The Grape Tray will be open on Monday during the month of December

Grape Tray
Monday, 12/4 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday, 12/5 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, 12/6 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday, 12/7 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday, 12/8 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday, 12/9 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

************

Vintage Reserve Wine
Tuesday, 12/5 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, 12/6 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM
Thursday, 12/7 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM
Friday, 12/8 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM
Saturday, 12/9 12:00 noon – 4:00 PM

************

On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Pierre Péters Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Cuvée de Réserve NV (2023)

Firm and minerally up front, with well-honed acidity and notes of smoke, chalk and oyster shell transitioning as they're integrated with a creamy range of crunchy pear, ripe green apple, pink grapefruit pith and almond skin flavors, which expand through the midpalate and lightly spiced finish. Elegant, but with good complexity and focus throughout. Disgorged May 2023. Drink now through 2028. 2,165 cases imported. $75

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Bollinger Brut Rosé Champagne NV (2023)

Sleek and elegant, this finely knit rosé Champagne offers flavors of ripe cherry, blood orange granita and slivered almond, with aromatic accents of graphite, star anise and verbena. Long and creamy on the vibrant finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2028. 1,025 cases imported. $140

*****************

Taste 2021 Cecchi Chianti Classico Storia di Famiglia , 2018 M. Marengo Barolo Bricco delle Viole and 2019 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bricco Ambrogio at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, November 30th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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

Wine Advocate 94 Points
M. Marengo Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2018

The 2018 Barolo Bricco delle Viole (with 6,000 bottles made) opens to a medium rich appearance followed by very distinct aromas of wild rose, grilled herb, mint and freshly milled white pepper. The wine's texture is lean but fine-tuned and elegant. These qualities shape a long and polished mouthfeel. Fruit comes from a one-hectare parcel at a breezy 420 meters in elevation. $64

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Paolo Scavino Barolo Bricco Ambrogio 2019

This Barolo is round and rich, offering spicy cherry, rose hip, menthol and tar flavors. Firm yet mouthwatering, this should be approachable earlier than many 2019s. Shows fine balance and length. Best from 2025 through 2042. 500 cases made, 150 cases imported. $84

************

2021 JAX Estate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Full-bodied and well proportioned, this wine carries through to a vibrant and lively finish. Dark aromas of ripe blackberries, currants and a hint of spice. This Cabernet Sauvignon coats the palate with dense layers of black cherry, cocoa nib, forest floor and soft hints of cedar. $60 Our Price $54.99 (Arrives GT 12/1/23)

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 (Back in stock GT 12/1/23)

Vinous 91-93 Points
Turley Judge Bell Zinfandel

The 2021 Zinfandel Judge Bell Vineyard is a potent, brooding wine. Gravel, dried herbs, menthol, cured meat, licorice and red berry fruit give this brawny Zinfandel a good deal of character. The Judge Bell is not an easy wine, but it has so much to offer for those who are willing to take some time with it. Today, the acids and tannins stick out a bit. It will be interesting to see how things end up once this is in bottle. $40 (Arrives GT 12/6/23)

Wine Spectator 94
LUCIA Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands Estate Cuvée 2021

A stunning white, succulent and juicy, like biting into a perfectly ripe Bosc pear, with details of apple, mango, peach and dried apricot that add complexity, while grace notes of salted butter, honeysuckle, lanolin and spices linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2030. —M.W. $50 (Back in stock GT 12/1/23)

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 12/1/23)

*************

Taste 2022 NEYERS Chardonnay Sonoma County 304, 2020 Thread Feathers Stags Leap Cabernet and 2019 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville Napa at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, December 1st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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

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

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

*************

Taste 2021 Frei Brothers Alexander Valley Reserve Cabernet, 2019 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve Napa and 2016 Eisele Vineyard Altagracia Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, December 2nd. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

2021 Frei Brothers Alexander Valley Reserve Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: For their Cabernet Sauvignon, they turned to the Sonoma County region that’s most renowned for the grape, Alexander Valley. In the warm, sun-drenched days and cool, crisp nights, our Cabernet Sauvignon ripens slowly, developing its signature rich, complex character and classic fruit notes of blackberry, blueberry and plum. $24

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley 2019

A nice, plush style, with cassis and cherry compote notes rolling through, laced with singed vanilla and licorice. Reveals good underlying freshness, with an echo of violet through the finish as the fruit plays out. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032. 20,877 cases made. $65

Wine Advocate 95 Points * 2016 Eisele Vineyard Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon

The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed. $135

**************

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