LET'S START ELEVATING THE GAME AGAIN!

No pun intended, allow me to introduce the e-mail series that will showcase the rare last bottle(s), the V Early Wine Bird featured promotions. The premise remains the same, wine(s) we (I) actually love to drink and believe in!

I certainly don't have the patience or time to waste on wines that don't deliver or have our satisfaction guarantee.

The precession will only continue being more acute, let's go hard and explore!

~ The Wine Lab

( BEST PRICE IN THE COUNTRY )

Genuine Chronological Order - You Have Our Word.

Once Sold, It Comes Down or Flying In This Case ;)

2006 SCREAMING EAGLE

97 Points The Wine Advocate, Robert M. Parker, Jr.

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon (a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc) is a more structured, firmer style with noticeable tannins and an almost atypical Bordeaux-like austerity that is something of a departure from previous Screaming Eagle wines. It also seems somewhat out of character for the general vintage character, but once the wine sits in the mouth, the beautiful, rich, concentrated creme de cassis fruit, licorice, and spice box, are dramatic and noticeable. Overall, this is an elegant but more backward style of Screaming Eagle that will probably need 4-5 years of bottle age, and last for 20-25+ years if not longer.

98 Points The Wine Advocate, Antonio Galloni

The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon is stunning. A wine that is only now beginning to shed its tannin, the 2006 stands out for its vibrancy and energy. All of the classic Screaming Eagle notes are in the glass, but with a little more edge and cut than in most vintages. Sweet red berries, crushed rocks, flowers and spice box are alive in the glass. Over time, hints of sage, mint rosemary and pencil shavings add complexity. The 2006 is a decidedly cool-weather wine with less opulence than either the 2007 or 2009, but it is absolutely singing today. Another few years will only help the wine come together even more fully, but it is impossible to miss the 2006’s utterly breathtaking beauty. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026.

I have had a number of fabulous tastings at Screaming Eagle, but this was one of the most memorable. The biggest news at Screaming Eagle is the release of a second wine, a project that has been in the works for a number of years. Owner Stan Kroenke and his team wanted to make sure their new wine was up to the estate’s standards, and have only released the first vintages over the last few months. I tasted all four vintages of Screaming Eagle’s second label, Second Flight, next to Screaming Eagle itself, which allowed for a fascinating set of comparisons of both wines across a number of vintages. Like its big brother, Second Flight is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, but here the Merlot plays a much more significant role. Regardless, what comes through most is the signature of these sites as seen through the lenses of the respective vintages. Readers might also enjoy taking a look at a recent video I shot with Winemaker Nic Gislason during the 2012 harvest that we recently posted on our site.

POWERS OF OBSERVATION ARE A GIFT

The Fairchild wines are the perfect fusion between the Artform of wine & Lawrence Fairchild's projections with respect to his own passions. These wines have become the trendsetters many other winemakers attempt to emulate, the thing is, when you have the gift of creativity ~ people are left wondering who-what-when-how ~ these gifts of creativity are the ones you are born with!

~ The Wine Lab

((( A V WINE CULT CLUB ALUMNUS )))

2014 FAIRCHILD SIGARO

95 Points The Wine Advocate

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Sigaro comes from a Pritchard Hill Vineyard planted with Cabernet Sauvignon clones 4 and 7. This is a wine of similar power, richness and texture, but displays slightly more minerality, maybe a slighter cooler climate mouthfeel, but that’s splitting hairs. It is a wine of exceptional intensity, low acidity, ripe tannin, and a long finish, with plenty of blackberry, charcoal and white chocolate notes. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.

TOOK MY PALATE ON AN EXPERIMENTAL

TRIP LAST NIGHT

( CULT CLUB STANDOUT )

Such a pleasure to have met Pascal & Melanie Levensohn, I instantly felt their passion and vision that continues to live on in various new ways.

