 Byron Kosuge has been making wine for over 3 decades now. He honed his skills at various great wineries in California and France. While working in Carneros he befriended two guys who ran a vineyard management company. When they planted a small vineyard next to their work shop, Byron came up with the name “The Shop” and the rest (10 years later) is history. Byron has created a good following for his brand, and so have many of my customers. But his Chardonnay making goes back 30 years and has been his big passion, although he did not add this to his portfolio till 2008. The 2014 is truly amazing and a great wine for your Buck! |
B. Kosuge 2014 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
Retail 36.99 – GGWC 34.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code KOSUGE at checkout
Mix & match with Kosuge “The Shop” Pinot Noir
Winemaker Notes: “2014 may turn out to be the best wine since the new millennium began. Don’t quote me on that, but I am very excited about the quality of all of my 2014 wines. Why am I so high on the 2014? They have an enviable combination of richness, purity, freshness and concentration–ripe without being heavy–that doesn’t happen very often. I find a mineral streak in the Chardonnay in its youth which is particularly appealing. Over the course of the summer, if it follows the pattern of my previous Chardonnays, it will put on weight and develop some mid-palate richness, but I like that it is a touch steely at the moment.”
Check out these other Kosuge wines:
B KOSUGE 2013 PINOT NOIR THE SHOP
B. KOSUGE 2012 PINOT NOIR “HABITAT” SONOMA COAST
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
| On this Memorial Day, let us remember our heroes.
Remember, honor, and pay tribute to all who have fought and selflessly surrendered the precious gift of life, so that others could live free. Give thanks to those who believed in something greater than themselves. And let us not forget their families whose pain will never go away, but may lessen with our thanks and prayers.
God Bless our fallen, their families, and the men and women in uniform all over the world.
And raise a glass to the United States of America! |
Share on Facebook
My tasting group doesn’t often conduct Zinfandel tastings, so we were due for one. We called it the “Battle of the Zins”. The line up of 2013 Zins was impressive and the winner a big surprise. We tasted the following wines:
- Turley “Estate” (95 Parker)
- Epoch (95 Parker)
- Bella Barrel 32 (95 Parker)
- Limerick Lane “Rocky Knoll” (95 Parker)
- Harford “Fannuci” (95 Galloni)
- Carlisle Pagani (95 Parker)
- Saxum “Paderewski (94 Galloni)
- Williams Selyem “Bacigauipi” (94 Parker)
- Ridge “Lytton Springs” (95 Galloni)
- Saxon Brown “Fighting Brothers”
The “Battle of the ZINS Winner
SAXON BROWN received 8 first, 4 second and 3 third place votes, ahead of Carlisle 4 First, 4 Second and Turley 2 First, 2 Second place votes, so a clear winner!
Saxon Brown 2013 Zinfandel “Fighting Brothers” Sonoma Valley
Retail 44.00 – GGWC 39.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code SAXON upon checkout
The 2013 Fighting Brothers Zinfandel is a big, concentrated wine offering a mouthfilling blend of rich plum, blackberry bramble, raspberry compote, dark cherry and chocolate with lovely accents of allspice and clove. On the palate the wine’s jammy core of concentrated fruit gains exquisite structure from polished, sweet oak tannins that linger on the endless finish. Decant within first year of release. Cellar for up to 7-12 years. Only 393 cases produced.
Robert Parker 93 Points: “The 2013 Zinfandel Fighting Brothers displays notes of Provençal garrigue, pepper, kirsch liqueur and black currants in a complex, intense style. This is very Mediterranean in character, but full-bodied, hedonistic, and just a total joy to smell, taste and appreciate. Drink it over the next 4-6 years.”
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
The Gianulias’ had been farming and making wine for centuries in Greece, so it was only normal that they would do so after emigrating to the US. It started in 1926 when the Gianulias family planted their first vines in the Napa. So decades later they are still at it and they say “
Levendi” or “Celebrate Life”
Levendi 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon “Sweetwater” Napa Valley
Retail $60.00 – GGWC 49.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code LEV13 upon checkout
The Sweetwater is back and better than ever. On the nose this youngster offers up gorgeous black currant, black plums and white pepper aromas. The wine if lush and full in bodied with very lively and forward flavors of black stone fruits, hints of chocolate and a whiff of spice and very modest acidity, balancing it well with the toasty vanilla flavors from the French oak barrels. This wine is lush, bold yet extremely silky on the mid-palate leading into a long-lasting finish. A pleasant wallet-friendly experience!
95 Point Review: “The grapey/currant syrupy effect is attributable to the sunshine-filled 2013 vintage and this Cab shows it beautifully. The grapes are grown on rocky red-soiled slopes and the wine’s texture – strikingly rich – has a backdrop of slate and dried lavender, chocolate pudding surfaces heroically on the mid-palate. The creamy French oak drives texture further, enveloping the palate in what seems like forever. This is one to watch!”
