On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

2022 Linne Calodo The Slacker Computer Geek

Winemaker Notes: The 2022 Computer Geek is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre from the Linne Calodo estates. Aromas of strawberry, raspberry, cardamom and wet loam anticipate flavors of black plum, blackberry and mocha. The palate is flush, focused and spicy with energetic textures. Whole-cluster notes of peppercorn and clove linger on a deep, integrated finish. A wine for those in the know. 77% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 8% Carignan, 5% Mourvedre. $55

Wine Spectator 94 Points
TORBRECK The Struie Barossa 2022

Dense and powerful, featuring a concentrated mix of blackberry, huckleberry and blueberry syrup flavors on a velvety frame, with details of Pu'er tea, dark chocolate, singed palo santo, candied walnut, black pepper and toffee that linger. Despite all the concentration, there's a lovely sense of elegance, with an open-knit frame and a long, lingering finish. Shiraz. Drink now through 2037. —M.W. $55

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Taste 2021 Antinori Toscana Villa Antinori, 2019 Rocca di Frassinello Le Sughere di Frassinello and 2021 Antinori Tignanello Toscana at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Thursday, October 17th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Antinori Toscana Villa Antinori 2021

Cherry, pomegranate and plum aromas and flavors are the main themes in this dense red, punctuated with loam, spice, mineral and wild rosemary notes. Harmonious and solidly built, this picks up steam through the long, fruit- and savory-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Best from 2027 through 2043. 130,000 cases made, 37,369 cases imported. $25

James Suckling 92 Points
Rocca di Frassinello Le Sughere di Frassinello 2019

Aromas of plums, black cherries, blackberries, tomato leaf, dried herb and spice box. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, polished tannins. Rich and fleshy on the palate with a lots of black fruit. Flavorful finish. Try from 2023. $26

Wine Advocate 98 Points
2021 Antinori Tignanello Toscana

First made in 1971, this legendary Italian wine now celebrates its 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Tignanello! The Marchesi Antinori 2021 Tignanello (made with 79% Sangiovese, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc) pulls on all the heartstrings. To be released in May, the wine shows a quintessentially pretty taste profile with tart fruit flavors, redcurrant, tea leaf, heritage rose, crushed white pepper, licorice, nutmeg, clove and chopped mint. It opens slowly to reveal more richness and exuberance with time, becoming downright voluptuous and heady a short while later. The through line, however, remains the bright freshness and minerality of Sangiovese. Compared to the 2018 vintage (which I also loved), this vintage has more overall fruit weight and volume. $180

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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 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
2022 Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir

This priced-to-sell appellation blend gives hints of what the single-vineyard expressions can do in a more accessible manner. Aromas of pomegranate, green peppercorn and oregano decorate the nose. The palate shows baked plum and strawberry flavors as well as Calera's telltale showing of terpene-laden herbs like bay leaf and marjoram. $32 Our Price $23.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Vilmart Brut Champagne Grande Réserve NV (Review Published 9/2/2024)

Vivid acidity creates a mouthwatering frame for the white raspberry, blood orange, salted Marcona almond and star anise flavors carried on the lightly chalky mousse of this sleek and focused Champagne. Lightly briny and lingering on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2023. Drink now through 2029. 750 cases imported. Half Bottle $50. Our Price $20.95/375ml (Back in stock 11/1/24)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
2022 Résonance Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

Fragrant raspberry and fresh violet aromas lead to elegantly layered cherry, mineral and savory tea flavors, with a silky mouthfeel that slowly builds tension on the polished finish. Drink now through 2033. 15,299 cases made. $40 Our Price $33.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points
2023 Meadowcroft Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

This wine is rich, with aromas of raspberry, strawberry, vanilla cream, dried herbs and florals. Flavors on the palate are ripe berries and candied orange rind, intertwined with Bing cherry, dried clove and a dry, supple finish. Pair with roasted duck breast and cherry compote. —T.P $42 Our Price $19.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 95 Points
Ghost Block Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Ghost Block Vineyard 2021

This bursts with bramble, licorice snap, blackberry and mulberry aromas and flavors that are energetic and juicy through the finish, where a flash of iris kicks in. A graphite spine to keep this honest. For fans of the exuberant style. Drink now through 2040. 1,347 cases made. $125 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
2022 Roar Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard

From a cooler site in the middle of the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation, the 2022 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard offers more mulberry and wild strawberry fruit as well as a beautiful core of sappy flowers, violets, and underbrush. I love its overall purity and precision, and it's medium-bodied, has ripe, polished tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's up with the creme de la creme of the appellation, and it's going to have at least 10-12 years of prime drinking. It benefits from air if drinking any time soon. $80 (Available GT and VRW)

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Taste 2023 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé, 2020 Chateau Buena Vista Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, October 18th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

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

James Suckling 94 Points
2020 Chateau Buena Vista Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Expressive and lush nose of creamy berries, dark cherries, vanilla, cassis and sweet oak spices. Full body with fine, creamy tannins. Rich and full of generous creamy berries and an equally demonstrative and dense finish with excellent length. Better from 2025. $45

Decanter Journal 96 Points
2021 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, and half a % each of Malbec and Merlot, aged 15 months in 33% new French oak. The bottling includes the following sources: 51% Atlas Peak District; 14% Battuello Vineyard in St. Helena, 12% Arcadia Vineyard in Coombsville and 5% Twin Creeks Vineyard in Wooden Valley (in Suisun Valley) and from sources in Stags Leap. Super approachable and fairly easy-drinking at the pull of the cork. Youthful blue fruit aromatics mingle with blackberry, graphite, and violet florals. Full-bodied with fine-grained satiny tannins and the same exuberant blue and black fruit, tinged with cinnamon and Mexican mocha through a lengthy slate-stone and cedarwood-rich finish. Drinking Window: 2024-2040. $90

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 Taste Avissi Extra Dry Prosecco, DEUTZ Brut Champagne Classic and Vilmart Brut Champagne Grande Réserve at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, October 19th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Avissi Extra Dry Prosecco

Producer Notes: Honeysuckle and gardenia make for sweet and delicate scents. The melting bubbles land gracefully, accentuating flavors of linen and orange cream. White rice and Asian pear dot the mid-palate, leading to a finish redolent of green apple. The liquid is as unique as the memorable packaging. $20

Wine Spectator 92 Points
DEUTZ Brut Champagne Classic NV
(Review Published 2024)

Graphite and mineral hints underscore the ripe and appealing notes of white cherry, nectarine, pomelo and pickled ginger on display in this bright, elegant version, with a finely detailed mousse. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now. 166,667 cases made, 5,833 cases imported. —Alison Napjus $59

Wine Spectator 92 Points

Vilmart Brut Champagne Grande Réserve NV

(Review Published 9/2/2024)

Vivid acidity creates a mouthwatering frame for the white raspberry, blood orange, salted Marcona almond and star anise flavors carried on the lightly chalky mousse of this sleek and focused Champagne. Lightly briny and lingering on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2023. Drink now through 2029. 750 cases imported. Half Bottle $50.

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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