2015 Levensohn Cabernet Sauvignon demonstrates a style that in recent times has become en vogue. A balance of texture and old-world flare all held together by a chosen stylistic massive core of fruit. A very delicious wine that has become nearly impossible to find.

2015 LEVENSOHN

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Containing a 5% splash of Merlot and aged 19 months in French oak (80% new), the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color with vibrant notions of red and black currants, violets, blackberries and black cherries, plus a cinnamon toast and pencil shavings undercurrent. Medium to full-bodied, lively and purely fruited on the palate, it has a firm, grainy backbone and long finish of spicy layers.

HAPPY PNV 2023 MONTH

From predicting the winner of PNV 2021, and 2022, based on what I've seen and sensed ~ my prediction was made this past week...I'll make it public mid-month!

In The Mean Time!

We Know How To Pick Them!

We continue with the Cult Club Alumni Series!

From growers with a distinct terroir to producers of Cabernet Sauvignon that merge world-tasting profiles with elegance. We take interest in unique and over-delivering wines for our Cult Club selections. The 2016 Hossfeld Coliseum Block, is now available only as a library option. The brand continues to produce new vintages and has added to its portfolio of Bordeaux varieties with creativity.

It's great to see the brand participate in its first

Premier Napa Valley 2023 ~ LOT 60

A unique blend of various blocks,

we will be tasting a sample with our International Tasting Panel on 2/2/23 with much Joy ;)

~ The Wine Lab

( LAST CALL )

2016 HOSSFELD COLISEUM BLOCK

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Black currant, graphite, and an exceptional depth.

The palate is layered with dark fruit, rustic tannins, and a complex richness. Concentrated without being too heavy, the wine has profound balance and although it is expressive in its youth, the 2016 Hossfeld Coliseum Block is a wine that will show more and more integration as it matures. With exceptional depth, this wine is a perfect showcase of this

historic vineyard block.

Constantly Loving & Leaving Wines....

Yet I never forget the impressions caused by greatness, in time, will surely catch up and fall in love yet again in a more profound way.  This 2018 AMOENUS Cabernet Sauvignon from Arkenstone is a V Wine Cellar

exclusive!

Tasting the lineup today with Jake Krausz and reflecting on a past filled with Consistency, Continuity, Appreciation and a commitment to Terroir was very enlightening!

Don't Miss Out On This New Age Instant Classic!

~ The Wine Lab

97 Points The Wine Advocate 

2018ARKENSTONE

AMOENUS VINEYARD

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus Vineyard was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 90% new. Deep garnet-purple in color, it comes barreling out of the glass with flamboyant notes of red currant jelly, black raspberries, fresh black currant and cinnamon stick, plus suggestions of red roses and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, tightly knit and wonderfully perfumed in the mouth, it delivers velvety tannins and a long, fragrant finish. 

Lastly, there are a tiny 532 magnums of the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Triniceros, a blend put together by famed consultant Michel Rolland. It's possibly closest in style to the Plyspline release and has incredible dark fruits (cassis, currants) as well as notes of graphite, toasted spice, chocolate, white flowers, and lead pencil shavings. A wine that builds incrementally on the palate, it has ripe, velvety tannins, an expansive texture, fabulous mid-palate depth, and the balance and class to drink well today yet also evolve for 20-30 years.

GOING UP & STAYING WITH THE ELEVATION SENSATION

~ HOWELL MOUNTAIN HIGH ~

" Always one of my fondest memories from The Lab rewind wine mind. The Outpost production style continues to shift in an array of ways how other mountain contemporaries are influenced by making wines with a fierce core of fruit and texture that leaves you wanting more."

~ The Wine Lab

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points

2018 OUTPOST

ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Moving to the Bordeaux blends, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has an already complex style in its cigar, black fruit, smoked earth, and baking chocolate aromas and flavors. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a layered, seamless texture, and sweet tannins. It’s going to drink nicely in its youth yet also age gracefully.

JD

ALWAYS INTERESTED IN A LIGHT TRIP BACK IN TIME.....

