October 18th 2019 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

October 18th 2019 Newsletter

Wine Spectator 94
Brewer-Clifton 3D Chardonnay 2017

Sleek, with powerful minerality to the pure-tasting flavors of pear tart, apple pastry and peach. Rich lemon curd accents fill in midpalate and linger on spicy and well-framed finish. Drink now through 2025. $60

Wine Spectator 94
CARLISLE Syrah Russian River Valley Papa’s Block 2017

Dynamic and deeply structured, with evocative wild berry, smoked game and cracked pepper flavors that build tension and intensity toward well-buffed tannins. Best from 2021 through 2029.—T.F. $45

2010 Gloria Ferrer Anniversary Cuvee

Winemaker Notes: The rich aromas of Asian pear, ripe apple, and a delicate touch of honey and vanilla greet your on the nose. With each sip of wine you get a rich and creamy mousse and some lingering fruit from the nose. This is built on by a bit of crème brûlée and stone fruit layered over black cherry. The finish is long and wraps up with hints of fresh ginger. $45 Our Price $30.99

2017 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet

Winemaker Notes: This Cabernet is set each vintage as a Bordeaux blend, with soft and silky tannins and a plush, full mouth-feel setting it up for immediate enjoyment, although it’s built to age and develop further complexity. Aromas of dried herbs, cedar, clove and lavender join flavors of dark red fruit led by figs, black cherry, currants, boysenberry, huckleberry, raspberr, and evident oak spice are joined with more traditional Knights Valley tones of black olive, wild sage and mocha chocolate. Fine acidity and balance with an elegant structure lead to a lingering, memorable finish. $36 Our Price $23.95 (Arrives 10/22/19)

Wine Advocate 94
2016 Hayfork Cabernet Sauvignon
Lewelling Ranch

The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot aged 20 months in 75% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with exuberant red and black currants notions with hints of black truffles and rose hip tea plus fragrant earth, Chinese five spice, dried lavender and dusty soil. Big, full, rich and seductive, it has a plush frame of velvety tannins and wonderful energy, finishing long and spicy. 790 cases produced, to be released in the spring of 2019. $75 (Delicious)

Wine Advocate 94+
2014 Rudius Farella Vineyard
Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard (all clone 4 from the top, rockiest part of the vineyard) charges out of the gate with crushed blackberries, wild blueberries and warm redcurrants with suggestions of bay leaves, camphor, tobacco and fertile loam plus a waft of cedar chest. Full-bodied with a built-like-a-brick-house frame of grainy tannins and great freshness, if finishes with black fruit layers and a compelling herbal lift. 160 cases were made. $90 (Back in stock 10/25/19)

2017 Domaine Alfred
Chamisal Stainless Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: This wine offers aromas of ripe pineapple, fresh Gala apples, pear and candied lemon. On the palate, it shows fresh citrus fruit that leads into secondary aromas of fig and mineral. The finish is clean and crisp with lingering acidity. $18 Our Price $13.95

2012 Beran Napa Zinfandel

Winemaker Notes: Beran Napa Zinfandel 2012 is the big brother to Beran California Zinfandel, showing the same rich ripe fruit characters with slightly more complexity and structure. The wine is bright, vibrant purple with a deep black core. Aromas of black cherry, sweet pipe tobacco and dark chocolate are enhanced by hints of black pepper spice and cedar. These flavors are carried through on the palate with richness and weight. This wine has great persistence and a slight dustiness on the finish from the fine-grained tannins. $30

2016 Cakebread Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Deep shades of purple, and rich dark-red hues, signal that this is a quintessential Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of ripe blackberry, boysenberry, dark chocolate and notes of oak precede balanced acidity and firm tannins. With forward fruit, and welcome mineral undertones, this is a perfectly balanced wine that is approachable now, yet will age beautifully. The grapes from throughout the valley that were farmed to make this wine, provide a natural diversity of flavors. $80 Our Price $65.95 (Arrives 10/22/19)

Wine Spectator 96
SPRING MOUNTAIN VINEYARD
Elivette Napa Valley 2015

Dense yet energetic, delivering Black Mission fig and dark plum fruit flavors, while vigorous bramble and licorice snap notes push from behind. Flashes of sage and sassafras peek through, giving this lift and cut on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. Best from 2022 through 2040. 1,810 cases made. — JM. $150 Our Price $131.99 (Arrives 10/22/19) Limited

Wine Advocate 98+
2013 Meteor Vineyard Special Family Reserve

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Family Reserve has a dense, opaque, black/purple color, enormous extract and massive fruit, full-bodied power and stunning purity and depth. Readers are often too young to remember what some of the great classics of the late 1960s and 1970s tasted like, particularly the Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignons of 1968-1974. Well, I bought those wines, and tasting these Meteor Vineyard wines reminded me of their super-richness and almost overwhelming extract and power. This is another great achievement, but a real connoisseur's wine in that it's going to take 8-10 years to come around and last 30-40 years, if not longer. $300 Our Price $199.95 (6 bottles arrive 10/25/19. Please email stan@grapetray.com)


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