December 27th 2017 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

December 27th 2017 Newsletter

Wine Spectator 93
GLORIA FERRER Brut Carneros Royal Cuvée Late Disgorged 2009

Deftly combines a steely crispness with rich luxuriousness, offering notes of fresh ginger, cinnamon brioche, Meyer lemon and Asian pear that unfold on the long finish. Drink now through 2018. 4,500 cases made. –TF $37 Our Price $24.99

Holiday Hours
Wednesday, 12/27 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Thursday, 12/28 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Friday, 12/29 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Saturday, 12/30 10:30 AM-4:00 PM
Sunday, 12/31 Closed
Monday, 1/1 Happy New Year!
Tuesday, 1/2 Closed
Wednesday, 1/3 10:30 AM-5:30 PM

Wine Spectator 94
C. VON SCHUBERT Riesling Spätlese Mosel Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg 2015

Lots of crème brûlée and pastry notes in this languid style, which offers accents of roasted almond and coconut meat. The finish has a pear tart flavor that lingers. Drink now through 2040.-K.M. 620 cases made. $45 Our Price $33.99

James Suckling 93 Points
Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Oakville 2013

Subtle and complex with mint, black currant and licorice aromas. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a fresh finish. Clean and refined. A delicious cabernet to drink now or later. Yes. $53 Liquidation Price $36.75 (Limited to stock on hand)

2016 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay, Magnum

Winemaker Notes: Enticing aromas of vanilla, melon and mango are layered with apricot, creme brulee, butter and a slight minerality. Those scents are echoed as flavors on the creamy, rich palate, along with peach, pie crust and baking spices. The long, smooth finish is marked by mouthwatering acidity. $86/magnum. Our Price $68.99/magnum

Wine Spectator 91
CHÂTEAU BARDE-HAUT St.-Emilion 2014, 375ml

Solid, with dark currant, fig and blackberry compote flavors that meld with dark tobacco and roasted alder notes. Maintains a fleshy edge through the finish without sacrificing energy. Best from 2018 through 2028. 4,500 cases made. –JM $28 Our Price $19.99/375ml

Wine Spectator 91
LAURENT-PERRIER Brut Champagne La Cuvée NV, magnum

A delicate Champagne, with a refined mousse and finely honed acidity, this offers a subtle range of black currant, lemon zest, toast and chalk flavors that linger on the lightly spiced finish. Drink now through 2020. –AN $90/magnum. Our Price $74.99/magnum

Wine Spectator 92
LAURENT-PERRIER Brut Rosé Champagne Cuvée NV, magnum

The fine knit and balance of this elegant rosé sparkler recommends it as an aperitif, but the firm frame of acidity, the subtle richness of the smoky underpinning, and the flavors of baked strawberry, pastry cream and candied orange peel recommend it to food as well. Try this with Peking duck. Drink now through 2022. 9,600 cases imported. –AN $180/magnum. Our Price $152.99/magnum

Wine Advocate 94
2013 Laird Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Flat Rock

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Flat Rock Ranch, from another Yountville site, is softer than the Mast Ranch, with sweet tannin, dense purple color, plenty of crème de cassis, blackberry and blueberry. There is a nice floral element as well, and the wine finishes full, rich and impressive. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. $80 (Back in stock)

2015 Rombauer Zinfandel

Winemaker Notes: Our classic California Zinfandel is dark purple-ruby, with a bright crimson hue. On the nose, concentrated aromas of blackberry and raspberry meld with clove and spice. Lush flavors of blackberry, cherry, licorice and vanilla flood the palate, followed by touches of pepper in the background. Plush and round tannins and great length make for a fresh and enticing finish. $32 Our Price $27.39

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 93 pts
2013 Peter Franus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is superb. A host of graphite, grilled herbs, licorice and spice meld into a core of inky fruit in a rich, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that is going to take at least a few years to fully come together. This is an unusually big, opulent wine from Peter Franus, but all the elements are in the right place. $48 Our Price $42.99 (Back in stock)

2014 Domaine Eden Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Lovely spicy, intense aromas that are unmistakably Pinot Noir—deep complex, raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry—combine with oak and an earth-born nuance. Flavors are deep across on the palate, echoing the complexity of the aromas. $35 (Arrives this afternoon)

2015 Pont Neuf La Vogue Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Our first tasting after bottling shows immense potential for our 2015 Pont Neuf “La Vouge” Pinot Noir. The best wines of Burgundy’s Cotes de Nuits immediately come to mind. Aromas of sweet earth and red fruits, leather, Hen of the Woods mushrooms with bits of soil, truffles, and Cep (Porcini) mushrooms bring to mind a forager’s basket. Leafy forest floor, aromatic spices, leather and fresh cut wood are well integrated and are appetizing accents. The fruit flavors of “La Vouge” also come from a walk in the woods; small, wild red berries, currants, wild cherries, and Damson plums with their soft, sweet flesh yet perfectly balanced acidity. This wine needs time to breathe so we decanted it 45 minutes to 1 hour for it to begin to open fully. $55


Wine Spectator 93
Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne NV

A lovely rosé in an almost vinous style, with mouthwatering acidity and a fine, lacy mousse carrying appealing flavors of ripe raspberry, white cherry fruit, star anise, mandarin orange peel and honeysuckle. Lightly chalky on the lasting finish. Enjoy with food. Drink now through 2020.-A.N. $80 Our Price $74.99

2010 Edmond August Indelible Red

Winery Notes: This is a blend of 3 different Syrah clones (84%), Grenache (12%) with 4% Viognier. Rich, dark, ripe and intense this wine has been in the bottle for well over two years after being barrel aged for 22 months in a combination of new and neutral french oak barrels. From the prestigious Caliza Vineyard in Paso's Templeton Gap area. 175 cases made. The winemaker is Jacob Toft, who has learned his craft working for and with some of Paso's cutting-edge producers. Jacob has his own brand which has received high praise from among others the Wine Advocate, Robert Parker. Jake has earned a reputation for being a meticulous and knowledgeable winemaker. $42 Our Price $35.99

Wine Spectator 92
LEWIS Chardonnay Napa Valley 2015

Builds intensity and nuance from a firm core, with the light spicy oak joining hands with rich fig, melon and peach notes. This is young and unevolved, so short-term cellaring will be a plus. Drink now through 2020.-J.L $55 Our Price $49.99

Wine Spectator 88
MOHUA Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2016

Mouthwatering grapefruit, lemon and green apple flavors are vivid and intense, with a hint of dried mango on the finish. Drink now. 46,000 cases imported. –MW $14 Our Price $9.75

Wine Advocate 96-99
2014 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan will be delicious when released, as it often is. I suspect that this, like the Few and Far Between, as well as the Ark, will spend 32 months in cask. But the élevage and meticulous attention to detail by Woodbridge seems to result in wines that never show much wood. This wine has great fruit, an opaque purple color, beautiful crème de cassis, blueberry and floral notes in a sexy, opulent, forward style that will be more flattering and flamboyant than its 2013 counterpart, at least in its youth. $500 (Limited)


Wine Advocate 98-100
2014 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Vineyard

From Howell Mountain, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Ark reveals the mulberry, chocolate, graphite and an incredibly dense bluish black color, massive fruit extract and richness, but without a hard edge to be found. All three of these are extraordinary wines, which is what we’ve come to expect from Jayson Woodbridge. $500 (Limited)



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