Wine & Spirits

Flowers 2021 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir This is a full, present and black fruited style of Cali Pinot with oak, deep cherry, blackberries, sage, and warm baking spices. The palate has a presence to it with ample black fruits, some oak and a bit of nutmeg and clove. D&M Tasting Notes Red currants, earthy forest floor, bergamot and sea breeze. A balanced wine with persistent mid palate that is laced with acidity and tart cherry, finishing light and lifted with a twist of blood orange. Winery Notes

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95 points James Suckling “ Aromas of mint and currants with hints of fresh herbs. Then turns to plum jam. Full body, with well-integrated tannins and pretty fruit. Long and caressing. This is really outstanding. Better in 2017. " 95 points Wine Enthusiast " Giscours shows an initial character of great style and elegance. The shining fruit and concentrated tannins follow, making it both a seductive wine and one with a long-term future. *Cellar Selection* (RV) "  94 points Wine Spectator ” Features a lightly firm, singed alder frame around a core of dark plum, cherry and cassis bush notes. Taut tar and warm paving stone notes fill in on the finish. Shows serious, well-embedded grip, and the core of fruit is spot on. This has the range, length and cut for the cellar. Best from 2014 through 2030. (JM) “

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95 points James Suckling A very pretty Cabernet with very fine tannins that are polished and fresh. Beautiful currant, chocolate and walnut character. Medium to full body and a long, caressing finish. Builds beautifully at the end. So delicious now, but will develop nicely in bottle. Real 2018 character. Top vintage.

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TASTING NOTES Rich aromas of black cherry, Mission fig and dark chocolate mingle with clove and nutmeg. The palate is filled with flavors of blackberry and boysenberry that are enveloped in silky tannins, showing complexity beyond its years. Enticing flavors of vanilla bean and hazelnut carry through a velvety richness that lingers on the finish. https://www.jordanwinery.com/product/jordan-cabernet-sauvignon-2018

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This is a Halo Effect wine with free fun juice. Blend of 78% Cab Sauv/12% Cab Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. Final wine of Daou tasting from Tuesday. Names comes from advice by the winemaker "Embody the Soul of a Lion and you'll be successfull". Beautiful deep purple in color. Nose of blackberry, blueberry, plum, black currant, black cherry, tobacco and licorice. Dry with a full body."Structured, balanced and powerful". Low acidity. Full yet well integrated tannins. Delicious & luxurious wine. See comments.  --Lori Carmone

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Winemaker Notes This deep, garnet-hued wine reveals profoundly concentrated aromas and flavors of black cherry and blackcurrant, layered over classic Rutherford notes of cedar box, graphite, dust, earth, and a subtle suggestion of Portobello. A medium-bodied wine with gracefully refined tannins, this exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon culminates in an exceptionally long finish. Critical Acclaim COMMENTARY: The 2017 Alea Fina Cabernet Sauvignon is beautifully packed and generous on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of bold black fruit and attractive oaky notes. Enjoy it with a grilled, well-marbled ribeye. (Tasted: October 16, 2021, San Francisco, CA)

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Winemaker Notes Sinegal’s 2018 Cabernet is a wonderful expression of a superb Napa Valley vintage, exhibiting elegance, power, and purity. The nose has enticing aromas of baked blueberry crumble, ripe blackberries, with notes of sweet leather and baking spice. The wine is inky dark and concentrated with flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, and hints of dried thyme. The wine leaves a lasting impression on the palate with supple tannins, rich blue fruits, and has lift and length from the bright acidity. Upon opening the wine delivers impressive aromas, flavors, and texture, but is worthy of ageing for over a decade. Critical Acclaim The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon turned out beautifully. Rich, sumptuous and incredibly alluring, the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate. Dark red fruit, mocha, spice and licorice are some of the notes that build in the glass. I would give it a few years in bottle, or alternatively open it in advance. Aeration and the passage of time did wonders for the 2018. It spent 20 months in barrel, 85% new.  COMMENTARY: The 2018 Sinegal Cabernet Sauvignon is a delicious and classic Cab with excellent persistence on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine deftly combines aromas and flavors of bold, black fruit, anise, and earth. Enjoy the wine's al dente finish with a mildly-seasoned, oven-roasted Porchetta. (Tasted: January 11, 2021, San Francisco, CA)

