlan Family “The Mascot Napa Cabernet”. Tasting Cost: $10 per person.

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.

(JP Havens: Born and raised in Napa Valley and his first career was a firefighter. Influenced to join the wine industry by his mother who is a 30 year industry veteran and shares his deep passion for wine. JP’s professional career includes positions with Alpha Omega, Miner Family, Macauley and now with Harlan Family)

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On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Iron Horse Wedding Cuvée Green Valley of Russian River Valley 2019

Succulent and seductive, with festive raspberry and lemon crème brûlée flavors accented by fresh gingerbread and spice tones, which glide on the creamy finish. Drink now. 6,000 cases made. $58

2021 Stewart Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: This full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon begins with notes of coriander and cardamom on the nose. Lush flavors of blueberry, blackcurrant, and blackberry are beautifully layered on the palate and lead into a unique, subtle hint of vanillin. The finish is accented with flavors of mocha and is refined by the velvety French oak. $80

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Taste 2021 Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay, 2021 Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot and 2021 Pisoni Estate SLH Pinot at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Tuesday, November 7th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2021 Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: The Les Noisetiers is a combination of three Sonoma Coast sites (Vine Hill Vineyard, Dutton Ranch, and Trenton Roadhouse) and emphasizes the area’s sandy Gold Ridge soils. The vinification draws on techniques used in Burgundy. The result is one of the most luxurious and complex white wines made in this county, possessing a minerality rare in New World Chardonnay. $75

2021 Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: This ridge-top vineyard looks to the coast in one direction and the Russian River Valley in the other. Laguna Ridge sits on layers of sandstone, granular sediments and shards of petrified wood and has been the source of the Laguna Ridge (formerly labelled as Kistler Vineyard) Pinot Noir since 2006. Produces a Pinot Noir of balanced concentration, holding an impressive, precise energy throughout its deep red and blue berry fruited core, subtle mineral undertones and lifted delicate varietal aromatics. $75

2021 Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir comes entirely from the Pisoni Vineyard in the southern portion of the Santa Lucia Highlands. It was only partially destemmed and was raised in 68% new French oak. It's a truly gorgeous effort offering serious aromatics of cassis, darker raspberries, spicy oak, graphite, and crushed stone. Incredibly pure, vibrant, and precise aromatically, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a stacked mid-palate, lots of building tannins, and a great finish. This concentrated, focused, age-worthy beauty needs at least 2-3 years to integrate its structure and tannins and will evolve brilliantly over the following decade. Bravo! $110

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Taste 2021 William Fevre Chablis Domaine, 2020 Chateau Fuisse Pouilly Fuisse Les Combettes and 2020 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Wednesday, November 8th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 91 Points
William Fèvre Chablis Domaine 2021

An expressive Chablis marked by gooseberry, flint, stone and lemon aromas and flavors, with an accent of fresh herbs or spring meadow adding a green element. Tangy and long. Drink now through 2028. 5,000 cases imported. $45

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Chateau Fuisse Pouilly-Fuissé Les Combettes 2020

Buttery and rich, this white delivers apple pie, citronella and baking spice flavors. Harmonious, finding a nice groove as this persists on the finish. Stays spicy through the lingering aftertaste. Drink now through 2029. 333 cases made, 100 cases imported. $115

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands 2020

Pure, silky and well-delineated, featuring cherry, pomegranate, blackberry and chalky mineral flavors. Firms up, with a crisp edge to the finish. Concentrated, balanced and long. Best from 2025 through 2036. $68

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Taste 2022 Pahlmeyer Jayson Napa Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Turnbull Napa Cabernet and 2020 Dalla Valle Collina Napa Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, November 9th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2022 Pahlmeyer Jason Napa Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: Jayson by Pahlmeyer Napa Sauvignon Blanc has fresh flavors and lively acidity counterpoised with a deep, textural richness. Vibrant aromas of orange blossom, Kefir lime leaf, and ripe guava leap from the glass. The palate opens with a focused surge of Key lime, guava, and a hint of river rock minerality. Bright, concentrated citrus and tropical fruit flavors glide through the supple, layered mid-palate, continuing laser sharp through the crisp finish, an echo of citrus meringue ringing on. $38

