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A native of South Africa, Brian Malk continues a family tradition of grape growing started by his grandfather who owned a wine farm in Franschhoek (trans. French Corner) near Capetown. Brian moved to the United States in 1978 and is now residing in Napa Valley as well as San Diego. Brian and Nancy purchased the Stags Leap property for Malk Family Vineyards in 1997 and the wines have been a success since day 1!
Malk 2013
Sauvignon Blanc
Napa Valley
Retail 33.00 – GGWC 29.99
FREE SHIPPING on EIGHT
Use code MALK13SB upon check out
Our friends at Malk produced yet another superb Sauvignon Blanc that will please many. Elegant and dazzling aromas of sweet Brazilian lime and melons jump right out of the glass. On impact this well-made youngster tickles the palate with flavors of fresh apricots, honeydew, orange blossom and a touch of minerality. Some delicacy and creaminess hovers over this medium weight palate wine with its hallmark Sauvignon Blanc crisp flavors. The finish is silky with long lasting flavors of gorgeous white plums and honeysuckle. Only 320 cases produced!
It was Pinot Days at Frank’s house, and we pulled out some big guns. The lineup included
Furthermore 2010 Pinot Noir “Rosella” Santa Lucia Highlands Retail 55.00 – GGWC 51.99 FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more Use code FURTH12PN upon checkout
Amazingly complex and intense wine from the get-go. Bright berries and a touch of savory notes jump out of the glass on impact. This lush, medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir offers gorgeous well-balanced blue berry and black plum fruit with a touch of underbrush and minerality on the mid-palate. Well-delineated from start to finish, this 4 barrel production ends with an astonishing crescendo of anise, spice and silky tannins. Only 83 cases produced!
It was Pinot Days at Frank’s house, and we pulled out some big guns. The lineup included
Furthermore 2010 Pinot Noir “Rosella” Santa Lucia Highlands
Retail 55.00 – GGWC 51.99
FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use code FURTH12PN upon checkout
Amazingly complex and intense wine from the get-go. Bright berries and a touch of savory notes jump out of the glass on impact. This lush, medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir offers gorgeous well-balanced blue berry and black plum fruit with a touch of underbrush and minerality on the mid-palate. Well-delineated from start to finish, this 4 barrel production ends with an astonishing crescendo of anise, spice and silky tannins. Only 83 cases produced!
Scott Peterson has been producing stunning Bordeaux blends for years now under the SP Drummer label as well making the Cabernet and Merlot for Textbook and Pinot Noir and Riesling for Pey Marin Wineries. Now he has ventured into Napa Valley Chardonnay as well. The 2012 vintage marks his “debut” with this varietal and it is a big hit right away!
SP Drummer 2012 Chardonnay, Napa Valley
Retail 28.00 – GGWC 24.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12 or more, use code SPD12CHD upon checkout.
Can mix and match with SP Drummer Cab/Cab Franc Blend
The SP Drummer 2012 Chardonnay, Napa Valley showcases a brilliant color. The nose offers bright aromatic purity of lemon, mineral, green apple, that opens to poached pear and a touch of toastiness. A gorgeous stone fruit palate and nutmeg offer great richness. 180 cases produced.
Also check out the SP DRUMMER 2008 PROPRIETARY RED (CS & CF), NAPA VALLEY
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
Michael Trujillo has been making wine in the Napa Valley for decades now. He had a long run with his Karl Lawrence label, which was “retired” after the 2010 vintage. Under a new disguise, the 2011 Trujillo Cabernet was born. Sourced from the same amazing vineyards: Herb Lamb, Morisoli, Healy & Henry Brothers. Only 400 cases of this “Premiere” release were produced.
Trujillo 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
PREMIERE RELEASE
Retail 70.00 – GGWC 64.99
FREE SHIPPING on SIX
Use code TRU11CS upon checkout
The aromatics are at first bright and focused, giving way to rich and vibrant dark fruit flavors. Blackberries, black cherry and currant roll forward on the palate followed by delicate hints of licorice, sweet tobacco and dark chocolate. A very slight mineral, almost slate, note quietly bolsters the complexity of the bouquet. In accordance with its refined character, the wine’s structure and acidity are well balanced for drinking now and entirely worthy of cellaring for many years.
