July 5th 2017 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

July 5th 2017 Newsletter

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Wine Advocate 91
2013 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano

The 2013 Chianti Rufina Riserva Nipozzano is a soft and supple red wine that proudly displays its winemaking pedigree. There are no rough edges here. Instead, this wine offers a seamless link of red cherry, spice and toasted nut aromas. The mouthfeel is on the lean side, but the wine is immediately approachable and easy to pair with any kind of grilled meat dish. $24 Our Price $15.99

2015 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay, Magnum

Winemaker Notes: Enticing aromas of ripe apple, bright citrus and melon are layered with creme brulee, baking spices and a touch of butter. Vibrant flavors of tropical fruit, baked apple, citrus and white peach meld with vanilla, baking spices and toasted nuts on the creamy, smooth palate. The finish is juicy with mouthwatering acidity that makes you crave another sip. $75/magnum Our Price $68.99/magnum (Back in stock this afternoon)

2015 Meiomi Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Smooth, opulent layers of lemon peel and stone fruit are heightened by sweet smells of crème brûlée, butterscotch, baked apple, shortbread, roasted marshmallow, and spices. The mid-palate is fleshy and rich, followed by a clean, mineral finish. $19 Liquidation Price $11.99 (Limited to stock on hand)

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 96 pts
Haut-Bailly 2014 Haut-Bailly Pessac Léognan Cru Classé De Graves, Bordeaux, Half Bottles

The 2014 Haut-Bailly has turned out beautifully. Dark, sumptuous and expressive, the 2014 exudes depth and finesse. Ample and resonant on the palate, with striking depth, the 2014 possesses exceptional balance and class. Hints of smoke, tobacco and licorice infuse the deep, creamy finish. Drinking window: 2020 – 2039. Our Price $39.75/375ml

Wine Advocate 93
2013 Puramun Malbec Uco Valley Reserva

If I liked the 2012, I liked the 2013 Malbec Reserva that I tasted a couple of weeks later even better. The profile is similar but it has the extra zip and freshness of the vintage. Nicely crafted and proportioned, it drinks well, but the oak is a little evident and should show better with little more time in bottle. Drink: 2016-2023. $30 Our Price $21.99

Vinous 91 Points: Bright ruby-red. Very ripe, slightly liqueur-like aromas of blackberry, boysenberry and chocolaty oak. Silky, fat and sweet; in a distinctly ripe style, offering terrific breadth to its redcurrant, raspberry and spice flavors. Spreads out to saturate the palate, burying the serious, ripe, glossy tannins under plush red berries and spices. Puramun is the first personal project of José (Pepé) Galante, who directed winemaking for decades at Catena Zapata and currently is winemaker at Bodegas Salentein. Drink: 2016-2020. $30

2014 Far Niente Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: The 2014 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon opens with beautifully lifted spice and black fruit aromatics—clove, anise, black cherry and blackberry—layered with a hint of rich oak. A round, supple entry leads to a silky, smooth midpalate. Cassis, clove, and toasted oak complement the black and red fruit flavors. Fine-grained, age-worthy tannins provide structure to the dark, juicy finish. $150 Grape Tray Insider Price $106 (Limited to stock on hand and valid through 7/8/17)

Wine Advocate 94
2012 Hidden Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 55 Degree Slope

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 55 Degrees Slope exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color as well as beautiful, sweet crème de cassis, Asian plum sauce, licorice and forest floor notes. Full-bodied with velvety tannins, and impressive concentration, texture and length, this superb Cabernet can be drunk early in life because of its velvety opulence or cellared for two decades. Our Price $56.99 (Back in stock)

2014 Annabella Carneros Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The 2014 Annabella Carneros Pinot Noir shimmers a bright ruby color in the glass, with youthful purple undertones. Fragrant from the minute you pop the cork, the evocative nose is layered with flavors of golden raspberry and nectarine, orange peel, rose petal, and a slight forest-floor earthiness that makes this wine characteristically Carneros. The mouth is dense and supple, with smooth, creamy tannins that give the wine a deliciously delicate weight. Flavors of clove and vanilla resonate in the mouth, and the lengthy finish is reminiscent of richly roasted coffee. $18 Our Price $14.99

2014 Ser Coastview Monterey Syrah

Winemaker Notes: A full bodied, dry Syrah with aromas of black pepper, blackberry, and mocha. Smooth texture on the palate with black currant, leather and tar. Sourced from Monterey County's highest vineyard, this cool climate Syrah shows bright acidity. $36 Our Price $30.99

Wine Spectator 95
CASANOVA DI NERI Brunello di Montalcino 2012

Effusive aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, floral, mineral and tobacco are at the center of this linear, vibrant red. Well-structured, this offers terrific length on the sinewy finish. Best from 2020 through 2035. 6,054 cases made. –BS $65 Our Price $54.95

Wine Advocate 92
2014 Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hills

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is also a winner, slightly more open and precocious, but with plenty of blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, striking minerality (no doubt from the Obsidian rocks) and a full-bodied, luscious, juicy style with a voluptuous texture. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. $30 Our Price $25.69 (Back in stock 7/7/17)

Wine Advocate 96+
2014 Cayuse Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard

The 358-case 2014 Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard (100% Syrah aged in 10-15% new 600-liter barrels) is a downright meaty, peppery effort that's reminiscent of walking into a butcher shop in the South of France. Wood smoke, black cherry, teriyaki and layers of peppered meat give way to a rich and layered yet still fresh and lightly textured beauty. With fine tannin and an inherent elegance on the palate, give bottles 2-3 years to fill out and drink over the following decade. $140 Limited

CWA 99 Points
Checkerboard Cabernet Sauvignon “Aurora” Estate Reserve 2013

A truly obsession-inducing new release from Napa’s unanimously acclaimed 2013 vintage. The cashmere-like texture reminds us of some of the best Harlan and Hundred Acre we’ve sampled. Intensely satisfying hints of inky dark fruit (currants, plums, blackberry) combine with tantalizing notes of balsamic, sage, pipe tobacco, and baking spices (cinnamon). The 60 second finish includes statuesque tannins ballanced with luxurious new oak plus baking chocolate guaranteed to dazzle now (decanting recommended) through 2030. $350


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