Holiday Hours:

Grape Tray
Tuesday, 11/21 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, 11/22 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday, 11/23 Happy Thanksgiving
Friday, 11/24 Closed
Saturday, 11/25 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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Vintage Reserve Wine
Tuesday, 11/21 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, 11/22 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM
Thursday, 11/23 Happy Thanksgiving
Friday, 11/24 Closed
Saturday, 11/25 12:00 noon – 4:00 PM

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On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Spectator 95 Points
Domaine Faiveley Gevrey-Chambertin
Les Cazetiers 2019

A gush of succulent black cherry fruit introduces this effusive red, along with black currant, blackberry, iron and oak spice notes. Dense yet racy, with an intense, lingering finish of fruit, mineral and spices. Best from 2025 through 2045. 840 cases made, 210 cases imported. $200

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2019 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva

Moving to the Syrahs, the 2019 Syrah Reva reveals a much cooler climate-like style in its blackberry, graphite, pepper, and bouquet garni-like nuances, and it picks up an almost Cornas-like game and white pepper character with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a pure, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe yet polished tannins, and a great finish. It reminds me slightly of the 2018, although with slightly less concentration. It will evolve for 20-25 years. CA Market Price $120-$200+

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Two Tastings today!

#1. Taste 2022 Far Niente Napa Chardonnay, 2021 Anthill Farms Comptche Ridge Pinot Noir and 2019 Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux at Vintage Reserve Wine for $15 per person.
Tuesday, November 21st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2022 Far Niente Napa Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: The 2022 Far Niente Chardonnay is richly aromatic with bright notes of citrus, melon, and pear. These same enchanting notes continue onto the palate with a silky entry that slowly builds to a long finish with lingering citrus. Crisp minerality and juicy acidity lift and support the generous fruit and provide the framework for graceful aging. Blend: 100% Chardonnay. $70

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2021 Anthill Farms Comptche Ridge Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir Comptche Ridge is powerful and expressive, with pure scents of wild berries, lavender, Earl Grey tea leaves and complex undertones of aniseed and iodine. The medium-bodied palate is impressively concentrated, velvety and energetic, and it boasts a very long, highly perfumed finish. $57

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2019 Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux

The 2019 Chateau Carbonnieux sports a deep purple/ruby hue to go with a brilliant nose of red and black currants, spring flowers, spicy oak, and hints of tobacco. It's beautiful on the palate as well and is medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's the finest wine I've tasted from this estate. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all brought up in 40% new barrels. It’s well worth tracking down some bottles and will keep for two decades. $54

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#2. Taste 2021 Aubert Park Avenue Estate Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and 2021 Aubert UV-SL Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $30 per person. Limited
Tuesday, November 21st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Advocate 97-100 Points
2021 Aubert Park Avenue Estate Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

Park Avenue is a brand new, single-vineyard label for Aubert. This site was purchased by Mark Aubert in 2013. It had previously been an apple orchard but has since been planted to mostly Hyde Clone Chardonnay with a little Montrachet clone. It is located on the Sonoma Coast, conveniently situated right in between Aubert's Lauren and CIX vineyards. The vineyard has a long road leading up to the property, hence the name "Park Avenue." Note that the previous two vintages from this vineyard were declassified into the AVA wine. A barrel sample, the 2019 Chardonnay Park Avenue leaps out of the glass with provocative notes of white peaches, fresh pears, lemon curd and chalk dust plus spicy hints of coriander seed, nutmeg and white pepper. The full-bodied palate is super intense with wonderful tension and lots of mineral accents to the concentrated flavors, finishing with epic length and long-lingering spicy kick. CA Market Price $120 at Auction-$220

The Wine Independent,
Lisa Perrotti Brown 98 Points
2021 Aubert UV-SL Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir UV-SL was bottled in mid-July 2022. Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, it storms out of the glass with powerful notes of mulberries, black cherry compote, and wild blueberries with hints of raspberry leaves, crushed stones, and underbrush plus a hint of cardamom. Full-bodied, concentrated, and seductive, with beautifully velvety tannins and a lively backbone, it finishes long, with loads of floral notes coming through. It is named after one of Sonoma’s most reputable vineyard managers, Ulises Valdez Sr. (UV), who passed away recently. The vineyard is situated on Stoetz Lane (SL), only six miles from the Pacific Ocean, up on the hills around Graton and Occidental. Aubert and Valdez Sr. collaborated on the planting of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here. These Pinot vines were planted in 2006. Drink 2023-2038. CA Market Price $120 at Auction - $170