Winemaker Side Bar: “My Cabernet Sauvignon is crafted from the fruit of select, family-owned vineyards in Napa Valley, and I work closely with each grower, utilizing farming practices that yield notable fruit each year. Gary Morisoli, located just west of Rutherford, delivers bold, rich red and black fruit. Herb Lamb Vineyard, on Napa’s eastern slope, evokes black cherry and currants with bold spices and soft tannins. Healy Vineyard in St. Helena offers soft, silky mocha characters, and Henry Brothers Ranch, high on Howell Mountain, brings wonderfully dense and black fruit flavors with dark chocolate notes.”
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
Bill Wathen and Dick Doré (also known as the “Foxen Boys”) have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen Winery & Vineyard at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic in northern Santa Barbara County. Since that time, their dedication has remained the same—the creation of very small production, sustainably-farmed, vineyard-focused wines using a “minimalist” approach to winemaking.
The winery was named in memory of William Benjamin Foxen, an English sea captain and Dick’s great-great grandfather, who came to Santa Barbara in the early 1800’s. In 1837, this Santa Barbara County pioneer purchased the Rancho Tinaquaic, a Mexican Land Grant that originally totaled nearly 9000 acres and comprised most of what is now known as Foxen Canyon. Captain Foxen adopted the distinctive “anchor” as his ranch cattle brand, which has become a trademark of the winery. It is very fitting that FOXEN has made its home on the 2000-acre Rancho Tinaquaic, which remains in family hands.
Foxen 2012 La Encantada Pinot Noir,
Santa Rita Hills
Retail 70.00 – GGWC 64.99
FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more!
Use shipping code FOX12EN upon checkout
“The 2012 Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard is another of the many highlights in this range. Here the flavors are dark, smoky and gamy. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco and cured meats flesh out in a resonant, highly expressive Pinot endowed with notable depth, especially within the context of the vintage. Hints of dried rose petal and violets linger on the finish. From start to finish, the Encantada is superb.” 94 points – Antonio Galloni
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
This was the first time my tasting group conducted a blind Viognier tasting, and it will not be the last one! The lineup included:
Cold Heaven is a small, off the beaten path urban winery born in 1996. Morgan Clendenen was married to long time “domestic Rhone – Rock & Roller – Jim Clendenen and caught the wine bug early on. Even after their amicable divorce Jim still helps Morgan out with her winery, and continue to sell her premium fruit!
The Santa Maria Valley appellation in Santa Barbara is well suited to growing white grape varieties and Viognier in particular. The 2012 Cold Heaven Viognier has a pale yellow gold color and exotic aromas of citrus blossom, ripe pear and lilies. The wine has a rich, round mouthfeel. The crisp racy acidity and clean finish lend well to pairing with spicy cuisine, pasta or seafood or on its own as a refreshing summer beverage. Drink this dry white wine young and well chilled. Pale yellow gold color. Nose of tropical fruits, pear, mango, and lychee.
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
GWC 94 Points: This wine boasts an amazingly dark color and intense bouquet of spring flowers, anise and spcie. On the palate this wine is full, intense loaded with black stone fruit and a touch forest floor spice. Lush and well-balanced, with amazing mid-section and stunning finish. The wine lingers on for 30-40 seconds! Very limited!
Maison L’Envoyé (The hosue of the messenger) was created by Mark Tarlov owner of Evening Land. Add Mike Etzel Jr. he also makes the highly regarded CHAPTER 24 wines and is the son of the Beaux Freres winemaker) and you have a ticket to success. The emphasis is on finding the right soil types to make the very best wines which they did – Shea, Hyland, Saikonen, etc.
WS 94 Points: “This focused red features lively blackberry, floral and white pepper flavors that unfurl in layers, persisting with finesse against an underlying mineral note as the finish revs up. Complex and expressive. Drink now through 2022. HS”
Maison L’Envoyé
“Attaché” 2012 Pinot Noir
Retail 42.00 – GGWC 39.99
FREE SHIPPING on six or more ~ use code ATTACHE upon check out
As essay of volcanic and sedimentary soils, delivering density and concentration without oppressive weight. A long, focused core of blue fruits and intriguing spice dances across the palate, bound by silky, yet precise tannins and a bright line of minerality. An unbashed come-hither mouthfeel. This wine received three 94 point ratings, so everyone agrees that this is an amazing, well-crafted wine!
