April 8th 2022 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

April 8th 2022 Newsletter

2019 Robert Denogent SAINT-VÉRAN THE POMMARDS Vieilles Vignes

Winemaker Notes: Very mineral wine on the nose and very fresh on the palate. This balanced cuvée with its gourmet acidity will go perfectly with grilled fish or creamy cheeses from the Mâconnais. $50 Our Price $41.99 (Available GT)

Wine Advocate 91+ Points
2019 Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Bouzeron

The 2019 Bouzeron is a particular success, mingling aromas of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers and clear honey with hints of beeswax and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, layered and unusually concentrated, it's a seamless, structured wine, with lively acids and a long, intense finish. Attractive though this is today, I can't wait to see it with a decade or so on the clock. $40 Our Price $36.99 (Available GT)

2019 Ghost Block Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Our 2019 vintage embodies the beauty of Oakville, with lovely aromas of blackberry and ripe plum along with sultry tones of dusty earth and leather with hints of sweet bay leaf and baking spices. On the palate, alluring layers of cassis, boysenberry and black cherry are met with subtle notes of tobacco leaf. The refined, beautifully integrated tannins create a harmonious experience that fills out your palate completely ending with a long elegant finish that leaves you with one word...exceptional. Internet Price $75 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 92 Points
PAUL BERTRAND Malbec Cahors Crocus L'Atelier 2018

A fluid red, with blackberry, blueberry and plum flavors accented by vanilla and clove. Firmly structured, with a sense of grace and harmony despite the chalky tannins. Drink now through 2028. 2,800 cases made, 1,400 cases imported. — BS $20 Our Price $17.95 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points
2019 Luli Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands

The 2019 Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands is also terrific. Coming from a great, cooler region south of Monterey, it has a vibrant nose of melon and ripe orchard fruits as well as some spice and toasty notes. Balanced, medium-bodied, and nicely textured, with a juicy spine of acidity, it's well worth seeking out and would be one heck of a house white to drink over the coming couple of years. $22 Our Price $19.99 (Available GT)

James Suckling 93 Points
2017 Mauro Molino Barolo

Lots of white truffle, ripe strawberry and some watermelon on the nose, following through to a full body with round, chewy tannins and a beautiful, creamy-textured finish from the ripe tannins. Drink in 2023 and onwards. $45 Our Price $37.99 (Available GT)

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
2017 Domenico Clerico Barolo

The 2017 Barolo has perfumed aromas of fennel, cranberry, fresh tobacco, and dried roses. Revealing a refined yet angular structure, with notes of ripe cherry, orange zest, and mineral-rich earth., this is a great entry wine from Clerico, delicering balanced structure and a polished finish. Drink 2022-2040. $60 Our Price $51.99 (Available GT)

Petit & Bajan ‘Nuit Blanche’ Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne

Winemaker Notes: Aromas of lemon blossoms, light herbs, brioche, light cream, lemon rind. Bright, lacy, deeply flavorful; very long. As an aperitif; with sushi or other fresh seafood and grilled white meats. Internet Price $70 (Available GT and VRW)

2020 Lloyd Carneros Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes: Layers of tropical fruits, pear, and apple wrap around refreshing acidity and fresh lemon, all supported by rich notes of vanillin leading into a powerful, yet elegant finish. $40 Our Price $34.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW)

2018 Elyse Yountville Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

This single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from our 1.3 acre estate vineyard and quickly displays the unique terroir of Hoffman Lane. Notes of raspberry and saddle leather dominate the nose, with just a kiss of menthol and mint to remind you of this vineyard’s unique sense of place. Vibrant acidity mixed with refined tannins will allow this wine to be enjoyed for decades to come. $95 (Available GT and VRW 4/9/22)

2019 DOMAINE DE CHANTEMERLE Chablis La Chantemerle

Winemaker Notes: Aromas of fresh herbs, white blossoms, chalk dust. Refined, pure, lively; flavors of lemons, limes, sea salt.

As an aperitif; with oysters or other fresh shellfish; soft ripe French cheese. $29 (Available GT)

2020 The Dude Russian River Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The 2020 The Dude Pinot noir reveals a vibrant aromas of cherry, cola and plum with exotic tones of black tea and baking spice. Beautifully layered, the palate seamlessly flows with a fresh core of ripe red fruits, fine-grained tannins and intriguing spice notes from the whole cluster and oak influence (35% New French Oak). Featuring the following Pinot Noir clones; Calera, Swan, Dijon 777 and Pommard 4. 550 cases produced $30 Our Price $19.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 91 Points
HENRI GOUTORBE Brut Champagne Cuvée Prestige NV

Ripe and juicy aromas and flavors of dried cherry, licorice and candied lemon zest are balanced by crisp acidity in this bright Champagne, creating a mouthwatering impression through to the lightly spiced finish. Disgorged October 2019. Drink now through 2024. — AN $51 Our Price $47.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 95
FRÉDÉRIC ESMONIN Mazy-Chambertin 2018

Bright cherry and berry fruit introduces this elegant red, along with floral, mineral and a hint of earth notes. It's sleek and tensile, with superb balance and poise. The cherry and strawberry theme continues through the long finish. 75 cases imported. Best from 2024 through 2045. —B.S. $185 Our Price $159.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
2017 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon

In the running for the wine of the vintage, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is an incredible success and offers more depth, opulence, and purity than just about every other wine out there. Revealing a dense purple color as well as a killer nose of blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries, scorched earth, tobacco, violets, and exotic spices, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, pure, incredibly layered mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great, great finish. As with most top 2017s, it stays tight and compact on the palate, with notable structure and impressive concentration. It has some up-front appeal given its purity of fruit and balance, yet it’s going to take 7-8 years to hit prime time and will be a long-lived bottle of Napa Cabernet. Hats off to Doug Shafer and the team for yet another magical Cabernet Sauvignon! $325 (Available GT)

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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

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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