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

Grape Tray

Monday, 12/16: 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Tuesday, 12/17: 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Wednesday, 12/18: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Thursday, 12/19: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Friday, 12/20: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Saturday, 12/21: 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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Vintage Reserve Wine

Tuesday, 12/17: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Wednesday, 12/18: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Thursday, 12/19: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Friday, 12/20: 12:00 noon – 6:00 PM

Saturday, 12/21: 12:00 noon – 4:00 PM

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On deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

John Gilman 93 points
Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut Champagne NV

The base year 2012 version of Ployez-Jacquemart Extra Quality Brut included sixteen percent reserve wines in it in this year. The final cépages turned out to be forty-two percent pinot noir, thirty-six percent chardonnay and twenty-two percent pinot meunier. This is the original disgorgement, which Laurence Ployez sent to me from the cellars in Ludes and was probably disgorged in October of 2017. The wine is drinking beautifully today, offering up a deep, vibrant and still quite youthful bouquet of apple, pear, almond, brioche, a complex base of chalky soil tones, a lovely touch of beeswax, white flowers and just a whisper of influence from the oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and complex, with a stunning core of fruit, a fine spine of acidity, utterly refined mousse, precise focus and a very long, vibrant and impeccably balanced finish. As this wine sits in the glass, it starts to show a bit of candied lemon like one finds in mature vintages of Raveneau Chablis. This beautiful vintage of Extra Quality Brut still has decades and decades of life ahead of it and will still improve with further bottle age! 2023-2050. $55

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Taste Cabernet Sauvignon: 2017 Ridge Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains and 2020 Ulysses (Dominus) Napa Valley at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $25 per person. (Limited: We will open one bottle of each wine for this tasting)
Tuesday, December 17th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points
2017 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello

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. $260

James Suckling 98 Points
2020 Ulysses (Dominus) Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Aromas of tangerine zest and blackcurrants, with the perfume of fresh flowers. Full-bodied with a dusty texture to the tannins. Gorgeous. Nuanced and pure. Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of cabernet franc and petit verdot. Needs three or four years to open. $195

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Taste 2022 Kistler at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $25 per person.
Wednesday, December 18th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Natalie MacLean 93 Points
2022 Kistler Les Noisetiers Chardonnay

The 2022 Chardonnay is an unfiltered and unfined, top-tier Chard produced from grapes sourced from the winery's cool-climate vineyards of Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County. Kistler's vineyards were planted with Chardonnay vines from a proprietary selection of Wente clones from a block in the highly regarded Larry Hyde Vineyard. The wine is dry, full-bodied, elegant and powerful with ripe apple, citrus meringue, tropical fruit flavours and mineral notes long, lush and refined on the palate. Excellent now through 2030. $75

2022 Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: This wine captivates with its vibrant bouquet of red berries, rose petals, and a hint of earthy undertones. On the palate, it offers a harmonious blend of ripe cherries, cranberries, and a touch of spice, all supported by a well-structured, silky texture. $75

2022 Kistler Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The 2022 comes from a cooler Russian River site and offers a complex bouquet of red currants, smoked earth, ground pepper, and exotic floral and rose hip notes. Rich, medium-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it’s incredibly classy as well as perfectly balanced. $80

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Taste 2018 Laird Family Jillian's Blend Napa, 2021 Aperture Cellars Bordeaux Red Blend and 2021 The Setting Alexander Valley Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Thursday, December 19th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Laird Family Jillian's Blend Napa Valley 2018

On the slightly rugged, old-school style of the spectrum, with a core of steeped red and black currant fruit backed by a burly structure and notes of chestnut, sage and bay leaf. Shows singed cedar and alder notes that thread up the finish, with nice latent energy. For fans of the gutsy style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. 2,380 cases made. $58

Wine Advocate 95+
2021 Aperture Cellars Bordeaux Red Blend

The 2021 Bordeaux Red Blend is the first iteration to include a significant amount of fruit from Farrow Ranch, Aperture's latest vineyard acquisition. It's a blend of 44% Merlot, 27% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc and was matured for 18 months in 50% new French oak. It has slowly unfurling scents of red and black currants, chocolate-covered cherries, integrated new oak spices, tobacco and tapenade. The palate is particularly elegant, balancing concentrated, nuanced flavors with a frame of velvety tannins and vibrant acidity that calls you back to the glass. 5,270 cases produced. $65

