May 28th 2019 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

May 28th 2019 Newsletter

2017 Loring River Quinn Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Big nose of graham cracker, white peach, pear, lemon, and hints of vanilla. Very rich and opulent mouthfeel with stone fruit and citrus flavors, framed by a kiss of oak. $30 Our Price $24.99

Wine Spectator 91
ELDERTON Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa 2016

There’s plenty to admire here, with mahogany and truffle touches complementing the ripe and plush core of plum and blueberry flavors. Displays an air of effortlessness, even with the dusty tannins filling in on the finish. Drink now

through 2030. 3,500 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.—M.W. $27 Our Price $21.49 (Arrives 5/30/19)

James Suckling 94 Points
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir
Eola-Amity Hills Roserock 2015

Another amazing pinot noir that shows such purity of the fruit. Blueberries, raspberries, lemons, oranges and hints of caramel. Medium to full body, an incredibly polished texture and a beautiful, exciting finish. Drink now or hold. $35 Our Price $27.95

2016 J. Lohr Hilltop Paso Robles Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: 2016 Hilltop Cabernet shows dark fruit, chocolate, graphite and anise on the nose. The palate is dense and soft at once with layers of mineral, sweet oak barrel and fresh savory notes. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. $33 Our Price $26.75 Half bottles $14.95

2018 Stewart Napa Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes: This wine opens with a fragrant array of boxwoods, nettles, and gooseberries, reminiscent of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The palate is textured and anchored with layers of Key lime and grapefruit, leading to a lengthy finish with fresh, balanced acids. $25

Wine Spectator 92
GREEN & RED Zinfandel Napa Valley Chiles Canyon Vineyards 2016

Sleek and elegantly complex, with expressive cherry, sweet anise and pepper flavors that glide on a long finish. Drink now through 2025. 1,590 cases made.—Tim Fish $27 Our Price $21.99

Decanter Magazine 93 Points
Domaine Besson Givry Rouge ‘Le Haut Colombier’ 2016

Impressive, sappy and alluringly perfumed with plenty of summer pudding fruit, notes of rose petal and violet and subtle vanilla oak. The tannins are very fine here, complemented by chalky minerality. Textured, youthful and long on the palate, this would reward cellaring. $30 Our Price $26.49

Wine Advocate 93+
2016 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Le Petit Vice

This is a new second wine meant as a means for consumers to discover the Vice Versa brand. Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, blending fruit from St. Helena, Pritchard Hill and Yountville and aged 20 months in 50% new French oak, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Le Petit Vice is deep garnet-purple colored and opens with expressive crème de cassis, preserved plums and blueberry tart with hints of Chinese five spice, sandalwood, pencil lead and menthol plus a waft of coffee beans. It's full-bodied, rich and seductive in the mouth with wonderfully plush yet firm tannins and great freshness, finishing very long and spicy. 500 cases produced. $75

Wine Spectator 94
PATRICIA GREEN Pinot Noir
Dundee Hills Volcanic 2017

Vibrant yet graceful, featuring expressive raspberry and tart cherry aromas and spirited orange peel, spice box and dark tea accents that take on complexity toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2027.—T.F 266 cases made. $42 Our Price $36.99

2016 Lucia Garys’ Vineyard
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Built around an opulent core of boysenberry, black cherry and wild strawberry, our 2016 Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir shows off a beautiful dark ruby color when swirled in the glass. The clarity of the fruit is accentuated against a backdrop of graphite, orange peel, and sandalwood spice notes. Waves of volume coat the palate even as bright, polished acidity culminates in supple, focused tannin. Having weathered another year of drought, the vines produced berries of intensely concentrated flavor. The result is a Pinot Noir that combines richness with restraint and complexity with precision—together with the assurance of a long life in the bottle. $65

2017 Caymus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Caymus has a signature style that is dark in color, with rich fruit and ripe, velvety tannins – as approachable in youth as in maturity. We farm Cabernet grapes in eight of Napa’s 16 sub-appellations, with diversification enabling us to make the best possible wine in a given year. Our Cabernet offers layered, lush aromas and flavors, including cocoa, cassis and ripe dark berries. $82 Our Price $79.95 (Back in stock 5/29/19)

Wine Spectator 95
BEDROCK The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley 2017

Brooding but not a bruiser. Finesse combines with power, offering fervent blackberry, fruitcake spice, ground pepper and orange zest accents that build intensity toward big but polished tannins. Zinfandel, Carignan, Mataro, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2026. 750 cases made. — TF $45 (6 bottles left)

Wine Spectator 94
ROAR Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands
Sierra Mar Vineyard 2017

Rich and plush, revealing a sinewy power to the dried cherry, macerated plum and red currant flavors. Luxuriantly spiced, with a long, creamy finish of cardamom, dried ginger and chocolate hints. Well-crafted and elegantly styled. 686 cases made. Drink now through 2025.—K.M. $58

Wine Advocate 97
2015 Arkenstone Proprietary Red Estate

This estate blend from Howell Mountain was formerly known as “Obsidian.” Composed of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 4% Malbec, the 2015 Proprietary Red Estate gives a deep garnet-purple color and aromas of spiced blackberries, fruitcake and plum pudding with suggestions of Indian spices, earth and underbrush, plus a touch of violets. Packed with rich, opulent fruit in the full-bodied mouth, it has a solid, fine-grained backbone and plenty of freshness, finishing long and multilayered. 500 cases were made. $175



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