On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Prunotto Nebbiolo Occhetti 2020

Winemaker Notes: The 2020 Occhetti is ruby red in color with garnet hues. On the nose, aromas of raspberries are complemented by notes of rose petals and licorice. The palate is full and harmonious with a lengthy, tannin-rich finish. $25

Wine Advocate 99 Points
2020 L'Aventure Winery • Estate Cuvée

A blend of 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Estate Cuvée is another outstanding wine from L'Aventure in the challenging 2020 vintage, offering singular concentration and elegance. Deep ruby-purple, it has a pure core of cassis and slowly unfolding accents of licorice, cured meats, tobacco leaves, cedar and truffle. Full-bodied, juicy and alluring, it floods the mouth with layers of blue fruit, floral perfume and spice. It is supported by powdery tannins and boasts a tremendously long, detailed finish. $120

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Taste 2022 Sauvignon Blanc: Rochioli Russian River Valley, Rombauer Sonoma-Napa Counties and The Setting Sonoma at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, July 23rd. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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
Rombauer Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma-Napa Counties 2022

Fresh Fuji apple, pear and nectarine flavors are mouthwatering and juicy at the core of this white, but there are pretty accents for complexity and length, including a drizzle of wildflower honey, lemon curd, lemon verbena and fresh-grated ginger. Drink now. 48,002 cases made. $28

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

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Taste 2017 Ovid Experiment N2.7 Red and 2019 Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $25 per person. (Limited: We will open one bottle of each wine for this tasting)
Wednesday, July 24th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2017 Ovid Experiment N2.7 Red

Winemaker Notes: The 2017 Experiment N2.7 is the second vintage from this series. Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with small, nearly equal amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the wine intrigues with notes of blackberry, cola, cocoa nibs, licorice and pencil shavings. Richness and purity of expression grace the palate in this neighborly adventure that should delight for years to come. $191

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 96 Points
2019 Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic Mount Veeder wine loaded with strong savory and mineral accents. Black fruit, graphite menthol and licorice lend complexity to this huge, explosive Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are pretty fierce at this stage, so readers should plan on being patient. $150

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Taste 2022 ETUDE Chardonnay Carneros Grace Benoist Ranch, 2021 Peju Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and 2022 Caterwaul Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, July 25th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
ETUDE Chardonnay Carneros Grace Benoist Ranch 2022

A distinctive version, offering notes of dried honeysuckle and toasted sesame seed, with a hint of tangy tamarind adding to the mouthwatering quality that defines this wine. Lemon, Honeycrisp apple, lemon verbena and lime zest notes expand on the long finish. Drink now. 3,767 cases made.—MaryAnn Worobiec. $40

2021 Peju Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Our 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes a captivating blend of ripe fruit aromas, accompanied by subtle spicy undertones and delicate hints of blue fruit and cocoa. On the palate, it unfolds with a velvety texture, revealing layers of juicy plum preserve and red fruit flavors, intertwined with nuances of cedar box shavings. This wine strikes a harmonious balance, offering a creamy mouthfeel and well-integrated silky tannins that lead to a smooth and lingering finish. $75

2022 Caterwaul Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Our 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon continues to deliver complexity and depth representative of fruit that is usually destined for single-vineyard bottlings. Inky dark purple in the glass, this wine lends aromatics of ripe cherry, dusky violets, and baking spice. The near-sweetness of roasted meats on the nose causes a mouthwatering reaction. Rich, opulent and full-bodied, the initial impact rewards the sip with a coating of dense marionberry compote, toasted oak and baking chocolate. Fine tannins frame and blend with a balanced acidity to create a lasting finish. This wine is clearly ready to shine out of the gate, and has the horsepower to drink well into the future if a bottle can be tucked away in the cellar. $55

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James Suckling 90 Points
2021 Joel Gott 815 CA Cabernet Sauvignon

Blackcurrants, black and green olives, rosemary and some crushed walnuts on the nose. Fresh and refined, with a medium to full body and fine-grained tannins. Drink or hold. $18 Our Price $13.95 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
2023 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé

Soft peach, watermelon and rose petal aromas hold their poise for days on the nose of this blend of 71% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 8% Vermentino and 1% Counoise. The palate is energetic and and stony in texture, offering crisp pomegranate and orange peel flavors. $28 Our Price $21.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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 Our Price $14.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 94 Points
2020 Bookwalter Protagonist Conner Lee Vineyard

Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Syrah and Petit Verdot, the 2020 Protagonist Conner Lee Vineyard bursts from the glass with a plushy frame of fresh plums, oak and freshly opened flowers. Full-bodied, the wine achieves a beautiful harmony, exhibiting freshness and juiciness within a structured and balanced framework. Concluding with elegance and power, this gorgeous wine glides to a beautiful and succulent finish that has me craving flame-kissed chops and steaks from the grill. Just under 25,000 bottles were produced. $68 Our Price $39.95 (Available GT and VRW)

2022 Fait Main Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: Located west of Highway 29, this site has deep gravel soils ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon. We source from two blocks located in the southwestern portion near Vine Hill Ranch, where soils are especially deep and well-draining. Prized for their ultra-silky tannins and luminous fruit, Missouri Hopper wines deliver opulence and energy in equal measure. $172 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco 2020

A fresh, juicy red highlighted by cherry, plum, tar, grass and eucalyptus flavors. Gains support from vibrant acidity and pliable tannins as this cruises to a long aftertaste of fruit, vegetal and mineral notes. Best from 2026 through 2040. 850 cases made, 500 cases imported. $40 Our Price $34.95 (Available GT)

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Taste 2022 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills, 2021 Leviathan Proprietary Red and 2021 Sequoia Grove Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, July 26th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2022

Supple and elegantly structured, with detailed raspberry and cherry flavors that are accented by rose petal, brown baking spices and orange peel as this glides toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2032. 15,100 cases made. $44

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2021 Leviathan Proprietary Red

Always a good value, the 2021 California Red Wine is no exception and has darker berry fruits, some leafy herb, sage, lavender, and chocolate nuances, full-bodied richness, and a lush, round, seamless style that's already impossible to resist. This is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (with plenty of other red varieties), and it should shine for 7-8 years, if not a decade, although I would drink this puppy in its youth. $40

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
2021 Sequoia Grove Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

This velvety, opulent wine is rich in baked cherry and blackberry aromas, with dark chocolate and crème de cassis flavors. Layers of fruit and oak spices fill the palate, shaped gently by fine-grained tannins. Best from 2026–2034. — Jim Gordon. $55

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Taste 2022 Gramercy Cellars Picpoul Walla Walla, 2021 Mondavi Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Teeter-Totter Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, July 27th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

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

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points
2021 Mondavi Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The classic 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is outstanding, with a more black fruit-driven profile as well as some violet and scorched earth nuances. Aged 18 months in 32% new French oak, it's medium to full-bodied, has a lifted, perfumed profile, supple tannins, and a great finish. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade. Maturity 2023-2033. $50

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

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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