continued from 7/24 newsletter

6)  The Prisoner Red Wine 2015, Napa:  $42  A Zinfandel-based blend with the balance in Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and just a splash of Charbono. It was sourced from well-known vineyards such as Somerston, Solari, York Creek and Hudson. The wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak before bottling. This eclectic crowd pleaser has found a following from lovers of fruit-forward and jammy wines, but it has enough substance to please those who prefer their California reds a bit more structured. Not just a cocktail wine, this hefty red pairs very well with braised meats and barbecue. Notes from the winery: “Features enticing aromas of Bing cherry, dark chocolate, clove and roasted fig. Persistent flavors of ripe raspberry, boysenberry, pomegranate and vanilla linger harmoniously, for a smooth and luscious finish.”

7)  Turley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013:  $ Vinous Media 92  “Surprisingly open for the vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon Turley Estate is a rare 2013 that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Black cherry, plum, spice and leather all hit the palate in a bold, straightforward wine with good overall intensity, but not quite the pedigree of the other Cabernets in the lineup. — Antonio Galloni”

8) Halter Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Paso Robles:  $25.99  (Suggested retail:  $35)  WE 91 pts.  From a vineyard that’s supplied popular Paso producers for decades comes this Cab, which is boosted by 13% Malbec and 9% Petit Verdot and shows blackberry, mocha and purple-flower aromas. Blueberry and black cherry appear on the palate alongside dark espresso notes and herbal components that are still wound up in chewy tannins but will further release with cellaring.

9)  Cliff Lede Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2014:  $59.99  Great price!  The Wine Advocate – 93 pts. “Their basic Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is sensational and only hints at what consumers are likely to find with their more expensive and higher-end cuvées. This is just a stunner that is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Malbec and Merlot. Dense purple in color, it has a beautiful nose of spring flowers, blackcurrants, subtle background oak and licorice and a long, opulent mouthfeel. This is a beauty that can be drunk now or cellared for another 15 more years. It is a heck of a wine and irresistible.”

10)  Franciscan Estate Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay 2014, Carneros:  $29.99  (Suggested retail:  $40)  WE 91 pts.  Beautifully oaked, this youthful, robustly expressive wine is lemony and salty, offering a high-toned minerality that plays out as stony texture. Pear and marzipan flavors dominate, accented by vanilla and nutmeg.

11)  Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Blanc Los Carneros 2013:  $22  375 ml. Fulfilling aromas and flavors of fresh pears, apricots, casaba melon and a hint of mineral-like complexity complimented by tart notes of kaffir lime.  Though this wine sees no oak, it has a slight essence of yeasty toast.  It starts lively on the palate then evolves into a round lengthy mouthfeel with a bright, refreshing finish.  It is incredibly complex in its natural simplicity.

12)  Robert Sinskey Vineyards Abraxas Vin de Terroir Scintilla Sonoma Vineyard 2014:  $33.99  The wine has crisp acidity, and low pH which would suggest it will continue to evolve for long term interest. Honeysuckle, lilac, lychee, almond and white pepper aromas, backed by an exotic kaffir lime citrusy note, claims this wine’s place as a true aromatic. The palate is vibrant with crisp, mouthwatering acidity with notes of pear, almond, pineapple and green apple with a firm mineral backbone. This wine is delicious with both haute cuisine and comfort food. The big surprise will be in how well this wine ages. Night harvest and whole cluster pressing preserved the beautiful fruit. The individual lots were cold fermented and the final cuvée is 43% Riesling, 29% Pinot Blanc, 17% Pinot Gris, and 11% Gewürztraminer.

13)  CMS 2014:  $14

14)  Domaine de Verquiere Cotes du Rhone 2104:  $13

15)  Beaux Freres Pinot Noir 2014, Willamette Valley:  $49.99  Regularly $57.99.  Vinous / Antonio Galloni – 92 pts.  “Bright ruby-red. Suave, oak-spiced aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry cola and minerals carry a zesty floral overtone. Silky and expansive on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, cola and lavender pastille flavors plus hints of mocha and spicecake. Shows impressive clarity and spicy lift on a very long, fruit-driven finish that’s shaped by even, slow-mounting tannins.”

16)  Jerome Chexeaux Bourgogne Blanc 2014

17)  Gravel Bar Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Columbia Valley:  $17.99  Full bodied with flavors of black cherry, mocha, currant, and plum. Subtle and elegant, complex and concentrated.  This style of wine pairs well with Moroccan-style lamb shanks with couscous, braciola in tomato sauce, grilled ribeye steak, cedar-planked salmon.

18)  Whitehall Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2016, Rutherford:  $19.49  Whitehall Lane is known for a Bordelaise style, fruit forward and crisp Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose, it evokes fresh Bartlett pears, white flowers, Golden Delicious apples, crushed limestone, lime zest, and a touch of brioche. Though crisp up front, the mid-palate offers a medium-bodied texture to the wine. Its flavors include fresh melon, stewed pears, baked apple crumble, nectarines, toasted walnuts, and a hint of fresh croissant. The finish has a beautiful length with fresh acidity and subtle toasty notes.

19)   Whitehall Lane Merlot 2014, Napa:  $24.99  This wine marks a winemaker and winemaking transition. Now-retired winemaker, Dean Sylvester, harvested the fruit in 2014 and new winemaker, Jason Moulton, put the final blend together and bottled it as unfined and unfiltered. The plush red raspberry and cherry flavors and aromas leap from the glass. This merlot has an amazing core of ripe, jammy berry and currant fruit that is beautifully framed by toasty oak. It is supple in texture and shows attractive depth on the finish. Enjoy right now and through 2020 with proper cellaring.

20)  Whitehall Lane Tre Leone 2014, Napa:   $23.99  This ferociously fun blend has depth, balance and big flavors. Up front, the aromas are dense blackberries, licorice, blueberry crumble and a touch of croissant. It bursts with expansive flavors of blueberries, blackberries, and mixed berry jam. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.  Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel.

21)  Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Napa:  $39.79  This 2013 Cabernet displays the finesse and power of an ideal vintage. There is ample fruit to balance beautifully with the brooding structure. The wine offers pleasing flavors and aromas of berry, currant, cherry and sweet oak. It has great weight in the mid-palate with rich fruit and round tannins. It is enjoyable now and will continue evolving through 2023.  Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot.

22)  Whitehall Lane Leonardini 2012:  $87.99  It all began in our Leonardini Vineyard in March 2012 when Mother Nature provided perfect spring weather for bud break and early grape development. This cabernet comes from our most prized vineyards and is the owner’s namesake. Out of the 12 acres planted, winemaker Dean Sylvester hand selected the fruit from seven vineyard rows. Loaded with bright, ripe fruit and intensity in depth, enjoy now or allow to cellar till 2030.