W&S 94 Points: “A project between Mark Tarlov, this stylish wine leads with seductive dark purple fruit, brown sugar and cinnamon accents and a hint of forest floor. The flavors are completely mouthfilling, the fruit like roasted cherry with a blue tinge, the texture silky and creamy at once, with a focus to all that lusciousness that lasts.”
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
Carter Cellars grew out of a small bed & breakfast, turned high-end hotel/restaurant with an award winning wine list. Mark Carter started hosting winemaker dinners and in 1998 he created “Carter Cellars” and the rest as they say is history. The first vintages were made by the FIRST 100 point winemaker in Napa, Nils Venge. Today Mike Smith, who started his winemaking journey under the tutelage of Thomas Brown at Schrader Cellars in 2001 has been crafting these amazing wines for years now and has brought Carter to new heights. The Carter 2012 Cabernets might be the first winery to wind up with 100 point ratings, and I don’t take this lightly. Robert Parker gave the 2010 vintage 97-99 points ratings – after I tasted the 2010s next to the 2012s, I’d give the 2012 101 points!
We are offering this wine in mixed 4 packs with FREE SHIPPING, but I might be persuaded to give you a few of same if you like, or more, of course! These wines are in very limited supply, and will sell out in no-time! These wines are tightly allocated.
Carter 2012 To Kalon “The Three Kings” Cabernet Sauvignon
$149.99
FREE SHIPPING on 4, use code CART12 upon check out – Can mix & match with ALL Carter wines
The Three Kings To Kalon is crafted from the classic Napa Cabernet clone 7 which has had quite the Renaissance in recent years. Noticeably darker and the most virile wine of the Carter Cellar’s 2012 offering, it opens up immediately with soaring aromatics of black currants, licorice exotic spices and blue/black fruits. This 2012 vintage reveals superb balance and concentration which successfully expresses the richness and power that is the hallmark To Kalon wine. The pliant mid-palate is composed of firm but sweet tannins which are fully integrated into the plush dark fruit and toasted oak notes. Give this beautiful wine a few years in the cellar to round out and you’ll be rewarded by mature and developed nuances for 12-18 years to come. FYI, the 2010 received a 99 point rating and this wine is even better!!!
Carter 2012 Weitz Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley
$149.99
FREE SHIPPING on 4, use code CART12 upon check out – Can mix & match with ALL Carter wines
This is the inaugural release of Carter Cellar’s Weitz Vineyard Cabernet and we are excited about the opportunity to work with this pedigreed Oakville hillside vineyard. The reddish brown soils are littered with volcanic rocks and the vines bath in the sun from early morning to late in the evening. In the glass, the wine is deep purple to the rim and opens with signature scents of blackberry fruit, cassis and mocha. Notably plush tannins and natural acidity are coupled with a distinct minerality from the heavy graveled soils. In the mid-palate rich blueberry, chocolate covered cherries and barrel spice combine to make this a powerhouse of complexity and structure. Considerable depth and fruit will develop as the structure starts to integrate with a little bottle age. Decanting a few hours will benefit this wine for early drinking; cellar for 6-12 years to enjoy this wine in its prime. FYI, the Weitz vineyard is now called Leopoldina.
Carter Cellars 2012 Beckstoffer To Kalon
“The O.G” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
$149.99
FREE SHIPPING on 4, use code CART12 upon check out – Can mix & match with ALL Carter wines
2012 was very kind to the ‘O.G.’ block of Beckstoffer To Kalon. Deep ruby/purple hues boast amazing levels of dark currants, violets and barrel spice. Perfectly framed tannins integrate with a plush, persistent and bold mid-palate making this a prodigious and complex wine which expertly showcases Napa Valley terroir. The mélange of fruit is intoxicating, nuanced and mesmerizing. As with prior vintages of this wine, the structure and power of the To Kalon Vineyard needs a extended decant or several years of bottle age to spread its wings. This wine should hit its prime in 3 to 4 years which should then last for at least the next 10 to 20 years. FYI, the 2010 received a 97 point rating and this wine is even better!!!
