On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Spectator 91 Points
Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley 2022

Features wild fennel, white grapefruit and yuzu flavors that are fresh, mouthwatering and focused, with details of lemon curd, fresh-cut Honeycrisp apple and sea salt on the crisp finish. Drink now. 2,552 cases made. $54

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Rochioli Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2022

Plump and juicy, this lush crowd-pleaser offers delicious cherry and raspberry compote notes laced with singed vanilla, red tea and sandalwood accents. Drink now through 2029. 1,321 cases made. $98

James Suckling 94 Points
Roederer Brut Collection 244

The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay of mirabelle, grapefruit and lychee fruit with minty freshness and waxiness from lees contact. And all this is welded to a beautifully proportioned palate with plenty of structure, the acidity bright and the mousse animating. Very salty finish that pulls you back for more. A cuvee of 41% chardonnay, 33% pinot noir and 26% pinot meunier. Of these, 15% fermented in oak and 85% in stainless steel. The final blend contained 36% reserve perpetual and 10% reserve wines of the 2012 - 2018 vintage from oak. The dosage is 7 g/l. $70

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Taste 2021 Napa Cabernet: Spottswoode Lyndenhurst and 2021 Force & Grace Revelist at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $25 per person. (Limited: We will open one bottle of each wine for this tasting)
Tuesday, July 9th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst

The second wine of this incredible estate, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst reveals a deep purple hue as well as a great nose of assorted currants, black cherries, tobacco, and lead pencil. It's beautifully concentrated, has medium to full-bodied richness, and ripe tannins, all making for an undeniably delicious, classic, balanced Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the coming 10-15 years. $110

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 Force & Grace Revelist Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Easily my favorite in the lineup, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Revelist (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) has rocking levels of blackcurrants, blueberries, spice, and flowers to go with a medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless profile on the palate that's already hard to resist. It's a brilliantly textured, balanced, incredibly impressive Cabernet Sauvignon that deserves 3-5 years in the cellar and will shine over the following 10-15 years. $130

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Taste Chardonnay: 2021 Résonance Willamette Valley, 2022 Frank Family Carneros and 2021 Paul Hobbs George Menini at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, July 10th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 93 Points
2021 Résonance Chardonnay Willamette Valley

Fragrant and supple, with elegantly layered pear and passion fruit flavors that are highlighted by notes of lemon verbena and a hint of honey. Drink now through 2024. 1,819 cases made. $40

2022 Frank Family Carneros Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: This wine is perfumed in brioche and baked apple, with seasonings of nutmeg and vanilla. It opens in a rich, full-bodied concentration of citrus and white peach and evolves on the palate to show structure and depth. Bright acidity lifts hints of toasted oak, maintaining a fresh and plush finish. $40

Wine Advocate 97 Points
2021 Paul Hobbs George Menini Chardonnay

The 2021 Chardonnay George Menini Estate, matured for nine months in 27% new oak, is notably perfumed and energetic. The nose segues from iodine and saline to tones of panna cotta, lilac and yuzu, and the palate is stunning with its pairing of highly concentrated, layered flavors and fireworks of fresh acidity. It has a touch of anchoring textural grip, shimmery mineral character and a very long, expressive finish. It will be very long-lived in bottle. 639 cases were made. $100

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Taste 2023 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 THE HESS COLLECTION Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Allomi and 2020 Darioush Caravan Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, July 11th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2023 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: The 2023 vintage was long and temperate, and at times, blissfully cool. The resulting wine has a great balance of richness and texture and a very well-delineated backbone of vibrant acidity. Aromatics and flavors of lemon, mandarin, Asian pear, and white peach with fresh, floral notes of cassis bud and lime. Very long and mouth-wateringly juicy. Napa County 52% and Sonoma County 48%. $48

Wine Spectator 93 Points
THE HESS COLLECTION Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Allomi 2021

Boysenberry and açaí berry fruit gives this a slightly exotic profile, but it's finely stitched with apple wood, sassafras and singed anise notes to keep it honest. The polished finish lets a chaparral note chime through the flashy fruit. This should have fans for sure. Drink now through 2036. 66,186 cases made.—James Molesworth. $40

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
2020 Darioush Caravan Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Very rich and concentrated but also well structured, this wine achieves good balance and an appetizing mouthfeel. Red and black cherries, cinnamon, cedar and toasted oak all contribute to its tasty flavor complexity. Best from 2026–2036. $70

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Wine Spectator 93 Points
Gramercy Cellars Picpoul Walla Walla Valley 2022

Brisk and refreshing, this white features distinctive flavors of green apple, grapefruit and lemon that zip along the mineral-laden finish. Drink now. 900 cases made. $22 (Available GT and VRW)

