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$34.95
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United States
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Merlot
In stock,
8
available
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List $42.00
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Ripe and luscious aromas of dark berries, plums, cassis and spice. The palate is rich and velvety with great intensity and fine tannins. This is a rich, complex Merlot with an intense mouth feel that evolves into an elegant, lingering toasty oak finish. Alcohol 14.9%.
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$17.95
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WA 91
IWC 90
United States
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Pinot Noir
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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91 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2008 Pinot Noir La Bauge Au-dessus is made from 55% Bien Nacido and 45% Le Bon Climat fruit. This is a richer, deeper style than the Rincon. Layers of dark cherries and plums emerge from this fleshy, pliant Pinot Noir. The inner sweetness and perfume weave through effortlessly to a round, inviting finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. (Aug 2011)"
90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Bright medium red. Redcurrant, cherry, Indian spices and underbrush on the pungent nose. Shows a firm, youthful structure and smoky red fruit flavors, with slow-building spiciness and a hint of bitter herbs. Then turns sweeter on the spicy finish, which is focused and very persistent. This taut, red fruit-driven wine benefits a lot from air; give it at least an hour in a decanter or another few years of bottle aging. (Oct/Nov 2011)"
Producer notes: "Has the usual Bien Nacido hard spice of black pepper, clove, and juniper. La Bauge au Dessus translates into 'the decadent party up above' these vineyards are the highest planting of Pinot Noir at Bien Nacido Vineyard."
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$44.95
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IWC 90
WS 90
United States
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Pinot Noir
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Oregon
In stock,
9
available
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List $50.00
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90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "($50) Bright red. Redcurrant and strawberry on the nose, with a lively underpinning of brown spices. Finely etched red berry flavors are given spine by a nervy mineral quality and pick up a rose pastille note on the back end. Finishes with a sweeter black raspberry quality and very good, sneaky persistence. This wine should age nicely on its balance and freshness. (May/Jun 2009)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "[$50 list] Light, silky and inviting, with a gossamer texture letting the delicate blueberry, cherry and nutmeg flavors slip easily through the long, enticing finish. Drink now through 2012. 2,414 cases made. (10/15/09)"
Producer notes: "Our 2007 Willamette Valley wine shows a delicate medium ruby color and very expressive aromas consisting of sweet cherries, a walk through the woods and a splash of white flowers. It consists of wine made from the following vineyards: Beaux Frères, Shea, Upper Terrace, Zena Crown, Amalie Robert and Carabella. The wine represents one of the silkiest and most feminine styles we have made to date. There is no lack of concentration but the equilibrium of all the elements seems to be the cheif hallmark of this very successful vintage. This wine is already delicious to drink now and showing complexity which makes us think that it will be a wine to drink within the first 5-7 years of its life. The balance which is always so critical is there. The tannins are unobtrusive and extremely silky. This is a real crowd pleaser, a very lush and beautifully supple Pinot Noir for the fan of instant gratification."
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$23.95
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United States
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Zinfandel
In stock, 12+ available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
Producer notes: "From one of Sonoma Valley's oldest and most prestigious Zinfandel vineyards, Old Hill Ranch, established in 1885. The grapes for 'Bambino' are from a 10-acre block we planted on Old Hill in 1998. This young vine field-blend is patterned after the ancient vine field-blend for which Old Hill is known. The wine is a blend of at least a dozen grape varieties -- principally Zinfandel, but also Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouchet and Grenache to name a few -- all fermented together to create this Zinfandel blend. Our Bambino is deep purple in color with intense blackberry aromas and lots of 'Old Hill' spice, including nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. The flavors are intense too, with blackberries, cherries, and vanilla spice. The tannins are big but ripe and mouth watering on the finish."
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$38.89
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United States
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Pinot Noir
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Brilliant and dark-hued, this 2010 de Villiers Vineyard Pinot Noir effuses playful, bright aromas of blackberry, licorice, mineral and just a hint of sweet oak. The wine is deep and smooth, with black cherry, spice and persistent cherry. Fine grained tannins offer a graceful structure and persisten juicy finish. 2,009 cases produced. Alcohol 13.8%."
