December 27th 2019 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

December 27th 2019 Newsletter

Discounted 68%!
Wine Spectator 92
ROBERT MONDAVI Fumé Blanc Oakville 2015

Complex, offering a mix of beeswax, honeysuckle and dried mango flavors up front, which give way to poached pear and apricot notes at the core, with spice, toast and almond butter edges mingling. Wonderful succulent acidity makes the finish just as powerful as the first aromatic sniff. Drink now. 2,815 cases made. — MW Issue Feb 28, 2019. $40 Our Price $12.75 (Limited to 59 bottles in stock)

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points
2017 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

A slightly bigger wine than the Sonoma Coast, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley offers tons of rich black fruits, cola, and smoked earth characteristics in its medium to full-bodied, rounded, textured profile. Coming from a mix of sites, mostly destemmed (there are 15% whole clusters), and brought up in 17% new French oak, it’s a rocking little wine that delivers loads of pleasure. $30 Liquidation Price $23.95 (Limited to stock on hand)

Wine Advocate 92
2015 Mauro Molino Barolo

The 2015 Barolo is a slightly more subdued and downplayed expression of Nebbiolo from a vintage that generally unleashes the explosive and exuberant side of the grape. In Mauro Molino's version, the fruit is contained and packaged in neat little aromatic compartments, starting first with wild berry and moving successively to rose, spice, leather, dark licorice, tar and cigar. You'd do well to highlight those subtleties by serving it with some delicate crackers and goose liver pâté. Production is ample with 49,000 bottles made. $45 Our Price $38.99 (Arrives this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 92
YAO FAMILY Napa Crest Napa Valley Red 2016

A dark and brawny style, with an alder and espresso frame around a core of dark currant, blackberry and fig paste flavors, all of which meld together slowly through the finish, which picks up a notable loam edge. For fans of the hefty style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2020 through 2030. —J.M. 1,800 cases. $52 Our Price $44.99 (Arrives this afternoon)

Wine Spectator 91
BESSERAT DE BELLEFON Brut Rosé
Champagne Cuvée des Moines NV, Half Bottle

This mouthwatering Champagne is soft and creamy in texture, with a finely knit mix of ripe strawberry, pastry cream and candied pink grapefruit zest, showing a rich hint of smoky toasted brioche. Lingering finish. Disgorged June 2016. Drink now through 2021. 750 cases made. — AN Our Price $35.99/375ml

Wine Spectator 92
TAITTINGER Brut Champagne Prélude NV

There's a pleasing viscosity to this elegant Champagne, with sleek acidity creating a mouthwatering frame for the flavors of wild cherry, toast point, preserved lemon and honeycomb. Offers a lingering, creamy finish. Drink now through 2023. 300 cases imported. — AN $98 Our Price $76.95

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
2017 Roar Rosella’s SLH Syrah

Gary commented that Syrah handled the Labor Day heatwave better in the Santa Lucia Highlands because it didn’t go through veraison until Sept 1st and was less affected by the heat. The 2017 Syrah Rosella's Vineyard reveals a deep purple color as well racy notes of black and blue fruit, bacon fat, orange zest, and graphite. Rich, fullbodied, and powerful, it shows more olive and bouquet garni notes with time in the glass, has beautiful acidity, no hard edges, and a great finish. $50 (Back in stock)

Wine Advocate 96+
2015 Michel Rolland Napa Cabernet

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Red Wine has a compelling, lifted nose of ripe plums, warm blackberries and cassis with tapenade, garrigue and sautéed herbs suggestions, plus a waft of roses. Medium to full-bodied, refined and with tons of freshness, this is a very well-crafted and harmonious beauty that should be delicious straight out of the gate but will reward 5-7 years of cellaring and drinking a further 15-20 years thereafter. Vineyards: To Kalon, Missouri Hopper, Dr.Crane, Stagecoach. $180 Our Price $149.99 (Arrives 1/3/20)

Wine Spectator 93
FITZ-RITTER Riesling Pfalz
Ungstein Herrenberg GG 2017

A beautifully crafted example, with a minty aroma and lush, creamy flavors of baked pear, apple tart and dried pineapple, all connected by juicy acidity that acts as a backbone. Savory mineral and chamomile notes mark the long, echoing finish. Youthful, but with multiple layers that will unravel with aging. Best from 2021 through 2032. 75 cases made, 28 cases imported. –AZ $47 Our Price $36.99

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 95+ pts
2014 Zakin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful, dense and explosive. Dark red cherry, rose petal, mint, smoke, licorice, dark spices and menthol all come alive in the glass. Dramatic and ample on the palate, the 2014 exudes personality. This is one of the most impressive debuts I have seen in Napa Valley in some time. $310

2015 Silver Oak
Alexander Valley Cabernet, 3 Liter

Winemaker Notes: Our 2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is maroon in color with a garnet hue. It has an enticing nose of maraschino cherries, blackberry bramble and brisket with notes of clove and star anise. Mouthwatering with a juicy entry, this wine has a fruity mid-palate of currant with toasted vanilla and roasted brown sugar character from American oak barrels. Structured tannins provide an elegant character with a long and expressive finish. Given proper cellaring, this wine will provide drinking through 2041. $450/3L

Wine Advocate 97
2016 Staglin Family Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate bursts out of the glass with beautiful black cherry compote, warm cassis and freshly crushed blackberries scents plus touches of chargrill, violets, dark chocolate and pencil shavings and a waft of English lavender. Full-bodied, the palate features great intensity combined with fantastic freshness, textured by soft, finely grained tannins and lifted by the most gorgeous floral perfume, finishing long and layered. Beautiful wine. $285


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