Carter Cellars 2012 Beckstoffer To Kalon “The Grand Daddy” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
$149.99
FREE SHIPPING on 4, use code CART12 upon check out – Can mix & match with ALL Carter wines
Due to perfectly balanced yields and just the amount of hang time, this To Kalon block produced exceptional wines in 2012. These old vine clone 4 vines render our most elegant wine from this vineyard, but just like great Bordeaux, this elegance is wrapped up in a cloak of raw but refined power. Crème de cassis, licorice, tobacco and spice cake aromas mingle with a lavish multi-layered wine, offering an enormous mid-palate accented by natural acidity. The wine offers a sensational amount of ripeness and texture along with generous tannins which leaves an impression of a wine that carries both old and new world characteristics. Allow this wine to age more than other To Kalon bottlings before consuming – it will benefit from a long decant or 8-10 years in the cellar. FYI, the 2010 received a 97 point rating and this wine is even better!!!
Click here or on the links above to order!
*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
Byron Kosuge has been making wine for over 2 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.
B Kosuge 2012 Pinot Noir The Shop FREE SHIPPING ON SIX OR MORE Use Discount Code SHOP12 |
The thing about this wine is-it’s got to be yummy. I don’t want to obsess about it, I just want to enjoy it and have a good time. This vintage is probably the most aromatic and delicious Pinot Noir vintage in years, with the possible exception of 1994, which was pretty tasty too. The Shop, in particular, really blossoms in the cooler vintages. In 2012 it achieved ripeness without sacrificing cut and precision. There’s quite a bit of dark fruit in this wine but with a little air the high notes start to emerge. On the nose you’ll encounter black cherry notes. The full bodied palate is gorgeous and generous loaded with bright, flavorful Pinot fruit. The finish is long and extremely elegant.
Nicole Abiouness took the long way to get into the wine industry. Growing up in Virginia, she packed up her belongings and moved to Napa where she was accepted at the CIA (Culinary Institute of America). She signed up very every single wine course they had and eventually landed a job at Swanson before moving to Australia and Burgundy to gain some more experience. After traveling the world, she went on to work at Chappellet before landing the dream job with John Kongsgaard (the Master). While working with John she slowly acquired some fruit left and right and the rest…. is history – Abiouness was born.
Abiouness 2013 “Amrita” White Blend, Napa Valley
Retail 26.00 – GGWC 23.99 FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use discount shipping code ABIOU13 upon checkout
The 2013 Amirta White (Amrita, meaning the nectar of the Gods)is a delicate, floral, aromatic mélange of Malvasia Bianca, Viognier, Moscato, and Pinot Gris. Lively aromas of bright tropical fruit & exotic spices jump out of the glass on impact. This medium to full-bodied white blend is amazingly well-balanced and offers great tasting pleasure. The wine is loaded with honeysuckle, Bosc pears, gardenias, pineapple core and fresh peaches are all swirling around from start to finish. These flavors carry through on the palate and leave you with a smile asking for more!
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
The Baxter Family has been making wine for over 45 years now, and has gone into its second generation. The second generation is taking the winery into the 21st century, and it really shows. Working with various high-end single vineyard, the Baxters are crafting some great wines these, and the 2012 Oppenlander Pinot Noir is a great example of what is to come from this winery.
Baxter 2012 Pinot Noir “Oppenlander” Mendocino
Retail 64.00 – GGWC 59.99 FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use discount shipping code BAX12OP upon check out
The 2012 Baxter “Oppenlander” Pinot Noir opens with an amazing bouquet of crushed flowers, Bing cherries, licorice and spices that jump out of the glass. A very masculine wine, yet incredibly refined and juicy. If this were a Burgundy, I’d say Pommard! Full bodied wine, that is rich and very substantial in the fruit department – well-balanced with the right touches of acid where needed! Lush, with an incredible velvety-textured personality. Amazingly long finish loaded with fresh, lively fruit and silky tannins. Only 75 cases produced, and sadly only 7 cases allocated!
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
We lined up an army of who-is-who with our latest Chardonnay tasting.
Gavin Chanin, who was named one of FORBES’ “30 under 30” in Food and Wine and a “Winemaker to Watch” by San Francisco Chronicle, began his winemaking career as a harvest intern at Au Bon Climat and Qupé, under the tutelage of winemakers Jim Clendenen and Bob Lindquist, working his way up to assistant winemaker at both labels. Taking fall quarter off each year from his studies at UCLA to work harvest in California, Gavin also worked harvest in South Africa and New Zealand. He then traveled extensively in Burgundy and Italy before returning to launch Chanin Wine Co. in 2007!