Not yet reviewed; 2009 vintage rated 96+ points by Wine Advocate: "The 2009 Pinot Noir De Villiers Vineyard, from vines planted in 1997, bursts from the glass with expressive, juicy fruit. Dark red berries, flowers, mint, spices and an orange rind follow, leading to a generous, inviting finish. The De Villiers is the only vineyard-designate Pinot made from fully de-stemmed fruit. It is a towering wine of incomparable class and elegance. Simply put, this is a stunning showing from Calera. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024."
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$51.95
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WA 93
IWC 92
WE 92
United States
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Pinot Noir
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California
In stock,
1
available
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93 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Pinot Noir Reed Vineyard is one of the more direct wines in this lineup. There is an exotic quality to the spice, orange peel and tobacco notes that is deeply intriguing, but in the end the fruit is more of a soloist than an orchestra. None of the Calera wines can be called straightforward, but the Reed is one of the most simple. Still, within the broader context of California Pinot Noir, it is fabulous -- just not as fabulous as its stable mates! Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. (Aug 2012)"
92 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Vivid red. Candied red fruits and flowers on the fragrant nose. Sappy, seamless and gently sweet, offering powerful black raspberry and cherry flavors that become spicier with air. Closes smooth and very long, with resonating anise and raspberry compote flavors and gentle tannins. I found this bottling to be the most approachable of Calera's single-vineyard releases this year. (Nov/Dec 2012)"
92 points Wine Enthusiast: "This shows a delicate silkiness and a sweet essence of wild raspberries that make it fully ready to drink now. But that quality obscures its subtleties of mineral, mushroomy earth and flower notes that add to this Pinot’s great complexity. As good as it is now, it will have no trouble negotiating the next decade. 1,277 cases produced. Alcohol 14.7%. (Oct 2012)"
92 points and ' Year's Best Pinot Noir,' Wine & Spirits: "Reed’s north-facing slope gives wines that tend to be more linear than Calera’s other bottlings. In 2009, Reed leads with the green scents of whole cluster fermentation -- rhubarb and wintergreen -- and isn’t as filled-out as the Jensen (above). With air the fruit sweetens, knitting together those spicy aromas and the pronounced cranberry-like acidity. It’s reticent right now, needing some time in bottle before it fully spreads its wings. Then serve with pheasant. 1,277 cases. (Dec 2012)"
PinotFile: "14.8% alc., 281 cases. 4.4-acre vineyard, yields 1.02 tons per acre. Aged 17 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Unfiltered. Light reddish color in the glass. Enticing aromas of strawberries, red cherries and sandalwood. More vineyard terroir evident that the other vineyard-designated Pinots in this vintage. Flavorful core of cherries, brown spice and a hint of vanilla wrapped in balanced tannins. Not the fruit intensity of the other Pinots in this vintage, but the long aromatic finish leaves an enticing trail of cherries. A feminine wine in a dominatrix way. Very good. (12/10/12)"
Producer notes: "Calera’s Mt. Harlan Vineyards are located in the Gavilan Mountains 25 miles east of the Monterey Bay. The site was chosen for its limestone soils and ideal climate. At an average elevation of 2,200 feet it is among the highest and coolest vineyard sites in California. Tasting Notes: Light garnet hue and delicate aromas of cardamom, graphite, sandstone, rose petals and blueberry instantly draw you into this fascinating and unusual Pinot Noir. Reed vineyard, with its north facing aspect gives us a most alluring mélange of black plum, forest floor, dried cranberry, rhubarb fennel, mint, black cherry, sage and white pepper. The texture is graceful, lithe and balanced with assertive, playful tannins promising a long and interesting life. A Pinot Noir collector’s delight."
