The Grape Tray will be open on Monday during the month of December

Grape Tray

Monday, 12/9: 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Tuesday, 12/10: 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Wednesday, 12/11: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday, 12/12: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday, 12/13: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday, 12/14: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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Vintage Reserve Wine

Tuesday, 12/10: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Wednesday, 12/11: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Thursday, 12/12: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Friday, 12/13: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Saturday, 12/14: 12:00 noon – 4:00 PM

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On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
2022 Hartford Court Russian River Pinot

Pouring a deeper ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is ripe and layered in the glass, with a generous, inviting, pure perfume of black cherries, cola, sweet baking spice, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, it has a lot of charm and a good, weightless feel, with fine tannins and a clean finish. I love that it never feels heavy but is 100% Russian River Valley in character. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. This is a lot of wine for the value. $39

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points
2017 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello, Half Bottle

Still a perfect wine in my opinion, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is a powerhouse that's going to need substantial time in the cellar. Reminding me of the 1986 Mouton Rothschild with its powerful, inward, massively structured style, it offers a dense, powerful nose of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, scorched earth, crushed stone, and lead pencil, with some solid chocolaty oak. Deep, rich, massively concentrated, and structured on the palate, it has building tannins, a beautiful spine of acidity, and a fabulous finish. I followed this bottle for multiple days and it only got better, so don’t be afraid to give these plenty of air if opening any time soon. It will ideally be given another decade of bottle age and it's going to see it 50th birthday in fine form. $130/375ml

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Taste 2020 Beaulieu Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay and 2019 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Special Selection at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person. (Limited: We will open one bottle of each wine for this tasting)
Tuesday, December 10th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

James Suckling 92 Points
2020 Beaulieu Vineyards Carneros Chardonnay

This is tight and phenolic with a creamy texture, yet it’s fine and tight with focused acidity and lovely length. Long, tight finish. 15% viognier. $25

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Special Selection 2019

Flashy, with boysenberry and mulberry pâte de fruit notes that roll through, throwing off licorice snap and açaí berry notes as well. Ends with a high-gloss toasty finish, but the fruit pushes through easily as apple wood and mint notes add range. For fans of the bold style. Drink now through 2040. 23,247 cases made. $225

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Taste 2021 Allegrini Veronese Palazzo della Torre, 2019 MASSOLINO Barolo and 2020 Marquis de Casa Concha Heritage Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, December 11th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 90 Points
Allegrini Veronese Palazzo della Torre 2021

Creamed black cherry and black raspberry fruit is structured by chewy tannins and fresh acidity in this balanced red. Shows a subtle underpinning of sanguine iron and earth accents, with appealing details of dark chocolate shavings, dried mint and anise that linger on the finish. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2029. 50,000 cases made. 28,032 cases imported. $25

Wine Spectator 93 Points
MASSOLINO Barolo 2019

This red straddles the line between power and elegance, featuring delicate flavors of strawberry, cherry and rose hip, plus notes of earth, tar and iron. Finishes with more power and the grip of refined tannins, offering terrific balance and length. Best from 2026 through 2043. 7,080 cases made, 2,400 cases imported. $56

Wine Advocate 93 Points
2020 Marquis de Casa Concha Heritage Cabernet

The 2020 Marquis de Casa Concha Heritage was produced with 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot from the ungrafted part of El Mariscal Vineyard in Puente Alto in Maipo, the place where the Marquis de Casa Concha originated, so they wanted to go back to their roots and that's why they called the wine Heritage. It fermented in stainless steel with selected yeasts followed by malolactic in tank and 16 months in French oak barrels, 40% of them new. It's ripe at 14.6% alcohol and has good acidity and freshness. It's quite fruit-driven, with notes of herbs (tobacco leaves), a bit grapey, from grapes harvested quite early because it was a very warm year. The quality of the tannins is not the same as those of the 2021; there is a little more rusticity here. But the wine keeps the freshness to avoid any sweetness in the wine. $60

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Taste 2022 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills, 2022 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands and 2022 Capiaux Pisoni Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person.
Thursday, December 12th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2022

Supple and elegantly structured, with detailed raspberry and cherry flavors that are accented by rose petal, brown baking spices and orange peel as this glides toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2032. 15,100 cases made. $44

Wine Spectator 92 Points
2022 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands

This intense red features black cherry, blackberry, violet and mineral aromas and flavors. Supple yet dense, with fine overall balance and a long, fruit-stained aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2042. 386 cases imported. $65

