August 21st 2018 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

August 21st 2018 Newsletter

Wine Advocate 90
2014 Mercer Wine Estates
Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

The straight 2014 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon is a beauty. Perfumed, exotic and layered, with notes of black raspberries, blood orange and spice, it's medium-bodied, supple, charming and delicious, with no hard edges. Drink it over the coming 3-5 years. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 12% Syrah and a splash of Petit Verdot. $19 Our Price $10.95

James Suckling 93
2015 Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon

A fresh and fruity red with blackcurrant, raspberry and spice character. Full body, super dusty tannins and a flavorful finish. Linear and bright. Luxurious. Enjoying it now. Drink or hold. $85 (Arrives 8/29/18)

2017 Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, Half Bottles

Winemaker Notes: We are extraordinarily proud of our 2017 Sauvignon Blanc. In a vintage of such extreme heat, we were able to craft a wine that is ripe and textured, yet still retains its freshness—a notable achievement! The wine is mouthcoating and viscous, with a balancing acid tension and great mouth-watering juiciness. The beauty is there aromatically, with an initial impression of lime zest, lemon pith, and citrus blossom. It then opens to white peach, nectarine, mandarin, cream, with hints of vanilla and lime curd, both on the nose and on the palate. Rich and texturally enticing, with great balance and length. $19/375ml

Wine Advocate 94-96
2015 Walter Hansel Winery
 Pinot Noir South Slope

Made from 100% Dijon clone 777, the 2015 Pinot Noir South Slope had the largest yields of any of the parcels in 2015, although still way below normal production. The deepest color of many of these Pinot Noirs, the wine has loads of damp earth, spice box and forest floor, this is a deep blue-fruited Pinot with a lovely texture, plenty of body, surprising concentration and richness. This is a stunner from 18-year-old vines. Drink it over the next decade or more. The 2015 Pinot Noir North Slope, 100% from Dijon clone 115, also performed spectacularly, no doubt because of the extremely tiny yields. This wine has a dense purple color, a gorgeously compelling nose of forest floor, spring flowers, blue, red and black fruits, followed by a full-bodied, layered and concentrated Pinot Noir that is as light as a ballerina on the palate, but at the same time, intense and rich. The finish just goes on and on. Drink it over the next decade or more. $42 (Back in stock)

2016 Girard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Aromas of dried herbs mingle with licorice aromas, and intense scents of dark plum, and black cherries. On the palate black currant, brown sugar and savory flavors lead to a spicy finish punctuated by oak vanillin and velvety tannins. $34 Our Price $27.45

Wine Spectator 93
PENLEY Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra Phoenix 2016

Dense, with sink-your-teeth-into-them tannins and concentration to the plum, cassis and blackberry flavors. Sage and rosemary accents linger in the background. Strikes the right balance between power and elegance, with grace notes of eucalyptus, black tea and tobacco lingering on the velvety finish. Drink now through 2030. 4,300 cases imported. –MW $20 Our Price $16.95

2017 Domaine de Fontsainte Corbieres Gris de Gris Rosé Corbieres, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

This rose shows a crystalline salmon color with amethyst tints. It gives off aromas of raspberry, cherry, and freshly picked strawberries, followed by exotic aromas of pineapple and mango. On the palate, there is a direct and considerable freshness -- the density and richness of the fruit mingle with superb acidity. Stunningly balanced. 50% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan, 5% Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre $16 Our Price $12.39

Special Price $149
2014 Caymus Special Selection
Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Spectator Notes: Pure and rich, well-centered on melted black licorice, spice, cedar and dark berry flavors. Deep and complex, if short on finesse and grace, ending with musclebound tannins. Drink now through 2028. 25,964 cases made. – JL $200 Special price limited to 12 bottles in stock. Please email stan@grapetray.com

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 90 Points
2013 The Paring Red

The 2013 Red is bold and pungent to the core. Black cherry, mocha, black olives, spices, lavender and sage hit the palate in the 2013. This is an especially serious, structured wine for the money. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. The Franc is felt in the wine's savory, expressive personality. This is a delicious wine for the money. $25

Wine Spectator 90
2016 JEAN-CLAUDE BOISSET
Bourgogne Les Ursulines

A smoky version, offering black cherry, blackberry, earth and spice flavors to match the toasty oak. This is succulent and leaves spice and smoke notes on the finish. Drink now through 2021. 715 cases imported.—Bruce Sanderson $20 Our Price $15.99

Wine Enthusiast 92
Michael David Winery Lust Zinfandel 2015

Lust is one of the seven deadly sins, and this tiny-production wine from Michael David is a fitting adjunct to the winery's Seven Deadly Zins offering. Spicy, perfumed oak aromas and equally spicy oak flavors accompany deep tones of black cherry and dark chocolate. The wine has a thick coating of tannins that helps support all the richness and elevated body. $56 Our Price $45.95

Fonseca Siroco White Port

Winemaker Notes: Pale straw gold in color, the wine is lightly sweet with a vibrant acidity and round, velvety texture. White fruit aromas and flavors are offset by light oak notes. Customarily served chilled as an aperitif, on the rocks or with tonic or sparkling water. $17 Our Price $14.25


Back to Our Blog

Are you 21 years old, or older?

No