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$16.95
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CGV 89
United States
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Zinfandel
In stock, 12+ available
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List $21.00
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89 points California Grapevine: "[$21 list] Medium to medium-dark brickish ruby; attractive, rustic, briary, cherry and red berry fruit aroma with hints dill, cocoa, and caramel; full body; rich, fleshy, mouth-fill, ripe berry fruit flavors, tending to be a bit drying on the finish; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended. 14.9% alcohol; 1,428 cases; released October 2012. (Apr 2013)"
Producer notes: "[$21 list] Very bright pomegranate cherry fruit, brown sugary-caramel oak. Fragrant Asian spices--Chinese 5-spice in milk chocolate/cocoa; Mouthfeel is still a bit young and chewy, but quite drinkable now. Very mouthfilling! Barrel aged 24 months in American oak barrels (50% second fill; 50% older). 1,428 cases produced. Alcohol 15.3%"
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$119.95
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CG 95
WE 94
CGV 92
United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock,
6
available
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List $135.00
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95 points Connoisseurs' Guide: "[$135 list] If years away from showing anything remotely like elegance and most definitely not a wine that will win the hearts of those whose prize restraint above all else, this deep, fully realized youngster combines richness with lavish, blackcurrant fruit that marks Napa Valley Cabernet at its best. Big and bold and very full on the palate with plenty of gritty young tannins, it is a generous and wonderfully well-focused wine of enormous potential. It demands a half-decade of age at the least, and it will be in fine form some twenty years from now. (Aug 2012)"
94 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$135 list] Dark and saturated in color, this has earthy and meaty aromas like bloody, rare steak and charred bone--that sort of proteinous spirit. The actual fruit flavor is incredibly rich and concentrated in blackberries, black currants and crisp bacon. The impression is of a sweet, delicious Cabernet that’s a touch warm in alcohol, but lush and refined. (Oct 2012)"
92 points California Grapevine: "[$135 list] Medium-dark purplish ruby; attractive, initially restrained, cedary, dark cherry and blackberry cobbler aroma with spicy notes and hints of graphite and pepper; full body; big, rich, extracted, dark berry fruit flavors with hints of espresso and dark chocolate, and overtones of toasty oak; full tannin; rough and a bit drying on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Opened and developed with airing, though needing another three to five more years of bottle aging to round out some of the rough edges. Very highly recommended. 15.1% alcohol; 2,434 cases; blended with 15% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec; released April 2012. (Nov 2012)"
Producer notes: "75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec. With a remarkable level of concentration and complexity, and a sense of place that speaks volumes about our vineyards, this wine represents the very best from an exceptional vintage on Pritchard Hill. From its dark, incredibly saturated color to its intense aromas of baked blackberry, dark cherry, crème de cassis, plum and anise this wine is layered, rich and sophisticated. On the palate, notes of espresso, dark chocolate and toasted oak, support beautiful ripe fruit and spice flavors, with seamless, mouthcoating tannins adding power and longevity. Despite its epic nature, there is also a liveliness and radiance to this wine that gives it poise, precision and balance. Alcohol 15.1%."
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$9.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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Washington
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "2011 was the coolest growing season in Washington State that anyone can remember. Thankfully, the Wahluke Slope AVA -- where most of the fruit for this blend is sustainable farmed -- is one of the warmest spots in the state, and so the fruit was able to achieve full ripeness and maturity by late October. The Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards outperformed the Syrah vineyards and so the blend has evolved this vintage to be Cabernet Sauvignon dominated (72%) and just 28% Syrah. The aromas have the same signature blackberry, violet, currant and mocha that it's had in previous vintages but also takes on more of a cigar box component. These flavors carry through on the palate which is medium bodied, soft and luscious. A portion of the Syrah was whole cluster fermented which brings some dark, spicy flavors. After blending together the wine was aged in French oak for a short period to enhance the mocha, toast and sweet vanilla flavors and soften the mid palate."
