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Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
2022 Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rose, 750ml

Composed of Syrah and Mourvèdre, this rosé sits pretty in the glass with flecks of rose gold. An expressive nose transports you to the Mediterranean coast with a fresh lilac bouquet, watermelon, peach, wild thyme and rose petals. Brisk acidity complements a fleshy texture and adds length to its saline, stony finish. A versatile summer companion that can hold its own from first to last course. — Anna-Christina Cabrales $16 Our Price $4.95 (Arrives GT and VRW 1/12/24)

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On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

2019 William Harrison Simpatico Rutherford Proprietary Red

Winemaker Notes: Simpatico is the baby brother to our Reserve Cabernet, comprised of all estate grown fruit, and crafted with the same winemaking techniques as our primary wines. Aromatics burst with maraschino cherry, pencil shavings and caramel. The palate offers generous, youthful flavors of ripe boysenberry and tart plum, with notes of cedar and fresh brewed espresso. Its texture is medium-bodied but rich, with supple tannins and a finish. 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot $50

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Taste 2022 Louis Latour Pouilly Fuisse, 2020 Faiveley Beaune 1er Cru Clos de l'Écu Monopole and 2021 Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, January 11th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2022 Louis Latour Pouilly Fuisse

Winery Notes: Pouilly-Fuisse is the name of a village in the Maconnais producing highly distinctive Chardonnay wine. The vineyards producing this wine are part of a breath-taking landscape where the limestone and heavy clay soils combine to create a unique 'terroir'. Average vine age for our Pouilly-Fuisse is 30 years. Our ’22 release has a brilliant pale yellow color. Its floral nose evokes scents of acacia and honeysuckle. Round and ample on the palate, it reveals aromas of yellow fruits. $35

Wine Advocate 91-93 Points
2020 Faiveley Beaune 1er Cru Clos de l'Écu Monopole

Aromas of raspberries, cherries, sweet spices, raw cocoa and peonies preface the 2020 Beaune 1er Cru Clos de l'Écu Monopole, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and vibrant wine with tangy acids, melting tannins and a long, saline finish. This is very promising. $125

James Suckling 94 Points
Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2021

A stunning Chateauneuf with stacks of ripe blackberry fruit, generous body and concentrated fine tannins. Together with the pronounced minerality, they give this a stunning velvety texture right through the remarkably long intense finish for the challenging 2021 vintage. From field blend vineyards growing on 50% galet cobblestone soil and 50% sandy soil. Grenache is dominant, followed by syrah, but mourvedre, counoise and vaccarese also play an important role. From organically grown grapes. $53

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Wine Spectator 94 Points
Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021

Toasty, meaty and inviting, this fresh red shows an understated, savory side, with notes of singed spices, mesquite, wet earth and fresh tobacco leaf flanking a silky range of plum and warm cherry compote flavors. This channels its terroir, with a round feel held in check by refined tannins, while the finish is lined with cool minerality and heavy iron. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret Blanc, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul de Pinet, Bourboulenc, Picardan and Roussanne. Drink now through 2030. 3,470 cases made. $102 (Arrives February 2024)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
TRIMBACH Pinot Gris Alsace Réserve Personnelle 2017

Evolving beautifully, showing a round, richly styled palate filled out with warm cinnamon, cardamon, peach and citrus notes. White tea tannins bring definition and form, while tangy acidity ties everything together. Offers an intriguing pine note on the well-rendered finish, which lingers. Drink now through 2027. —K.B. 350 cases imported $50 (Arrives GT 1/12/24)

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 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 90 Points
2018 The Paring Red

The 2018 Red is a joyous, vibrant red. Succulent dark cherry, leather, chocolate, tobacco, spice and cedar complement a core of super-ripe dark berry fruit. Bold and exuberant to the core, the Red has so much to offer. Pretty earthy and savory notes lend tons of aromatic nuance. Best of all, the 2018 is an insane value. $25 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 92-94 Points
2020 Faiveley Les Charmes Chambolle Musigny Premier Cru

 The 2020 Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru Les Charmes is perfumed and elegant, soaring from the glass with scents of roses, peonies, orange rind and sweet red berries. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and sensual, with melting tannins, succulent acids and a saline finish, it's one of the most ethereal wines in the range. $220 Our Price $119.99 (Available GT)

Wine Enthusiast 93 * 2018 Taub Family Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Well structured and dense with fruit and oak-spice flavors, this full-bodied wine wraps significant velvety tannins around black cherries, black currant and mint notes. Perfumed with cedar and cinnamon on the nose, the wine is smooth on the midpalate and lingers on the finish $70 (Available GT 1/12/24)

Wine Advocate 97 Points
2019 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve

Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve has pure, layered aromas of cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry with accents of tobacco leaves, graphite, mushroom and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is harmoniously structured and seamless with delicate, perfumed fruit and a very long, spicy finish. This strikes a fine balance between a fruity, savory and earthy character. $105 Our Price $88.99 (Back in stock GT)

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Taste 2021 Lingua Franca Eola-Amity Hills Estate Pinot, 2019 Theorize Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Taub Family Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, January 12th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 95 Points
Lingua Franca Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Lingua Franca Estate 2021

A compelling, multilayered red, with lilting raspberry and cherry flavors that expand to reveal fresh violet and earthy mineral accents, which build tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 1,698 cases made. $60

2019 Theorize Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark ruby with touches of royal red and garnet. A beautiful balance of spices like nutmeg, thyme with cherry pie, cedar, vanilla bean, touches of coconut and molasses, gingerbread. Fresh but lush entrance evolving on ripe sweet fruit like cherry preserve macerated strawberries lingering on tannins and cinnamon. $50

Wine Enthusiast 93
2018 Taub Family Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

Well structured and dense with fruit and oak-spice flavors, this full-bodied wine wraps significant velvety tannins around black cherries, black currant and mint notes. Perfumed with cedar and cinnamon on the nose, the wine is smooth on the midpalate and lingers on the finish $70

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Taste 2019 Domaine Carneros Brut, Delamotte Brut Champagne NV and 2020 SCHRAMSBERG Brut Rosé North Coast at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, January 13th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Domaine Carneros Brut Carneros 2019

Alluring for its sleek polish and precision, this sparkler has tiers of Asian pear, strawberry, fresh almond and ginger flavors that unfurl slowly. Drink now. 25,000 cases made. $36

Wine Spectator 91 Points
Delamotte Brut Champagne NV

A delicate, mineral-driven Champagne, with an underpinning of chalk, smoke and oyster shell layered with notes of poached apricot, citronella and beeswax. Lively and persistent on the finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2026. 6,250 cases made. $71

Wine Spectator 93 Points
SCHRAMSBERG Brut Rosé North Coast 2020

Generous yet steely at the core, with fragrant raspberry, rose petal and gingerbread accents that dance on the long, zesty finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now. 15,750 cases made. —Tim Fish. $50

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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