June 13th 2023 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

June 13th 2023 Newsletter

Taste 2021 Spottswoode Napa/Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc and 2019 Fortunate Son The Warrior Cabernet at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $30 per person.
Tuesday, June 13th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2021 Spottswoode Napa/Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: Layers of tropical fruits and floral aromas invite you into this intriguing and dynamic Sauvignon Blanc. Notes of fresh lime and grapefruit add tension and bring freshness on the approach, while yellow and white peach intermingle with subtle oak and a creamy meringue mid-palate. Hints of minerality and saline contribute to its long finish and complete this complex wine. Medium bodied, layered, and refreshing! $45

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2019 Fortunate Son Cabernet Sauvignon The Warrior

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon The Warrior is riveting stuff, offering an incredible array of sweet darker currants, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, and classy oak. It's a big, rich wine, yet it's not over the top and has a semi-opaque purple hue, medium to full body, seamless tannins, and a layered, silky, incredibly satisfying style that's going to evolve for two decades. $400 Produced by Jayson Woodbridge of Hundred Acre.

********************

Taste 2019 Justin Isosceles and 2020 Austin Hope Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Wednesday, June 14th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

2019 Justin Isosceles Proprietary Red

Winemaker Notes: Deep ruby/purple core with a black secondary color, and lighter toward the rim with moderate plus viscosity and slow-forming, moderately stained tears. Very aromatic and complex with ripe black cherry and cassis fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, and licorice spice with sweet tobacco, cedar, leather, and camphor notes. Full-bodied with ripe complex black cherry, boysenberry, cassis, and blackberry fruit on entry with baking spice. Dusty tannins appear on the midpalate with cedar, dried tobacco leaf, and saddle leather as it progresses. The finish is long, fresh, and balanced with notes of bay leaf, dried red rose petal, oak, and sustained tannins. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% abernet Franc, 10% Merlot. $90

2020 Austin Hope Paso Robles Reserve Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: This 2020 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon displays an abundance of fresh baked blueberry pie aromas and rich notes of cracked black pepper. On the palate, flavors evolve with fruit forward notes, vanilla bean, cacao and a hint of dried tobacco leaf. The wine finishes with integrated tannins that are soft and supple, accentuating the power and depth of this full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. $150

********************

Taste 2020 Pali Santa Barbara/Sonoma Pinot, 2019 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve and Opus One Overture at VRW for $15 per person.
Thursday, June 15th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
Pali Wine Co. 2020 Pinot Noir (Santa Barbara County-Sonoma County)

This blend of grapes from the winery's estates in Santa Barbara and Sonoma shows of how distinct sides of the state can contribute to a complex wine. Aromas of dark plum, herb and light peppercorn on the nose lead into pomegranate, black raspberry, red rose and lavender flavors on the palate. MATT KETTMANN . $25

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley 2019

A nice, plush style, with cassis and cherry compote notes rolling through, laced with singed vanilla and licorice. Reveals good underlying freshness, with an echo of violet through the finish as the fruit plays out. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032. 20,877 cases made. $65

Opus One Overture (2022 release)

Winemaker Notes: A timeless expression of our estate vineyards, Overture is full bodied but approachable in its youth. Overture shows generous dark fruit aromas and flavors with a soft, supple mid-palate. $150

**********************

James Suckling 94 Points
2019 Ruffino Modus

Aromas of crushed stones, dark berries and blueberries follow through to a medium to full body with creamy tannins and a medium-chewy finish. Chocolate at the end. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Two or three years of bottle age will bring this around nicely. Drink after 2024. 39% Sangiovese, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot $35 Internet Price $27.99 (Available GT)

2020 Carmel Road Monterey Pinot Noir, Half Bottles

Winemaker Notes: This textured Pinot Noir showcases notes of red berry, warm spice, and earth tones with a pronounced minerality that reflects the cool coastal growing region. $8 Our Price $5.95/375ml (Available GT and VRW)

Lucienne Doctor's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019

Winemaker Notes: Located in the middle stretch of the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 243-acre Doctor’s Vineyard experiences warmer temperatures and higher winds than Hahn’s other estate vineyards in the region. Certified sustainable, the vineyard ranges from 320 feet to 720 feet above sea level, with gently sloped hillsides and wide row spacing that offers greater sun exposure. The dry and slightly warmer climate here results in a riper more robust Pinot Noir, with expressive aromas of red cherry, plum and orange zest along with hints of sage, clove and white pepper. The wine has great mid-palate structure, smooth soft tannins, flavors of red cherry, bramble berries and a touch of warm spice on a refreshing lingering finish. $60 Internet Price $49.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
RAMEY Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2021

