On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
2015 BOND Matriarch

For readers looking to experience the style of the Bond releases at a slightly less painful price, the 2015 Matriarch is a good option, and in 2015 it’s not far from the single vineyard releases. Offering a Melbury-like sensation of graphite, with plenty of lead pencil, violets, and red and black fruits, this beauty is full-bodied, opulent, and loaded with the sweet fruit that makes 2015 such a compelling vintage. Drink this any time over the coming 15+ years. USA Market Price $250-$275

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points
2019 Cirq Russian River Pinot

The 2019 Pinot Noir is a jeweled ruby hue and has layered aromas of pristine cherry, cardamom, rose petal, and sweet herbs. It has incredible clarity and focus, with a silky texture in its notes of raspberry liqueur and violets, and somehow seems to have more depth after the wine is gone. It offers fantastic balance and a sunny feel, with great refinement that lasts for ages. This wine is outstanding. Drink 2023-2032. $225

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WOW-71% Off!
2020 Callaway Cellars Ely Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Dark ruby in color, with aromas of classic Paso Robles blackberry and spice. Mouth-filling flavors of ripe plum, vanilla oak and cola with a robust finish. $17 Our Price $4.95

(Arrives GT 5/8/24)

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Taste 2021 Tenuta Luce Lucente, 2021 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo and 2016 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, May 7th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

James Suckling 94 Points
2021 Tenuta Luce Lucente

Rich cherries, cassis, fresh olives and dark spices. Svelte, fine tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate, showing lots of juicy berries and a linear, extensive finish. Excellent length, focus and structure here. Drink or hold. $26

James Suckling 95 Points
Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo 2021

The purity of fruit is impressive in this wine with currants, orange peel, peaches and lemon in the nose and on the palate. Full-bodied yet compressed and agile. Flavorful finish. Reserved now, but if you give it a year or two it will really deliver. $33

Wine Spectator 95 Points
2016 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Granchio

Black currant, cherry and plum flavors abound in this red, accented by licorice, tar, menthol, iron and tobacco notes. Pure, detailed and harmonious, with spice and mineral elements lingering on the long aftertaste. Almost approachable now, but better in three to five years. Best from 2024 through 2048. 250 cases imported. $83

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Taste 2021 Realm The Bard Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Greer Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $35 per person. (Limited: We will open one bottle of each wine for this tasting).
Wednesday, May 8th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2021 Realm The Bard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Lastly, the 2021 The Bard checks in as 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah. This beauty has a killer bouquet of cassis, spring flowers, graphite, chalky minerality, and violets. This carries to a full-bodied, seamless, silky, flawlessly balanced effort revealing fine tannins, a good sense of freshness, and a thrilling finish. $160

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points
2019 Greer Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

In contrast, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is more round and supple, with loads of pure Napa magic in its notes of crème de cassis, toasted spice, smoked tobacco, and cedar pencil. Full-bodied, opulent, and loaded with fruit, it still stays pure, precise, and focused, with ripe tannins, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, and one incredible finish. I finished my notes with “Awesome.” Both the 2018 and 2019 are incredible, singular wines readers should seek out. $225

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Taste 2022 RAMEY Chardonnay Russian River Valley, 2021 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina and 2019 Saddleback Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, May 9th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
RAMEY Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2022

Oozing with character, this succulent and mouthwatering white offers a fleshy, juicy mix of perfectly ripe peach, mango and lemon bar flavors, with fresh herbal accents of lemon verbena and vetiver. Offers accents of freshly grated ginger, tangerine and crunchy sea salt on the finish. Drink now through 2036. —M.W. $50

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina

Made with 20% whole cluster fermentation and all used barrels, the ruby-hued 2021 Pinot Noir La Neblina has a floral and spicy perfume with a refined feel to its notes of candied roses, ripe red cherry, and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, it has a refined tannin structure, a silky texture, and a good balance of fresh and ripeness. Pure, with raspberry and brambly herbs, it’s in a great place already and will do well over the next 6-8 years. $61

2019 Saddleback Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: On the nose, pleasing aromas of cassis, blackberry, bay leaf, cocoa, light oak and Earl Grey leaves. On the palate, it approaches with a velvety, silky tannins with a full mouthfeel. The well balanced minerality ends with a highly structured, but soft, strawberry, pomegranate and coffee finish. The tannins smoothly grip you on the first taste, but pleasantly soften into a gracefully spectacular wine. $80

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Napa collector is liquidating part of his cellar.
Contact Craig Norris at 415-377-1928 or email cnorris32riley@gmail.com