Chanin 2012 Chardonnay “Bien Nacido”
Retail 42.00 – GGWC 37.99 FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use discount code CHANIN12 upon checkout
This wine is loaded with complexity. On the nose you are welcomed by exhilarating aromas of white flowers, toasted almonds, baked bread and a slight touch of lemon custard. On the palate this silky, yet full-bodied elegant wine offers up awesome depth and richness, loaded with pear, kiwi and curry leaf. The texture is incredibly smooth with a fresh, clean long lasting finish.
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
Petit Batard is the illegitimate offspring of the Xtant Cabernet. A small production winery in the Napa Valley. Jeff Gaffner (Hestan, Saxon Brown) has been making the wines for some years now and the “Dollar Cost Average” formula is always applied here. I would call this a “Great wine for your Buck!” The owners are third generation winery owners and winemakers so expertise is key here..
Petit Batard 2009 Cabernet, Napa Valley
Retail 40.00 – GGWC 37.99 FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use discount code PETBAT upon checkout
On the nose you are greeted by gorgeous aromas of black currant, anise and chocolate. This medium to full bodied Proprietary Red blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 1% Malbec tastes a lot more expensive than its price tag! The wine is rich in body and juicy in flavor, with the right balance of fruit and acid on the mid-palate. The wine is supple and silky and easy to drink now with a good 10 years of cellar potential left.
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*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
Mia Klein goes way back in the food and wine industry. She was a chef, got her Enology degree at UC Davis and worked with Tony Soter, Cathy Corison at Chappellet. She followed with stints as the winemaker at Araujo, Spottswoode, Dalla Valle, Viader and Cimarossa.
The Selene name comes from Greek mythology. There are three goddesses associated with the moon in this mythology; Artemis, the maiden goddess of the waxing moon, Selene, the mother goddess of the full moon, and Hecate, the wise crone goddess of the waning moon. The moon carries a lot of meaning and symbolism for Mia Klein: “Not the least of which is following its phases. By knowing whether the moon is new, first quarter, full, second quarter, new, etc., I know where to find it in the sky, when it rises, and when it sets. For me, it’s another anchor that connects me to the workings of nature, like the fall and spring equinox and the winter and summer solstice. Besides, like my label depicts, there are few sights more beautiful in Napa Valley than the moonrise over hillside vineyards.”
Selene 2012 Merlot “Frediani Vineyard” Napa Valley
Retail 41.00 – GGWC 38.99 FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use discount code SEL12 upon checkout
Amazing aromas jump out of the glass of this single vineyard youngster. From the start you are greeted by lush black raspberries, slightly toasted vanilla bean, dark chocolate and espresso. Full in body, yet very elegant this wine displays a gorgeous mid-palate of black and red stone fruits, a touch of floral minerality, violet and jasmine. Lots of intensity and mouth-watering quality. The tannins are there, but not overpowering and even providing a sweet chewy texture that lingers nicely into a long last finish. Only 387 cases were produced.
Click here or on the links above to order!
*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.
When a heart surgeon tells you to drink a bottle of red wine, listen to him! Dr. Ramzi Deeik (owner of GrapeHeart Winery) dedicated his life fighting heart disease through surgery in his career as a cardiac surgeon,educating patients on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle; moderate exercise, a Mediterranean diet… and RED WINE! Dr. Deeik is of the belief that resveratrol might be the key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, assists in reducing “bad” cholesterol, and may prevent blood clots. Resveratrol resides in the skin and seeds of the grape, thus GrapeHeart wines are very “extracted” to enhance the beneficial effects. Dr Ramzi and his wife Isabel planted a vineyard and the rest, as they say, is history.
GrapeHeart 2010 Cabernet “Estate”
Retail 58.00 – GGWC 54.99 FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use discount code GP10CS upon checkout
This is an amazingly well-crafted wine by French winemaker Frederic Delivert (Plumpjack, Cade, Far Niente, Clark Claudon, Sodaro,etc) will turn many heads. Out of the glass this rich and full well-structured wine shows gobs of intensity, bright black stone fruit, hints of chocolate, anise and espresso. Full in body, yet well delineated and extremely fine-tuned with elegance and great harmony between fruit and acid. On the palate you’ll encounter black currant, chocolate, licorice and espresso flavors that are beautifully balanced. This is a real classic and will age nicely for 10- 12 years. Very limited production.
Click here or on the links above to order!
*Free ground shipping on qualifying orders to a single address within the continental US. Orders to HI & AK will receive reduced air freight shipping.