A beautiful example of high mountain fruit, the 2014 offers a deep and complex nose that shows the high-quality fruit at its peak flavor. Deep black in color, the fruit shines through with a well-balanced but subtle wine with character. Impressive and balanced tannins, with dark stone fruit, blackberry and a hint of black cherry, create an elite wine that stands near the top. A beautiful example of high mountain fruit, the 2014 offers a deep and complex nose that shows the high-quality fruit at its peak flavor. Deep black in..
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Hertelendy Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay – 95 Points
Intense oak floods the glass with an opulent aroma. If you like big, oaky chardonnay this is the wine for you. Fruit forward with beautiful straw color and clarity, the wine over delivers with a lush viscosity that encapsulates the palate. Layers of rich fruit includes gooseberry and melon. A superb and richly made wine. Intense oak floods the glass with an opulent aroma. If you like big, oaky chardonnay this is the wine for you. Fruit forward with beautiful straw color and clarity, the wine over delivers with a lush viscosity that encapsulates the palate.
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2013 Northstar Merlot: Finding True North
A silky smooth version from Washington State, this is a middle of the road Merlot, allowing non-Merlot folks to step towards this grape without sacrificing what they want in terms of flavor, structure and drinkability. There is plenty of boysenberry, blackberry, blueberry and black cherry, with back notes of resin, minerality, cedar and vanilla. 2013 Northstar Merlot is a blend in the truest sense of the word, Mainly Merlot with 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petite Verdot, this is fruit from 10 different vineyards with vine age averaging…
Bonfort’s Wine of The Week: Dutton Goldfield 2015 RRV Chardonnay, 91 Points
Dutton Goldfield has had a stellar reputation with Chardonnay since they opened their doors in 1998. The Chardonnay, actually a Chardonnay musque clone from their Rued Vineyard site, provides more aromatics than other Chardonnay clones. There is certainly an obvious malolactic element evident on the nose and in the palate, but it is tempered with zesty fruit, lemon-lime, manuka honey, tropical fruit mélange, tangerine, crème brulee, even wisps of gardenia…
Ravage Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, 88 Points
Lovely ruby red color. Immediate notes or raspberry and chocolate on the nose are reflected on the palate. A lot of vanilla in this one which will either really appeal to you or not. Super soft tannins sacrifice a little of the dimension, but do make for a gentle aftertaste which many consumers like. Blackberry and plum, mocha and ash/tobacco. For $12.99 this is a great value and since its label is also appealing, it’s a smart one to have on your shelf at this price point. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 5% Petite Syrah, 5% Zinfandel, 3% Other Reds…
Wine of The Week: Louis Martini 2015 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, 90 Points
For eight decades Martini has been at it pressing grapes and making wine. Its Sonoma expressions of Cabernet have always been consistent and provide a hallmark of quality from the Dry Creek Valley. The 2015 vintage is no exception. Comprising mainly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc, this is a rich and layered wine offering notes of blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, and black cherry with a mild tannic structure that makes this extremely drinkable now and a great…
Michael Brown On Taking Back CIRQ
CIRQ, the winery created in 2009 by renowned pinot noir winemaker and Kosta Browne founder Michael Browne, has kicked off a new chapter with his own estate winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The winery, which has made some of the most beloved pinots in the region over the last decade, moves forward under Browne’s sole leadership, a big deal for the winemaker and consumers alike. “Taking back CIRQ has profound meaning for me,” says Browne. “Launching this brand paid respect to both my family’s colorful…
Wine of The Week: Dalla Valle 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, 94 Points
Dalla Valle’s nearly iconic Napa vineyard is surprisingly just 15 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. From that they are able to extract excellent fruit and consistently craft excellent wines. Supple and earthy with restrained fruit and a surprising acidity, this 2014 fires on all cylinders. At first there are soft notes of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, bing cherry and raspberry. As the wine graces the palate you pick up notes of cedar, wet earth, cocoa, resin and light tobacco smoke.
2014 Ladera Howell Mtn. Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is Howling Triumph
Howell Mountain is one of the notable places in Napa for quality Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. The area consists of two types of specific soil; a volcanic ash and iron-rich red clay, and these come to bear in the Ladera Cab. There’s also a provenance to Howell Mountain as it has been producing wine since the 1880s. Ladera’s Reserve Cabernet generously reflects both of these. Comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon and just 3% Petite Verdot, the wine was aged in all new French Oak for nearly two years, which is indeed extensive…
Bounty Hunter’s Blake Van Treese Joins Last Bottle Wines
Blake Van Treese has joined Napa-based Last Bottle Wines as the company continues to expand its offerings amid steady growth. “Blake’s skills in wine buying, marketing, and management, along with and deep roots in the Valley are a perfect complement to how we acquire and sell wine,” said co-owner Cory Wagner of Last Bottle, “And we are excited to have him with us as we launch our newest venture.”
Bonfort’s Wine of The Week: 2011 Roederer L’Ermitage – 90 Points
Mendocino’s Anderson Valley has made a name for itself with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Roederer Estate takes advantage of that using only estate sourced fruit for their premier sparkler, L’Ermitage. The Mendocino winery was founded in 1981, and this wine is overseen by winemakers from both Anderson Valley and the Roederer Estate in France. L’Ermitage is comprised of 52 percent Chardonnay and 28 percent…
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You Can Take It with You! Ah-So Rosé for Your Labor Day Escape
Labor Day is a few weeks away, and the holiday weekend is considered the last official summer getaway for wine lovers all across the U.S.A. Planning an escape wouldn’t be complete without the ideal beverage to accompany your trip. Whether it’s lounging by the pool, a beachfront barbecue, enjoying some gourmet grilling on the patio or just sitting and sipping in the sun, rosé pairs perfectly with so…
Wine of The Week: 2016 Calera Mt. Harlan Chardonnay- 92 Points
In 1975 Calera’s first wine made its way to the public. Calera, which is Spanish for “lime kiln” – a reference to the limestone kiln still on the property today – is located in the Gavilan Mountains, east of Monterey Bay in San Benito County. This site was chosen to plant Chardonnay specifically because of its limestone soils, which is clearly evident in this wine. What’s so compelling is the zesty-ness…
2016 Damarias Reserve Chardonnay Gives Truth To Balance
In 1974 Sonoma’s Landmark Vineyards was founded by a group that included Damaris Deere Ford, the great-great-granddaughter of John Deere, inventor of the first steel plow. Now she has a Chardonnay named after her. Pulling fruit exclusively from the cool Lakeville section of the Petaluma Gap this was aged for 15 months in French oak, just 35 percent of which was new. The Damarias is an amalgam of soft notes of crème brulee, guava, lemon custard, lime kefir, pear, red delicious apple, with back notes of pistachio…
Kutch McDougall 2016: Restrained, Quirky and Winsome
Jamie Kutch seems to love plots of land that reflect their unique characteristics. The fruit from this wine from McDougall Vineyard, an elevation of just over 900 feet and a scant three and a half miles from the Pacific Ocean on the Sonoma Coast, shows what he can do with the right fruit and vineyard. Dijon clone 114 was whole cluster pressed (and punched down by foot), then aged sur lie for…