On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

2023 Peter Michael L’Après-Midi Sauvignon Blanc

Winemakers Notes: A fanfare of passion fruit, apricot, pear, white peach, jasmine, white rose and lemon blossom announce the expressive nose of the 2023 ‘L’Après-Midi’. A lively entry with juicy acidity and a creamy mouthfeel leads to a highly concentrated, structured mid-palate. This Sauvignon Blanc possesses great body and drive with impressive length, all while exhibiting an effortless balance and level of refinement. $82

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
2019 Scarlett Rutherford Napa Cabernet

Beautiful, sweet cassis and blue fruits, as well as lots of violet and floral notions, emerge from the Scarlett 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, a full-bodied, rich, concentrated barrel sample with wonderful purity of fruit, a good sense of freshness, and serious length on the finish. This promising, elegant yet powerful wine is going to shine with short-term bottle age and keep for two decades. $79

Wine Spectator 96 Points

2021 Salvestrin Cabernet Sauvignon, Dr Crane Vineyard

This restrained, mineral-inflected version is sleek and pure, with cassis, bitter plum and black cherry puree notes streaked with alder, savory and iron through the fine-grained and pinpoint finish. A red of precision and focus. Best from 2026 through 2040. $95

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Taste Pinot Noir: 2021 Kanzler Russian River Valley, 2022 Brewer-Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Machado and 2022 Hartford Court Jennifer's Vineyard at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Thursday, August 15th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
2021 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Ripe, with deliciously succulent waves of plum, boysenberry and mulberry fruit rolling through, laced with iris and hibiscus notes and ending with light anise and apple wood hints on the finish. Packs a nice finishing kick of fruit at the end, too, while keeping a racy edge. Best from 2024 through 2032. 1,050 cases made. $64

Wine Spectator 96 Points
2022 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Machado

Offers a beautiful, steady stream of blood orange, bitter cherry and raspberry coulis notes stitched finely with subtle rooibos tea, singed sandalwood, dried anise and savory details. Feels pinpoint in focus, with serious length on the finish thanks to the nicely buried mineral tension. Drink now through 2038. 586 cases made. $85

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
2022 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Jennifer's

Pouring a medium ruby/red color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Jennifer's gives up ripe and concentrated aromas of kirsch, toasty incense, crushed flowers, and dark stones. It’s medium to full-bodied and weightless but has a broader shouldered feel, with plush, ripe tannins, good freshness, an even texture, and a long, mouthwatering finish. It displays a lot of polish and is going to be an age-worthy wine to enjoy over the next 15 years. $85

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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 Liquidation Price $11.95 (Limited to stock on hand at GT)

Wine Spectator 95 Points
Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc
Russian River Valley 2022, Half Bottles

A stunning white, this leaps out of the glass with aromatic mango, orange blossom and salted ripe melon flavors. Gains complexity from grilled peach, lemon oil, savory litsea oil and toasted herb elements, with a fleshy, creamy texture and fresh acidity. Drink now through 2029. 15,000 cases made.—M.W. $29/375ml (Arrives GT 8/16/24)

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 Our Price $12.99 (Back in stock GT this afternoon)

Wine Advocate 93 Points
Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo 2019

A certified organic wine, the 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardo offers bright aromas of dried cherry, forest berry, sweet spice and cinnamon. With fruit from beautiful Castelnuovo Berardenga on the southern side of the appellation, this wine shows medium-rich concentration and good texture with savory oak-driven elements. $45 Our Price $27.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2021 Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon Regusci Vineyard

Coming all from Block 3 (which Thomas thinks is the best block), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Regusci Vineyard sports a deep purple hue to go with a rocking, full-bodied, flawlessly balanced profile loaded with darker fruits, smoked herbs, graphite, and chalky minerality. I love its mid-palate, and it has ripe tannins and a great finish. It has that classic Stags Leap freshness and minerality, and my money is on this being long-lived $135 (Arrives GT 8/16/24)

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
2021 Roar Rosella’s Pinot Noir

The 2021 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard brings a more concentrated, serious feel and offers ripe mulberry and cherry fruit as well as scorched earth, graphite, and minerality, with nicely integrated oak. It's medium-bodied, concentrated, and focused, with a beautiful mouthfeel. It needs 2-3 years in the cellar (you'd be forgiven for enjoying a bottle today) and will evolve nicely over the following decade. $80 (Available GT and VRW)

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Taste 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon:
Roth Alexander Valley, Caymus Napa 50th Anniversary and Caterwaul Napa at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, August 16th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2022 Roth Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Upon opening, dark fruit aromas of black cherry and blueberry are intertwined with notes of forest floor and vanilla spice. Deep, layered flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, and black tea are present on the palate. Soft tannins and a hints of mocha linger on the finish. $36

2022 Caymus Napa 50th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: This vintage especially exhibits an expression of the style which Caymus is known for and I feel is as singular as our approach to making it. Rich and round on the palate, with tannins expressed in a textural manner that are non-bitter. Evidence of French oak, but not overplayed. Acidity enough for balance, but not tart to the palate. The Caymus style allows the consumer to face no hurdles in tasting and enjoying the delicious essence of the wine. $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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Taste Adami Garbel Brut Prosecco, 2015 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuveé and 2017 Michel Gonet Champagne Les Hautes Mottes Brut Nature at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Saturday, August 17th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Vinous 90 Points * Adami Garbel Brut Prosecco

The NV Brut Prosecco Garbel mixes savory and sweet with a bouquet of crushed rocks and dusty dried flowers complementing hints of green melon. This is silky in feel without a hard edge in sight, as juicy acidity enlivens its candied citrus fruits. The Garbel takes on a tropical flair through the finale, mixing hints of kiwi with vivid young mango. The final takeaway is how remarkably fresh and clean it leaves the palate. This is a total pleasure to taste. $20

Wine Spectator 93 Points
2015 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuveé Carneros

An opulent, decadent style, with raspberry, poached pear, roasted nut and yeast roll flavors that build richness on the spicy finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now. $60

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2017 Michel Gonet Champagne Les Hautes Mottes Brut Nature

A collaboration with rockstar sommeliers Rajat Parr and Marco Pelletier, the 2017 Champagne Les Hautes Mottes Brut Nature lends a reflective straw appearance and is inflectedwith a fresh, floral perfume of fresh linen, candied lime, green apple, and shortbread. Linear and chalky, it has a pinpoint mousse that accents and complements its mineral-focused texture, with notes of crushed shells as well as a delicate floral and saline flourish. It’s long on the palate and very appealing. Drink 2024-2034. $150

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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