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 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 90 Points
Soalheiro Alvarinho Vinho Verde Monção e Melgaço 2023

Bright, buoyant acidity supports a pretty mix of ripe nectarine, Gala apple, blood orange pith and almond blossoms in this lithe, light-bodied white, with a salty undertow. Drink now. 25,000 cases made, 600 cases imported. Our Price $22.49 (Available GT and VRW)

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 94 Points
Gaston Chiquet Millésime Carte d’Or Premier Cru Brut 2014

The 2014 Brut Millésime Carte d’Or is fabulous. Bright and beautifully sculpted, the 2014 is so impressive right out of the gate. Lemon peel, dried herbs, flowers, mint and sage all develop over time. Translucent and so expressive, the 2014 is a real knock-out. Disgorged: November, 2020. $75 Our Price $62.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 97 Points
CASTELLO ROMITORIO Brunello di Montalcino 2019

Notable for its pure cherry and kirsch aromas and flavors, this red is also stylish and graceful. Rose, wild thyme and stony mineral elements come into play as this develops on the palate. Beautifully integrated, fresh and firm, this glides to a long, resonant aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2042. From Italy.—B.S. 730 cases imported $83 Our Price $64.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 TOR Cabernet Sauvignon Vaca Ridge

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Vaca Ridge is a big, ripe, sexy wine offering both red and blue fruits with some chocolaty oak and spicy, incense nuances. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, it has good mid-palate depth, ripe, velvety, yet building tannins, and a great finish. It's certainly impeccably made, and I love its purity and overall approachable, textured style. I would drink bottles over the coming 10-12 years, but I wouldn't be surprised to see it keep longer. It's another great value in this lineup. $150 (Arrives GT 7/10/24)

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Taste 2022 Aperture Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Force & Grace Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 TEETER-TOTTER PASO ROBLES PROPRIETARY RED WINE at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, July 12th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2022 Aperture Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc

The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is blended with 16% Sémillon and was matured mostly in French oak (33% new) plus a smaller portion of cement tank. It's the first vintage where so much Sémillon has been included—since acquiring Farrow Ranch in 2021, winemaker Jesse Katz has been able to add some of that site's fruit into his Aperture wines. It has alluring tones of white peach, kumquat, meringue and crème brûlée on the nose, plus wafts of floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate offers expansive flavors that segue from candied citrus to guava and vanilla pots de crème. It has a luxuriously satiny texture balanced by focused acidity and a very long, flavorful finish. $45

Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter 93 Points
Force & Grace Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A really lovely, restrained effort from Paso Robles by Jean Hoefliger. Not to say the wine isn't powerful, full-bodied, or richly layered with a tapestry of inky dark black and blue fruit. It is all that, but immense structure and building tannins also create freshness and energy. Most fruit sources are from east Paso. Hoefliger had to pick specific sites earlier to avoid overripe flavours, and he left a good portion on the skins for almost 35 days to build a tannin structure $39.

2021 TEETER-TOTTER PASO ROBLES PROPRIETARY RED WINE

Winemaker Notes: The quality of wine coming out of Paso Robles has interested Benoit for years, to the point that we bought our first vineyard property in the respected Willow Creek District AVA. This region benefits from limestone soils, plenty of daytime sunshine, and cooling ocean breezes and fog – a recipe for reds with both elegance and power. An unorthodox and mouthwatering mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, the nose offers up a seductive swirl of bright, crunchy red fruits, black cherries, dark chocolate, tobacco, and violets. Ripe, polished tannins build a full-bodied mid-palate with juicy acidity and a long, layered finish you can take to the bank. $45

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Taste 2022 Rutherford Hill Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford AJT Collection, 2019 Goldschmidt Hilary Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Chris's Cuvée at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, July 13th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Rutherford Hill Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford AJT Collection 2022

Stunning, this exuberant, generous version shows notes of passion fruit, Key lime, dried pineapple and orange blossoms, along with grated ginger. Reveals a hint of sea salt minerality on the long, expressive finish, where toasted herb accents linger. Drink now. 3,404 cases made. $34

2019 Goldschmidt Hilary Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Purple edges lead to a bright red garnet hue. Delicate aromas of strawberry with hints of plum and raspberries. Sweet vanilla opens up on the mouth with highlights of caramel. Essence of mineral and graphite show on the length of the mouth mingling with more vanilla and pomegranate in the finish. $50.

2021 Kenefick Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Chris's Cuvée

Winemaker Notes: Focused dark fruit makes way for some brightness on the aromatics and palate. Well integrated tannins and oak play the role of extending the finish. $80

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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