April 5th 2022 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

April 5th 2022 Newsletter

Taste Kosta Browne Russian River Pinot at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) for $10 per person
Wednesday, 4/6/22-Available 12 noon-5:30 PM

2020 Kosta Browne Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: Perfectly clean and precise with bright red fruits. Cranberry, boysenberry, and layered baking spices complement the alluring hint of vanilla. On the palate, this wine has a polished, expressive texture and bountiful red fruit. A pleasing tension on the palate finishes with inspiring length and integrated tannins. $112

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Hartford 2018 Three Virtues Russian River Chardonnay and 2018 Ulysses Napa Cabernet Wine Tasting at Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) $15 per person.
Tuesday, 4/5/22 - Thursday, 4/7/22. Available all day during operating hours

2018 Hartford Three Virtues Russian River Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Three Virtues Vineyards Chardonnay is handcra¬fted from three vineyards located in the heart of the Russian River Valley AVA. Exotic honeysuckle aromatics and a rich texture. Ripe pear and apple aromas and flavors with citrus and focused fruit characters are framed by nice acidity. $40 Our Price $23.99

James Suckling 98 Points
2018 Ulysses Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully. $180 Our Price $169.99

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Wine Advocate 93 Points
2020 Domaines Ott Bandol Rose Chateau Romassan

The pale, peachy-colored 2020 Bandol Rose Chateau Romassan is mainly Mourvèdre, with smaller proportions of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. Scents of crushed stone accent notes of peach, strawberry and lime on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is silky in texture, streamlined in shape and extremely long on the finish. It can be drunk now or over the next few years. $59 Internet Price $49.99 (Available GT and VRW 4/6/22)

Wine Spectator 91 Points
GIRARD Chardonnay Carneros 2019

Elegant and supple, with a touch of salted butter adding richness to the flavors of mango puree, peach and lemon meringue at the generous core. Drink now. 3,000 cases made.—MaryAnn Worobiec. $19 (Available GT and VRW 4/6/22)

2019 Joseph Carr Carneros Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: The bouquet is vivid with aromas of lemon zest, fresh stone fruit and meringue. Flavors of ripe white peach, sweet lemon curd and hint of coconut emerge on the palate and linger through a refreshing finish. $22 Internet Price $16.95 (Available GT and VRW 4/6/22)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
MOCALI Brunello di Montalcino 2016

Complex aromas of cherry, mint, camphor, leather, vetiver, iron and cigar box draw you in, while the flavors repeat these themes. Firmly structured, with a dense matrix of tannins and lively acidity for support. Best from 2025 through 2050. 4,166 cases made, 1,350 cases imported. — BS $50 Our Price $41.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 95 Points
HARTFORD FAMILY Zinfandel Russian River Valley Hartford Vineyard Old Vine 2019

Appealingly briary yet refined in structure, this Zinfandel slowly unfurls handsome cherry and blueberry flavors, which take on roasted sage, green peppercorn and licorice notes toward zesty tannins. Drink now through 2031. 262 cases made. —Tim Fish. $60 Our Price $33.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Sommariva Prosecco Superiore di Conegliano-Valdobbiane Brut DOCG NV

Winemaker Notes: Fragrant floral tones and drying mineral notes characterize this luminous Prosecco Brut. The sparkling wine delivers frothy peach, herbal accents and a steady dose of citrus zest. $15 Our Price $12.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

2020 Peter Michael La Carrière Single Vineyard Estate Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: The 2020 ‘La Carrière’ leaps from the glass with a bouquet of yellow spring flowers and baking spices, leading into notes of orange zest, lime blossoms, apricot, and lemon meringue pie, finishing with accents of vanilla custard. A focused entry is followed by a dense mid-palate with rich, oyster shell structure, a creamy mouthfeel, and seamless harmony. Lemon custard, crème brûlée, acacia honey, and white peach flavors accompany the generous grand cru body of this wine. $120 (Arrives GT 4/6/22) Limited