Qty Price Per bottle

2017 Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot 1 $80

2013 Duckhorn Rector Creek Cab 1 $80

2005 Duckhorn Howell Mountain Red Wine 1 $80

2009 Duckhorn Napa Cab 2 $80

2010 Duckhorn Napa Cab 1 $80

2006 Duckhorn Monitor Ledge Cab 1 $80

2009 Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot 1 $80

2018 Duckhorn Patzimaro Cab 1 $95

2019 Duckhorn The Discussion 1 $100

2003 Duckhorn Napa Merlot 1 $60

2019 Duckhorn Napa Merlot 2 $40

2006 Duckhorn Three Palms Merlot 1 $80

2015 Vineyard 29 Cab Franc 2 $150

2015 Vineyard 29 Estate Cab 1 $175

2004 Far Niente Cabernet 2 $150

2006 Far Niente Cabernet 3 $150

2007 Far Niente Cabernet 2 $150

2006 Nickel & Nickel Branding Iron Cab 2 $75

2006 Nickel & Nickel Stelling Cab 1 $90

2005 Nickel & Nickel Branding Iron Cab 1 $75

2001 Nickel & Nickel Sullenger Cab1.5L 1 $150

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2022 Bernardus Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Our 2022 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir exhibits ripe plum aromas along with subtle spice notes. The palate is very rich and full-bodied, with deep black cherry and boysenberry flavors supported by a long soft finish. A superb example of Pinot Noir from the Highlands! $45 Our Price $24.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Amisfield Sauvignon Blanc Central Otago 2022

Effusive and intense, with candied ginger, dried pineapple and notes of fresh apricot on a juicy, fleshy frame. Gains momentum on the finish, where details of oolong tea and lime zest linger. Drink now. 5,800 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. $20 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 94 Points
La Vizcaina by Raul Perez Las Gundinas Tinto 2021

The 2021 La Vizcaína Las Gundiñas has a slightly earthy touch and is a variable wine that feels quite harmonious and clean, as it's from a plot that sometimes suffers in cooler years. They are going to change the vinification of this plot to achieve more precision. They used 100% full clusters and matured it in well-seasoned, neutral 500-liter oak vats. It is cleaner and more precise this year. 5,500 bottles were filled in May 2020. $50 Our Price $39.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
COPAÍN Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2021

This white opens with pretty flavors of peach cobbler and a note of wild fennel, accented by sweet cream hints and a touch of lemon mint, before the intense acidity swoops in and brightens up the flavors, adding a mouthwatering liveliness on the finish. Drink now. 995 cases made. From California—MaryAnn Worobiec. $40 Our Price $34.95 (Available GT)

2016 Burgess Cellars CONTADINA Napa CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Winemaker Notes: A dense and concentrated cabernet with aromas and flavors of confectionary blackberry and stewed cassis. The lush fruit is brought into balance by high tone herbal aromatics of mint, sage, and sweet tobacco. The distinctively thick-skinned Cabernet grapes provide a long velvety finish. $52 Our Price $44.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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Taste 2021 BARNARD GRIFFIN Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, 2022 Chappellet Mt Cuvee and 2021 Ghost Block Oakville Cabernet Sauvignonat Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, May 10th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
BARNARD GRIFFIN Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2021

Elegantly structured, with refined black cherry and currant flavors that are accented by tobacco and spice notes as this glides on the sleek finish. Drink now through 2031. 6,000 cases made.—Tim Fish $18

2022 Chappellet Mt Cuvee

Winemaker Notes: This beautifully aromatic wine leaps out of the glass with concentrated notes of red currant, boysenberry, cassis, roasted coffee and dark chocolate, along with savory undertones and notions of sweet oak. On the palate it is rich and mouthcoating, with a seamless texture and supple tannins framing luxurious layers of dark berry fruit, barrel spice and fresh herbs. $50

2021 Ghost Block Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Intense, overt aromas of dark cherry & blackberries explode out of the glass. This wine is an elegant & balanced Oakville Cabernet on the palate with enticing flavors of deep red fruits and great structure & body; lengthened by the integrated oak notes of vanilla. These silky tannins make this wine very approachable with a long lasting finish and ready to drink upon release but bound for many cellars. $75

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Taste 2023 DIATOM Chardonnay Santa Barbara County, 2021 Treana Paso Red and 2021 PAHLMEYER Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Jayson at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, May 11th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 93 Points
DIATOM Chardonnay Santa Barbara County 2023

This stunning wine leaps out of the glass, with concentrated flavors and aromas of white peach, quince and pineapple, plus floral accents of orange blossoms and lemon curd. Finishes with mouthwatering acidity, a note of crunchy sea salt minerality and a whiff of lemon verbena. Drink now. —M.W. $25

2021 Treana Paso Red

Winemaker Notes: This vintage of the legendary Treana Red is a gorgeous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. On the nose, rich aromas of dark fruit, cassis and vanilla bean. On the palate, elevated flavors of raspberry and fresh cherry brighten the mid pallet while baking spices and pepper create a dynamic flavor profile unique to this blend. On the finish, warm vanilla and firm tannins balance this full-bodied wine. Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Syrah. $40

Wine Spectator 93 Points
PAHLMEYER Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Jayson 2021

Frankly ripe, offering an enticing gush of açaí, blackberry and black currant compote notes that roll through, carried by warm humus, licorice root and singed alder notes. A muscular style, this is defined, with subtle, latent energy through the finish. Best from 2025 through 2037. —J.M. $100

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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