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$89.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock,
1
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
Producer notes: "Produced from fruit grown organically in our two small vineyards, both with a unique soil composition of volcanic ash, red clay, and obsidian. The steep hillside vineyard is planted with French and local proprietary clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot. The Heritage valley floor vineyard is planted with one of the earliest French Cabernet Sauvignon proprietary clones brought to America. It is the marriage of the fruit of these two vineyards that creates a consistently supple wine with intense dark fruit and complex sensory components. 108 cases produced."
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$24.95
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United States
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Pinot Noir
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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List $28.00
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Producer notes: "The 2009 Tous Ensemble Pinot is an embodiment of the earthy, sweet beet root undertones that are indicative of Anderson Valley Pinot. Medium bodied with vibrant dark red fruits on the nose and palate, it delivers pure, focused flavors with a great lift on the finish from the acidity. Perfect to drink now or over the next 5-7 years. Alcohol 12.9%."
Not yet reviewed; 2009 vintage rated 90 points by International Wine Cellar: "Bright ruby. Subtly aromatic nose of cherry, mocha, cinnamon and musky herbs. Smooth and expressive, with dark cherry and spice flavors and an appealing pliant texture. Nicely concentrated and seamless, with very good finishing breadth and cling. Aeration allows this wine to stretch out so give it an hour or so in a decanter if it's on your upcoming drinking list. (May/Jun 2011)"
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$23.95
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WS 90
United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
90 points Wine Spectator: "This red combines ripe, rich flavors with a firm backbone, highlighting the dried berry, roasted herb, espresso and savory underbrush notes. Drink now through 2020. (3/31/13)"
Producer notes: "Wonderfully complex on the nose and palate with a heady mix of floral notes, graphite, spice, and pure black fruits. Medium in body with supple, chalky tannins, good structure and a nice, long finish. Ready to drink now after a quick decant, but another year in bottle will meld the flavors even further. Drink over the next 5 years. Alcohol 13.5%."
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$47.95
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RP 94
IWC 93
United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock,
3
available
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94 points Robert Parker: "The austerity and tough tannins evident in the barrel sample of the 2007 Syrah Garys’ Vineyard (100% whole clusters) are completed resolved in the bottled wine. Although still somewhat tightly-knit, it displays fabulous aromatics (graphite, blackberries, blueberries, spring flowers), full body, a fleshy style, and 10-15 years of life. (Feb 2010)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "vinified with 100% whole clusters) Inky ruby. Impressively complex bouquet of boysenberry, blackcurrant, violet and smoky Indian spices, with a slow-building note of black olive. Sweet and incisive, offering vivid dark berry and floral flavors, with suave cola and star anise qualities gaining strength with air. The spiciness persists through the very long, sappy finish, adding cut to the sweet, densely packed dark fruit flavors. Showing a lot of complexity now but also built to age. (May/Jun 2010)"
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$34.95
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WA 92
United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.) 92 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Syrah Les Voisins is a gorgeous, exciting and totally thrilling wine, especially for the price. It boasts fabulous intensity in its dark fruit, with hints of smoke, tar and licorice that add depth to the highly expressive fruit. This is a fabulous wine for the money. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. (Feb 2012)"
Producer notes: "A blend from three exceptional vineyards situated on the same slope of rocky terrain, this Syrah divulges a heady mix of floral notes, graphite, spice, and pure black fruits."
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$19.95
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United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock,
1
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
Producer notes: "Our Viognier bursts from the glass with classic aromas and flavors of fresh apricot, honeysuckle and green papaya while remaining bright and crisp on the palate."
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$21.95
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United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "75-year-old dry farmed Carignane vines from Mendocino produced a wine worthy of its Spanish heritage. This is a meaty yet nimble red wine that stands up with an array of fall cuisine and pleases many crowds with its versatility. Bright red fruits led by cherry mingle with spice, floral and meaty notes. A medium body with more lush red berry, surprising minerality and a lingering finish. This wine will shine from pizza to all things pork to skirt steak or a hearty stew. 100% Carignane. 110 cases produced."