This powerful version offers mouthwatering lemon curd, lime blossom and mandarin orange flavors that show notes of fresh-grated ginger and lemon verbena. Sea salt minerality gains momentum on the finish, where grace notes of toasted green tea, citrus zest and white pepper linger. Drink now through 2030. 7,176 cases made.—M.W $50 Our Price $44.99 (Available GT)

James Suckling 94 Points
Luigi Pira Barolo Margheria 2018

Aromas of cherries and raspberries, enriched by perfumed oak. Full-bodied with a dense, silky bead of fruit and tannin that gives good length. The fruit and oak tannins are nicely integrated here, giving a grainy, velvety framework to the wine. The fruit persists nicely. Excellent quality here, but give it another couple of years for even better integration. Best from 2024. $70 Our Price $59.99 (Available GT)

2022 Cliff Lede Napa Sauvignon Blanc

Notes from Christopher Tynan, Director of Winemaking: Vivid and inviting, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc brims with energy and an elegant vivaciousness. The refreshing aromatics soar on layers of casaba melon, pineapple, and honeysuckle flowers. Flavors of kiwi, white peach, mango, and cucumber glide seamlessly along the palate with accents of sea salt, warm brioche, and persimmon tinged on the long and brightly tuned finish. A splendid note of flinty minerality persists on the tongue as this wine of poise and contemplation bids the taster for another sip. $34 Our Price $29.95 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Advocate 95 Points
2016 Eisele Vineyard Altagracia Cabernet Sauvignon

The Altagracia is produced almost exclusively from estate fruit this year and was bottled at the end of June 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Altagracia comes bursting forth with vivacious black cherries, blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis notes with touches of cinnamon stick, cloves, forest floor, violets and dusty earth with a waft of violets. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with loads of iron and mineral accents, finishing long and perfumed. $135 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

**********************

Taste 2022 Groth Napa Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Beringer Knight’s Valley Reserve Cabernet and 2019 Etude Napa Cabernet at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Friday, June 16th. Available 12:00 noon -5:45 PM

Wine Spectator 92 Points
GROTH Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2022

Effusive and intense, with a mouthwatering quality to the lingering notes of lemon blossoms, pomelo, fresh-cut Honeycrisp apple and candied ginger preserved in honey. Drink now. 25,000 cases made.—M.W. $30

James Suckling 95 Points
2019 Beringer Knight’s Valley Reserve Cabernet

Aromas of black tea, blackberry and tobacco leaf. Full-bodied with velvety, slightly tense tannins. Lovely black-fruited palate with dried-flower and herb character. Roses, violets and sage. Nicely balanced and long. Lovely density in the center-palate. $50

James Suckling 96 Points
2019 Etude Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Lots of blackcurrant and crushed stone on the nose, as well as some dustiness. Full-bodied, very velvety and restrained. Beautiful energy at the end. This comes mostly from Coombsville, Rutherford and Oakville vineyards. Two or three years will bring this into the right space, but already so enjoyable to taste. $100

********************

Taste 2022 Chateau d'Esclans Whispering Angel Provence Rose, 2019 Jax Napa Cabernet and 2018 Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Napa Cabernet at (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, June 17th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

James Suckling 91 Points
Chateau d'Esclans Whispering Angel Provence Rose 2022

Pale apricot color with aromas of pomegranates, grapefruit, rosemary, lavender and peaches. Fresh and delicate, yet fragrant and flavorful, with a medium body and bright acidity. Lovely fresh pink fruit. Drink and enjoy. $25

James Suckling 92 Points
2019 JAX Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, dried thyme and baking spices. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins and lively acidity. Creamy, with a flavorful, fresh finish. Drink or hold. $50

Wine Spectator 93 Points
SPOTTSWOODE Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Lyndenhurst 2018

There's a well-endowed core of warmed cassis and steeped plum fruit here, splashed with a sassafras note and backed by roasted applewood and melted black licorice on the finish. Rich in feel throughout. Best from 2022 through 2034. —J.M. $85

**************************

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
Tuesday-Friday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM-4:00 PM


Back to Our Blog

Are you 21 years old, or older?

No