May 27th 2022 Newsletter - The Grape Tray

May 27th 2022 Newsletter

Memorial Day Holiday, Monday, 5/30/22
The Grape Tray and Vintage Reserve Wine will be closed

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2019 Sean Minor North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: Sophisticated and refined, Cabernet is always a dinner party favorite. Indulge in a rich bouquet of ripe raspberries, blackberry pie, oak and savory spices. Delicate, soft tannins provide structure and linger elegantly. $22 Our Price $17.99 (Back in stock GT and VRW) Delicious!

2020 DOMAINE DU FIGUEIRASSE
‘Gris de Gris’ Vin des Sables

Winemaker Notes: For more than a century, the Saumade family has cared for vines on the shores of the Camargue delta in France. ‘Gris de Gris des Sables’ is a rosé de pressurage and blend of Grenache (gris, noir and blanc) and Cinsault grapes. Vineyards are 200 yards from the sea. Grapes are harvested at night when temperatures are coolest. All tank made. Certified organic. $15 Liquidation Price $9.35 (Available GT) Limited to stock on hand

Wine Spectator 92 Points
GUIDO BERLUCCHI Brut Nature Franciacorta '61 2012

This bursts with ripe pineapple and tangerine fruit, followed by almond skin and honeycomb notes, with a rich streak of racy salinity. Lacy in texture and well-balanced, with a mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2024. 8,000 cases made, 700 cases imported. — AN $62 (Arrives GT 6/1/22)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
DOMAINE DROUHIN Chardonnay Dundee Hills Arthur 2020

Tasting Note: Expressive and delicately complex, with apple blossom, orange peel and zesty spice flavors that finish with a fresh lift of acidity. Drink now. —T.F. $40 (Available GT)

DOMAINE DU FIGUEIRASSE 2021 Vin des Sables ‘Gris de Gris’

For more than a century, the Saumade family has cared for vines on the shores of the Camargue delta in France. ‘Gris de Gris des Sables’ is a rosé de pressurage and blend of Grenache (gris, noir and blanc) and Cinsault grapes. Vineyards are 200 yards from the sea. Grapes are harvested at night when temperatures are coolest. All tank made. Certified organic. $15 Our Price $11.99 (Available GT)

DOMAINE DU DRAGON 2021 Côtes de Provence Rosé ‘Grande Cuvée’

The estate’s high-altitude vineyards, in the hills above the Côte d’Azur in Provence, are rich in limestone, like Burgundy. A blend of Grenache, Mourvédre, Syrah and Cinsault. Rosé de pressurage; fermented in tank. $22 Our Price $16.99 (Available GT)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
CARPINETO Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana Farnito 2015

A core of cherry and black currant flavors is wrapped in spicy black pepper, toasty oak and iron notes, all supported by dense, pointed tannins and lively acidity. Offers a long, smoky finish. Enjoy this now for the fresh primary fruit, or let mature into more tobacco, leather and woodsy elements. Best from 2022 through 2038. 16,500 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. — BS $39 Our Price $34.99 (Available GT and VRW 6/2/22)

2020 Treana Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: This Cabernet truly defi nes the best of Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon. With a deep garnet color and luscious viscosity aromas of dark chocolate, ground coffee and fresh leather. On the palate, intense dark fruit, sweet vanilla, black pepper balanced by bright acidity and fi ne dusty tannins create a long rich mouth feel. $29 Our Price $25.99 (Available GT and VRW 5/28/22)

Wine Spectator 93 Points
KOSTA BROWNE Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 2020

Very alluring, with Damson, griottes and mulberry fruit seamlessly layered with black tea, sous bois and sandalwood hints. Long, refined finish lets all its perfume linger prettily. Drink now through 2029. —J.M. $115 (Available GT and VRW) Limited

Wine Spectator 92 points
RED CAR Syrah Sonoma Coast 2018

A handsome red, expressive and elegantly layered, with cherry and red currant flavors accented by rose petal and savory garrigue. Drink now through 2030. 350 cases made. — TF $35 Our Price $30.99 (Available GT and VRW)

Wine Spectator 94 Points
CARLISLE Syrah Russian River Valley Papa's Block 2019

A wine that offers a true sense of place, this Syrah is loaded with personality, featuring blackberry and currant flavors that take on licorice, smoky game and black pepper accents, finishing with big but polished tannins. Drink now through 2032. 313 cases made. — TF Internet Price $50 (Available GT)

