On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Wine Spectator 96 Points
Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills La Côte 2022

This sports dark cherry, currant and raspberry fruit flavors that are mulled in feel, but kept taut and lively by a torrent of acidity, while sage, warm earth, white pepper, savory and flint notes bounce around. Overall a bit sauvage in feel, this is a compelling wine, but needs cellaring to tame it and allow it to stretch out. Best from 2026 through 2038. 368 cases made. $155

2020 Macauley Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay Russian River

Winemaker Notes: Expressive and balanced, showing notes of cream, pear, hazelnut, and apricot, with stony minerality that makes this Chardonnay absolutely wonderful. $48

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2020 Peter Michael Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis

Blended with 3% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis comes from a vineyard in Oakville near Dalla Valle, around 500-600 feet in elevation. It has a deep ruby-purple color and opens slowly to warm black plums, graphite and grilled peppers with wafts of cedar, chocolate and soy. The full-bodied palate offers plenty of freshness to support its concentrated, ripe fruit. It boasts generous, powdery tannins, alluring floral tones and a long, layered finish. Ripe yet balanced, it's approachable right now. 1,401 cases were made, and it will be released in July of 2023. $235

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Taste 2021 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico, 2018 Casa Emma Chianti Classico Gran Selezione and 2022 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Tuesday, August 27th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
2021 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico

A racy version, this boasts black cherry, blueberry, violet and iron flavors. Features a firm line of tannins that work in concert with the acidity, while flashes of Mediterranean scrub peek through. Mouthwatering finish. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now through 2032. 15,000 cases made, 14,000 cases imported. $30

Wine Spectator 95 Points
2018 Casa Emma Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Pretty aromas of violet, kirsch, raspberry and black currant herald this elegant, vibrant red, which is firmly built, with a supple texture offsetting dusty tannins. Approachable now for its balance and fruit, but this should age well too. Best from 2023 through 2040. 700 cases made, 400 cases imported. $52

Wine Advocate 94 Points
2022 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto

Made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Tenuta San Guido 2022 Guidalberto gives you a good taste of the same DNA that brings us one of Italy's greatest wines, Sassicaia, but it's offered in a more immediate style here (thanks to the addition of the Merlot). This warm vintage opens to medium-dark concentration and very plump aromas that take you immediately to blackberry and blackcurrant sitting out in the sun at your local farmers market. The wine shows a soft and gentle side with a pretty level of elegance transmitted through the fruit freshness and the light oak spice that is discernible here but delivered with grace. $76

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Taste 2022 Daou Pessimist Red Blend, 2022 Herman Story Nuts & Bolts and 2021 Herman Story Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, August 28th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2022 Daou Pessimist Red Blend

Winemaker Notes: The 2022 vintage delivers yet another bewitching blend with trademark Pessimist flair. An intensely aromatic nose begins with fragrances of blueberry, boysenberry and black plum. Deeper layers reveal lavender, truffle, cocoa and tamarind spice with hints of cherry pipe tobacco, leather, mint and smoked meats. A bright, vibrant palate offers generous flavors of black cherry, cranberry, crème de cassis and pomegranate. Notes of lilac, anise and black olive complement the rich fruit while the mouth is flooded with lush, silky textures. Lingering accents of blueberry and raspberry round out this elegantly balanced wine. 60% Petite Sirah, 22% Zinfandel, 16% Syrah, 2% Lagrein. $30

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

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

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Taste Pinot Noir: 2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast, 2020 Donnachadh Sta. Rita Hills Estate and 2022 Roar Pinot Noir Clos Pepe at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Thursday, August 29th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
2022 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Ripe ruby/red in color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is ripe and spicy, with aromas of cherries, cinnamon, beet root, and incense. Medium-bodied, it has a weightless feel, a chalky, fine-grained texture, and a spicy finish with notes of gravelly earth. $50

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

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2022 Roar Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Sta. Rita Hills

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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2022 Estancia Monterey Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Shimmering light-straw gold with honey, tropical fruits with hints of orange and pineapple. Rich and well-balanced with a delicious, creamy textured mid-palate; ripe fruit, orange, almond, and spice flavors lead to a refreshing, smooth finish. $15 Our Price $9.25 (Arrives GT 8/27/24)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Laird Family Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

A lush, flattering style, with warmed cassis, fresh açaí berry and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes pressed together by bittersweet cocoa–accented toast. Dark and winey through the finish, with a streak of tar underneath that gives the lush fruit a solid grounding. Best from 2025 through 2037. 1,400 cases made. $70 Our Price $54.99 (Available GT)

2020 Domaine Collotte Gevrey-Chambertin Les Evocelles

Winemaker Notes: The wine shows excellent lift and finesse and freshness to the aromas. The palate is very expressive already with fine structure and silky fine tannins. A very fine addition to the range. ”The Domaine is the only owner of Evocelles in Gevrey – as opposed to Brochon. A vibrant, high-toned width of aroma. Nicely structural, a little unready in the flavours but nice shape and perfume. $62 (Arrives GT 8/28/24)