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
Kanzler is still a winery floating below the radar, but that will chance soon!. As you might know Kosta Browne received Top Honors a few yeas ago WINE OF THE YEAR in the Top 100 of Wine Spectator with their Pinot Noir, and the fruit was sourced from…. You guessed it
KANLZER! That said, the Kanzler folks are not walking in the clouds after that review but have been acknowledged as one of the best growers of Pinot Noir in California. Their latest bottling is truly amazing and a fraction the cost of Kosta Browne!
Kanzler 2014 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Retail $60.00 – GGWC 57.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code KANZLER at checkout
The 2014 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir practically leaps out of the glass with aromas of fresh strawberry, raspberry and earthy notes of tobacco and green tea. On the palate, it opens with boysenberry and blueberry fruit balanced seamlessly with well integrated French oak, contributing youthful, grippy but smooth and pleasing tannins. A burst of vivid black tea, Bing cherry, leather, cocoa and sweet oak explodes in the mid-palate and continues through to a long and lingering finish.
Winemaker Notes: “The 2014 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a generous, fruit forward wine with a surprisingly deep reserve of vivid and complex flavors. Whole cluster fermentation adds spicy and earthy undertones and grippy, age-worthy tannin. The structure and texture make this an excellent food wine, that will pair well with dishes like roast duck, wild mushroom risotto, or pork tenderloin. A concentrated and vibrant wine, we recommend decanting or opening early to allow the nose to blossom and flavors to fully develop.”
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
Everyone’s dream is to make great wine. That said, when these two friends createdLacuna and set out to do so, they had one problem – they had no winemaker! When they hooked up with ace winemaker Morgan Twain Peterson (Bedrock) their problem was solved and their 10 year dream came to fruition. This is the seventh release and it has created a great following among many of our clients. I’d be surprised not to see another high (95 point) rating, as this is on par with the Bedrock wines that have garnered 95-99 Point ratings regulary!
Lacuna 2013 Proprietary Red, Sonoma
Retail 36.00 – GGWC 33.99
FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use discount shipping code LACUNA during check out
The Bedrock Man does it again! I am proud to introduce another release of Lacuna. This 700 case production was sourced from several revered vineyards in Northern California. Morgan Twain Peterson crafted this blend of 85% Syrah, 6% Carignan, 3% Mourvedre, 2% Petite Sirah and 4% Viognier (co-fermented) into a synergy of amazing aromas and flavors. The wine is high-toned with savory and bold aromas of white pepper, rosemary, and black stone fruit that are nestled in the warming embrace of currant and blackberry. This wine has an amazing, lush body with bold black stone fruit flavors that linger on the palate. This wine is well-balanced, although young, shows tremendous potential. I would suggest either decanting, and let it breathe for a good 2 hours, or put in the cellar for a year or two.
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
Attune is a venture of two families who with a love for Chardonnay and Pinot. They planted 8.5 acres on their estate to two Burgundy clones from the Cotes d’Or, clones 667 and 115. Their winemaker is Ken Juhasz, who also owns and makes Auteur. Emphasis at Attune is not quantity, but quality. The production of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are very limited. The
2014 Attune Chardonnay will wow you, both on the palate as well as the wallet!
Retail 42.00 – GGWC 39.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6+, use code ATTUNE upon checkout
Mix and match with Attune Pinot Noir
The
2014 Attune Chardonnay offers up copious notes of honeysuckle, green apple, and Anjou pear on the nose. The wine is medium to full in body, yet extremely elegant with a clean, lean underbelly of tropical fruit, tangerine, citrus and a whiff of minerality. The wine possesses a well-balanced acid-fruit ratio and lingers for a good 20 seconds on the finish. Only 140 cases produced!
Make sure to check out their stunning ATTUNE 2013 PINOT NOIR “ESTATE” SONOMA
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
For those fans of
Sans Liege “The Offering” I have a unique line-up for you. The Offering is a blend of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre. This GSM blend has wowed many for years. I am excited to offer you each of the components as a single varietal bottling. We are selling the three varietals as a mixed case, 4 bottles each of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. I tasted through the wines and was extremely pleased. Unfortunately, the production of the “components” was very limited, so act quick!
Sans Liege 2013 Journey Man
Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre
Retail 35.00 – GGWC 31.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code JOURNEYMAN upon checkout
Mix & match with other Sans Liege wines
Winemaker Tasting Notes:
2013 Sans Liege Journey Man “Fool’s Errand” Grenache
“Rounding the corner a cabin came into view. A man resting in the window. Impossible! You are 100 miles from the trail and trying to get lost. The man is drinking Turkish coffee, whittling and plucking cherries and chocolates from a bowl. He invites you in for supper. You’re awestruck as he produces sopressata, fig preserves and blueberry compote cooked in chargrilled shells. This is the North Slope, and none of this should be happening.”
