Wines

Winemaker Notes:
Cline Old Vine Zinfandel is a challenging and rewarding wine to make. Amazing old vine fruit, detailed selection criteria and master blending show in the final wine. A wide array of jammy strawberry and plum aromas followed by black cherry, strawberry and vanilla flavors lead to a smooth and lengthy finish.

This varietal comes to us from the Northern Rhone Valley in France. Presumed to have arrived from Dalmatia and transported to the Rhone 1,700 years ago by Romans. There are only 2,000 acres of this variety in California at this time. - WINEMAKER’S NOTES

Winemaker Notes:
"Our prize offering, the ultra premium Claret, sports a label that honors the first Cabernet Sauvignon blended in a Bordeaux style by Gustave Niebaum in 1910. Claret is a term originally coined by the British to describe Cabernet-based wines. This Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc blend is alluring and sophisticated; it is memorably lush with a tapestry of smooth tannins and succulent flavors of wild berries, plum and anise. Borrowing tradition of European wineries, we add gold netting to bottle to signify outstanding quality of wine."

77% Cabernet Sauvignon 19% Petit Verdot 3% Cabernet Franc 1% Merlot. Aged 12 months in French oak.

Sicily, Italy- This is the most widely planted of Sicily's indigenous reds and Cusumano's is grown near the heart of the island. A fruit driven offering with a great bouquet of cherry and rose petal leading to light spice, strawberry and a creamy finish. Delicious and a super value.

This Riesling opens with a vibrant nose of vineyard peaches, citrus, ripe Elstar apple, and hints of fresh pineapple, revealing a dense, mineral-driven character. Delicate floral notes and a subtle hint of anise lend an exotic touch. The palate is spicy and refreshing, balanced by juicy peach, pineapple, and herbal notes, with acidity and sweetness in harmony. Its mineral backbone and long, complex finish capture the essence of the Wrttemberg terroir, offering a Riesling that is as refreshing as it is nuanced.

The Dautel estate, though relatively unknown in the United States, is one of Wrttembergs leading producers. The familys winemaking legacy stretches back 500 years, yet Ernst Dautel, in the 1970s, was the first of his family to attend Geisenheim, Germany's premier winemaking school. Ernst left the local cooperative, embracing estate bottling to pursue quality-focused wine production. His son, Christian, continued this legacy, drawing on experience from iconic wine regions in France, Australia, and South Africa. Christian now oversees the estate, farming Grand and Premier Cru sites across varied soils, from marl to rare Schilfsandstein. With deep respect for his familys work, Christian crafts wines that express the unique characteristics of each vineyard while honoring the Riesling grape's inherent flavors.

"This lush and inviting Merlot displays flavors of ripe blackberry, black cherry and cassis, underscored by hints of sweet spice, cocoa and leather. On the palate, balanced acidity adds poise and elegance, while silky, refined tannins carry the wine to a fruitful and concentrated finish." Winemaker notes

88% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc Cooperage 10 months 100% French Oak 40% New, 60% Neutral.

For more than three decades, Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting exceptional Napa Valley Merlot reflecting the rich diversity of the valley’s many appellations Drawing on our winemaking team’s expertise working with this varietal, Decoy Sonoma County Merlot is a lush and inviting wine highlighting the elegance of the varietal from another exceptional growing region.

Organic

LO CA- feel-good, taste-good wines with more altitude, attitude, and fewer calories. A play on “low-calorie, LO CA also means crazy in Spanish. Low-calorie, low-alcohol, low-sugar, vegan, gluten-free, USDA-certified organic, Regenerative Organic CertifiedTM, and Ecocert-approved how crazy is that!

79 Calories per 5 oz serving - 9.5% abv
Deep violet in color. Intense aromas of red and black fruits. Light-bodied and fruity.

Organic

100% Grenache from 50-55 year old vines. This vineyard is just east of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and across the A7 highway; this is a top Côtes-du-Rhône vineyard, with red clay and rocky galets soil. (Another famous wine from this area is the Coudoulet de Beaucastel Côtes-du-Rhône, considered to be a baby Beaucastel.) Cristia's version is top of the line - rich and concentrated, it is more than you would expect from a Côtes-du-Rhône, aged half in cement and half in one to three year-old barrels for 9 months. Certified organic.

Organic / Natural

60% Grenache
with the rest consisting of Syrah and Cinsault. Fermented in concrete tanks.

Organic

Although fermented in concrete, this is a fuller styled Cotes du Rhone with a good proportion of Syrah. Surprisingly serious for this price point.

Organic

The review is on a previous vintage.
92 points Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the reds, the 2020 Vacqueyras Les Hauts De La Ponche is 50% Grenache and 25% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre. It actually reminds me of a Pomerol with its red and blue fruits as well as bouquet garni, damp earth, and floral nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, I love its balance, and it has silky tannins and remarkable purity of fruit. Drink bottles over the coming 7-8 years.