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I have always enjoyed Paul Hobbs Cabs and once again tonight was no different. Bold, full bodied, dry, smooth with medium acidity. 14.6% ABV A wonderful intense nose with dark fruit, spice, vanilla and tobacco. On the palate there is oak, vanilla, tobacco, blackberry, plum, cassis, leather and slight earthy notes. A very nice lush and velvety mouthfeel. The finish is pleasant, long and lingering. This is simply a delightful cab that pairs with a variety of meats and poultry. 👍 --MK

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Winemaker Notes Exhibiting a nose of dark cherry and blackcurrant, nuanced with notes of creosote, graphite, cloves and vanilla. This dense and full-bodied wine is layered from the start and finished with powerful coating tannins. This wine has an incredible oily texture and a multi-dimensional structure with amazing balance, power and sophistication - it is sure to age gracefully for years. Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot Critical Acclaim Jeb Dunnuck What could be thought of as the entry level wine of the estate and a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, the ruby/purple-hued 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon CJ offers a charming, classic Napa bouquet of blackcurrants, red plums, spice, and earthy/flowery/forest floor aromas and graphite. Rich, full-bodied, balanced and classic, with good minerality, it’s far from a simple, entry-level wine and has real depth and character. There are 1,500 cases and it’s a smoking good effort that will keep for 10-15 years.

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Winemaker Notes On the nose, this aromatic wine displays inviting layers of black raspberry and blackberry pie, along with notes of cinnamon stick, vanilla bean and a touch of brown sugar. The lush fruit character continues on the palate where rich currant and cherry flavors are supported by bright acidity and velvety tannins that draw the wine to a silky, berry and spice finish. – Winemaker Don LaBorde  Production Other than being approximately a month earlier than usual, our 2015 harvest was smooth and successful, yielding exceptional quality grapes. To allow us ample opportunities for blending, we harvested 16 different grape varieties over the course of 12 weeks. During this period, Mother Nature provided heat to speed up ripening when we needed it, and equally well-timed cooler temperatures when the vines needed a respite. The extended harvest allowed us to pick all varieties at optimal ripeness. As a result, our white grapes show lovely aromatics and varietal character, and our reds show beautiful depth and concentration.

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Decanter Another lovely wine from Ulysses, a property which is rapidly establishing itself as one of Napa's top addresses. The 2014 reveals a complex bouquet of briary fruit tones, wild plum and rich soil. On the palate the tannins are beautifully fine-grained, powdery and ample - a powerful but elegant frame for the wine's vivid fruit. Drinking Window 2022 - 2040 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, which was aged for 17 months in 45% new French oak, is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wine is dense purple, with sweet cedar wood, unsmoked cigar tobacco, crème de cassis, and black raspberries in a classic, almost St.-Julien/Pauillac style. This emerged from a valley floor vineyard on the west side of Napa, where Christian Moueix told me that 2014 was characterized by generally slightly higher than average temperatures for the summer with only minor heat spikes in June and July. August and September went off without a hitch, and the harvest took place during the month of September. This full-bodied wine will hit its peak in 3-5 years and last for 25-30.

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With a name like Coup de Foudre(pronounced koo dah foo drah) meaning the moment when lightning strikes, or something unforgettable occurs that you want to capture forever, my expectations were set high in anticipation of tasting the new 2016 Cuvee.  They were made even higher by knowing who’s behind the project… Coup de Foudre is owned by John Schwarts whom you might recognize from Amuse Bouche, Au Sommet, Vin Perdu and PharaohMoans.  John has an eye for exceptional talent and the ability to create brands that compete with the best in the world.  The 2016 Cuvee shattered my absolutely stratospheric expectations with a riveting bouquet and dense, polished core that’s stunningly balanced, poised and polished.  At $75 this wine has everything that I look for in an Ultra Premium Napa Valley Blend. The wine was carefully constructed by talented winemaker Kent Jarman whom you might recognize from his work at Kenefick Ranch winery or Duckhron Vineyards in the early 2000s. This distinctive Right Bank Bordeaux styled blend is built around a core of top-quality Merlot and enhanced with Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot.  The 2016 has already earned 94 Points from Vinous and with 450 cases produced, this one most certainly won’t be available for long.

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