2013 Sans Liege Journey Man “Long Way Home” Syrah
“It was the most dangerous game of the year. Storm clouds, distant lightning, a construction zone and surrounded by grandmotherly homes. Why they chose this lot to play in you’ll never know. As the storm grew, the scents from the neighborhood settled in: plum pies, petrichor, cracked Mr. Sketch black markers, sidewalk chalk, grilled blood sausage, bent iron bar, lilac bush, cherry kirsch glazed apple. You were at bat, distracted by the slip of rain when the ball struck and rang.”
2013 Sans Liege Journey Man “Take the Pebble” Mourvedre
“She lost her leather sandal. The one with the gold key stashed in the sole. Here you were rooting quietly in the brush behind a the prince’s quilted picnic. The nobles passing plates of rare hamburgers, smoked berries, chocolate dusted blueberry ice cream, cherry rugelch, and drams of birch beer. How hungry you are, how thirsty, but the key must be found. Digging under a pepper tree you catch the glint of gold, and return to the royal road.”
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
Back in 1995 Russell and Victoria were dating and their favorite game was “guess the wine”. After that they started taking regular trips to California’s wine country meeting some of the best winemakers. Soon they were searching for property in California. It was Kal Showket (Heidi Barrett was his winemaker) who helped develop their estate vineyard and also “gave” Russell 1a ton of his estate Cabernet and the rest…. is history. From their on out Russell has produced a bunch of 100 point and many more 94-99 pointers! I am proud to introduce a KILLER Chardonnay form his portfolio that will wow your senses, the
2014 Bevan Ritchie received a 95 point rating from Parker, not shabby!
Bevan Cellars 2014 Chardonnay “Ritchie Vineyard” Russian River Valley
95 Points Parker!!
Retail $70.00 – GGWC 66.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code BEVAN at checkout
OK to mix & match with other Bevan winesRussell Bevan’s notes: “The
2014 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is our most texturally decadent Chardonnay to date. It has an amazing mid-palate texture that lingers on and on. The flavors are pure Ritchie, stone fruits, minerality and a kiss of freshly caramelized Crème Brulee. With each sip, it gains power and length. While I enjoy drinking this wine so much now, I think it will really hit its stride in another year. The power of this vineyard makes it age worthy and there are so many layers that will develop with time, there is no rush to drink it right off the bat.
Robert Parker 95 Points: “His 2014 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is 100% from this famous vineyard source for Chardonnay, planted with the old Wente clone. There are 250 cases of this wine, which is aged in three-fourths François Frères cooperage and the remainder in Remond. Light golden with a greenish hue, the wine reveals honeyed apricot, white peach, wet pebbles and floral notes. It is rich, full-bodied, loaded with minerality and extremely pure, with the oak well-concealed. This should drink well for 4-5 years, if not longer.”
Make sure to check out these other amazing Bevan wines:
BEVAN CELLARS 2014 PINOT NOIR “PETALUMA GAP” SONOMA
BEVAN CELLARS 2014 PINOT NOIR “RITA’S CROWN” SANTA RITA HILLS
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
2012 marks the 36th vintage for the
Robert Keenan Winery and the 12th consecutive vintage of “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon. It all started in 1974 when Robert Keenan purchased 180 acres in the Spring Mountain District at an elevation of 1700 feet. The winery is now in its second generation on leadership of Michael Keenan since 1998. He replanted the vineyards and it paid of!
Keenan 2012 Reserve Cabernet Spring Mountain, Napa Valley
GGWC 109.99
FREE SHIPPING on 4
Use code KEENAN upon checkout
The 2012 Reserve Cabernet is a blend of all estate Cabernet Sauvignon (93%) and Cabernet Franc 97%). Offernig up deep aromatics. On the palate you’ll encouter a piercing and precise full rich, saturated mouth feel loaded with bold concentrated, yet well-balanced fruit. The long-lasting multi-layered finish defines this exemplary blend. Enjoy now or decades from now. Cheers!
Robert Parker 96 Points: “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from the estate in Spring Mountain Vineyards is the thirty-sixth vintage for the Robert Keenan Winery. This wine has 7% Cabernet Franc added into the blend and 700 cases were produced. A blockbuster wine for sure, with an inky/purple color, sweet crème de cassis, graphite, chocolate a hint of charcoal and burning embers – almost as if it wanted to behave like a Graves from Bordeaux. This is full-bodied, very rich, powerful and still moderately tannic. It’s a baby for sure, but what an impressive one. This wine needs a good 3-4 years of bottle age and should keep well for 25-30 years at the minimum.”
Click here or on the links above to order!
Share on Facebook
Tasting Notes | Frank May 31, 2016 | 
Comments (0) 