Wine Advocate 97 Points
2021 The Setting Alexander Valley Cabernet

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley was matured for 22 months in 80% new French oak. The nose features maraschino cherries, dark chocolate, aniseed, violet and a singular array of exotic spices. The medium-bodied palate is surprisingly light on its feet, with a frame of silky tannins and seamless acidity that highlights pretty floral and chocolaty tones on the finish. It has depth and complexity without weight and drinks beautifully straight from the bottle. $95

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 Wine Spectator 90 Points
Louis Michel & Fils Chablis 2022

Bright and succulent, this open and enjoyable white exhibits peach, melon, thyme and flint notes, offering fine balance and a persistent finish. Drink now through 2027. 1,650 cases imported. $44 Our Price $34.95 (Back in stock GT 12/18/24)

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 Our Price $21.99 (Back in stock GT 12/18/24)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
Etude Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

Dark but fresh, with mulberry and black currant fruit laced with apple wood, anise and tobacco. Shows nice energy from start to finish, with a late cast iron accent giving this a solid feel through the finish. Best from 2023 through 2036. 2,589 cases made. $100 Our Price $81.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Vinous Media 92 Points
2023 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Paso Robles

The 2023 Patelin de Tablas is incredibly fresh. From the glass, the 2023 cascades with a zesty blend of savory herbs, olives, earth tones and crushed stones. This is silky smooth with a burst of brisk acidity complementing sour cherry-berry fruits and hints of tart citrus. The finish is long-lasting, with gentle tannins that gradually fade, leaving behind lingering hints of violet pastilles and lavender. This balances ripe fruit with structure and an energetic persona to give a truly spellbinding impression. (EG)$28 Our Price $21.99 (Arrives GT 12/18/24)

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 Our Price $33.99 (Available GT)

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 Our Price $37.99 (Back in stock GT 12/18/24)

Wine Advocate 96 Points
2021 Aperture Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Aperture's estate vineyard in Healdsburg and their newest vineyard acquisition, Farrow Ranch in Alexander Valley, plus some of the original single vineyards in the Aperture program like Oliver Ranch. It is blended with 6% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc and was matured for 16 months in 55% new French oak. It has vibrant, layered aromas of blueberry compote, lavender, aniseed, milk chocolate and nutmeg with undertones of cast iron and tobacco leaves. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled, pairing deep flavors with a weightless feel due to its bright acidity and velvety tannins. It has a long, latent finish and deserves 3-5 years in bottle. 4,480 cases produced. $80 (Back in stock GT)

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Taste Napa Cabernet Sauvignon: 2022 Clos Du Val, 2022 Caterwaul and 2021 Odette Stag Leap Estate at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $20 per person. (Limited: We will open three bottles for this tasting)
Friday, December 20th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Tasting Panel 96 Points
2022 Clos Du Val Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

A wash of elegant liquid offers a whisper of sleek tannins guided by sweet earth, slate, purple plum, and black olive. Midpoint savory notes of fig, toasted cedar, and black tea meld with heather and blackberry on the well- structured and impeccably balanced palate. $60

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

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
2021 Odette Stag Leap Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous with classic Stags leap purity and finesse in its cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as chalky minerality, flowers, and spicy, graphite-like notes. Full-bodied, concentrated, and pure on the palate, it has fine tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. It's concentrated, but this is more about finesse and elegance. $192

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Taste 2020 St. Cosme Côtes du Rhone Rouge, 2020 Thread Feathers Stags Leap Cabernet and 2021 Mending Wall Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, December 21st. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 90 Points
St. Cosme Côtes du Rhone 2022, Magnum

A hefty version of Côtes du Rhône, with a lot of stuffing, showing ripe black plum and black currant flavors layered with black pepper and grilled rosemary. Sturdy tannins hem in the creamy palate, with a kick of bitter mineral and graphite through the medium-length finish. Very solid. Drink now through 2028. 27,000 cases. $35/magnum

2020 Thread Feathers Stags Leap Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: This 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning expression of the Stags Leap District growing region. Grown on an eastern facing hillside on the west side of Silverado Trail, this wine is bright and opulent with dark fruit notes of dark cherry and blueberry compote and hints of baking spice, cedar, violet and crushed stone. This wine is rich with beautiful structure, balance and polished tannins. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. $40

2021 Mending Wall Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Year after year, the iconic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon delivers on its namesake. The combination of fruit sourced from two St. Helena vineyards is a superb representation of this Napa Valley sub-region. Classic aromas of red currant, black cherry, tobacco all bind together with the astounding mouth feel of a smooth, silky chocolate finish. Nuances of toasted oak and laser-like acidity add layers of complexity, while a well-done mid-palate leaves a lasting impression of satisfaction. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Production: 9 Barrels. $100

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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