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:

Wine Spectator 93 Points
SCHRAMSBERG Brut Blanc de Noirs North Coast 2021

Exuberant and festive, with dynamic apple and cherry flavors accented by nectarine and strawberry blossoms, finishing on a sleek and lively note. Drink now. From California.—T.F. $46

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

Wine Spectator 94 Points

Gosset Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne Grand NV

A vivid Champagne, with firm, mouthwatering acidity enmeshed with a lovely range of poached pear and nectarine, blanched almond, white blossoms and candied lemon peel. Fine and creamy in texture, with a streak of salinity chiming in on the minerally finish. Drink now through 2030. 188 cases imported $112

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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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Domaine Naudet Sancerre Rosé 2022

Winemaker Notes: A pale color with salmon highlights. Good intensity on the nose, with floral notes and a touch of peach fruit. Tender mouthfeel, the mid palate is round, with just the right amount of firmness. Aromas of caramel and liquorice give it a vinous character. Good freshness at the end showing grapefruit and blood orange. $32 Our Price $27.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley NV, Magnum

Dynamic yet sleekly elegant, with rich strawberry and apple flavors that are accented by spiced cinnamon and yeast roll as this dances toward the vibrant finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2026. 85,000 cases made. $64/magnum Our Price $54.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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 (Back in stock 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 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Louis Chenu Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru Aux Clous 2017

Winemaker Notes: Savigny-les-Beaune 1er cru. Clous is synonymous with clos. This vineyard is cultivated at mid-slope close to the village and adjoins the cemetery. It includes different types of terrain, comprising of deep, red earth on the upper level and stony ground on the remaining three quarters. The vineyard is perfectly south facing. These very pleasant, fairly tender and pleasing wines possess a beautiful color. Less full-bodied but more precocious than the Lavières, they develop a violet fragrance and are very feminine. $47 Our Price $41.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Vilmart Brut Champagne Grande Réserve NV

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. $72/750ml. Half Bottles $50. In Store Price $20.95/375ml (Back in stock GT and VRW)

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 Our Price $80.95/375ml (Available GT and VRW)

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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 2020, Magnum

A solidly built version, with crushed cherry and plum puree notes that meld with melted red licorice before singed juniper takes over on the finish. This has guts and range. Drink now through 2023. 20,000 cases made, 10,000 cases imported. $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