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Ultimate Beverage Challenge 92 points
2020 Mionetto Prosecco Rose, Prestige NV Extra Dry

Enticing and exotic aromas of papaya, Key Lime, pomegranate juice, and acai. Fruit-forward on the palate with persistent bubbles, lush red berries, and bright red apple, it finishes dry and mineral with lasting red apple. $19 Our Price $6.25 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2022 Roar Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

The only release not from the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2022 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard comes from a site on the northern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. Its medium ruby/plum hue is followed by a smoky, red and black-fruited effort that has notions of scorched earth, roasted herbs, and subtle yet classic Sta. Rita Hills salty, marine-like nuances. Much more structured and tannic compared to the Santa Lucia Highlands releases, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, has a focused mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. Despite its structure, there's ample fruit here, and this beauty offers loads of pleasure, and it's a good counterpoint in the lineup. Drink bottles any time over the coming decade. $80

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Taste 2023 Sauvignon Blanc: Astrolabe Marlborough, Beckmen Santa Ynez and Peter Michael L’Après-Midi Knight’s Valley Sonoma at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, August 20th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2023

A fresh and zippy white, offering a vibrant mouthful of green papaya, passion fruit and Key lime flavors that are generous and concentrated on a smooth and mouthwatering frame. Hints of green tea, lemongrass and pink peppercorn add more dimensions on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases imported. $22

2023 Beckmen Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: The cool vintage in 2023 helped create a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc. Brimming with tons of tropical and citrus fruit aromas and flavors, the wine has tremendous fruit weight with great acidity. Incorporating skin contact prior to pressing (6 hours on average) brought another level of texture and roundness to the vintage, all balanced by amazing acidity that keeps the wine fresh, focused and vibrant. Do not miss this epic vintage of our Santa Ynez Valley Sauvignon Blanc. $25

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

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Taste 2021 Plumpjack Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Caterwaul Cabernet Sauvignon Regusci Vineyard at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $30 per person. Limited (We will open one bottle of each wine for this tasting)
Wednesday, August 21st. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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

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

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Taste Pinot Noir: 2022 BREWER-CLIFTON Sta. Rita Hills, 2022 Merry Edwards Winery Russian River and 2021 Roar Santa Lucia Highlands Rosella’s Vineyard at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Thursday, August 22nd. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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
2022 Merry Edwards Winery Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

Boasting a rich magenta/ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is classic and very much in the style lovers of this estate have come to expect. It’s ripe with notes of fresh black cherries, scorched earth, violets, and dark forest earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with sweet tannins and is generous without feeling heavy. Long on the finish and fully dry. It’s a very well-styled Pinot Noir from this challenging vintage that’s going to drink well over the next 6-8 years. $60

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

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Wine Advocate 96 Points
2020 Donnachadh Sta. Rita Hills Estate Pinot Noir

The 2020 Pinot Noir Estate is concentrated and structured and will benefit from more bottle time. Medium ruby, it has intense aromas of dried cranberry, burnt orange peel, cinnamon stick, aniseed, tar and chaparral. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and fresh with crunchy red fruits and loads of botanical and earthy accents, and it finishes with a touch of sweet spice across the finish. $65 Our Price $58.99 (Arrives GT 8/22/24)

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points
2021 Morgan Metallico Chardonnay

Tightly woven aromas of lime pith, Meyer lemon, chalk and jicama draw the nose into this unoaked bottling. There’s a firmly stony expression on the palate, giving a mineral edge to the honeysuckle and riper apple flavors. $24 Our Price $19.99 (Back in stock GT)

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
2022 Herman Story Nuts & Bolts

Darker berries, peppery herbs, sappy underbrush, game, and bouquet garni notes all soar from the 2022 Nuts & Bolts, another ripe, powerful wine in the lineup. All Syrah from a mix of York, Slide Hill, Chelle Mountain, and White Hawk vineyards, it has a round, layered, elegant mouthfeel, polished yet building tannins, and a great finish. It's a classic Russell From Syrah that holds onto a beautiful, almost cool climate-inspired style. $68 Our Price $61.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
GHOST BLOCK Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Estate 2021

A solid, fruit-driven version, this red offers cassis, plum pâte de fruit and boysenberry compote flavors backed by licorice and apple wood notes. A late tug of warm earth adds length and drive. Drink now through 2038. —J.M. $85 Our Price $74.99

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2021 Herman Story Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard

I always love Russell's take on this vineyard and the 2021 Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard is up with the best I've tasted from him. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous perfume of ripe red and blackberries, spring flowers, graphite, black pepper, and hints of game, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, spicy, incredibly complex style, polished tannins, and fabulous length on the finish. This ripe, blockbuster-styled Syrah stays flawlessly balanced, has polished tannins, and no hard edges. I love it today, yet it will keep for a solid decade. $78 Our Price $69.99 (Available GT)

James Suckling 91 Points
2022 Solitude Cotes du Rhone Rouge

A juicy, delicious and fruit-driven blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre. Notes of strawberries, candied cherries and baking spices follow through to a medium body with fine tannins. It's playful, juicy and everything you expect from a Cotes-du-Rhone with a spicy flair. $18 Our Price $14.99 (Arrives GT this afternoon)

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Taste 2022 Alpha Omega Two Squared Arroyo Seco Chardonnay, 2021 J. Lohr Hilltop Paso Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Scarlett Rutherford Napa Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, August 23rd. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
2022 Alpha Omega Two Squared Arroyo Seco Chardonnay

This label for Alpha Omega Collective presents a very satisfying take on Chardonnay in this bottling, starting with melon, ripe pear and struck stone aromas. The palate is tightly wound and bouncy with citrusy energy, as stonefruit and light pineapple flavors add depth. — Matt Kettmann $32

2021 J. Lohr Hilltop Paso Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Exhilarating blackberry and blueberry aromas are enhanced by crushed violet, herbes de Provence, and spiced tea. On the palate, dense and soft, with finely textured tannins. Juicy layers of black and red currants lead to a bright finish, accented by pastry notes from extended barrel aging. $35

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

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Taste 2022 J. Lohr Chardonnay Arroyo Seco October Night, 2021 Bacchant Luli SLH Syrah and 2021 Andremily No 10 Syrah at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, August 24th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 91 Points
2022 J. Lohr Chardonnay Arroyo Seco October Night

A plump white, with notes of grilled pineapple, ripe peach, crème brûlée and poached pear making a rich, creamy core, backed by accents of wildflower honey and a fresh thread of acidity that give this length, depth and focus. Drink now. 3,400 cases made. $25

2021 Bacchant Luli SLH Syrah

Winemaker Notes: Intense aromas of violet, lavender and dark, rich fruits draw the nose into this bottling from a region where Syrah tends to age with remarkable intrigue and grace. Blackberry and more purple-flower flavors pop on the palate, which will only grow more cohesive, gamy and interesting with patience. Drink 2025-2041. $24

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points
2021 Andremily No 10 Syrah

The 2021 No 10 checks in as 93% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and 2% Viognier that was raised in 65% new French oak for 22 months. It shows that classic 2021 focus and purity, with darker berry and cassis-like fruits intermixed with ground pepper, sandalwood, violets, and smoky, meaty nuances. With full-bodied richness, it's incredibly concentrated and has ultra-fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This absolutely heavenly red from the genius of Jim Binns tops out my scale. It should benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and have over two decades of ultimate longevity. $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