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

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

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2019 Staglin Family Salus Napa Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: Welcome to High Definition Cabernet – the 2019 Salus is a generous and deliciously detailed display of exuberant dark fruits dynamically supported by a range of floral, earthy and herbaceous characters. Lifted floral notes slide into resinous rosemary underlain by tilled earth and powdered porcini mushrooms complexed with a puff of gunpowder, graphite and criollo cigar wrapper. Bursting blackcurrant and ripe raspberry deepened by crushed cacao nibs and fresh licorice root envelop the palate before sliding silkily through a delightfully delineated and lengthy exit. The hint of grip and grit on the finish portends a rewarding and delicious life for this wine. $115 (Available GT and VRW)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 92
2021 Chateau de Beaucastel Coudoulet Rouge

A terrific vintage for this wine, which was bottled just a couple of weeks prior to my late June visit, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel is a blend of 30% each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, plus 10% Cinsault. From a vineyard just outside the boundaries of the appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, it's a remarkably consistent wine and always a solid value. Scents of sunbaked stones, black cherries and licorice appear on the nose, joined by hints of purple raspberries and dark chocolate, while the medium to full-bodied palate is lush and velvety, finishing long and complex. $40 Our Price $34.99 (Available GT)

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 96+ Points
2019 Staglin Estate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a rich, heady wine that is going to need a number of years to shed its baby fat and come into its own. Dark and vertical in feel, the 2019 possesses tremendous energy as well as power. Black cherry, chocolate, new leather, licorice, espresso and cloves build into the huge, resonant finish. The 2019 spent 22 months in barrel, 80% new. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. Best After 2027 $300 (Back in stock GT 11/8/23)

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 97 Points
2018 Staglin Rutherford Estate Cabernet

Staglin's 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate favors energy and tension over volume, at least at this point in its life. Bright, aromatic and sumptuous, the 2018 is fabulous right out of the gate. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, cedar and menthol race across the palate. The 2018 is bright and focused from start to finish, with impeccable balance, well-judged oak and tons of sheer appeal. It is one of the best recent editions I can remember tasting. Winemaker Fredrik Johansson captured the magic of the 2018 vintage and put it all into the bottle. I can't wait to see how this ages. $300 (Back in stock GT and VRW 11/8/23)

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Taste 2020 Grieve Double Eagle Napa Sauvignon Blanc, 2018 Buehler Estate Napa Cabernet and 2019 Stag’s Leap Winery Napa Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, November 10th. 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

Wine Advocate 92 Points
2018 Buehler Estate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and expressive notes of crushed blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis plus suggestions of bay leaves, clove oil and unsmoked cigars with a hint of cardamom. Medium-bodied and elegantly styled, the palate is chock-full of bright, crunchy black fruit with subtle, invigorating dried herbs accents and approachable, grainy tannins, finishing with a lively lift. Impressively priced for the quality here, it is drinking beautifully right now, and should cellar for a good 12 years+. Stock up! $45

James Suckling 93 Points
2019 Stag’s Leap Winery Napa Cabernet

Lovely aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, ground spice and anise. Full-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Juicy and vibrant on the palate with lovely balance and intensity. $65

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Taste Cabernet Sauvignon: 2021 J. Lohr Hilltop, 2019 Black Stallion Napa and 2020 Peter Michael L’Esprit Des Pavot at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, November 11th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Double Gold * 2023 SUNSET INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION 96 Points
2021 J. Lohr Hilltop Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: Exhilarating blackberry and blueberry aromas are enhanced by crushed violet, herbes de Provence, and spiced tea. On the palate, dense and soft, with finely textured tannins. Juicy layers of black and red currants lead to a bright finish, accented by pastry notes from extended barrel aging. $30

James Suckling 92 Points
2019 Black Stallion Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

A fragrant nose of mulberries, plums, cedar, cloves and vanilla. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, firm tannins and vivid acidity. Structured, with fruity character and a creamy texture. Chewy finish. Try from 2023. $36

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2020 Peter Michael L'Esprit Des Pavots

Inky red with a purple tinge, the 2020 L'Esprit Des Pavots is brooding with spice, black cherry preserve, forest earth, and black licorice. It’s full-bodied, rounded, and gushing with boysenberry, with a balance of sweet fruit and savory Sonoma character in its notes of tea leaf, wildflowers, and lightly toasted spices. Long on the palate, with ripe tannins and a good finish, it’s attractive now and will drink well over the next 10 years. $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