On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Advocate 94 Points
2022 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto

Made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Tenuta San Guido 2022 Guidalberto gives you a good taste of the same DNA that brings us one of Italy's greatest wines, Sassicaia, but it's offered in a more immediate style here (thanks to the addition of the Merlot). This warm vintage opens to medium-dark concentration and very plump aromas that take you immediately to blackberry and blackcurrant sitting out in the sun at your local farmers market. The wine shows a soft and gentle side with a pretty level of elegance transmitted through the fruit freshness and the light oak spice that is discernible here but delivered with grace. $76

2021 Sea Smoke Southing Sta. Rita Hills Pinot

Winemaker Notes: Each year, the goal for Southing is to create the ideal marriage of complexity and elegance. The ever-changing nose of the Southing exhibits Montmorency cherry, sage, hibiscus and subtle baking spices. The fine tannins and minerality are enhanced by our estate vineyard’s characteristic cool climate acidity. $125

2021 Sea Smoke Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: An elegant Chardonnay with aromas of mango, honeysuckle, fresh cut pear and honeydew. These are complemented by nectarine and a slight nuttiness in the focused mid-palate and the refreshing cool climate acidity of our estate vineyard. $90

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

Taste Banshee Ten of Cups Brut, Petit & Bajan Blanc de Blancs Brut Nuit Blanche Grand Cru and Taittinger Brut Champagne Prélude Grands Crus at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, June 6th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points
Banshee Ten of Cups Brut

This elegant, well-balanced wine is trim and compact, offering subtle crisp apple and bright lemon notes lightly accented by toast and ginger. Relatively light and restrained, it is wonderfully appetizing and will make a great aperitif. $25

Wine Advocate 92 Points
Petit & Bajan Blanc de Blancs Brut Nuit Blanche Grand Cru

The NV Brut Grand Cru Nuit Blanche wafts from the glass with notes of white flowers, preserved citrus, crisp orchard fruit, fresh bread and bee pollen. Medium to full-bodied, layered and nicely concentrated, it's quite vinous and textural, with racy acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse, concluding with a saline finish. It's as fine a rendition of this cuvée as I can remember tasting. $70

James Suckling 93 Points
Taittinger Brut Champagne Prélude Grands Crus NV

This has attractive notes of hazelnuts, pastries, honey, figs and apple tart. Lots of flavor with a medium body and fine bubbles. Deliciously layered. I like the praline and honeycomb notes. 50% chardonnay and 50% pinot noir from Grand Cru vineyards, with at least 5 years on the lees. Drink now. $90

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

Wine Spectator 93 Points
THE CALLING Chardonnay Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch 2022

An expressive version, with generous notes of ripe tropical fruit, including papaya, grilled pineapple and mango. There's also a wonderful sense of restraint in the way the acidity and supple texture play with the flavors. Touches of vanilla shortbread, candied ginger and orange blossoms add fragrant grace notes. Drink now. —M.W. $35 Our Price $27.99 (Available GT and VRW)

2022 Mary Taylor Bordeaux Blanc

Winemaker Notes: Sourced from vineyards that surround the winery and fermented without oak to preserve the underlying expression of its classic terroir, this is Sauvignon Blanc as channeled through the unique prism of Bordeaux. $15 Our Price $13.39 (Arrives GT 6/7/24)

Vinous Media 95 Points
2021 Plumpjack Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is rich, racy and super-expressive. Silky and deep, with notable resonance, the 2021 offers up dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol, new leather and licorice. Today, it is a very young wine in need of cellaring, but its potential is evident. Dollops of Petit Verdot and Malbec round out the blend. This should be positively stellar. $193 (Available GT 6/7/24)

Wine Spectator 95 Points
Tekstura Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills Redford-Wetle Vineyard 2021

This compelling wine shows impressive structure and polish, with multilayered raspberry and blueberry flavors. Reveals notes of forest floor, crushed rock and black tea as this builds richness and tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2033. 455 cases made.—T.F. $70 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Aston Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Estate 2019

In the not-shy style, this pumps out tasty boysenberry and blackberry puree fruit, liberally laced with anise and singed mesquite. Shows a bit of a wild brambly edge through the finish as the fruit pumps through, with the requisite acidity for support. Very distinctive, and should be fun to cellar. Drink now through 2030. 500 cases made. $75 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 94+
2019 Cade Howell Mt Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Cade Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is blended of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the glass with vibrant black cherry preserves, wild blueberries and mulberries scents, giving way to a core of cassis and star anise plus a waft of chocolate box. Full-bodied, concentrated and packed with bright black fruits, it has a fine-grained texture and long, energetic finish. $129 (Back in stock GT 6/7/24)

Wine Advocate 94 Points
2022 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto

Made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Tenuta San Guido 2022 Guidalberto gives you a good taste of the same DNA that brings us one of Italy's greatest wines, Sassicaia, but it's offered in a more immediate style here (thanks to the addition of the Merlot). This warm vintage opens to medium-dark concentration and very plump aromas that take you immediately to blackberry and blackcurrant sitting out in the sun at your local farmers market. The wine shows a soft and gentle side with a pretty level of elegance transmitted through the fruit freshness and the light oak spice that is discernible here but delivered with grace. $76 Our Price $68.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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

Taste 2022 Argyle Bloomhouse Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 2022 BREWER-CLIFTON Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills and 2021 AXR Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, June 7th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2022 Argyle Bloomhouse Willamette Valley
Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Showcasing the best of the cool vintage, BloomHouse Pinot Noir’s juicy acidity and polished tannin makes for a perfect compliment to any meal. Like the delight that it is, ruby red cherry fades into dark fruit at the edges with hints of rich earthy undertones. $30

Wine Spectator 93 Points
BREWER-CLIFTON Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2022

This is generous in feel, with a plump edge to its cherry and damson plum fruit compote notes, offering hints of tobacco, warm earth and singed herbs that stay in the background. The light-handed toast lets everything knit easily through the finish. Drink now through 2033. —J.M. $50

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 AXR Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

This 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is also brilliant, with plenty of darker cassis and currant-driven fruit to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, powerful style on the palate. It has the vintage's fresh, focused, concentrated, slightly inwards style and will evolve for 15+ years. It's another terrific effort from this team. $90

***********

Taste 2021 LEMELSON Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Thea's Selection, 2021 Roar Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Sierra Mar Vineyard and 2021 Turnbull Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, June 8th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92
LEMELSON Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Thea's Selection 2021

Brisk and generous, with snappy cherry and pomegranate flavors highlighted by oolong tea and savory spices. Concludes with fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031. $

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
Roar Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Sierra Mar Vineyard 2021

Another pretty, perfumed wine in the vintage, the 2021 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard has ripe strawberry and framboise-like fruit as well as ample background spice and dried herb nuances, and it gains a darker, floral edge with time in the glass. Medium-bodied on the on the palate, with nicely integrated oak, velvety tannins, and just a round, supple mouthfeel, it's drinking beautifully today and will be drinking beautifully in another 7-8 years as well. $75

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 Turnbull Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The appellation 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a killer value that should be snatched up by readers. Ripe black fruits, roasted herbs, chocolate, and some spicy wood define the bouquet and it s full-bodied, has fine tannins, a glossy, layered texture, and outstanding length. It certainly has a modern edge, but is impeccably made. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade. $50

***********

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