Jeb Dunnuck 94+ Points
2014 Delamotte Champagne Blanc De Blancs

Linear and focused, the bright straw-colored 2014 Champagne Blanc De Blancs is lifted with mineral aromas of chalky earth and flinty notes followed by green apple, powdery floral aromas, and lime candy. Bright and electric on the palate, its long, fresh spine of acidity propels the wine forward, with mouthwatering saline and a mineral-tinged backbone. A wine that commands attention, it has a fine mousse and is focused and long on the palate, with vibrant citrus. It’s going to have significant longevity over the coming 20 years. It saw 6.5 gram per liter dosage. $135 Our Price $119.99 (Available GT)

2021 Henri & Philippe Jouan Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echezeaux

Importer Notes: This exceptional village wine emanates a captivating bouquet of smoky plums, ripe cassis, earthy loamy soil, and a touch of licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals a fleshy and richly structured texture, showcasing the fine craftsmanship of Philippe Jouan. The wine's remarkable concentration is complemented by vibrant, juicy acids, making it a truly delightful and well-rounded experience. An exquisite representation of Gevrey-Chambertin's finest terroir. $105 (Arrives GT 8/28/24)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Louis Michel & Fils Chablis Vaillons 2022

Expressive and complex, this flinty white features peach, lemon, mineral and lanolin aromas and flavors. Harmonious and silky in texture, evolving nicely on the palate to the long fruit- and mineral-stained aftertaste. Drink now through 2033. 100 cases imported. $55 Our Price $47.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 97 Points
2021 Peter Michael Winery Les Pavots

The 2021 Les Pavots is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. It's a beautiful wine you could drink now or stash in the cellar, with a concentrated, broody yet polished profile. It has pure scents of blueberry liqueur, lilac, cast iron, grilled meats and soy sauce plus hints of wild thyme and truffle. The full-bodied palate offers a structural balance of clay-textured tannins and bright acidity, deriving its power from its sheer depth of dark fruit, and it has a long, detailed finish. 2,769 cases were made, and the Les Pavots will be released in February of 2024. $235 (Back in stock GT 8/29/24)

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Taste 2023 Margerum Sybarite Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Goldschmidt Hilary Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Alpha Omega Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, August 30th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
2023 Margerum Sybarite Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc

This always excellent bottling explodes on the nose with greasy, lime pith and delicate peach aromas. The palate is grippy in texture yet mellow in flavor, presenting easy-to-enjoy grass, peach and wet stone flavors. $26

2019 Goldschmidt Hilary Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: The fresh bright red hue with purple edges leads into aromas of black cherry with hints of raspberry and black plum. The mouth opens with delicious vanilla and mocha merged with the same cherry and plum found on the nose. Enticing traces of graphite and a mineral essence build down the length of the mouth, joining pomegranate and more vanilla in the finish. $60

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points
2021 Alpha Omega Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

This densely flavorful, velvety-textured wine goes deep in dark chocolate, toasted oak and blackberry jam flavors for a tempting richness that makes it accessible soon, while built ideally for aging. Best from 2025–2035. $145

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Taste Champagne: Taittinger Brut La Française, Delamotte Le Mesnil sur Oger depuis Brut and Delamotte Le Mesnil sur Oger depuis Brut Rose at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Saturday, August 31st. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

James Suckling 92 Points
Taittinger Brut La Française

A dry, fresh and delicious Taittinger with aromas and flavors of apples, fresh lemons and minerals. Full-bodied. Precise. White pepper and salt at the end. 40% chardonnay and 35% pinot noir, the rest pinot meunier. Three to four years on the lees. Drink now. $70

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
Delamotte Le Mesnil sur Oger depuis Brut

Based on the 2018 vintage, the NV Champagne Brut is 60% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 5% Meunier. Fresh and inviting aromas of white flowers, ripe pear, and quince are followed by a ripe, medium-bodied wine on the palate. Juicy up front and through the long finish, it delivers wonderfully ripe fruit and purity without feeling harsh. It’s ready to drink now or over the next 5-7 years. They have been gradually increasing the proportion of Chardonnay in the blend and decreasing the Meunier. 8 grams per liter of dosage. $75

James Suckling 94 Points
Delamotte Le Mesnil sur Oger depuis Brut Rose

The quality of this NV rosé is subtle, with such beautiful aromas of cherry, orange peel, pomegranate and honeysuckle. Hints of bitter lemon and sliced strawberry. Medium body with very fine bubbles and a creamy, lively finish. The base is 2021. Two years on the lees. Dosage 7.5g/L. Small production. Only 10,000 bottles made. Drink or hold. $120

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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