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$53.95
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WA 90
CG 90
United States
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Rhone Varietals
In stock,
7
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
'Terrific!' PinotFile: "14.7% alc., 375 cases. Released November 2011. A 3-vineyard blend from Dutton-Gregori, Hoppe-Kelly and Trenton Station vineyards. Clone 1. Yield 1.75 tons per acre from vines that are 7, 9 and 12 years old. Whole cluster pressed, barrel fermented in 20% new and 70% neutral French oak barrels, and 10% stainless steel barrels. Aged on lees for 9 months. Medium straw color and clear in the glass. Quite aromatic, with scents of tropical fruits including dried mango and guava, lemon curd, ginger and brioche. An Alsatian style wine with a delicious core of tropical fruits including grilled pineapple with an appealing sidecar of toast, honey, nuts and vanilla. Slightly creamy in texture, finishing with aplomb and focus. (2/28/13)"
90 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2010 Viognier Lia is a pretty wine, laced with expressive tropical fruit, lychee, white flowers and aromatic spices. This attractive, mid-weight Viognier is an excellent choice for drinking over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015. (Feb 2012)"
90 points Connoisseurs' Guide: "Viognier takes on a little more structure here, and, though the wine steers to typical tropical fruit, it is less-candied and shows more solidity than its softer and simpler cousins. It smacks a bit of sweet barrel spice and coarsens up with scant heat coming on at the finish, but this is no simple, light-hearted quaffer and will do just fine when it is teamed up with comparatively rich foods such as garlicky chicken braised in white wine or a classic Marseilles Bouillabaisse. (Mar 2012)"
Producer notes: "Pale yellow color; crisp, mineral citrus notes then deeper peach, apricot and exotic lychee richness. Sea spray freshness and lemongrass/ginger/chamomile notes add complexity. The palate follows the aromas with immediate minerality then broader quince and honeyed fruits. Notable thrust and laser-like focus to the back end and lingering lemongrass note to finish. As with all our whites, serve at no cooler than 55 degrees to allow full flavor development. Best consumed within five years of release. Barrel fermented in 20% new and 70% neutral (5 years+) French oak and 10% stainless steel barrels. Aged on the lees for 9 months. 375 cases produced."
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$39.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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List $50.00
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Producer notes: "This is a big, rich, massive, chewy, beautiful Cabernet Franc. Velvety, silky, ripe and juicy, this wine is sprinkled with currants, black cherry, cayenne, vanilla bean and cigar wrapper. This 2009 vintage is one of the finest Cabernet Francs our property has ever produced. 474 cases produced. 14.5% alcohol. 100% CCOF certified organic, 100% Demeter certified biodynamic."
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$84.95
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WS 91
United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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List $95.00
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91 points Wine Spectator: "[$95 list] Dense, herbal and smoky, offering deep, concentrated road tar, melted black licorice, gravel and dried berry flavors. Folds in savory herb notes and ends with chewy tannins. Drink now through 2022. 1,557 cases made. (11/15/12)"
Producer notes: "This full-bodied wine has a seamless structure, and boasts a delicate balance from beginning to end. Bold and expressive, with fat, full tanins that are at once refined, silky, and subtle. Blended from the rockiest, most well-drained parcels of the estate vineyard, this '1886' is a classic, ageworthy Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Filling out the layers of earthy complexity and spice are flavors of violets, chocolate cherries, cinnamon and cocoa. A beautiful expression of our esteemed terroir. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. 1,557 cases prduced. Alcohol 14.5%. 100% CCOF certified organic. 100% Demeter certified biodynamic."
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$38.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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List $45.00
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Producer notes: "[$45 list] 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. A voluptuous, full-bodied, heavyweight Cabernet Sauvignon from the loamy benchland soils of our north St. Helena estate vineyard. The wine is layered with blackberry, black plums, dark chocolate, tobacco, very subtle muscone notes, and wrapped seamlessly in velvety tannins that create a structure and balance that is 'classically Ehlers.' Compelling and complex, this is a fine Bordeaux style Cabernet blend that will age for decades. Alcohol 14.5%. 100% CCOF certified organic; 100% Demeter certified biodynamic."