Let's go to the Realm of King RICHARD II. A rare opportunity to acquire one of the bottlings classic vintages.

~ The Wine Lab

2018 REALM

THE BARD

98 Points Mr. J Dunnuck

The 2018 The Bard is beautiful and certainly in the same realm as the 2015 and 2016, both magical wines. This cuvée reveals a deep purple color followed by a beautiful perfume of crème de cassis, blackberries, roasted coffee, spring flowers, and violets. With incredible richness, no hard edges, and a blockbuster finish, this incredible wine offers serious opulence with no sensation of heaviness or weight. It's beautifully done and already complex and nuanced. It will evolve for at least 15+ years. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, and 2% each of Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah.

SHAFER HILLSIDE SELECT

40th ANNIVERSARY

Winemaker Elias Fernandez Signed Bottles

SHAFER HILLSIDE SELECT

40th ANNIVERSARY

Winemaker Elias Fernandez Signed 1500ml Bottles

When Legendary Becomes Even More NICHE! Shafer Vineyards has recently been making headlines by expanding their Vineyard sites and acquiring new sites to yield even more greatness in the near future. 

All these continuations if you will, are being spearheaded by Elias Fernandez whose wine almanac of knowledge continues to expand and force other producers to elevate their game!

It's Show Time! Let's Shine On!

~ The Wine Lab 

DON'T MISS OUT ~ V WINE EXCLUSIVE SIGNED BOTTLES

JEB DUNNUCK 100 POINTS

2018 SHAFER HILLSIDE SELECT

STAGS LEAP DISTRICT

Incredible purity and precision, as well as opulence, define the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select, and this is as good as any Cabernet Sauvignon in the world today. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as a thrilling bouquet of pure crème de cassis, black raspberries, spring flowers, lead pencil shavings, and an incredible minerality, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, seamless texture, ample mid-palate depth, and a great finish. This is classic 2018 Napa Valley with its purity, freshness and precision as well as sensational concentration and perfectly integrated acidity, tannins, and alcohol. It delivers pleasure today yet warrants a solid 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to be a 30- to 40-year wine.

The Elevation Sensation That Is Possessed By Wines With Lift...Enter AILERON

Always ready to ascend to the peaks of the Napa Valley through wine. This new project from Shannon

O'Shaugnessy is showcasing the evolution of her wine production future in the sphere of smaller lot wines with precision.

 ~ The Wine Lab

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck

2019 AILERON

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Coming from Atlas Peak, it offers some classic mountain blue fruits as well as notes of graphite and obvious minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has plenty of tannins and a savory, complex style that will benefit from bottle age.

JD

Reflecting On Having Tasted This Back ...

In April of 2022 at the Grand Taste Of Oakville, what a great treat it was to be on the cutting edge

~ In Real Wine Time ~

Such a great vintage coupled with classic Oakville winemaking at its continued best! (( Do Not Miss Out )) 

Ships Mid October

~ The Wine Lab

98+ Points The Wine Advocate

2019 DALLA VALLE 

Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate needs a lot of swirling and coaxing to unlock notions of blackcurrant pastilles, warm black plums and mulberries, plus hints of black olives, tilled soil, mossy tree bark and violets with emerging baker's chocolate and star anise hints. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and with impeccable poise, it has beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing epically long and earthy.

YOU MENTIONED SENSORY OVERLOAD!

Playing in wine time is a skill that can only be developed by a select few, the reason being can be attributed to consistency and exposure. The base has been laid down for what we project in The Wine Lab, despite our exposure in real wine time, we look forward to seeing and tasting different levels of stratification as we proceed!

RARE MAGNUMS OF A TRUE CLASSIC!

