November 24th 2023 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

November 24th 2023 Newsletter

We are open on Saturday, 11/25

Grape Tray
Saturday, 11/25 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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

Vintage Reserve Wine
Saturday, 11/25 12:00 noon – 4:00 PM

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

On Deck for wine tasting next week at VRW:

2020 Thread Feathers Stags Leap Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: This 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning expression of the Stags Leap District growing region. Grown on an eastern facing hillside on the west side of Silverado Trail, this wine is bright and opulent with dark fruit notes of dark cherry and blueberry compote and hints of baking spice, cedar, violet and crushed stone. This wine is rich with beautiful structure, balance and polished tannins. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. $40

2022 Miner Napa Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Sourced from select low-yielding vineyards in Napa Valley, Miner Family Chardonnay is characterized by crisp apple, ripe melon and citrus flavors, gently balanced with toasty French oak. Their winemaker uses malolactic fermentation in moderation to retain the wine's bright acidity. More than a decade after this Chardonnay put Miner on the map, this wine remains a classic. $43

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

Taste 2021 Journeyman Russian River Chardonnay, 2021 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir and 2019 Vineyard 29 Cru Napa Cabernet Sauvignon at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $15 per person.
Saturday, November 25th. Available 12:00 noon -3:45 PM

Wine Spectator 94 Points
JOURNEYMAN Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2021

Stunning, with fleshy peach, apricot and Fuji apple flavors that are juicy, generous and precise, with hints of fennel seed, lemon oil, lemongrass and candied ginger that linger on the long, expressive finish. Drink now. 440 cases made. —MaryAnn Worobiec. $54

Wine Spectator 92 Points
Goldeneye Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2021

Juicy and inviting, with tasty raspberry and mulberry notes infused with pine forest, red tea and wet earth accents. Keeps the fleshy, juicy feel through the lightly toasted finish. Drink now through 2028. $62

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
2019 Vineyard 29 Cru Napa Cabernet

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru Napa Valley is outstanding, and at the less than the $100 price point, it’s about as good as it gets! Ripe cassis, flowers, spicy oak, and tobacco notes all emerge from the glass, and it’s a ripe, round, wonderfully textured Cabernet that will shine for a decade or more. Best After 2022. $75

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

Wine Spectator 95 Points
CLOS ST.-JEAN Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2021

This has good concentration and energy to the dense core of dark fruit and bitter cherry, with great poise and elegance despite its ripeness (an impressive feat for the vintage). Guided by finely crushed mineral accents and tannins, this reveals pretty high-toned floral notes and leafy tobacco. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse and Muscardin. Drink now through 2032. —K.B. $68 Our Price $49.99 (Arrives GT 11/29/23)

Wine Enthusiast 97 Points
2019 Charles Krug Generations Cabernet

Quietly powerful, dense with alluring oak spices and late-picked fruit flavors, this full-bodied, velvet-textured Cabernet-dominant blend is generous and inviting to drink, but also balanced and structured for the long haul. Concentrated, deep and layered, it is meant for drinking with appreciative friends or family in the future. $85 Our Price $71.99 (Arrives GT 11/29/23)

Wine Advocate 94 Points
M. Marengo Barolo Bricco delle Viole 2018

The 2018 Barolo Bricco delle Viole (with 6,000 bottles made) opens to a medium rich appearance followed by very distinct aromas of wild rose, grilled herb, mint and freshly milled white pepper. The wine's texture is lean but fine-tuned and elegant. These qualities shape a long and polished mouthfeel. Fruit comes from a one-hectare parcel at a breezy 420 meters in elevation. $64 Our Price $46.99 (Back in stock GT)

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
Krug Grande Cuvee 168th eme, Magnum

A beautiful Champagne, yet one that needs bottle age, the NV Grand Cuvee 168ème Edition comes mostly from the 2012 vintage (a good vintage) and has gorgeous apple blossom and stone fruits intermixed with classic Krug toasted brioche, toasted almond, white flowers, and honeysuckle aromatics. Just gorgeous on the palate as well, it's concentrated and has a rich, backward texture, bright acidity, and great finish. It takes lots of air to show at its best today, but do your best to hide bottles for 3-4 years. You'll be rewarded and it will evolve gracefully for another two decades or more. $720/magnum. Our Price $639.99/magnum (Available GT and VRW)

2022 Ghost Block MorgaenLee Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: Beautiful aromatics of grapefruit and white peach jump from the glass followed by subtle tropical fruit notes of guava and papaya. $25 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

2016 Burgess Cellars CONTADINA Napa CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Winemaker Notes: A dense and concentrated cabernet with aromas and flavors of confectionary blackberry and stewed cassis. The lush fruit is brought into balance by high tone herbal aromatics of mint, sage, and sweet tobacco. The distinctively thick-skinned Cabernet grapes provide a long velvety finish. $52 Our Price $44.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
HARTFORD FAMILY Zinfandel Russian River Valley Old Vine 2021

Brambly and vibrant yet elegantly structured, with detailed blueberry and raspberry flavors accented by mineral, sandalwood and pepper notes that build toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2032. —T.F. $42 Our Price $33.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 94+ Points
2018 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve

Largely in the same style, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve reminds me of a top Pauillac with its darker blackcurrant fruit as well as notes of lead pencil, crushed stone, cedar, and smoked tobacco. Rich and full-bodied, it has wonderful purity of fruit and the balance and structure to evolve for two decades. $95 Our Price $83.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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

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