Wine Advocate 92-94 Points
2019 Lerner Project Project 18 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Project 18 has a deep purple-black color and pronounced notions of plum preserves, blueberry compote and cassis with hints of baker's chocolate, lavender and tobacco leaf. Rich, full-bodied and wonderfully pure in the mouth, it has lovely fine-grained tannins and impressive freshness, finishing with a skip in its step. Launched in 2016, Russell Bevan is the winemaker and a partner in this project. Produced from some of Bevan's favored vineyards, including Tench and Sugarloaf, these wines are unique enough from his own label and yet undoubtedly possess that Bevan sparkle. The addition of Armstrong Ranch vineyard on Diamond Mountain makes for an absolute jewell. $100 (Available GT)

Wine Advocate 95 Points
CLOS ST.-JEAN Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2019

Rich and seductive in style, featuring waves of warmed plum sauce and blackberry purée flavors laced with singed alder, licorice root and tobacco notes, with flashes of ganache and warm earth in the background. Everything stays well-defined through the finish, which offers a late echo of minerality. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse and Muscardin. Best from 2023 through 2038. —J.M. 900 cases made. $60 Internet Price $49.95 (Available GT and VRW)

2019 Banshee Sonoma Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: An exciting,yet friendly wine,bursting at the seams with aromas of macerated tart cherries, pomegranate and notes of earth of pine.The flavors combine both sweet and tart with a fruit driven front palate and very subtle oak influence. The finish is bright, slightly herbal, and delicate making this an excellent food wine, as well as a charming drinking experience by itself. $22 Our Price $17.99 (Available GT and VRW)

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Friday Wine Tasting at VRW, 5/27/22 (Available 12 Noon-5:45 PM) $15 per person and must be 21 or older to attend.

Wine Advocate 92
Pol Roger Brut Reserve

The latest rendition of Pol Roger's NV Brut Reserve is based on the 2013 vintage and incorporates 25% reserve wines from the 2012, 2011 and 2010 vintages. Disgorged six months ago, the wine wafts from the glass with an alluring bouquet of green apple, brioche, pastry cream and buttered toast. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, impressively layered and complete, with a crisp but fleshy core of fruit, a youthfully frothy mousse and bright acids, concluding with a delicately chalky finish. This is one of the very finest—as well as among the most consistent—non-vintage brut bottlings from any of the Grandes Marques, and this release comes very warmly recommended. While it will be drinkable on release, it will reward some bottle age too. $55

James Suckling 96 Points
Hirsch San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir 2019

Wonderful purity of fruit to this with ripe-strawberry, citrus and raspberry aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with very intense, powerful tannins that show strength and structure. Vibrant acidity. This needs time to soften. Blend of various vineyards on the site. Best after 2024. $67

2020 Occidental Freestone Occidental Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes: The 2020 Freestone-Occidental wine shares the same winemaking techniques as Occidental's vineyard designated Pinot Noirs. Crystalline, bright, mouthwatering, and a bit salty with a saline mineral finish, the 2020 Freestone-Occidental evokes juicy red berries and a near perfect balance of finesse and energy – of bright, primary red fruits and saline elements. It conveys outstanding precision and lift in the mouth and finishes vibrant and long with beautifully sculpted tannins. Its modest alcohol (13.3%) makes this wine a perfect complement to any meal. It is delicious now and will develop nicely in bottle. $65

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Saturday Wine Tasting at VRW, 5/28/22 (Available 12 Noon-3:45 PM) $15 per person and must be 21 or older to attend.

2019 Trefethen Oak Knoll Napa
Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes: This wine opens with ripe red fruit, black pepper, and anise leading to notes of dried flowers, currants, and blackberries. Those flavors carry through on the full-bodied palate which is supported by polished tannins and a lengthy finish. Though approachable now, this wine will continue to develop and evolve over the next decade. $70

Wine Spectator 93 Points
2016 Laird Family Estate Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon Mast Ranch

The deep purple-black colored 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Mast Ranch offers up cassis, blackberry pie, blueberry compote and licorice with wafts of earth, sage and toasted nuts. Medium to full-bodied, it has a velvety texture with lovely expression and a fruity finish. $80

Antonio Galloni, Vinous 94 Points
2017 Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, plush wine. Raspberry jam, white chocolate, blood orange and sweet spice give this unctuous, flamboyant Cabernet tons of immediacy and overall appeal. This is an especially extroverted Cabernet done in a style that turns the volume up to eleven, or more. $135

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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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