( The Best Dominus I've Ever Tasted )

~ The Wine Lab

2019 DOMINUS NAPA VALLEY

RED WINE

98 Points The Wine Advocate

( These Wines Are Coming Direct From Our Distribution Partner )

The 2019 Dominus is blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in 40% new French oak. Impressively dark-hued in the glass, it yields scents of cherries and cassis on the nose—or is it black cherries and redcurrants? Subtle notes of mocha, pencil shavings and almost Graves-like earthiness wind through the concentrated, medium to full-bodied palate, giving it a sense of savory gravitas, while the finish is silky and long, leaving a lingering residue of soft tannins and mouthwatering freshness.

Scott Ran Into Yountville's Wine Spectre.....

He saw visions of quality reminiscent of old world grandeur! One of Yountville's best sellers, is back in stock!

2019 GHOST BLOCK

Reserve ~ Yountville

Sourced from our famous Ghost Block Vineyard, the 2019 vintage has bold aromatics of dark cherry, ripe plum and blackcurrant that are met with delicate floral notes of lavender and violet, and finishes with spicy black pepper and clove. On the palate, blackberry, black cherry, and cassis are supported with layers of dark chocolate and cacao and rounded out with herbal notes of bay leaf and tobacco giving the wine stunning richness and depth. Medium to full-bodied with fine grained tannins and nicely balanced acidity create a beautiful long, lengthy finish that shows off the unique terroir of the iconic vineyard from where it originates. 

A WINE LAB TASTING PANEL STANDOUT

A unique site created in the early eighties, the future vision to employ dynamite in order to fracture the bedrock was visionary.  The result is continued production of world class highly coveted Bordeaux varieties for which legendary winemakers for continue to line up. The history of the site is framed by innovative farming taking place at the iconic family owned vineyard.

These wines express a sense of place and are designed for enjoyment now and show characteristics of aging nicely well into the future.

~ The Wine Lab

Jeb Dunnuck ( A ) Rated

2019 HOSSFELD ESTATE BLEND

The 2019 Red Blend checks in as a blend of 40% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, with the balance Merlot, that spent 20 months in French oak. Its deep purple hue is followed by an up-front, exuberant red offering lots of candied red and black fruits, notes of violets, tobacco, and flowery incense, medium to full body, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Drink this solid, impeccably made blend over the coming decade or more.

UN ALTRO GRANDE GIORNO

Thanks to the kindness of our clients we have been indulging in some of Italy's most iconic producers.  The Lab is constantly enhancing to point that the palate has become microscopic with precision!

THREE ICONS IN ONE SET, DON'T MISS OUT

~ Il Laboratorio Del Vino

2019 MASSETO 

98 Points The Wine Advocate

This bottle opens a new chapter for one of Italy's most celebrated and collected wines. The first vintage made entirely in its dedicated state-of-the-art winery (and the first vintage with a 10% dabble of Cabernet Franc added to what has historically aways been a pure expression of Merlot), the Masseto 2019 Masseto has two main themes at heart: concentration and elegance. And managing those two seemingly contrasting elements requires a little bit of magic. That's the Masseto magic we look for. The 2019 vintage delivers it in spades with lovely concentrated fruit, blackberry, integrated spice, tobacco, crushed slate, pencil shaving and lots of texture and fiber to push a lasting mouthfeel. The wine's richness translates into density and power to the palate, meanwhile the bouquet reveals fluidity and new sides as the wine opens in the glass. The finish is tapered and focused.

2019 TENUTA SAN GUIDO

BOLGHERI SASSICAIA

98 Points The Wine Advocate

The latest release from Tenuta San Guido is the 2019 Bolgheri Sassicaia. The bouquet is up front and very expressive from the get-go. It offers a generous display of crunchy, dark cherry that hints at the extra concentration and fruit weight obtained in the 2019 growing season. This vintage will be remembered for the crisp richness of the fruit and its important textural imprint. It also shows fine elegance, bordering on the ethereal, with berry aromas, tarry earth and brushes of balsam herb or grilled rosemary. Sassicaia always shows an almost-glossy finely knit quality to the polished mouthfeel, and I find it again here next to fresh acidity and firm tannins. Mouthfeel in 2019 is the wine's strongest suit. The 2019 is one of the prettiest and most balanced editions of Sassicaia we've seen this past decade, along with the back-to-back duo of 2016 and 2015. The 2019 marries the precision of the 2016 with the rich fruit weight of the 2015.

