On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2022 The Setting Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc

The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is ripe and tropical, with forward, sunny aromas of mango, fresh grapefruit, and rounded floral aromas. Medium-bodied, with driving energy and good concentration in its vibrant notes of pure lime citrus, fresh apple, and delicate spice, it’s a more serious style to hold another 6-12 months and drink 2024-2034. $40

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
2020 The Setting Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley is a saturated red with a ruby hue and has a forward, floral perfume of juicy mixed black and red fruit, candied violets, plums, and fresh herbs. Full-bodied and gushing with primary fruit up front, it has fine tannins and a supple, rounded mouthfeel, offering loads of blackberries and flowers before revealing slightly more earthy tones of mossy earth and tea leaf. Drink 2025-2040. $95

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

Taste 2023 Domaine de la Solitude Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2022 Louis Jadot Pouilly Fuisse and 2021 LOUIS JADOT Meursault Charmes Domaine Louis Jadot at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.

Thursday, May 16th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2023 Domaine de la Solitude Cotes du Rhone Blanc

Winemaker Notes: This wine is a blend of three varietals. The Clairette brings the freshness and zest of citrus, the Viognier the aromatic depth and roundness, and the Grenache the notes of white flowers. The grapes are harvested early in the morning and completely destemmed. The fermentation in stainless-steel vats preserves the full aromatic freshness. The wine has a nose of citrus and apricots, a round and generous mouthfeel, and a fresh and flavorful finish. $19

2022 Louis Jadot Pouilly Fuisse

Winemaker Notes: This wine has aromas of fresh red apples, honey and white flowers with elegant and rich flavors of toasted nuts and citrus. One of the purest expressions of this typical Burgundian grape. Drink with roasted salmon, shellfish or creamy cheeses. $30

Wine Spectator 93 Points
LOUIS JADOT Meursault 1er Cru Charmes Domaine Louis Jadot 2021

Lime blossom, citronella and chalk dust aromas signal this elegant white, with enough viscosity to its texture to balance the live-wire acidity, while a smoky note infuses the aftertaste. Drink now through 2030. —130 cases imported B.S. $130

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

2022 Bacchant Luli Monte Linda Vineyard Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The 2022 Vintage of Luli Monte Linda Pinot Noir is dark and concentrated, displaying the effects of mountain-grown Pinot Noir in a dry year. Explosive notes of raspberry, spiced plum, sage and high-toned notes of rose petal fill the glass of this wine. On the palate, the Monte Linda Pinot Noir brings firm tannins and layered structure that gives an extremely long finish. $40 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
2021 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley comes mostly from Rutherford and is an interesting blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Charbono, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah that was brought up in 65% new French oak. It's a terrific wine offering classic currant fruits, some baking chocolate and spicy nuances, medium to full-bodied, ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. California needs more wines like this. Drink this beauty over the coming decade. $65

Wine Spectator 91 Points
Hahn Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands SLH 2021

Leads with mulled cherry and plum notes, with hints of warm licorice and fruitcake, plus red tea filling in on the finish. Reveals fresh underlying acidity that extends the finish nicely. Drink now through 2026. 25,000 cases made. $30 Our Price $22.99 (Available GT and VRW)

James Suckling 95 Points
Trimbach Riesling Selection de Vieilles Vignes 2019

Rich, mouth-filling and highly structured, this has a touch of exotic aromas (mangosteen!), but isn’t a jot too ripe or weighty. In fact, it has wonderful silkiness, in spite of the considerable mineral power at the imposing finish. Drink or hold. Our Price $45.99 (Available GT)

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

Taste 2019 Diora La Petite Grace Pinot Noir, 2021 Black Stallion North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, May 17th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
Diora La Petite Grace Pinot Noir 2019

This is a rich style of Pinot Noir, beginning with aromas of dark plum, black cherry, cola, root beer and nutmeg on the nose. It's quite opulent on the palate, with baked fig and fruitcake flavors, as polished tannins and fine acidity pump into the long, vanilla-fueled finish. $25

2021 Black Stallion North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: This rich and refined wine doesn't require years of further aging to achieve ideal balance and enjoy upon release. The full-bodied structure is a hallmark. The wine opens with stunning aromas of black cherry dried cranberry and toasty notes of cedar. The palate is concentrated with bold, velvety red flavors of cherry, raspberry and hints of spice. Intense, concentrated mature fruit and integrated tannins with beautifully balanced acidity extending to an elegant finish. $25

Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points
2019 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is an incredible wine, and it flirts with perfection. Full-bodied and concentrated, it has flawless balance and elegance as well as just textbook Howell Mountain notes of blue fruits, cassis, violets, graphite, and background oak. I love its tannins, it has remarkable purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. It has some appeal today yet deserves 4-5 years of bottle age and should have over two decades of longevity. $110

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

Taste 2022 Chateau d'Esclans Whispering Angel Rose, 2020 Chateau Barde-Haut Saint Emilion and 2018 Chateau Brane-Cantenac Margaux at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, May 18th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

2022 Chateau d'Esclans Whispering Angel Rose

Winemaker Notes: This wine is close to the tip of the quality pyramid of Provençal rosé in most vintages, and the 2022 release is certainly no exception. Comprised mostly of Grenache, Cinsault, and Vermentino, it is both unusually concentrated though not remotely heavy-and atypically flavorful for the category while maintaining the sense of restraint and subtlety that has made Provence the global stylistic leader for wines of this type. The aromas and flavors are impressively pure and well defined. $22

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
2020 Chateau Barde-Haut

I always love this wine, and the 2020 Château Barde-Haut is a quintessential Saint-Emilion revealing a deep ruby/purple hue, awesome notes of red plum, cherries, tobacco leaf, and chalky earth, full-bodied richness, bright acidity, and fine tannins. A gorgeous wine, it will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. $45

Jeb Dunnuck 95+ Points
2018 Chateau Brane-Cantenac

A quintessential Margaux as well as one of the finest wines I've tasted from this estate, the 2018 Château Brane-Cantenac is based on 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all aged in 70% new French oak. Beautiful cassis and mulberry fruits as well as notes of leafy tobacco, spice, cedarwood, and spring flowers emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and elegant, it has loads of fruit, a seamless texture, and a good spine of acidity. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 30 years or more. $89

***********

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