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Taste Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon: 2019 Justin Reserve, 2021 My Favorite Neighbor, 2021 Daou Reserve at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, November 22nd. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 My Favorite Neighbor Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is smoking good, with a full-bodied, rich, opulent wine that has classic cassis and darker blue fruits as well as leafy tobacco, baking spice, and bouquet garni notes. This textured, ripe, sexy wine stays nicely balanced, has ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's another awesome value. $60

Wine Advocate 94-96 Points
2021 Daou Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is blended with 23% Petit Verdot, made entirely with free-run juice, and it will be matured for 16 months in 50% new French oak. Opaque ruby, it offers pure aromas of cassis, violet, grilled meats, desert sage and bell pepper. The full-bodied palate is powdery, energetic and detailed with a long, layered finish. $65

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2020 Thread Feathers Stags Leap Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: This 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning expression of the Stags Leap District growing region. Grown on an eastern facing hillside on the west side of Silverado Trail, this wine is bright and opulent with dark fruit notes of dark cherry and blueberry compote and hints of baking spice, cedar, violet and crushed stone. This wine is rich with beautiful structure, balance and polished tannins. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. $40 Our Price $34.99 (Arrives GT 11/22/23)

James Suckling 93 Points
San Valero Garnacha Cariñena Plano Alto 2019

This is rather inky with dark berries and graphite to the black-cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and long, textural finish that goes on for minutes. Delicious now. $13 Liquidation Price $8.45 (Back in stock GT 11/29/23)

Wine Spectator 91 Points
Cecchi Chianti Classico Storia di Famiglia 2021

Laced with black cherry, black currant and violet aromas and flavors, this red is immediately appealing for its lush fruit. Balanced, fresh and long, with iron, wild herb and tobacco details. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2028. 50,000 cases made, 10,000 cases imported. $26 Our Price $19.95 (Available GT and VRW)

2022 Carmel Road Monterey Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Lively aromas of white peach and Asian pear. Bright acidity, minerality, fresh and vibrant on the palate with layers of citrus. Texture and richness lead to a round and complex finish. It was an early vintage set by some warmer weather in September. Lower than usual yields, but extremely good quality and concentration in the wines. $15 Our Price $10.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Hudson Vineyards Chardonnay Napa Valley Carneros 2021

Impressive for the generous, plump flavors and the restraint and elegance of the candied ginger peel, briny preserved lemon, peppery white flower and buttery peach pastry flavors on a plush frame. Reveals a juicy thread of acidity. Drink now. 1,638 cases made. $75

2022 Michel Laroche et Ses Enfants Petit Chablis

Importer Notes: Produced from estate grown and purchased fruit, these Petit Chablis parcels are mostly found on the crowns of the hills throughout the Chablis appellation. These are areas that historically were harder to ripen due to rocky soils and higher elevation, which is no longer an issue given global warming. These parcels now produce some of the purest, most striking mineral driven expressions of the Chardonnay grape.

The wine expresses flint, herbal notes and citrus in the nose, classic traits of Chablis. Bright crisp acidity provides tension and backbone to the ripe flavors of melon, pear and almonds. Wonderfully versatile with food, this wine is as serious or playful as you would like. $26 (Available GT)

2019 Tempier Bandol Rouge

Winemaker Notes: There is something about the dark, inky Mourvèdre, plus the salty sea air caressing the vines every night, that typifies classic Bandol. This wine is complete, and ready to serve cooled down a touch.

Blend: 75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 2% Carignan. $70 Our Price $59.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 94+ Points
2018 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve

Largely in the same style, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve reminds me of a top Pauillac with its darker blackcurrant fruit as well as notes of lead pencil, crushed stone, cedar, and smoked tobacco. Rich and full-bodied, it has wonderful purity of fruit and the balance and structure to evolve for two decades. $95 Our Price $83.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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Taste 2021 Journeyman Russian River Chardonnay, 2021 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and 2019 Vineyard 29 Cru Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, November 25th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
JOURNEYMAN Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2021

Stunning, with fleshy peach, apricot and Fuji apple flavors that are juicy, generous and precise, with hints of fennel seed, lemon oil, lemongrass and candied ginger that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 440 cases made. —MaryAnn Worobiec. $54

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2021

Juicy and inviting, with tasty raspberry and mulberry notes infused with pine forest, red tea and wet earth accents. Keeps the fleshy, juicy feel through the lightly toasted finish. Drink now through 2028. $62

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
2019 Vineyard 29 Cru Napa Cabernet

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru Napa Valley is outstanding, and at the less than the $100 price point, it’s about as good as it gets! Ripe cassis, flowers, spicy oak, and tobacco notes all emerge from the glass, and it’s a ripe, round, wonderfully textured Cabernet that will shine for a decade or more. Best After 2022. $75

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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