2019 ORNELLAIA BOLGHERI SUPERIORE

ORNELLAIA

97 Points The Wine Advocate

This is a beautiful expression of coastal Tuscany and the sunny Mediterranean. The Ornellaia 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia (a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot) pours from the bottle with a specific darkness that has elements of both inky saturation and ruby highlights. The wine is saturated and rich—this is something you notice off the bat—but it also reveals a pleasing lightness or grace that is transmitted to both the bouquet and the palate. Dark fruit, pressed blackberry and plum mingle with more substantial aromas of spice, leather and sweetly cured tobacco. The tannins are beautifully managed, and the wine sports considerable heft and density on the palate that drives a very long and pleasurable mouthfeel.

" We've known Jason Moore for a long time, I know the story, the collaborations in the past and all that goes into staying relevant in this wine game.  Recently he brought in his 2019s and he showed great pride in his wines, most importantly the Sage Ridge that has the highest printed final score.  Numbers are numbers until you go into the wine memory bank and his statements proved to be true, I found it challenging to recall a bottling that outshined what was showing in glass!

" FANTASTIC WINE "

From here on, it's life in the fast lane. We can all fuel up and continue reaching for never ending greatness! "

~ The Wine Lab

96+ Points The Wine Advocate 

2019 MODUS OPERANDI CELLARS

SAGE RIDGE VINEYARD

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Sage Ridge Vineyard soars out of the glass with intense scents of blackcurrants, black cherries and fragrant earth, plus wafts of cedar, rose oil and espresso, with just a hint of Provence herbs. Full-bodied, the firm, taut and muscular palate has seamless freshness, finishing long and earthy. Give it a good 3-5 years before broaching, and drink it over the next 20 years+.

Paul Lato Continues To Captivate Curiosity

Over a decade since we met Paul Lato here at the store during a central coast tasting, despite being the new guy on the team, I quickly noticed that Paul's quality in wine production was going to be what it has become today.

Simply Epic!

Now dabbling in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, the central coast Dynamo is flipping the geographic tables better than anyone I've seen.

~ The Wine Lab

2019 PAUL LATO

FESTINA LENTE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

HOWELL MOUNTAIN

98 Points The Wine Advocate

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Festina Lente—the first vintage ever of Cabernet from Paul Lato—was matured for 19 months in 68% new French oak. Medium ruby-purple, its aromas blossom slowly with red and black currants accented by Chinese five spice, cigar box and incense. Medium to full-bodied, the palate boasts intense, layered flavors, powdery tannins, fireworks of mouthwatering acidity and alluring spicy accents fanning across the long finish. It's a stunning Cabernet that has more to give as it unwinds in bottle.

Once You Reach A Level Of Hedonistic Flow While In The Wine MATRIX, there simply is no going back.  The Instagram Wine Professor Russell Bevan has kept his foot on the gas ever since Robert M. Parker Jr said so way back in the day.  As the demographics change in wine consumption, it's good to see the stylistic congruencies some of my favorite wine makers continue to exude! Bryn is a sexxxy sultry rendition of this hedonistic blend!

~ The Wine Lab

96 - 99 Points Jeb Dunnuck

2019 PERUS BRYN

More bloody, iron, and bouquet garni-like nuances emerge from the 2019 Bryn Proprietary Red, which might just surpass the 2018. Beautifully concentrated, rich, and full-bodied, it offers a slightly more red fruited, savory, chocolate style and is already complex. Give bottles a few years in the cellar and it should cruise for 15-20 years.

JD

PERFECTION IS ALWAYS IN THE EYE ... 

of the beholder. It's always good to get a little more access to some modern day legendary wines made by wine icons.

