November 2nd 2018 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

November 2nd 2018 Newsletter

Wine Spectator 91
MARGERUM M5 Santa Barbara County 2016

Sleek and precise, with raspberry and garrigue aromas and refined cherry, licorice and savory pepper flavors. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Cinsault. Drink now through 2026. 3,085 cases made. –TF $28 Our Price $20.99

Wine Spectator 94
CLOS ST.-JEAN Châteauneuf-du-Pape White 2015

Distinctive, with a bright yellow apple note leading the way, backed by lots of verbena, chamomile and honeysuckle notes before a creamy melon edge drapes the finish. Shows lovely range. Drink now through 2018. 100 cases imported. –JM $50 Our Price $46.99

Antonio Galloni, Vinous (94-97) pts Carlisle 2016 Zinfandel Papera Ranch Russian River Valley

The 2016 Zinfandel Papera Ranch is another exceptional wine. Vivid, nuanced and wonderfully alive, the 2016 is all finesse. Beams of supporting tannin give the wine its shape and overall structure. Potent and yet sophisticated, the 2016 is another wine that has it all. $48 (Arrives 11/7/18)

2016 Twomey Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Wild berry, mushroom, forest floor, white gardenia, coriander. Dark entry with a strong and bold touch, red clay-iron, cherry extract, coffee and root beer, with good viscosity and depth. $50 Our Price $44.99

Wine Spectator 93
POGGIO AL TESORO Toscana Mediterra 2015

Bright aromas and flavors of blackberry, black currant, black pepper and ink mark this intense red. Compact, with ripe fruit, a well-integrated structure and a lingering aftertaste. Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2020 through 2032.—B.S. $27 Our Price $21.95 (Arrives this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 90
MAISON L'ENVOYÉ Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Straight Shooter 2016

Generous and lively, with supple raspberry and baking spice flavors that dance along the vibrant finish. Drink now through 2022. 4,000 cases made.—T.F. $20 Liquidation Price $13.95 (Limited to stock on hand)

James Suckling 92
Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Rutherford 2014, Magnum

A beautiful and silky Napa cabernet that shows mint and berry character with hints of currants. Medium- to full-bodied, juicy and delicious. Vivid finish. Drink now or hold. $80/magnum. Our Price $69.99/magnum. (Arrives 11/6/18)

2016 Bouchard Aine & Fils Bourgogne Rouge

Winemaker Notes: This wine features an intense carmine red color tinged with deep purple highlights. The nose is gorgeous, redolent of flowers and red fruits. In the mouth it has a beautiful finesse, smooth, silky tannins and excellent length. $20 Our Price $16.99

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2015 Hungry Blonde Chardonnay

There’s 2,000 cases of the 2015 Chardonnay Hungry Blonde and it’s one seriously good Chardonnay. Aged sur lie in 20% new French oak this classic beauty gives up lots of orchard fruits, some buttered citrus and peach, medium to full-bodied richness, and terrific balance. It’s the real deal and will keep for 5+ years. At 30 bucks it’s a killer value. $30

2016 DOMAINE GACHOT-MONOT
CÔTE DE NUITS-VILLAGES

Notes from Will Meinberg: Being a Burgundy lover on a budget is not always easy, but finding a producer you can trust makes the search much simpler. Damien Gachot has produced a wine that aims to please every Burgundy lover’s palate. Sourcing grapes from the village of Corgoloin in the southern end of the Côtes de Nuits, he presents a wine with the velvety character of the Côtes de Beaune while maintaining the structure and finesse of the Côtes de Nuits. From the soft fruit to the exotic spice, this bottle provides something for everyone. $36 Our Price $28.99

2016 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge

Winemaker Notes: At Domaine Tempier, grapes from our different vineyards are skillfully blended to create this wine, made up of between 70 and 75% Mourvedre (depending on the year) combined with Grenache, Cinsault and a hint of Carignan (2%). This fruity, well balanced wine can be enjoyed after 3 or 4 years, but develops extremely pleasant tertiary aromas (leather, animal and undergrowth) with further aging. The wine's balance gives it an aging potential of 15 years or more. A deep ruby color. Aromas of dark fruit. Intense smooth tannins. After 5 or 6 years of aging, the wine will develop notes of leather, forest-floor and small red fruit. 75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 2% Carignan $53 Our Price $45.99 (Arrives this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 92
LOUIS ROEDERER Brut Champagne
 Premier NV

An elegant Champagne in an aperitif style, with flavors of crushed blackberry, biscuit, spring blossom and Meyer lemon zest riding the finely detailed bead, underscored by a streak of salinity that emerges on the fresh finish. Drink now through 2022. 15,264 cases imported. –AN $54 Our Price $43.95

James Suckling 99
Dönnhoff Riesling Nahe Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Spätlese 2017

Most people who drink wine know what a ripe peach tastes like. However, this wine gives you a completely new appreciation of the meaning of the word “peach”. Beyond that, it possesses subtlety that is extremely rare anywhere in the world of food and wine. From organically grown grapes. Fair'n Green certification. Absolutely delicious now, but could be held for decades. $72 Our Price $59.95

Wine Advocate 91-94
2015 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay The Meadows Vineyard

The 2015 season resulted in tiny clusters and small berries with production levels off by a minimum of 25%. The following 2015s will be bottled unfined and unfiltered. The 2015 Chardonnay the Meadows Vineyard is in the northern part of the Hansel estate and at their lowest elevation as it is a meadow next to Santa Rosa Creek. Again, this is dry-farmed and planted with 100% Hanzell clones. Yields are always low and this Chardonnay offers up a light-gold color, concentrated notes of honeysuckle, baked apple pie, cinnamon and plenty of spice in a medium to full-bodied, refreshing, zesty style. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. $27

2016 Lewis Cellars NAPA SYRAH

Winemaker Notes: Devil in a red dress. Explosive blackberries, sexy wood spice and satiny rich texture, our 2016 Syrah is a tantalizing beauty. Layers of fruit with black truffle, chocolate and espresso form a dense, dark core that gradually finds light and a supple, fantailed finish. $75 Our Price $67.99

Wine Spectator 96
BEAUX FRÈRES Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge The Upper Terrace 2016

A seductive wine that combines structure with harmony and a silky texture. Vivid black raspberry, rose petal and mocha espresso flavors build richness and dance on the long finish. Drink now through 2025. 1,278 cases made. –TF $110



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