March 24th, 2020 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

March 24th, 2020 Newsletter

Our retail door will be closed, but orders can still be placed as follows:


Email stan@grapetray.com or call 559-226-6828


~Local orders: Email or call and we will deliver to Fresno and Clovis via GSO or UPS at the following rates:
1-6 bottles: $10
7-12 bottles $15
(Orders placed and paid for in advance can also be picked up at our receiving area)

~We will continue to ship to the Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Arizona.
We are an authorized shipper for Vivino
Choose your wine with confidence. Get ratings, read reviews, and check prices instantly just by snapping a photo of any bottle or menu. Make a purchase right from your phone. Shipping to your home or business is only $15 and if you spend $150, shipping is free. The Vivino App: https://www.vivino.com/app

Place your order using our website: grapetray.com

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
2017 Hartford Court Pinot Noir
Russian River, Half Bottles

A crazy good value, the 2017 Russian River Pinot Noir is the appellation release from this team and it comes from all of the estate vineyards across Green Valley, Laguna Ridge and Sebastopol regions. Complex notes of strawberries, cranberries, violets, pine forest all flow to a medium bodied Pinot Noir that has a kiss of salinity and marine notes, ripe tannins and a great finish. This beautiful wine competes with wines costing 2-3 times the price. $18/375ml. Our Price $15.99/375ml (Back in stock 3/25/20)

Wine Advocate 93
2017 Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel
Steacy Ranch

The 2017 Zinfandel Steacy Ranch comes from a vineyard planted in 1907 to Zinfandel as well as Grenache and Carignane. It has a medium to deep ruby-purple color and very spicy, singular nose of black licorice, dried black cherries and dried blackcurrants with notes of stone and blue fruits at the core plus cedar and soil touches. Medium to full-bodied, it offers lots of spices in the mouth with wonderfully ripe, lush black fruits accented by peachy notes, framed by mouthwatering acidity and soft, grainy tannins, finishing long. 1,000 cases produced. $32

Wine Advocate 92+
2017 Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel
Fredericks Vineyard

The Fredericks vineyard is located very close to the Napa border in the Moon Mountain AVA, planted in 1937 on terraces at an elevation of 900 feet. Deep ruby-purple in the glass, the 2017 Zinfandel Fredericks Vineyard gives aromas of preserved peach, blueberry, boysenberry, cinnamon toast and warm baking spice, with a black cherry liqueur and baked blackberries core plus a rocky hint. Medium to full-bodied, it's youthfully coiled in the mouth with dense layers of fruit and earthy nuances, firm, fine-grained tannins and great freshness to lift the long finish. 1,450 cases produced. $42

2017 Virginia Marie Lambrix (VML)
Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Incredibly pretty, floral, fruit-centric, and slightly spicy. Oak inspires hints of graham cracker and vanilla, and the finish finds pert acidity, bing cherries, and rose petals. $44 Our Price $21.95 (Back in stock)

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points
2017 Sobon Estate Rocky Top
Amador County Zinfandel

Dried fruit aromas, deep flavors, full body and moderate tannins add up to a robust, berry-drenched wine that packs a big punch. Blackberries, dried figs and light spicy accents fill out the palate and linger a bit on the finish. $17 Our Price $11.99

Varichon and Clerc Blanc de Blancs Privilège

Winemaker Notes: This pale and brillant gold wine has white fruit aromas with numerous fine bubbles.The palate is elegant, longlasting and well balanced between freshness and fruit. Lively mineral attack giving way to aromas of white flowers and exotic fruit. $13 Our Price $10.49

Campo Viejo Cava Brut Rose

Winemaker Notes: A bright sparkling pink color. Pleasant and powerful on the nose with a strong presence of ripe red berries. Round and full on the palate. $10 Our Price $7.95 (Great Value)

Wine Spectator 90
2017 RAYMOND Merlot Napa
Valley Reserve Selection

Dense, featuring mocha and spice notes to the ripe dark fruit flavors. Cocoa bean hints linger on the rich finish, with plenty of chocolate accents. Drink now through 2023. 4,053 cases made.—K.M. $24 Our Price $19.99

Wine Spectator 92
HARTFORD COURT Chardonnay
Russian River Valley 2018

Luscious, rich and full of creamy white fruit flavors flanked by buttery accents. Spicy plushness lingers into the finish, with some honeyed notes. Drink now through 2024. 17,000 cases made. — KM $30 Our Price $24.99

Wine Advocate 92
2015 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley

The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple and gives very pretty notes of crushed red currants, black cherries and black currants with touches of camphor, pencil shavings, lilacs and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a taut structure of grainy tannins and great freshness supporting the muscular red and black fruits, finishing with a lingering minty lift. 2,500 cases produced. $35 Our Price $30.55 (Back in stock 3/25/20)

Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points
2016 Crown Point Happy Canyon Cabernet

The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated cuvée is the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (92% Cabernet Sauvignon with tiny amounts of the other varieties on the property). It’s cut from the same cloth as the Estate Selection, yet with just a touch more classic Cabernet blue fruits, purity, and precision. Blackcurrants, cassis, crushed violets, graphite, and lead pencil notes all give way to a powerful, concentrated, beautifully pure Cabernet that has ultra-fine tannins, a seamless texture, building tannins, and a great, great finish. It's another magical wine from this team that's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. $150

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2017 Paul Hobbs Russian River Chardonnay

Leading off the Chardonnays from Hobbs, the 2017 Chardonnay Russian River Valley comes from multiple sites and spent ten months in 55% new French oak. Its medium gold color is followed by a rich, upfront bouquet of Caramelized pineapple, tangerine, honeysuckle, spice, and a touch of toasted nuts. It's rich, concentrated, has beautiful mid-palate heft, and nicely integrated acidity. It's a rocking wine as well as a great introduction into the wines of this great winemaker. $60 Our Price $49.99

Wine Advocate 94-96+
Kongsgaard Chardonnay Napa Valley 2017

Coming from the Hudson and Hyde vineyards, the barrel sample of 2017 Chardonnay opens with notes of lemon drops, lime cordial and fresh grapefruit with hints of fresh ginger, toasted almonds, honeysuckle and mandarin peel. Full-bodied and super tight-knit with amazing freshness and layers of densely packed citrus flavors, the finish is epically long and a zesty. Wow. $100 (Back in stock this afternoon)



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