Jeb Dunnuck 96-99 Points
2021 Opus One

More in the structured style of the 2018 as opposed to the voluptuous style of the 2019, the 2021 Opus One is another riveting wine from this estate. Pure cassis, graphite, chocolate, and nicely integrated oak, as well as an undeniable sense of minerality, all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, building tannins, wonderful purity and precision, and a great finish. This is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet in the making, and it's going to evolve for 20-25 years if well stored. $475 Our Price TBD

(Pre-Arrival notice. Release date 10/1/24)

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On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Spectator 97 Points
ANTINORI Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso 2021

The pedigree and purity of this red are evident immediately from its black currant, blackberry, pomegranate, violet and wild herb aromas. Saturated with red and black fruit and picking up licorice and mineral elements, this is all about finesse and harmony. Cruises to the long finish, which is tinged with fruit, mineral, cedar, licorice and spice notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2043. —B.S. $175

2022 Admire Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: This elegant wine pleases with fresh raspberry aromas accented with vanilla and deepened with a soft earthy tone. The lush palate is round and textured with refreshing acidity and silky tannins. It’s a journey that’s been years in the making, but for Dan Kosta, the love of Pinot Noir is a journey that will never end. $33

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Taste Sauvignon Blanc: 2023 Villa Maria Private Bin, 2023 Long Meadow Ranch and 2022 Perchance Estates Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, July 30th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2023 Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: Notes of passion fruit, guava and grapefruit on the nose. Bright, tropical and balanced, with medium body and a juicy, fruity finish. Sustainable.$15

2023 Long Meadow Ranch Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: A relatively long and slightly cooler growing season led to beautiful well balanced Sauvignon Blanc fruit with a pleasing natural acidity. The 2023 opens with lemongrass, pomelo, and kiwi berry on the nose. Emerging on the palate is grapefruit zest and passion fruit with a fine minerality on the finish. Crisp, clean, elegant and mouthwatering, the always versatile Sauvignon Blanc is prime to enjoy and share. $30

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2022 Perchance Estates Sauvignon Blanc Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard

From vines planted in 2000 and brought up in 75% new French oak, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard is a brilliant white revealing classic lemon and floral notes, as well as some background tropical and spicy nuances. With great acidity, medium body, and beautiful overall balance, this will stand toe to toe with a great Bordeaux Blanc. It should evolve for 10-15 years, but I love it today. $70

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Taste 2020 Prunotto Nebbiolo Occhetti, 2020 Michele Satta Bolgheri Superiore Piastraia and 2018 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, July 31st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2020 Prunotto Nebbiolo Occhetti

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 Spectator 92 Points
2020 Michele Satta Bolgheri Superiore Piastraia

Shows aromas of fresh black cherry and blackberry that are pure and expressive, accented by wild herbs, cedar, iron and spices. Dense, yet balanced and fresh, with refined tannins gracing the lingering finish. Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2024 through 2035. 2,900 cases made, 1,300 cases imported. $45

Wine Advocate 93 Points
2018 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino

The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is an especially graceful wine with tart fruit, clean mineral lines and a mid-weight approach. Like other wines from this vintage, the 2018s are more accessible than, say, the 2016s or the 2013s. You can drink the wine soon or choose to cellar it a bit longer. The young tannins are nearly fully approachable, and the wine ends with dryness and ample freshness. $75

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Taste 2021 Pinot Noir: MacMurray Ranch Estate Russian River, RÉSONANCE Willamette Valley and Roar Santa Lucia Highlands Sierra Mar Vineyard Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, August 1st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2021 MacMurray Ranch Estate Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The MacMurray Estate Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir opens with aromas of lavender and boysenberry, giving way to flavors of dark cherry, pomegranate and vanilla. This luscious wine has a silky mouthfeel, framed by subtle hints of oak from barrel aging. $30

Wine Spectator 94 Points
RÉSONANCE Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021

Precise and elegantly structured, with detailed raspberry, savory tea and crushed stone accents that gather richness and tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031. 10,870 cases made.—T.F. $40

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

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Wine Enthusiast 91 Points
2022 Nielson Santa Barbara/Monterey Chardonnay