The foundation has been set, let's see where the continued focus takes us along the REALM To Kalon road of classic Napa Valley Power House Cabernet Sauvignon.

~ The Wine Lab 

2019 REALM

BECKSTOFFER TO KALON

99 POINTS THE WINE ADVOCATE

Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color, requiring a little coaxing before it spills out of the glass with fantastically showy blackberry preserves, boysenberries and cassis notes, plus hints of black raspberries, clove oil and potpourri, with a touch of tobacco leaf. The decadent, full-bodied palate sports a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins with beautiful freshness. All that generous black fruit melds seamlessly into a very long, mineral-laced finish.

A Project That Made A Huge Splash... within our Cult Club is back in its 2019 version. With two of the valley's most connected winemakers making this project a continuing success, it's no surprise the 2019 has picked up where the 2018 left off. Quality continues to radiate a wine with texture & depth.

~ The Wine Lab

94 Points The Wine Advocate, Joe Czerwinski

2019 REFLECTIONIST

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Personally, I find it pleasantly lifted and perfumed, with more floral and herbal nuances to go alongside raspberry-tinged fruit. It's still full-bodied and velvety in feel, but it's brighter and juicier on the lengthy finish.

LET'S JUST SAY THIS

When I tasted the 1st vintage of the Royal Prince Cabernet several years back, time flies, the wine blew the doors off several wines that were well over $100 in pricing withing the tasting line up.  The reason behind these wine revelations is strategic and precise composition in assembly. 

This is the BEST SUB $100 wine I've come across in a long while, enjoy some right away.

Texture, Balance & Freshness All Intact!

~ The Wine Lab

2019 ROYAL PRINCE RESERVE 

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

93 Points Jeb Dunnuck

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is rock star stuff and delivers a classic Napa level of richness and depth while staying pure, clean, and beautifully balanced. Lots of blackcurrants, dark chocolate, spice, and hints of tobacco all emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a rich, fleshy, opulent mouthfeel, good tannins, and a great finish. Don't miss this sexy, concentrated, impeccably made Cabernet!

ANY DAY, ANY TIME, ANY EXCUSE TO KEEP BALLIN~HOLIDAYS INCLUDED

The colossal brand continues to evolve, the addition of new vineyards and parcels have created new sources of intrigue for their many fans around the world.

Thomas Rivers Brown continues to wave his hand with ease in creating the legendary brands continued ascension.

~ The Wine Lab

A PEEK INTO THE TRB RECIPE

Joe CZerwinski ( The Wine Advocate )

On my summer visit to Napa, I sat down with Brown at Mending Wall to taste through a decent-sized slice of his current projects, including Schrader, and he outlined the winemaking steps: No sulfur added at the crusher. A seven-day cold soak. No added yeasts or bacteria. No acid additions (at least in 2019). Ferment up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Use all the press wine. Go to barrel sweet. Maturation in new Darnajou and Taransaud barrels for 18 months. Sulfur after malolactic fermentation has finished. No fining or filtration. All this is done to further the goal, as Brown states it, "We want the sites to express themselves and the wines to be very different from each other."

97 Jeb Dunnuck

2019 SCHRADER RBS

To Kalon Vineyard 

Lots of violets, flowery incense, cassis, and spice notes emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard RBS, a full-bodied, silky, elegant 2019 that shines just as much for its purity and balance as its richness and depth. Possessing good acidity, a lively, vibrant mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great finish, it has plenty of up-front appeal yet should easily evolve for a solid 20 years if properly stored.

97+ The Wine Advocate

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is Clone 337, matured 18 months in 100% new Darnajou and Taransaud barrels. Marked on the nose by red berries, cherries and cedar, plus delicate cinnamon and clove shadings, this is a plush, concentrated full-bodied wine with a core of firmness to it and a long, lingering finish, both positive signs for aging. It's one of the more approachable Schrader wines this vintage, but it should easily go another two decades.