James Suckling 99 Points
2019 Peter Michael Les Pavots

This is very perfumed with blackberry and pine-cone aromas, as well as raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins that are tight-grained. Creamy and beautiful. Currant and graphite flavors come through. Lightly chewy at the end. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot, 14% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Drink after 2025. $256 Our Price $229.95 (Arrives GT 4/6/22) Limited

James Suckling 98 Points
2018 Ulysses Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully. $180 Our Price $169.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Additional Notes: 97 points Antonio Galloni, Vinous * The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine off Christian Moueix's (Dominus) Oakville ranch so far. Deep, creamy and generous, the 2018 captures the unqiue blend of fruit in a savoriness that is typical of the southern sector of Oakville where cooling winds from the south lend palpable freshness and vivacity to the vines. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather are some of the many notes that build into the sumptuous finish. (AG)

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Friday Wine Tasting, 4/08/22 (Available all day during operating hours) $15 per person and must be 21 or older to attend.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2018 Ledge MCA Cuvee

The MCA Cuvée from Ledge is one of the great values out there and it always delivers the goods. The 2018 sports a dense ruby hue as well as a beautiful, elegant, medium to full-bodied style. With lots of juicy red and black berry-like fruit, notes of peppery herbs and flowers, no hard edges, and the purity and freshness that's common in the vintage, it's ideal for drinking any time over the coming 7-8 years. $40

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
2019 Emerson Brown Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The appellation 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a big winner and another remarkable achievement from Keith Emerson. It’s another finesse-driven effort offering beautiful red and black fruits as well as floral, dusty earth, and spicy nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with silky tannins and a great mouthfeel, I finished my notes with “crazy good at the price.” It will keep for a solid decade, although there’s no need to delay gratification. $50

Wine Spectator 96 Points (Top 100: 2019, Rank: 4)
GROTH Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Reserve 2016

This delivers a very tightly focused, almost piercing beam of cassis, raspberry coulis and bitter cherry fruit, scored with singed alder and iron notes. Incense and tobacco details chime in on the finish. Long and refined, with the fruit leaving a sweet and mouthwatering echo. Best from 2022 through 2038. 4,800 cases made. — JM $150

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Saturday Wine Tasting, 4/9/22 (Available all day during operating hours) $15 per person and must be 21 or older to attend.

2020 Kistler Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: This wine is tremendously complex, with intense aromas of green apple & sea spray, flavors of flint & citrus, and is structured by vibrant acidity. As the wine opens, notes of roasted almonds, pineapple, lemon and butter become more evident. Big, lavish, full-bodied and mouth-watering, this is a true California-style Chardonnay. $80

2017 Ehlers Estate Portrait Proprietary Red

Winemaker Notes: The 2017 Ehlers Estate Portrait is a special red blend of the 4 Bordeaux varietals we have planted at the Estate. The wine is showing deep layers of garnet color. With only 50% Cabernet Sauvignon to give structure to the wine, the big personalities of the Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot really shine in this blend. Aromas of red berries, fig compote, ripe strawberries, cassis and violet flowers flowered aromas of vanilla, mocha and licorice. Long and balanced, the mouthfeel is rich but with silky tannins. Full finish with a long mineral post taste. Balanced acidity promises good aging potential to the wine. Ready to drink now, but it will age extremely well for 15-20 more years. $65

2020 Kosta Browne Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The 2020 Sta. Rita Hills harvest began two weeks earlier due to several heat spikes throughout the summer and extended an additional five weeks due to slow ripening conditions which led to high quality and character development of the grapes. Bursting with vibrant red fruit, baking spice, and an earthy core, this fascinatingly layered wine is delightfully unique. $112

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Vintage Reserve Wine (VRW) 1552 E. Champlain Drive, Ste 109 Fresno, CA 93720
Via Montana Center (NE Corner Shepherd and Champlain-Two doors south of Big 5) www.vintagereserve.biz 559-878-3953
Tuesday-Friday 12:00 Noon-6:00 PM
Saturday 12 Noon-4:00 PM


The Grape Tray (GT) 6023 N. Palm Avenue Fresno, CA 93704
Opus One Center (NW Corner Bullard and Palm)
www.grapetray.com 559-226-6828
Monday-Friday 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM-4:00 PM


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