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$21.95
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United States
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Chardonnay
In stock, 12+ available
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Evening Land Vineyards has brought together a collection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in four great growing regions of the American West; Oregon's Willamette Valley, California's Sonoma Coast, Santa Rita Hills, and Edna Valley. Evening Land organically farms over 120 acres of heritage vineyards that produce 13 Estate wines imbued with this unique spirit of place. At the head of the Oregon winemaking team is Dominique Lafond, who spent 25 years as the winemaker at one of Burgundy’s legendary Estates. Shaped by these Burgundian traditions, Sashi Moorman (who also makes fantastic wines at Stolpman) leads his team in the winery and the vineyards to produce elegant and rich wines from Sonoma, Santa Rita Hills, and Edna Valley.
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$26.95
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WA 88
United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock,
1
available
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price! (We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
88 points Antonio Galloni (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a pretty, fleshy wine graced with expressive fruit and perfumed aromatics. Dark fruit, sweet spices and herbs are layered into the finish. It is a terrific wine for the money, something that isn’t easy to say about Napa Valley Cabernets. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. (Dec 2011)"
Hourglass owners, Jeff & Carolyn Smith once again team up with their friends, Rob & Pavi Lawson to produce a delicious and affordable Napa Cabernet that is not short on flavor or finesse.
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$36.95
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United States
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Cabernet & Blends
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California
In stock, 12+ available
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List $42.00
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Producer notes: "Typically when speaking of Cabernet, and especially Cabernet from Rutherford, we speak of the black fruit flavors of blackberries, cassis, and black currants. With our 2009 release, however, we find a lot of our descriptors heading in the direction of red fruits--maybe even purple fruits--ripe plums, elderberries and ruby red cherries all with very supple tannins and lovely acidity. My thoughts immediately turn to cuisine: roast chicken, loin of pork or the braise of a young rabbit. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc."
2008 vintage rated 92 points and 'Best Buy' by Wine & Spirits: "John Williams consistently grows one of the most compelling cabernets on the Napa Valley floor--without ever irrigating his organically farmed vines. His 2008 is elegant and refined, a cabernet that's not afraid to show some varietal notes of tobacco and herb, along with black cherry and cranberry flavors. It's complex and youthfully tannic, all woven into a seamless finish. This should age with grace."
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$23.95
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United States
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Chardonnay
In stock, 12+ available
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Producer notes: "Vibrant acidity is the defining character of both the 2010 vintage and this beautiful wine. Bright flavors of citrus and stone fruit are layered over a taut and structured frame that is underscored by touches of mineral and flint. Like most wines of this type, the 2010 Chardonnay draws its complexity and mouthfeel from delicate contact with its primary fermentation lees rather than from extended time in oak barrels. These elements combine to create the perfect match to a dozen briny oysters or, just maybe, a second refreshing glass. 100% whole cluster press. Natural malolactic completed in barrel and tank. 13% stainless steel fermented and aged. 67% barrel fermented and tank aged. 20% barrel fermented and barrel aged."
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$33.95
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United States
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Merlot
In stock, 12+ available
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List $38.00
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Producer notes: "The 2010 vintage featured a long, cool summer with below average yields allowed us to keep the grapes on the vine deep into the season. Then suddenly the bucolic harvest was interrupted by an unforeseen, intense heat spell that had everyone scrambling to get grapes into the cellar. This sudden flourish to the vintage has imprinted a sultry, seductive character to the otherwise expressive aromatics of deep plum and dark cherry. Flavors of chocolate and blueberries envelope you with their richness yet, with a balanced acidity, never weigh you down. The wine will do nicely with all the traditional Merlot pairings but will especially shine in dishes where you have decided to step it up a bit; a deeper braises, a richer stock, a more concentrated sauce. This is a wine of extraordinary pleasure, one that will be enjoyed for decades to come."
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