PRESSING THE EASY BUTTON ....

... With a classic Napa Valley producer on a cloudy day here in the Napa Valley.  The light rain has passed and it's time to start enjoying some of these classic 2019s. This latest bottling is singing songs of a change of season, much welcomed as harvest is in progress!

~ The Wine Lab

2019 SPOTTSWOODE LYNDENHURST

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst is composed of 77.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.4% Cabernet Franc, 4.1% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot and 3.8% Malbec. Deep garnet-purple in color, it skips out of the glass with lively blueberries, redcurrants and kirsch scents, plus hints of cedar chest, fragrant earth and rose hip tea. Medium-bodied, elegant and lively in the mouth, the palate is chock-full of bright and crunchy red and black fruits, finishing long and earthy.

THE COLABORATIVE PROCESS IS PRICELESS

Something is happening at The Vineyardist that will allow all of us to benefit from as wine consumers and promoters.  Just when you think you've seen all the angles, there are always different perspective points that aid in enhancing sensory.  Tony Biagi is starting to delve into wine composition on a level that the total body of work in some of his projects will microscopically penetrate your palate and leave you in a sense of desire. Thus making you desire more and more ~ only pure quality will do moving forward!

THIS VINEYARDIST IS HIGH PROFILE JUICE! 

Recently Had The Pleasure To Visit The Winery, Very Impressive!

~ The Traveling Wine Lab

99 Points Jeb Dunnuck

2019 THE VINEYARDIST

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

CALARCADIA, VINEYARD

Deep purple, with a killer nose of crème de cassis, white flowers, violets, toasted spices, and graphite, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Calarcadia Vineyard hits the palate with a massive, opulent, incredibly sexy style that needs to be tasted to be believed. It's a huge wine, no doubt, but it still has nuance in its aromas and flavors, is seamless and weightless on the palate, has ultra-fine tannins, and is just pure Napa Valley goodness. It's going to flirt with perfection on release and evolve for 30 years or more.

BUCKING UP & RIDING ON

We continue with the newest & freshest wines with confidence, RND has been done!  We've tried various 2020s at different price points and we'll soon be promoting some Wine Lab backed wines of curiosity.  2020 RIDE comes in at below $50 and has some modern day wine wizards collaborating in its production.

~ The Wine Lab

2020 RIDE

CABERNETSAUVIGNON

2020 RIDE shows dark, almost opaque edges with gorgeous notes of blackberry fruit, sage, black olive and shaved cocoa. The mouthfeel has a decadent richness and textural quality with a long and delicious finish. Both dense and flecked with acidity, the wine shows equal parts power and grace.

ALWAYS FUN TO RIDE HARD

Produced since 2019, I first accessed the brand in its 2020 rendition with great success. The 2021 Ride Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most elegant over-delivering wines for the price point I've come across in a good while. Growing up on a milk farm, little Don Carlitos rode many wild little ponies in a custom can't get the kid hurt setup. This bottling fuses my passion for adventure and wine all in one cleverly illustrated kick-ass bottle of wine.

~ THE WINE LAB

5 STARS THE WINE LAB

2021 RIDE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

PASO ROBLES

 Ride Paso Robles Cabernet showcases a deep ruby/purple core with shaved cocoa, black fruit, cinnamon, and sweet tobacco aromas. The mouthfeel has great density and polish in the texture with incredible length. The 2021 is a rare mix of boldness and finesse.

THREE OF THE MOST INTERESTING WINES FROM THE WEST COAST....

When we have the luxury to drink these wines, they reign supreme. They are thought inducing wines that lead to layered, in-depth discussions. All three are masterfully crafted in California.