Vinous Media 92 Points
2022 Capiaux Pisoni Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

The 2022 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard is a rich, bombastic wine. Dark plum, chocolate, licorice and spice are all amplified in this dense, full-bodied Pinot. The 2022 is a classic Pisoni Pinot built on textural richness and body Drinking Window: 2023 – 2032. $65

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James Suckling 98 Points
2021 Pahlmeyer Napa Merlot

Delicious, velvety and mouth-filling, this wine could convert any merlot skeptic to being a fan. Mountain grown in the Stagecoach Vineyard and Waters Vineyard, it is intense and saturated with flavor but wrapped in luscious tannins that tempt you to drink it now. Blueberries, creme de cassis, cherries, cream and mint. 100% merlot. Drinkable now, but best from 2028. $130 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
2022 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands

This intense red features black cherry, blackberry, violet and mineral aromas and flavors. Supple yet dense, with fine overall balance and a long, fruit-stained aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2042. 386 cases imported. $65 Our Price $59.99 (Available GT and VRW)

JEB DUNNUCK 95 POINTS
2021 Chappellet Cabernet Franc

Looking first at the 2021 Cabernet Franc, this beauty is based on 78% Cabernet Franc, 7% each Merlot and Malbec, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Red and black currants, fresh figs, savory flowers, spicy wood, and some camphor notes all soar from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, elegant mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and outstanding length. This is a stunning Cabernet Franc to enjoy over the coming 15 years or more. $130 Our Price $109.95

Wine Spectator 96 Points
2019 Mayacamas Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

Loaded with character and energy, this version reveals heavy notes of zesty sweet bay leaf and sassafras that infuse a core of steeped red currant and mulberry fruit, all carried by bright acidity and iron-laced tannins. The long finish pulls everything together, with the fruit, savory and mineral elements in harmony. Showing an old-school touch, this has a long life ahead. Best from 2025 through 2045.”—James Molesworth. $185 (Available GT) Limited

James Suckling 94 Points
2020 Chateau Buena Vista Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, Half Bottles

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. $22/375ml. Our Price $18.99/375ml (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 (Available GT and VRW)

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Taste 2022 Ramey Russian River Chardonnay, 2022 Olema Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Robert Foley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, December 13th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points, Top 100 #10
2022 Ramey Russian River Chardonnay

Oozing with character, this succulent and mouthwatering white offers a fleshy, juicy mix of perfectly ripe peach, mango and lemon bar flavors, with fresh herbal accents of lemon verbena and vetiver. Offers accents of freshly grated ginger, tangerine and crunchy sea salt on the finish. Drink now through 2036.—MaryAnn Worobiec $50

James Suckling 92 Points
2022 Olema Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Polished but bold and textured, this deeply flavored wine offers black cherry, blueberry and raspberry accents, along with spicy, savory elements from small amounts of malbec, petite sirah and merlot. Moderate tannins lend a light snap to the texture. $25

Jeb Dunnuck 94+ Points
2018 Robert Foley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is also incredibly perfumed, with lots of blue fruits, violets, and spring flower notes to go with a medium to full-bodied style on the palate. It brings this terrific mix of richness and elegance. As with the Claret, it was aged 18-20 months in 30% new French oak. $100

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Taste Kuentz-Bas Crémant d'Alsace Brut, 2015 Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuveé Carneros and Krug Grande Cuvee 172nd Edition Brut NV Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $25 per person
Saturday, December 14th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Kuentz-Bas Crémant d'Alsace Brut

Importer Anthony Lynch Notes: A dignified bottle of bubbles like this is certainly suitable for special occasions and would beautifully complement the most refined cuisine. There is a rich, toasty complexity from lees aging, which highlights the delicate aromas you’ll find in your glass: honey, nectarine, citrus, and summer flowers. But at the end of the day, it’s simply a great sparkler that needs no excuse to be uncorked. You can most definitely count on Alsace for that. $25

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuveé Carneros 2015

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

James Suckling 97 Points
Krug Grande Cuvee 172nd Edition Brut NV

Beautiful notes of dried citrus fruit, lemon curd and dried apples with hints of spices, dried flowers and subtle brioche. I like the polished and caressing texture and steady, refreshing acidity. It’s fresh and even austere, with notes of ground spices. So vertical and firm. Structured and long. $300

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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
Monday 10:30 AM–5:30 PM (December 2024)
Tuesday-Friday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM-4:00 PM