This bottling, formerly from a historic site in Santa Barbara County but now 75% from Monterey County, brings a lot to the table for a favorable price. Aromas of citrus sorbet and wet stone lead from the nose into a palate offering brisk apple, more citrus and high acidity. $18 Our Price $15.99 (Arrives GT 7/31/24)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Paso Robles 2022

Elegant structure meets a satiny texture in this red, which offers fresh cherry and raspberry flavors laced with cinnamon and red licorice notes before finishing with polished tannins. Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Terret. Drink now through 2031. 3,875 cases made. $28 Our Price $21.99 (Back in stock GT 7/31/24)

2022 Carmel Road Monterey Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Lively aromas of white peach and Asian pear. Bright acidity, minerality, fresh and vibrant on the palate with layers of citrus. Texture and richness lead to a round and complex finish. It was an early vintage set by some warmer weather in September. Lower than usual yields, but extremely good quality and concentration in the wines. $15 Our Price $10.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 91 Points
2023 Quinta de Soalheiro Alvarinho

Soalheiro's Alvarinho is a classical wine that made them famous and was first produced at the property in 1982. The 2023 Alvarinho was varietal, as it tends to be the first five years of its life: aromatic, clean and fresh, with moderate ripeness, 12.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.26 and 6.2 grams of acidity—parameters of freshness and balance. It's a bit shy, floral and insinuating, feeling a little reductive at first. This comes from vines up to 200 meters above sea level, on richer soils. The full clusters were pressed, the must fermented in stainless steel without malolactic fermentation and kept with lees for two months. 300,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2024. $26 Our Price $22.49 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2022 Perchance Estates Sauvignon Blanc Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard

From vines planted in 2000 and brought up in 75% new French oak, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard is a brilliant white revealing classic lemon and floral notes, as well as some background tropical and spicy nuances. With great acidity, medium body, and beautiful overall balance, this will stand toe to toe with a great Bordeaux Blanc. It should evolve for 10-15 years, but I love it today. $70 (Available GT and VRW)

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Taste 2021 GARY FARRELL Chardonnay Russian River Valley Russian River Selection, 2021 Oberon Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon and 2020 The Setting Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, August 2nd. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
GARY FARRELL Chardonnay Russian River Valley Russian River Selection 2021

This shows good concentration and complexity, with honeysuckle, caramelized pineapple and lemon blossom aromatics up front, backed by juicy peach, apple and salted melon notes. Details of toffee, marzipan and dried herbs linger at the end. Drink now. 4,578 cases made.—M.W. $40

2021 Oberon Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Irresistible aromas of rose petals and blueberry cobbler lead to ripe, supple silky tannins. Flavors of vibrant black cherry, candied blackberry, and red plum are complimented by notes of black currant and licorice, with a hint of coffee, dark chocolate and spice – all culminating into a lingering and delicious finish. $25

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

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Taste Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon La Cueille, VILMART Brut Champagne Grand Cellier NV and Bollinger Brut Champagne Special Cuvée NV at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, August 3rd. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon La Cueille

Importer Notes: Bugey-Cerdon is anything but a serious wine. Its seductive deep pink glimmers in the glass, emanating ambrosial fragrances of alpine strawberries and roses. It dances over the palate, just sweet enough, perked up by a fine bead and a crystalline finish crisp as a mineral spring. Great wine does not need to be thought-provoking or meditative—Patrick’s Bugey-Cerdon is proof that a top terroir can manifest itself in the most festive and carefree of ways. —Anthony Lynch $25

Wine Spectator 94 Points
VILMART Brut Champagne Grand Cellier NV

A sculpted Champagne, rich but still elegant, with well-honed acidity and a panoply of flavors set on the raw silk like mousse. Delivers grilled macadamia nut and biscuit, white cherry and nectarine fruit, crystallized honey, lime blossom, star anise and smoke accents. Long, salty finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged January 2023. Drink now through 2033. 700 cases imported. —Alison Napjus. $89

Decanter 95 Points
Bollinger Brut Champagne Special Cuvée NV

If it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for you. Bollinger Champagne has made a number of cameos in James Bond films over the year. This non-vintage Special Cuvée is an example of a classic Champagne done well. Notes of marzipan on the nose and the palate give toastiness and leesy notes, specifically sourdough. It’s classic for a reason and would only elevate any table it finds itself on. $95

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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