~ The Wine Lab 

ALL 100 POINTS JEB DUNNUCK

2019 Realm The Absurd

Another perfect wine in the lineup is the 2019 The Absurd, and while I wasn’t able to get the blend or vineyard sources (they like to keep that a secret), it’s a thrilling, magical wine that tops out on my scale. More dense and concentrated than the Dr. Crane, especially on the mid-palate, it has an incredible, full-bodied, powerful style that carries ample darker cassis and blue fruits as well as scorched earth, tobacco, graphite, and violets. With a monster of a mid-palate, incredible tannins, no hard edges, and a level of purity that’s hard to describe, this needs to be forgotten for at least 4-5 years, and it should have 40-50 years of overall longevity.

2018 Sine Qua Non Grenache

11 Confessions Vineyard

The 2018 Grenache Eleven Confessions Vineyard comes all from the estate vineyard located on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills and is even more Grenache-dominated, checking in at close to 84% Grenache with 9% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, and the rest Viognier. Aged a whopping 38 months in 52% new barrels, it has an insane bouquet of black raspberries, herbes de Provence, violets, mulled cherries, sandalwood, and new leather. As complex and nuanced as they come, this full-bodied beauty has awesome purity of fruit, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, sweet, fine-grained tannins, and a great, great finish. It's one of those wines that makes you run out of adjectives. One of the finest examples of Grenache to pass my lips, give it 2-3 years and enjoy over the following two decades.

2019 Dalla Valle Maya

Proprietary Red Wine

One of the finest wines in the vintage is the 2019 Maya Proprietary Red Wine, and red wine doesn’t get any better. The usual blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Cabernet Franc, its deep purple hue is followed by an incredible bouquet of blackcurrants, tobacco, dark chocolate, and crushed stone, which turns more floral, pretty, and complex with time in the glass. Full-bodied on the palate, it marries a rare sense of elegance and finesse with incredible intensity. It’s impossible to resist today yet merits at least 5-7 years of bottle age, and I have no doubt this beauty will still be enjoyable at age 50. Bravo!

THE TRUTH EVENTUALLY IS ALWAYS UNCORCKED

In the early days of the The Wine labs constant RND, one would come across wines that at the time didn't make sense. The more you drink, the more you learn, the more you come to respect consistency and quality.

Moving fast forward in wine time, the latest expressions from the iconic and deservedly historic winery are where the future is going. The movement of Demanding A Sense Of Place has begun.

This 20 year perspective set is a time capsule of quality.....Enjoy the Truth it delivers!

1998 VÉRITÉ La Joie

94 Robert M. Parker Jr..WA

The 1998 La Joie is the inaugural vintage of this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant cuvée from Vérité. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, it has matured gracefully, with a medium garnet color and continually evolving aromas of dried red cherries, cigars, leather, damp earth and mushroom that unfold slowly from the glass. The palate is soft and juicy, with delicate but persistent savory flavors. It will continue to hold in bottle over the next 3-5 years.

2008 VÉRITÉ La Joie

99 Robert M. Parker Jr..WA

How much fun collectors will have comparing the 2007 and 2008 La Joies over the next three decades. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (48% from Alexander Valley Mountain Estate, 34% from Chalk Hill and 18% from Knight’s Valley), the 2008 has similar technical numbers to the 2007 (a pH of 3.68 and 14.4% alcohol). Wonderful notes of roasted herbs, asphalt, black truffles, blackberries, cassis, camphor and subtle oak are present in the majestic aromatics. In the mouth, the wine is extraordinarily concentrated, pure and dense with amazing length. It is another 30-40 year wine that confirms the confidence the late Jess Jackson had in both his vineyard sources and his winemaker, Pierre Seillan.

2018 VÉRITÉ La Joie

98 Lisa Perrotti Brown ..WA

Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec, the 2018 La Joie displays an opaque purple-black color, slowly unfurling to offer profound notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums and boysenberries, with hints of rare beef, pencil lead, black olives and lilacs, plus touches of fertile loam and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate has jaw-dropping elegance and poise, featuring a solid backbone of firm, very fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the intense mineral-laced black fruit layers, finishing long with loads of savory and floral sparks. Simply breathtaking!